Live From The Woods 2024-2025 Edition

[First-light]

Getting ready to go to my stand from the field. Put some tinks out and just like that a deer jumps up out of her bed not more 10 feet from me. Must of been sleeping. Scared the crap out of me! lol

[landtracdeerhunter]

 Friday afternoon sit. Wow, someone flipped a switch and it became winter. Few flurries is all, here. Wind is pounding in daylight. Drops off when sun sits.. Had deer in the clover, in bow range, 5 minutes after legal light., when the wind dropped off. 

Saturday morning, deer in cover before 6:20.

[First-light]

We saw a few small ones. Neighbor pushed his property today we were in the right stands for it. They only shot a small doe. Usually a few deer are taken on this drive. Tomorrow another day. 

[First-light]

Took a shot at a Doe tonight around 4:30. 1st shot she didn't move 2nd shot ran. It was about 80 yards. Found her tracks and blood. Not a lot of blood but every 5 feet or so there were drops and at times multiple pin drops. She probably went about 100 yards. Snow made for easy tracking with blood along the way. This picture is the most I had in the 100 yards. The rest was pin size drops but like I said multiple ones. She took me to the field crossed it into some heavy cover. Thought I heard her in there and backed out. This is the same area my brothers deer ran to that we found the next day. I backed out at 5:30 going back up at 7:30. Wish me luck!

[Shoots100]

Got into camp Friday afternoon and geared up for a deer drive for some friends that haven't seen anything for two days because of the weather.

Had a few doe go their way, but all small ones.

My brother and I who were doing the driving saw two shooters and we each dropped one out of what turned into a group of seven doe on a drive Saturday afternoon.

The deer are herding up in my local and with temps proposed to stay in the mid twenties for the next week it seems that still hunting is the way to go if you want to see deer.

Saw close to 40 deer in two days still hunting in my snowshoes.

I can't remember the last time I used snowshoes deer hunting in November, but it was great to be outdoors and putting meat on the table.

SJC

Edited Monday at 01:28 AM by Shoots100

[First-light]

I'm back from tracking. She is leaving decent blood she went into really thick stuff so I backed out until the am. Just puzzled at the blood trail. Hit site blood and some hair nothing great along the first 100 yards blood every 5 feet or so multiple drops slight spray. When I came back it seemed she started to bleed more. In fact I had blood on both sides of the track and on some weeds. It seems like at times good blood then it slows down. Thoughts on it? Ill be back out at 7 to take up the trail. I can look until 8:30 then have work but will come back in the afternoon. 

Edited Monday at 02:10 AM by First-light

[ANTLERS]

14 minutes ago, First-light said:

I'm back from tracking. She is leaving decent blood she went into really thick stuff so I backed out until the am. Just puzzled at the blood trail. Hit site blood and some hair nothing great along the first 100 yards blood every 5 feet or so multiple drops slight spray. When I came back it seemed she started to bleed more. In fact I had blood on both sides of the track and on some weeds. It seems like at times good blood then it slows down. Thoughts on it? Ill be back out at 7 to take up the trail. I can look until 8:30 then have work but will come back in the afternoon. 

Seems like blood from the entry and exit wound, which is good. I’d pick it up in the morning, I’m sure she’ll be found. 

[First-light]

4 minutes ago, ANTLERS said:

Seems like blood from the entry and exit wound, which is good. I’d pick it up in the morning, I’m sure she’ll be found. 

She sure is going a long way and not even bedding down. I thought that was odd? 

[First-light]

Unfortunately we got an inch of snow and expecting a few showers this morning. I marked last spot hopefuly she is not far. I'll look 7am to about 8:15. Again I can pick it up after work from 2-dark. 

[suburbanfarmer]

2 hours ago, First-light said:

Unfortunately we got an inch of snow and expecting a few showers this morning. I marked last spot hopefuly she is not far. I'll look 7am to about 8:15. Again I can pick it up after work from 2-dark. 

My guess is low brisket/leg hit
They can go a long ways

[bugsNbows]

Concur on the brisket hit.

[landtracdeerhunter]

11 hours ago, First-light said:

She sure is going a long way and not even bedding down. I thought that was odd? 

Bleeding out internally.

