Every Now and Zem-2014

[First-light]

Just did congrats bud! Love it for sure. You have to feel lucky having a day in the woods like you had. 

[Zem18]

Thanks Burt. It was definitely a fun, action packed morning. Not a monster but a respectable deer from down there. And best of all, meat in the freezer.

Yummy backstraps

hanging in the butchering area

My buck and my BILs doe

Edited November 18, 2014 by Zemmer18

[Zem18]

11-16-14 Day 2

Well I get to my Hemlock on day 2, and within 5 minutes, this happens. Btw, the commentary was for my wife and kids so don't laugh too hard.

https://m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=qJqY7D0xhYY

For the next two hours I was on edge as Mom and her cub hung around not going very far at all and coming back. At one point, the cub was coming pretty close so I fired two rounds from my pistol to scare them off. Wish I could have gotten the cub on camera but it would hang back and then when Mom would get closer to me, it would follow so filming was not high on my list plus my phone was below 20% and forgot my charger for car.

Here is part two

https://m.youtube.com/?#/watch?v=K6yA14D0MTg

They finally left after 9am when a flock of Turkey's flew over my head to wards them, wings a flapping so they fled. My phone was below 10% and I couldn't film the 15 to Turkey that came in to within 15 yards. One when helped and clicked for over 40 minutes and a Jake or Tom would gobble his head off every time she sounded off. It was another action packed morning. Only saw 1 doe around 3pm Sunday and then 1 tail a little while after that.

Edited November 18, 2014 by Zemmer18

[Zem18]

Just finished up a DIY buck boiler. I found some plans searching on BING. I put in DIY skull boiler and it came up to a forum called Ifish.net and it said $25 skull boiler. The only thing I actually bought for it was the electric hot water heater element for $9.98. I had the container (an old trash can from a paper shredder) and I got the 1" watertight conduit hub from the electricians at work. The power cord was also made by maintenance at work.

I,'ll take some pics tomorrow before I put it to use and then some while it is working (fingers crossed)

I have some chores on tap for tomorrow and have missed the daughters soccer games the past 2 weeks so no hunting tomorrow. My buddy asked me to go out but I told him Sunday morning I'm good to go. We will head to his hunting area where we will sit for the morning until 9 or so then do drives for a bit. Just looking to get my buddy a deer so he has some meat.

[Zem18]

My buddy sent me a text saying he took a doe on Saturday. They went out about 7:45am after breakfast as it was pretty darn cold. The guys told me it was a phenomenal day as most of them saw 30+ deer between sitting and driving.

The tale of two seperate days - Sunday 11-23-14

My buddy and I met another guy at 630 this morning at my buddies hunting property. We decided to sit for the first few hours and then meet everyone at 930 to do some drives. I walked to the stand and bumped 3 on the way. Got settled in and had 3 small doe come over the hill to me. All came within 25 yards but all very small so they got the pass.

Started the drives, we did 4 sections today. Drive one I had 8 to 10 turkey come in and skirt the ridge above me. Drive two was fun. I was on the ground and not in a stand. Saw a deer headed my way. It stopped at 30yds and I saw it was a spike. He saw me too but he kept coming and closed to 15yds. I was kneeling and heard deer below me. Next thing I know I get a cramp in my leg so I stand up. The doe took off and the spike jumped out of his skin and bolted.

A minute letter I hear more leaves rustling and here come another deer. He runs the same path as the spike and I finally see it is a larger spike. He stopped out at 30 and then continued on. Was hoping for a nice doe but no such luck on this drive.

Drive 3 and Drive 4 were a big Zippo for me. One of the drivers saw a herd on drive 3 and another saw at least 10 on drive 4. It was pretty warm and drizzling so they weren't as active as yesterday for sure. Was a fun morning but man am I whooped from all that walking. Came home and took a power nap watching tv for about 45 minutes and then worked on my buck skull.

Man it sounded like a great idea but crap the meat and cartilage sticks to the skull like glue, even after its boiled. I did one before on the stove once but didn't remember what a PITA it was.

I scraped and cut and pulled and scratched but had to put clean water and more soap in and heated it some more. Don't have time tonight to finish it so hopefully get it cleaned better tomorrow and then maybe in the peroxide.

I took two picks while it was stewing. Ill post up later if I'm not asleep.

[Fletch]

Congrats on the buck Zem he is a nice one! That sounds like a great morning. I had a better than usual opener too. I think I saw 12 deer. No bears though. Not sure I want a bear that close to me!!

[First-light]

Those bears are so hard to predict. We had a Moma and tee cubs around my bother with a down deer. They wouldn't leave even when I came over and tried to push them. Two rounds from my gun sent them into the corn. Man they love corn...

