Today is the last day of the Indiana gun deer season.
Opening day started well, but turned out as stated previously. I hope the deer is either alive or was recovered by someone else. My anterless tag is still good for the muzzle loader season. I don't think I'll use it, but I didn't think after my last post that I'd go out again.
Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) was a glorious day. It started a little cloudy, and then cleared and turned very warm and breezy. After finishing some stuff around the house, I went back to Mike's around 2:00. At this point, the temperature was over 60F and it was sunny. I decided that since I needed to "change" something prior to going out, I would use my Super Redhawk. I realize my shotgun probably still has better range, but I just wanted to use it this time. It has been a few years since I used it for deer hunting.
I parked the truck and packed my stand down to the second ravine. The creeks were up, but still passable. Since I was using a handgun, I decided to put my stand right in the ravine, instead of the hill to the South. I hiked the tree stand up about 15 feet. By the time I was in the stand and ready, I was hot. After a few minutes, I put on my hat and gloves as I knew I would get colder. I could hear the wind in the trees, but low in the valley, there was virtually no wind. The noise did mask noise of the critters however.
Since it was warm, I never got cold and took a very short semi-nap. I had picked out my maximum distance in likely areas where deer could show. As it started to get dark, after sunset, a deer came out from the north past one of my shooting lanes. At first I thought it was a small buck, but couldn't see any antlers. A second smaller deer followed it. I had pulled my gun out of the holster when the first deer came out, and was now trying to figure out what to do. The first deer was not nervous, but definitely aware (normal after getting shot at for two weeks). The second deer seemed happily oblivious. The first deer was cautiously walking toward me, head on. It came right near my maximum distance and stopped, stared, but didn't do any of the other typical deer-fear behaviors such as head bobbing or stomping. I started to think about how I could get the gun lined without causing panic from the motion if the deer came closer, or moved broadside, and it continued to get dark. At some point, I decided, there will be no shooting tonight. I watched the deer for several more minutes. I did have two very brief instances where I could have shot. The first deer turned broadside as it decided that heading further into the ravine was not the right choice. The smaller was also broadside for a longer amount of time. After a few minutes, they left away from me to the north, calmly.
There are probably several reasons I didn't shoot. The smaller deer was outside my maximum decided range (barely but still within range if I were target shooting...). The larger deer was within range, but only broadside for a few seconds. It was also getting almost too dark to shoot, but with the clear skies, it would have been doable. I guess the end result of opening day was also playing a role. Lastly, I just decided it wasn't the right thing to do. It was a absolutely beautiful evening and I left knowing I did the right thing.
I stopped to talk to Mike just to say hi on the way out. Went home. And, for the second time, put away most of my hunting stuff. I've deer hunted more this year than the last few. I do wish I would have gotten a deer. There is still the muzzle loader season, but I think I'm done for the year, just like I was a few days ago.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Deer Hunting November 15 - 18
After failing to find the deer on Sunday, I decided to leave the woods alone and settle down for a couple days. Monday was warm and very windy, with torrential rain during the overnight. Tuesday started rainy, but then cleared for the afternoon.
I went out Tuesday afternoon. The rain had swollen the creeks considerably and I didn't think I'd be able to get over the second creek in the dark if I went to the back of the property. I set up a ground blind between the creeks on one of the ridges. I didn't see anything that night. Wednesday morning, I went back out before light and sat in the ground blind. It rained most of the morning, but I was prepared with all my rain gear. With all the weather, it wasn't too surprising that I didn't see anything. I set up my climber tree stand for the afternoon on the east side of the second creek facing North. But, I again did not see anything that night.
Thursday morning was seasonably cool and I went out again before light and sat in the same place as the previous night. I saw one deer on the opposite ridge, but there was no shot opportunity through the brush, especially at that distance. Thursday evening was miserable. I had moved to a tree in a saddle about 100 yards from the back of the property. The temperature dropped precipitously and the wind was screaming. With the noise and movement from the wind, it was difficult to see or hear anything. The cold made it very uncomfortable.
Friday morning was one of the coldest mornings of the fall so far with temps near 20F. I sat from before light until around 10:00, again without seeing anything.
For five of the last six years, I've gotten a decent deer on opening morning. The sixth, I passed on several and shot one the next day. This year, I think I'm paying for it. That is why it is called hunting (a cliche, I know).
The weather for the next couple days is supposed to be cool, but with high winds. I'm going to at least take a few days off. I've enjoyed the past week, so even if I don't go back out, I have no regrets. What to learn? Deer hunting is never a gimme and in the future, I need to have absolute confidence in my weapon.
I went out Tuesday afternoon. The rain had swollen the creeks considerably and I didn't think I'd be able to get over the second creek in the dark if I went to the back of the property. I set up a ground blind between the creeks on one of the ridges. I didn't see anything that night. Wednesday morning, I went back out before light and sat in the ground blind. It rained most of the morning, but I was prepared with all my rain gear. With all the weather, it wasn't too surprising that I didn't see anything. I set up my climber tree stand for the afternoon on the east side of the second creek facing North. But, I again did not see anything that night.