[First-light]

Guys thanks for your thought. Started at 7 last blood. We had light fluffy snow last night it covered the blood but still was able to make out tracks. Followed wrong set for 45 minutes. Came back and started again. My brother said to brush away the new snow and BAM blood. Followed for another 50 yards finding blood as I brushed away snow. Had to stop to get to work. Good thing is Ill be back at it at 2 pm. These temps not worried about deer spoiling. It's tedious work and have to go real slow. Good news in the direction she was headed I heard crows. I have found deer this way. Just hope the yotes didnt find her also. Report back tonight. FL

[landtracdeerhunter]

2 hours ago, First-light said:

Guys thanks for your thought. Started at 7 last blood. We had light fluffy snow last night it covered the blood but still was able to make out tracks. Followed wrong set for 45 minutes. Came back and started again. My brother said to brush away the new snow and BAM blood. Followed for another 50 yards finding blood as I brushed away snow. Had to stop to get to work. Good thing is Ill be back at it at 2 pm. These temps not worried about deer spoiling. It's tedious work and have to go real slow. Good news in the direction she was headed I heard crows. I have found deer this way. Just hope the yotes didnt find her also. Report back tonight. FL

That's the problem we've had with leaving them over night. Adding light to the subject ever so increases the odds., but risks finding half the deer sometimes.

Hope you have successful outcome finding the gold.

[First-light]

2 hours ago, landtracdeerhunter said:

That's the problem we've had with leaving them over night. Adding light to the subject ever so increases the odds., but risks finding half the deer sometimes.

Hope you have successful outcome finding the gold.

Thank you, I always have to give it my all when I wound something. I think another 3 hrs tonight should put an end to this one way or another. Yes Gold would be great! Thank you!!!

[First-light]

Well it didn't work out. Went back to last blood and could not find anything else. We did have some snow melt today may of had a role in it. Put 7 hrs in looking still disappointed though. 

[steve863]

12 hours ago, First-light said:

Well it didn't work out. Went back to last blood and could not find anything else. We did have some snow melt today may of had a role in it. Put 7 hrs in looking still disappointed though. 

I don't know.  No offense, and I will probably get ripped for this but I think you guys really need to learn how to shoot better.  I've followed your posts for years now and it seems that every season you or someone in your group is following blood trails half way around your county.  The goal should be shoot and drop them on the spot if not within sight.   I know it doesn't always work out that way but it should in most cases.  I don't consider myself the greatest shot in the world but it's been a good long while since I've had a deer go out of sight after I put a bullet through it.  Again no offense but just my observation of your posts.

[First-light]

22 minutes ago, steve863 said:

I don't know.  No offense, and I will probably get ripped for this but I think you guys really need to learn how to shoot better.  I've followed your posts for years now and it seems that every season you or someone in your group is following blood trails half way around your county.  The goal should be shoot and drop them on the spot if not within sight.   I know it doesn't always work out that way but it should in most cases.  I don't consider myself the greatest shot in the world but it's been a good long while since I've had a deer go out of sight after I put a bullet through it.  Again no offense but just my observation of your posts.

No offense taken, known you a long time. Yeah it happens and I guess when you have a large population of deer and a bunch of hunters odds are your going to wound 1 or 2. It's not a perfect sport shit happens to all of us. I'll tell you this I looked for 7 hrs I would bet on it most would of looked 15 minutes. My shot my responsibility to retrieve the animal. As for the past I think we post more about misses than wounding them. lol

[steve863]

10 minutes ago, First-light said:

No offense taken, known you a long time. Yeah it happens and I guess when you have a large population of deer and a bunch of hunters odds are your going to wound 1 or 2. It's not a perfect sport shit happens to all of us. I'll tell you this I looked for 7 hrs I would bet on it most would of looked 15 minutes. My shot my responsibility to retrieve the animal. As for the past I think we post more about misses than wounding them. lol

My hat off to you for putting in the hours to look for it.  Although if you put in some time to practice shooting it would be less likely that you'd be needing to spend hours looking for a wounded animal.  Get yourself a decent .22 with a scope to replicate the firearm you hunt deer with and put up a miniature target of a deer.  If you can hit the vital area at distances up to 50 yards in the different hunting stances that you would be taking while actually hunting and it will do wonders for you.  You live where you hunt so you can just step outside and practice.  No need to travel to a range and waste too much time or money.  Believe me, it will improve your shooting tremendously.  My .02 cents on the matter.

