Five Seasons

I can tell the story to some degree. I've learned over the years that there's not much to gain from sharing other than "admiration". This isn't to say that I have any issue with those who share their hero shots. I think it's great. But for me, hunting is a very personal thing. I don't hunt to brag, although I have a nice looking wall that I'm very proud of. I hunt for my own reasons and like to keep my successes between my family and I. This was a new stand. I've hunted this property just 1 season and learned that while doe were abundant in the one stand I put in, the bucks just seemed to be always skirting it. So I found a spot just south of my stand that had several main runs intersecting through it, but it was thick and not great tree options. In the winter I cut an approach to it with my wife and 3 boys. In early September my 2 oldest boys and my dad hung a stand and cleared lanes. This took a good 2 days. The stand itself is way back on the property and there are no quad trails cut to it yet. But a wide enough trail to get a deer cart down. I haven't hunted this stand yet, but felt like Friday night was a good time to break it in. I like to hunt new stands for the first time in the evening so I can figure out any quirks and what not in the light. Glad I brought another bow holder with me as I didn't like the spot I put it originally with my pullup rope. Friday was a beautiful evening in 8F. Crisp, clear and sunny. I got in a little after 4, taking my time to pick up the crunchy twigs and sticks that had fallen on my approach trail. I got in, started getting my bearings for a new stand, ranging trees and shot opportunities, kinda just enjoying being in the woods. Texting a little with my cousin who had a buck turn the wrong way in the morning and hearing her story. I'm ready, but not really on full alert mode at a little after 5 when this deer comes busting out from the ridge in front of me (about 50 yards). It's still very thick and green and it makes a beeline for my stand directly in front of me at a good pace. I stand, grab the bow, secure my release and it stops at like 7 yards to sniff a sapling (honestly it may have been my scent on that tree). It's a tough angle but one I've taken a few times with success. I draw, do my best to bend at the waste and slip one behind the shoulder. It's cornering towards and takes off. I heard the tell tale pop of the lung hit and here some crashing and then quiet. About 5 minutes go by and some more crashing. This makes me nervous as I'm hoping it wasn't liver or something. I would have given it an hour or so but was losing light. So after 20 minutes I get down and go and find decent blood. It wasn't a pass through but about 40 yards in I find mind my FMJ soaked with blood, a busted up rage hypo and a broken lighted nock. Follow good blood for another 40 yards or so and find the bastard dead in some real nasty thick and hard to get to bedding area... thankfully just off a well traveled run that I helped trim out a little over the winter to get them to use it more. Ended up being a double lung, but a little back which was fine given how it was cornering, but not great that it came out the guts. Smelly, and not ideal. Gut and make the long trek back to the truck. Change and grab the cart. Dad comes help and we spend the next 2 hours getting the heavy SOB out of there. I spent some time the first year to just make a human approach trail and some time this summer to make it wide enough and cut some logs so the cart can get through thank god, but the plans this spring was to make it wide enough for an ATV. My dad and I were cursing me not doing this already haha. Finally got home a little after 9 running high off adrenaline still, but mentally and physically exhausted. Hung it till yesterday and cut and packaged while drinking beers and watching football. Can't have a better day than that! The cherry on top was that this is land owned by my wife's grandpa, scouted and worked on my own with help from my wife, kids and dad. For me, that's better than any meat or rack.

I’m exhausted. It happened quick. It is one for the story books and Belo is on the board! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

or tank haha. I was going to FOMO into DWAC at 72 around 11ish today and said nah, I've lost that game before. But look at it now. wow.

i googled this company and still don't know what it is lol

This weekend and next are probably the last days I take a doe until gun. It also depends on the stand. I have a few that are near fields, easy drags just drive the truck right up if all goes well. In some of the deeper stands I'd be less likely to take one and even less likely to take one at night at a stand deeper in the woods. All that said, it could be 11/9 and if I get a slam dunk, low impact to location shot at a doe and it's clear there aren't bucks in toe, I'd take it. I've done this before. Even drove the quad up to her and gutted her back home to reduce the disruption.

I try to not get overly excited about night pics... but damn to know he's "in the area" is exciting! I'd for sure fling one over his back while my knees were shaking.

Had some decent bucks moving this AM right at daybreak. Hunting tonight and probably (maybe hopefully not) tomorrow morning. Then it's football playoffs Sunday.

after shooting hours though?

i expected more activity today too, but after a busy few days (although no real shooters), it quieted down again on both properties i hunt.