[Zem18]

Thanks Fletch. I really wasn't thrilled about them that close. You are so right Burt, so I was somewhat nervous as this was only the third time I have seen bear in the wild and never a sow with a cub. Every time they got close, I stopped videoing just in case. Can't wait to get back down there though and fill a doe tag.

[Zem18]

11.27.14 Happy Thanksgiving all!!

The wife works retail and at night to boot so no hunting for me today unfortunately. Man it would be sweet out there with the fresh 8 to 10 inches of snow that fell yesterday and it is still falling.

A few of us will be headed down to camp tomorrow afternoon and most likely coming back Saturday night. I still have my doe tag for down there and hope to fill it. Good luck to everyone out there this weekend.

[Zem18]

11.28.14

Finished the gas tank last weekend on that POS explorer so I took it to get it inspected this morning. Passed no problem. While I was getting ready to leave, my buddy drives by and stops to rub it in he is heading out to hunt. Told him to text me if he got anything. He wasn't there 5 minutes and a mature doe came in with a 3pt following and he filled his second doe tag.

I drove up to where he was hunting after the inspection and he was just leaving so we drove to my in laws to hang and skin it. I just ate, got my gear together, and my BIL will pick me up at 1:30pm today. We should be at camp by 2:45pm the latest, just in time for the afternoon hunt. Let's fill them freezers boys!!!

[Zem18]

Made it to camp Friday by 2:15 (BIL picked me up early) Got dressed and headed to my spot. Stood until 4:15pm and headed back to cabin with no deer sighted. Man did it get cold down there last night. Was single digits, and the fire went out and the kerosene heater ran out of kerosene so when we got up this morning, you could see your breath in the cabin. Not pleasant.

Finally got up and headed out a little after 8am. By 8:30am, I saw 3 does coming in behind me and I scoped all 3 as they passed me. They weren't stopping and I had one opening at 70 yards and the angle I had was an off hand shot with no tree to brace against. I squeezed and off they ran. A second shot was flung in their direction as a knee jerk reaction, but I had no business taking that second shot. It was into a hill so I wasn't worried about where it would stop. It was well over 125 yards so I guess I was desperate. I went and followed the tracks just before the first shot and then out to the second shot. Tracks only, no blood. I continued to follow the tracks as they headed down hill towards the cabin. They crossed the creek and headed up the hill on the other side of the valley.

After the miss I headed out to the back of the property and ran into a single doe,2 running doe, and a group of 5 doe. I almost had a shot at the largest in the group of 5, but got busted by the 5th deer coming up the draw. Saw 11 deer by 1pm and also ran into 2 guys that shot a deer up on top and then tracked it down onto our property. They were surprised to see me and I was respectful and they were as well. Apologetic actually as they had a long drag up hill. Lot of hiking through 10+ inches of snow all day so I am whooped.

Got home, ate, then went up and quartered my buddies doe and got the backstraps, and inner loins out. Took a hot shower, drinking a cold one and ready for bed. Meeting my buddy at 8:30am to go do drives in the morning.

[Zem18]

11-30-14

Woke up and got ready to go do some drives with my buddy and his club members. Got there about 8:45am and as soon as we parked we heard a shot. The landowner and club member shot a doe before we all got out there. My buddy and I drove out on the four wheeler to help him out before the drives.

Drive one - Had 5 baby doe come running in below me. They stayed low for about 3 minutes and then turned and ran right to me and then past me at 15 yards. They all got a pass as they were tiny little skippers and I know there are much larger deer out there.

Drive two - One driver appeared in my shooting zone unexpectedly just as 4 baby doe popped out and ran between us so I never shouldered the gun. My phone buzzed and stupid me looked at it and when I looked back up a large doe and a baby were running past me, again in the direction I saw the driver so no shot available. Oh and driving the trails to set up the second drive, we came up on two doe that ran into the area we were going to push. Then as the drive ended, one last little one came out of the pines at mach 20.

Saw 14 today but no shots at any larger more mature deer. As a guest there, my buddy has always said, take a larger deer and they also enforce a 3pt on one side rule even though the area is not forced by the state to do so. If I just wanted to shoot one and didn't care, I could have but I appreciate the opportunity to hunt with them so try to be respectful. I also don't want to fork over any fines for shooting a button ($25) or a buck with less than 3 on one side ($50).

Work all week this week and then down to the cabin Friday night to hunt Saturday. Then back out with my buddy Sunday. Good luck to anyone that can get out this week.

