Fletch

Back in for the evening hunt on another property

10/1/15 am 43 degrees slight breeze Out behind the house in the far stand well before light. The woods are real quiet from the last 2 days of rain. Felt good to be in the tree again! I dressed warm knowing 40 would feel real cold after all the hot weather we have had. Had a 3-5 pointer sneak in behind me at 8:05am. I never heard him till he was right 15 yards behind me. He crossed behind me at 12 yards and went on out up the ridge off my left just easing along. Would of loved to stay out longer but wrapped it up at 2 hours and headed in to work.

I also loaded up the clothes, I knew coming from 80 a week ago 40 was gonna be cold! Felt like the stay puff!! Usually gradually increase the clothing the first couple weeks.

Nice!

First deer of the season sighted. Had a 3-5 point 1.5 year old sneak by behind me at 12 yards. Man he snuck in without a sound. Wandered on by without a care in the world.

Up in the air waiting on the rise! Good luck all

5:30am sunrise is like 6:50 right? Got to check my chart. In stand 6am I thinks.

Ok all set to update in the morn. Now somebody make sure to wake me up on time!

Thanks ADK, Zem!! Good luck to you guys this season! I am all ready to go in the morn. I looked back on how bad the first 2-3 weeks were last season and that controlled my excitement for tomorrow a lot!! lol I finally ordered some new made in the USA Danner hunting boots. I will stick with my old ones and hope its not too wet until my new ones come in. I can never remember what time I need to get up to be in my stand by before the first day. I must admit I never see the dawn except in deer season!!

Yea your getting real tight to be wandering all over it but how else are you going to learn about it unless you wait till after the season!! I couldn't. I might pick this weekend one day mid day during the rain to just poke around maybe make a couple brush blinds if you find a likely spot. The rain should help cover up your intrusion. Preferably I would slip in with a climber but I don't think you two use those. I would get up in a likely looking spot or two and observe and readjust as needed. As you said if you put in a ladder you will most likely end up moving it a few times, better to wait and learn.

My home spot I own 12 acres and I have permission to hunt the neighbors 27. Its usually just me, but at times me and one of my brothers and occasionally all three of us. When there is more than just one of us we are all in stands and plenty far apart for safe shots. I hunt the neighbors as I am the only one with permission and they hunt on mine. The back neighbor has 90 that I have permission to recover game if needed as they do on mine. We have taken deer off here every year and I try to hunt it softly, no drives or wandering. I only push a spot if my old man is up to sit I would love to get him one more deer! I still hunt it too hard I think but we still keep seeing deer. I have another spot owned by a buddy who lets me post and hunt it. This is about 40 acres but fewer stand spots just do to the high end of it is not real productive. We hunt 2-3 there as well. If your stand hunting this works. Much still hunting would just kill these places. If I had my choice I would like 50 acres backed up to thousands of acres of state land. If I want to wander I go down the street about 3 miles to some state land or 50 miles south to Tully state land.

I am a binge watcher too!! Wait till the whole season is done and watch it all in a couple days!! I'm thinking a pair of Ruger sr22s. Ammo is nice and light can carry a load along with a nice 22 semi auto rifle with banana clips. A good 12 inch dirk and a good sword. Then a few grenades and of course body armor.

For the first 15 years I used nothing but iron sights and took plenty of deer. The last decade or more my eyesight has deteriorated from that wonderful 20-10 and I shoot all scopes. Shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader and crossbow. I am not sure with my eyes if I could shoot worth a dang without a scope past 50 yards!!

My heaviest was a 5.5 year old I arrowed in Onondaga County on town land in 1993. Jeesh that was a long time ago!! 186 pounds dressed out and not much fat at all on him.

I second that!! Chipmunks and mice love to chew on wires and build nests in lawn mowers, vehicles, ATVs and boats left outside.

I just picked up a new pair of thin gloves with the Tech fingertips to keep posting from the stand and keep my finders covered!!

I also just wear thin gloves and once it gets chilly use the hand muff. Bulky gloves no good for me and hunting!!

I am just wondering what a sight pin looks like on a deer 100 yards away? I will have to pull back without arrow on one this year and see how much of the deer my pin covers! I am betting about half the deer lol. Oh and if I shot a monster at 80 yards and one at 15 yards well of course the 15 would be more impressive to me of getting closer to a mature buck = more skill to me.

You guys know this is not a new idea right? http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R1.TR2.TRC0.A0.H0.Xgame+camera+security.TRS0&_nkw=game+camera+security+box&_sacat=0 Been around since cameras and thieves!

Man these early Oct 1 starts come fast!!! Especially with the summer that won't end!! I have been finishing up the chores, pool closed today, finished cutting wood..... I still need to find a new pair of boots, it is not easy finding non Chinese crap, I may have to bend. Been shooting the bow and crossbow all summer, stands all cleaned up. Need to sharpen up a few broad heads yet. I am usually not to excited with summer temps in the early opener but it looks to be 40 degrees the first couple of mornings so I am a bit pumped. Hope you all have a successful season with good venison, good company and good times. I look forward to reading the other journals and will do my best to entertain!! Peace, Fletch

Mmmmmm looking good! I love doing ABTs

Watched it here off the deck at like 10pm it was pretty cool.

That's an interesting view from Long Island!!

I shoot out to 50 during practice but in the woods my limit is 40. That is my comfort zone. Any day of the week I can walk out the back yard shoot the 40 target and hit the 3 inch bull. I did shoot a doe years back at 44 yards it was before range finders were popular and I misjudged the range by 4 yards and smoked her. I really prefer a 15 to 25 yard shot. I hunt tree stands so closer is too steep. By the way my closest is 2 yards on the ground....that was exciting. The arrow barely cleared the bow!! I have no complaint with longer range shooters that can do it with max skill and results. I just wonder how much penetration you start to lose at 100 yards...? A poor bow hunter who does not practice is a poor slob no matter if he/she shoots at 10 yards or 90 in my opinion. Each has their own self imposed restrictions.

Nice way to start the season off!! Congratz!