I try to remind myself that not that long ago this was opening weekend. It's very early still!

Well I ignored my alarm again this morning. That makes me 1 for 3 on planned morning sits. Honestly, the wind was right but still a little early and windier than I'd like. Bills game tonight, busy day and on the road and felt like rest was a better idea. The stand I planned to hunt never sent me any pics on the upper, busier runs so that's good. But most of my other cams popped with smaller bucks and doe. Some of my old school cams are showing movement but still all at night. Today's annoyance is the browning cell cam I sent back with $20 shipping was supposed to come back Friday, then Sunday and now just says pending somewhere on the fedex tracker. What a cluster this has been. Last time I had this, the package was lost all together...

Did someone jaw age them or is this another PA girth chart? Bucks around here with 18” spreads and 9” tines are not 2.5. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got to the property around 2. Spent 2 hours putting a stand in that will probably be mostly gun, but we’ll see. Walked over to the west side and in for an evening sit, singing come sail away! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I won’t argue with you on this process because you’re absolutely right. However, I will point out that it’s not the one and only way to decent venison. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He was still pretty warm, but I think broken back and ribs as some of the straps were bruised and tossed. If you didn’t know it was a roadkill you’d look at the chops and be all excited to bite in. Going to keep them frozen for a bit as I understand that extended freezing can help with any possible food issues and hope for the best. Worst case I’m out some vac bags and my time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He stopped by today. Nice guy. Said it’s been a busy season for him already and he only covers Monroe. What a shame that people suck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a bunch in my truck too, just not a long blade. Honestly the 3” blade on that gerber did great. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Easy 3.5. My cousin will do the euro. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It is odd indeed that it wasn’t massive carnage. I really think maybe he was just clipped. I have no other explanation for him just being dead in that position. He looked like a totally healthy deer so I’m not worried about sickness. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He did playoff bound! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wanted to share a bit of a bummer story with you all. This morning was an obvious washout in 8F, but the weather broke a little this afternoon. My oldest had a football game at 4 and I needed to be there at 3. I wanted to work on putting in a quick field edge stand and didn't want to waste the whole day. Anyhow I pulled into the lease. The access road has a large "yard" kinda field and I see a big ass deer just laying there. WTF? They don't hunt... and I stop and realize it's one of the better bucks on the property. I get out and walk the 30 or so yards and see no wounds. I flip him over... nothing. Blood out the ass and mouth and a small puncture that doesn't even break into the muscle. There's no sign of an accident, but it's an obvious road kill. I'm just gutted. These things kill me... and yeah it's worse when it's a nice big buck. I call the DEC for a tag. His stomach is bloated but he's barely riggored up. I'm thinking early morning hit. DEC is on the other side of the county. Says drop him a pin and text some pics. I tell him I'd like to take the rack. He says he will call me back. I drag the buck into the orchard. I have "treestand gear" and no buck knife, so I use my multi-tool to cut the neck and my pruners (which is what i use anyhow) to sever the spine. He's pretty warm still... stinks like guts but again I can't really tell where he was hit. At this time I decide to save the back straps. DEC calls back. I'm like, hey I'm trying to save some meat too. He's like I get it, you're not calling because you're doing something illegal. We agree to meet up for tags in the AM. Props to an officer using some logic and helping a citizen. Anyhow, some of the backstrap is a little hemorrhaged which makes me think hit on the side/neck. But he was a good 150 yards from the road. I didn't have the time or desire to keep skinning. Oh and I lost my wedding ring, had to drive back and found it with a metal detector. geez this is how i found him

man this weather sucks. Saturday morning or this evening were my best shots this weekend with all the kids football stuff and well, it doesn't look like it's going to work. On the road the next 3 weeks for work too

2 weeks ago a weld on my 10+ year old husqvarna deck broke. it would still mow, but uneven. Push mowed this weekend and my wife's uncle was able to fix the weld. But the mower is on its last legs so I thought I could find an end of the year sale. lol me Not only can you not find a deal, you literally cannot find a mower. Just go to lowes or home depot's website. It's like a $7k mower or some electric garbage. Did end up finding a 46" cub, but damn Joe.

i mean i'd move at night, or just hump all november and not eat like they do