Bolt action

The last of last weekend's buck is getting vacuum sealed tonight..

Awesome dogs. To anyone interested, make sure you know what the breed needs for daily exercise. Good luck finding them a home Chef.

What a day. How do we compare to 11/2 from last year?

Same setup as last year. I'm sitting on the ground facing south on the second Saturday of gun season. Second year where a ' good enough ' buck came in about 40 yds behind me moving west to east. I'm usually a little more picky, but with a new born at home, time is limited. That's two for the freezer this year and all i need. Wife will be happy because that means I'll be home on the weekends now.

8pts for team 4.

@wolc123 if you were on my side of the state, I'd have a gift for you..

8pt on the ground, #fromtheground.

Slow day at work so I spent half the morning catching up. Congrats on some nice deer taken. @cynthiafu that sucks in the moment, but makes it for a better story after, assuming you don't have a heart attack in the moment! I took yesterday off. Had a late night finishing up the doe from last weekend and the forecast called for rain. Forecast was wrong, but I needed to catch up on sleep anyway. I'll be back in tomorrow. I'm skeptical that any of the big bucks are still around, given the hunting pressure in the area. I'd be thrilled to get another doe.

Playing it by ear in the morning. I only have time for a bow hunt close to home. Would love to tag one early, but not going to sit in a heavy rain to do it.

I was speaking with the farmer who maintains the fields I hunt. Usually they are in a soybean / corn rotation, but apparently next year they are planning to put in cabbage. There are soybeans, corn fields, and apple orchards all around me, along with a few cabbage fields. I don't have any experience with sitting over cabbage during deer season. The internet seems solidly divided on whether this will attract or deter deer. Does anyone have any insight? Should I start scouting backup spots this spring?

This is totally a matter of preference. Some members here prefer hunting from the ground, while others like being up in a tree. For me, public land gun hunting from a ground blind would make me uncomfortable. I like using a climber because I can quickly setup over fresh sign, and I can get up off the ground. Whichever way you go, if you're on a budget, search the classifieds. I've scored deals on CL. The climber I'm using was bought for $10.

Any chance the neighbors found it and didn't tell you?

Kinda what I was thinking. As I start breaking it down, I'll use common sense. If the meat looks or smells off, ditch it.

Don't worry, this is confusing even for residents!

Found this skinning that doe from today. It was lodged in the skin on one of the hams and had to be cut out, but wyant all the way through to the meat. Measures probably about an inch. I think it's fiberglass, maybe aluminum. My guess is that she got bumped by a car and this was a souvenir. For the meat, no smell, just that yellowish film in that area. Avoid that area and salvage the rest, or is it a total loss?

Doe down.

5 shots already, first at 644..

Just got to the stand. A little breezier than expected. A few big trees were blown down since last week. Storm must have come through. Any guesses on when you hear the first shots in your area? Sunrise here is 714. I'm guessing shots will be heard by 645.

I hardly slept last night and now I'm up, but exhausted. Time for a quick shower and some coffee. On the road by 5. LFG!

Around me it still sounds like a warzone. It's not uncommon to hear 8 or 9 shots in a row, or to hear shots happening all around all day. I was talking to the neighbor that I share my Southern property line with. He has about 30ish acres and plans to have 8 guys in there tomorrow. My area definitely has deer density, but there is also tons of pressure on the herd. Good luck tomorrow, have fun and be safe.

I haven't taken a deer off this property yet on opening day, but keep going back. Kinda have to, right? The ladder stand I'll be in at the South end of a hedge row that splits two cut corn fields and backs up to hardwoods. It gives me the best visibility on both fields along with the woods behind. The wind tends to swirls, so I'm hoping that, between my height in the tree and other hunting pressure, deer don't catch me. That'll be Saturday. Planning to sit as long as I can. Sunday evening I'll be in the smaller spot closer to home for a PM sit.

Have you scouted the area around the ladder to see if there is fresh sign? If it's hot, stick with that spot. If it's not, I'd be more tempted to use the climber. Opening weekend can be a bit of a poop show though. Depending on the area around you, deer may be pushed and pop up anywhere. I have a climber and like it more when a) I know the area and have a few trees in mind that I can get to quickly in the dark for a morning sit; b) I enter the area mid day so that I can locate hot sign and get setup nearby with plenty of time before the evening movement starts.

Savage .308

Pre-season I'll wash all my hunting layers in scent free wash. then I'll them outside for a week or more. During the season I store and transport them in a tub full of corn or oak branches. I'll dress and undress at the car before or after the hunt. If needed, I'll repeat the cycle during the season. Not sure if it helps, but doesn't take much effort and certainly won't hurt anything. I don't bother with sprays. They definitely have a smell to them and I don't know if it's natural or not, so I avoid them. The only thing I actually apply each time before walking in is EverCalm on the soles and bottom few inches of my boots.

I've got a cuisinart 300w. I've done a few deer with it each year with no problem. Hard to beat for $100