grampy

Up and at em for another day in the deer woods. Going to other side of the property today. Down in the cut. Got a hunch about that spot. Hasn't been hunted, and have a few different bucks on camera in the vicinity. Good luck to all heading out!

Congratulations to all the successful hunters today! An epic day for many! I'm out of likes.

Saw 7 deer between 7 and 11 this morning. All doe's except one small buck chasing a doe around. He got a free pass. At 2:30 saw a doe and fawn. That was my opening day. At least I did see some deer.

I'll be watching over a grown up brush field, between two bedding areas at around 6am. Waiting patiently for shooting time and hopefully some deer!

Showered, coffee on, breakfast cooking, opening day of gun season, weather cold and still. What could be better??? Let's go!!! It's the Hap, Happiest, time of the year!! Good luck everyone!

Sako 85 Classic in 270 with my own handloads.

Though I've not been particularly successful on opening mornings over many years, More so on day two for me. I want to wish you all a SAFE and successful opening day, and season! Shoot straight, and and I'm looking forward to all the pictures and stories!!!

Moving mid day in 4-H.

Nice to see they are still on the property. And active mid day. Near thick cover. I'll take my lessons learned this bow season, and start applying them Saturday morning!

I place the blame on an unproductive bow season squarely on ME!!! If I were a better hunter, perhaps it would not have been so unproductive!! No one to blame but me! I can't help but look back, and think if I'd made better adjustments, and sooner, my bow season may have turned out differently. But I did learn some things, that may help me succeed in a future bow season. So all is not lost. I am satisfied with the fact, that I put in more dark to dark time hunting than I have in years! I didn't give up. My persistence did not pay off this time, but I feel no shame, not hanging a bow buck this year. Gave it my best shot. Just came up short. I did enjoy some great times though!!! That's hunting.

In all my 'opening days' only a hand full have been successful. I am the worst at picking the opening morning spot!!! I probably over think it way too much! Better off to just go with what your gut says.

Happy Birthday!! Hope you get to be outside today! Enjoy all the good stuff coming your way!

^^^^This^^^^

Sounds like a perfect three generation weekend! Those memories will last a lifetime with your son. I pray that Duke will be right beside Kaiden, when his first deer falls. The generosity given by some, renews the spirit, and truly soothes the soul. I have been on the receiving end of that too. And made a lifelong friend. Each year we will try to give back, in the same spirit. This season we have a multiple tour combat vet hunting the property.

I fixed it for ya!

I can say that deer movement in my neck of the woods has been abnormally slow this year. Places where we could always count on seeing deer have been almost devoid of deer and deer sign. We do have deer. But they seem to be tied very close to heavy cover this year. Did see some mature bucks cruising during the day last week though. Mast crops like acorns and apples were very low this year. Our food plots are eaten down to stubble. Mostly all done at night. The deer we do see during hunting hours are eating browse very close to cover. This us on a multiple hundred acre property that we've hunted for half a century and know intimately. With low hunting pressure from within. Every few years we see something similar to this early on. As the season goes on through November and into December, we will usually see more deer. The complete opposite of a normal year. We will get our bucks. But will need to hunt a bit harder, and closer to heavy cover and bedding. Won't be hunting field edges at all. They won't be out there.

For the bulk of my 50 years of deer hunting, I used a 12g. My Ithaca Deerslayer 2 put down a pile of deer. But now it's all about my go to rifle. Sako 85 Classic Hunter, in 270, fed with my special recipe handloaded 140gr Nosler BT's. DRT results. No recoil to speak of. And 3 times the range if needed. Though I would like to get one more deer with a shotgun, before hanging up my hunting cap. Kind of come full circle.

I've always left the deer heart in the woods. I don't even particularly like pickles. So that doesn't sway me. But the rolled in seasoned flour, and cooked in butter with onions does. Will be taking the next deer heart home with me to try!

Me too! Every property is different. What may be a trophy on one, would be passed at another. It's all good. And in real life it ain't like the hunting shows on TV ! Usually the ones making such a comment like above, watch too much TV, and hunt very little.

Congratulations! Nice Buck!

Congratulations on a fine buck Al ! Great story. And it's not too often us "older" hunters get to have some "firsts"!!! Way to go my friend.

Have you searched for anything at "Dicks" Sporting Goods??

I have the mono, bi, and tri, Primo's Trigger Sticks. Love them all! I use the tripod most in my ground blinds. It adapts to uneven ground quite nicely. I keep the odd leg between my feet. Plenty of room to move my feet and legs around. For gun, I have the front of the rifle resting on the tripod, with the butt of the stock either resting in my lap, or tucked to my shoulder. Pointed in the direction deer are most likely to come from. It is very sturdy, and comfortable, and I'm ready to shoot almost instantly. Also, my hands are free to follow the Live From The Woods thread!

I'm so enjoying this thread!! Thanks so much for sharing with us Dino.

grampy's week 8 pick is turkeyfeathers.