[Hock3y24]

PA opener was not bad, I saw over 10 deer from the cabin, but didnt feel like takin a doe, actually no one wanted doe first weekend. I sat in a blind sun evening and saw two bucks fighting 500 yards away (200 yards from another guy). Got on the radio and boom 30 minutes later the bigger 8 pt was dead. prolly  100". Fri and sat will be my last two days as I have to work Sunday. But the smoke pole is ready too. Cut my sons doe from wed up last night, perfect temps to let her hang for 5 days. 

[landtracdeerhunter]

Sun with a light southwest breeze turned into 15 minute heavy snow squall about 4:30 pm. yesterday.  With no snow on the ground, it turned white in a hurry. Quit as fast as it started followed by doe and young ones checking the clover. They moved on to the grassy vegetation rather quickly.

This morning, the same weather conditions at 4:45. Took a walk back at 7:15 with no fresh tracks. Deer have been moving early ever since the showers of Thanksgiving morning here 

[Cory]

Over 40” of snow at the cabin with another 12” expected tomorrow. I’m thinking my season is over.

[First-light]

10 hours ago, steve863 said:

My hat off to you for putting in the hours to look for it.  Although if you put in some time to practice shooting it would be less likely that you'd be needing to spend hours looking for a wounded animal.  Get yourself a decent .22 with a scope to replicate the firearm you hunt deer with and put up a miniature target of a deer.  If you can hit the vital area at distances up to 50 yards in the different hunting stances that you would be taking while actually hunting and it will do wonders for you.  You live where you hunt so you can just step outside and practice.  No need to travel to a range and waste too much time or money.  Believe me, it will improve your shooting tremendously.  My .02 cents on the matter.

Last night I had to take another look at the land I was searching. I gave it one more try this afternoon. We used google maps to help find my brothers deer so I went back to that. Wish I did it sooner. My neighbor has this tangled mess with a pond in the middle. This is the sanctuary. He does not allow hunting in there. Probably 20-30 acres. This includes a big pond. Pond is mostly in the middle. There is a funnel of woods that can get you around to the backside. The opposite side is a corn field. I felt the deer may of went through the funnel and bedded back there. I went back there this afternoon and in 10 minutes found her. Unfortunately the coyotes did also. I took two shots at this deer.   1st missed 2nd hit her. I swear she was broadside to me at 80 yards. I guess she wasn't. My second shot hit behind the shoulder(where the snow is) and traveled through the guts and out in front of back leg. I can't make up that angle in my mind she was broadside, I just don't get it. We all have shot deer in the guts. They find the nearest safe place and bed down. This doe went 300 yards until she found her resting place. I even backed out after finding the first bit of cover for two hours the night of the shot. She never bedded down. All the blood in the pictures was from her mouth. Both holes were clogged with stomach debris. She was a mature Doe with a lot of strength. Feel free to add your thoughts. I don't like losing one like this, not a good feeling but may we all learn from it. 

[steve863]

34 minutes ago, First-light said:

Last night I had to take another look at the land I was searching. I gave it one more try this afternoon. We used google maps to help find my brothers deer so I went back to that. Wish I did it sooner. My neighbor has this tangled mess with a pond in the middle. This is the sanctuary. He does not allow hunting in there. Probably 20-30 acres. This includes a big pond. Pond is mostly in the middle. There is a funnel of woods that can get you around to the backside. The opposite side is a corn field. I felt the deer may of went through the funnel and bedded back there. I went back there this afternoon and in 10 minutes found her. Unfortunately the coyotes did also. I took two shots at this deer.   1st missed 2nd hit her. I swear she was broadside to me at 80 yards. I guess she wasn't. My second shot hit behind the shoulder(where the snow is) and traveled through the guts and out in front of back leg. I can't make up that angle in my mind she was broadside, I just don't get it. We all have shot deer in the guts. They find the nearest safe place and bed down. This doe went 300 yards until she found her resting place. I even backed out after finding the first bit of cover for two hours the night of the shot. She never bedded down. All the blood in the pictures was from her mouth. Both holes were clogged with stomach debris. She was a mature Doe with a lot of strength. Feel free to add your thoughts. I don't like losing one like this, not a good feeling but may we all learn from it. 

Good job being persistant and finding her. At least you have some closure on it all.

[First-light]

Just now, steve863 said:

Good job being persistant and finding her. At least you have some closure on it all.

Thank you brother!