grampy

Thanks for the info. That's not too far from me. Will stop in and look around!

Yes sir. You hit the nail on the head. This thread comes up every year. And my answer is always the same. Get out as much as you can from Halloween to the end of November. But the "magic" day is November 10th. And the five days before and after. These are the days when you'll see bucks standing in the middle of a field in daylight. Running across the road in front of your truck. Blindly following the scent of a doe coming close to estrous. These are the take your vacation, sit as long as you can in the woods days. Happens the same time every year.

Thanks. I'm now mostly a ground hunter. But we do have quite a few ladderstands scattered around the property. All stands are always checked out in August and September. This one has brand new straps. Just don't use it much. Only good for a S or SE wind. The predominant wind here is NE. So up I go this afternoon!

Agree with ya Tacks. Will take a miracle for the Yanks to advance. Injuries, bad play, and bad decisions by Boone have doomed their chances at another WS. And Judge is likely playing in San Francisco next season.

Came out at the end of my hunt yesterday afternoon after seeing no deer. Came up over the rise on the way out, and there were at least a dozen deer in the field. Including two shooter bucks. So the plan this afternoon, is to hunt a stand on that field edge that hasn't been hunted in years. May not get a shot, but will hopefully see where those bucks are entering? Light SE wind will be perfect for this spot too.

In for my first sit of 22. Been so busy at work, home and farm. So to just get out in the peace and quiet is just what I needed! Top picture is front view. Bottom picture is left view from this blind. The most buck pictures so far this year have been from here. Almost hoping one doesn't interpret me........

Congratulations! Nice Buck Chef!

I'm not busting on you Chef. But wasn't the last buck quartering to as well? That's always a tough bow shot. That said, wishing you luck with the recovery tomorrow.

That's more than I thought! No wonder the scumbags are out in force ripping off hard working people.

First hunt of 22 for me tomorrow! Not expecting much. But ya never know?

Curious how much the dirtbags get for one of em??

Agreed. And way too many just go through life wearing rose colored glasses. Refusing to see the truth, as it dangles in front of their nose. V H is just a troll. Or at the very least, likes what his dangled in front of is nose.

Most of the time when coyotes attack a healthy deer, (rare this time of year) they will go for the hamstring at the back of the hind legs. To incapacitate it, so the deer can't get up. Then make quick work of it. So my thought is this is not a wound from a coyote. Looks more like an abrasive wound of some type to me.

Hemlock for me too.

I use the YellowJacket too. Small, light, and inexpensive. When I'm back to my vehicle, just fire a spare bolt with a field point into it. Done. Then just hook the cocking rope back on the crossbow, and good to go for the next hunt to the darkside.

Come over to the dark side Rob. We welcome you.

Happy Birthday Belo!!!!

An owl hooting. The owl is my spirit bird. There have been times when I'd hear an owl telling me to be ready, and I'd have a successful hunt. My grandmother was full blood native American. When I was young, she'd take me to the reservation in NC. It was there I learned about the owl being my spirit bird. And how the ones we loved, come back to greet us on the wings of the owl. There is no better sound in the woods for me.

I'm right there with ya brother. I haven't been able to draw my bow all year, up until two weeks ago. Both shoulders need surgery.....again. I was giving a hunter ed bow class a couple weeks ago, and brought my bow. Been doing exercises and PT all summer. After the course, a couple other instructors were shooting. So I grabbed my bow and gave it a go. Surprisingly I got the first shot off and right on target at 25 yards! Shot about eight shots. Each one a bit more painful than the last. But darned if they all didn't hit where I was aiming out to 35 yards. But.....that was under ideal conditions. Not sure if I get out in the woods, and a little chilled, I can get to full draw or not??? Will try shooting a couple arrows tomorrow. See how it goes? For each of the last few years I've said this will be my final bow season. Pretty sure this one will be. I've had a good run bowhunting since the late 70s. I'm a young 65. And I still got the crossbow season. I can live with that. But my first love will always be my bow.

Me too. The last 20 or so years I prefer to hunt my way in just as it's getting light. And have killed deer doing so. Very seldom bump deer on the way to my set up. As I usually see them before they see me. Think still hunting to get there. Slow and easy. Also get in much quieter, as I can step over and around branches. By the time I'm up and in, it's full daylight. It works for me. I do carry a head lamp in my pack. Mostly for if I need to track a deer after last light.

Sub adult black racers can and do have similar markings to what you show here.

X-2

Black Racer. Harmless.

Couldn't ask for a better hit!!! Sometimes even a perfect hit leaves us scratching our head. The tenacity of these animals is crazy sometimes. Congratulations! Nice buck!!