[Zem18]

Left Friday at 6pm and headed to the camp. Got within 5 minutes of camp and it was sleeting. The roads were a sheet of ice. Made the last part of the trip interesting but going slow got us there. Went to the turkey party at the fire station. Small crowd due to the weather this year. I won a 16lb turkey, but lost $20 playing poker for the capons.

Got to camp at 930 and we played poker til 1115. Was rain/sleeting the whole night and it was a nice icy mess in the morning. It rained all day long. I walked , and walked , and walked some more and only put 1 deer up that I never even saw, only heard. My BIL and FIL didn't see or hear anything. Had to change my clothes twice as I was soaked to the bone. Not a good day that's for sure. And so ends another year at camp. Was a good time and can't wait to get back down there again.

Headed out with my buddy and his crew in the morning for our usual Sunday ritual. Hope to put one down no matter the size tomorrow after the frustrating day I had today. Time for a hot shower and a warm comfy bed.

[First-light]

Good night sleep and give them hell tomorrow! good luck! I have Zach headed to camp with me next weekend! His plane lands at 4:00 Friday by 6:00 he is in the truck on the way to camp!!

[Fletch]

Good luck tomorrow!

[Zem18]

Thanks for the good luck wishes. Had a great morning. Saw 10 doe, a 4pt and a high, but narrow 8pt. Also had a coyote come in behind me on a drive. I was sitting in a ladder stand waiting for the drive to start and when I stood up to see what was behind me, he bolted.

I took a shot at a doe and missed early this morning. She was moving in a hurry and her two little ones ran right to me and I saw her coming so I tried as she crossed the trail I was on. Glad I didn't hit with a marginal shot. One miss with the rifle, and one with the shotgun. More trigger time this off season for sure.

Looking forward to muzzleloader. I should be able to get out both days next weekend and I took the last day off to get out and put some more miles on the boots.

Good luck to you guys next weekend with the front stuffers. Make the first shot count. Hopefully Zach will connect, unlike us old guys.

Edited December 8, 2014 by Zemmer18

[Zem18]

Had a gas line blow on the explorer and a brake line too on the same day. What crap a$$ luck I have. I swear this black cloud follows me.

Anyways, took a half day Friday and still didn't get it fixed so said screw it and will hunt this weekend. Went to my in laws Saturday morning. I had to shoot the ML as last year it shot low and I did not get out before the regular season to shoot it. I set up in the field and walked to the woods to make sure no one was out there. Set up at 50 and fired. Was 5 inches low. Brought the scope up 20 clicks. Fired another and was 3 inches low, but that was all me. Fired round three, and was 1 inch low but 3 inches right. Adjusted 12 clicks left and swabbed barrel so I could load round four. Shot and was perfect at 50.

It was starting to snow some more so I reloaded and took a stroll up back. I then went on the 29 acres of the neighbor and cut tons of tracks, and spots where the deer were digging down in the snow and turning up the leaves. They are after the acorns. Did not see anything fresh nor a deer.

Went out with my buddy this morning to his property. Was just us two so we drove to a few spots on the wheeler and pushed to each other. Saw 5 at the first spot but they saw my buddy and took off. Put up another 3 on the edge of the sanctuary so they were off limits. Hunted hard for 3 hours but no shots.

I took Tuesday off for the last ditch effort. Going to hit the honey hole from last year and hope to get something. Can't wait to get back out.

Oh and that POS explorer can wait til next weekend when hunting is over.

[Zem18]

Met a friend at my in laws this morning at 730am. My FIL came out and the 3 of us headed into the honey hole area. As we were walking in, a shot rang out above us. I think we may have bumped some deer to someone, just not sure who or where exactly. Hunted til 1130am with my friend. My FIL was walking around near us and at 10 am he shot a doe.

At 1145, my friend and I hit a 100 acre spot he has hunted this year and I hunted last year. He bumped 2 going in. We both walked and I bumped one around 130. I saw him below me and he had a spike in his sights but the shot wasn't a clear one so he erred on the side of caution. We headed back to the honey hole for the afternoon hunt. Got settled in and started watching the area. At 4 pm I went to squat down to look at another area and I heard a twig snap. Busted! I got a quick look through the scope and it was a nice buck, at least a six, but he was out at least 110 to 120yds. Can't believe he saw me through the little opening. All is not lost. My streak continues in the honey hole, and that is the second nice buck I have seen down there on the last day of ML season. Next year will be a different story, now that I have a better idea where they are coming from. I will get there earlier in the afternoon and down farther from where I was to run into anything that may come by. Was a good day with good company, and an end to another good season.

[landtracdeerhunter]

I enjoyed reading your journal. Thank you!

[Zem18]

Thanks LT. I always enjoy the stories of others so I try to add as much detail as I can and make it interesting. Happy holidays to all.