Thursday morning was seasonably cool and I went out again before light and sat in the same place as the previous night. I saw one deer on the opposite ridge, but there was no shot opportunity through the brush, especially at that distance. Thursday evening was miserable. I had moved to a tree in a saddle about 100 yards from the back of the property. The temperature dropped precipitously and the wind was screaming. With the noise and movement from the wind, it was difficult to see or hear anything. The cold made it very uncomfortable.
Friday morning was one of the coldest mornings of the fall so far with temps near 20F. I sat from before light until around 10:00, again without seeing anything.
For five of the last six years, I've gotten a decent deer on opening morning. The sixth, I passed on several and shot one the next day. This year, I think I'm paying for it. That is why it is called hunting (a cliche, I know).
The weather for the next couple days is supposed to be cool, but with high winds. I'm going to at least take a few days off. I've enjoyed the past week, so even if I don't go back out, I have no regrets. What to learn? Deer hunting is never a gimme and in the future, I need to have absolute confidence in my weapon.
Monday, November 14, 2011
November 12-14, 2011
November 12 was opening day for deer season in Indiana. As in the past few years, I was hunting on Mike's land.
When I went to bed the night before, The temperature was near freezing, and I was assuming a very cold morning. When I got up near 4:30, it was almost 10 degrees warmer. I took a quick shower and headed out to Mike's ranch. I easily found my tree, got my climber up to an appropriate height (overlooking the second ravine behind Mike's house) and snuggled down to wait for light. After about 40 minutes it started to get light. Predictably, as the day got lighter, shots started to be heard, but probably less shooting than in some years past. Shooting started to slow down considerably pretty fast, but I had no deer sightings until around 10:00 when a deer was seen way off to my right. It wandered away from me and was never close enough to shoot. At noon, as I was eating my raisins, another deer was running down the hill in the same area, grunting wildly all the way down the hill, I can only assume this was a buck, but I never could be sure. It wandered in the same direction as the first deer. At around 2:00, a doe came by quickly to my left and crossed the creek, followed very close by a small buck smelling at here heels. I put the crosshairs on the buck, but decided it wasn't worth shooting, given the longish shot and odd angle. The deer was on the move to, and it was probably the correct decision. These deer were quickly followed by a second spike buck.
Later in the afternoon, three does came from across the ravine to my right. They were followed by a decent buck with a VERY white ~8 point rack. They milled around for quite a while and moved alternately closer and farther for a long time, eventually working behind me. I alternately put the crosshairs on the deer, but never liked the angle and distance until they were directly behind me, working towards me. Eventually, the smallest doe was right behind me, with the buck 75 yards from me. Since the other two doe were not in a good place, I thought hard about the smaller one, then got a little greedy, and seriously considered the buck. He worked closer to me and I put the crosshairs on him. At this time, the does smelled/saw/heard me and bolted. Since the buck was just standing there, I took the shot. It ran about 30 yards directly across behind me and stopped. I was shooting a Thompson Center ProHunter (single shot) but got reloaded with enough time to take a second shot. The deer reacted as only a hit deer does and ran. After a few minutes, I slowly got out of the treestand. It was very windy, but thought I had heard the deer crash, and I knew he was hit. I spent about a half hour looking for the deer, followed by alternately looking for the deer, and blood sign. Eventually well after dark, I headed home realizing further looking in the dark was not a good idea.
I called Mike the next day to make sure I could cross into the neighbor's property. Melissa and I went out to look, Mike joined us after an hour or so. We all looked alternately for the deer or blood sign. Neither was found. I did find the tree that my first slug hit. It appeared to have red around it, suggesting a decent hit.
I know the second round connected, so I was very baffled as to how a deer with two 12-gauge slugs runs any distance. Never found any blood on the ground, nor the deer. I feel really bad. This is not how opening day(s) is supposed to turn out.
Plan now is to let things quiet down overnight and Monday (November 14). I'll head out Tuesday afternoon again. The good thing, is I'll have plenty of time on the stand to think over what happened and what to do (and not do) both this season and for the future,
When I went to bed the night before, The temperature was near freezing, and I was assuming a very cold morning. When I got up near 4:30, it was almost 10 degrees warmer. I took a quick shower and headed out to Mike's ranch. I easily found my tree, got my climber up to an appropriate height (overlooking the second ravine behind Mike's house) and snuggled down to wait for light. After about 40 minutes it started to get light. Predictably, as the day got lighter, shots started to be heard, but probably less shooting than in some years past. Shooting started to slow down considerably pretty fast, but I had no deer sightings until around 10:00 when a deer was seen way off to my right. It wandered away from me and was never close enough to shoot. At noon, as I was eating my raisins, another deer was running down the hill in the same area, grunting wildly all the way down the hill, I can only assume this was a buck, but I never could be sure. It wandered in the same direction as the first deer. At around 2:00, a doe came by quickly to my left and crossed the creek, followed very close by a small buck smelling at here heels. I put the crosshairs on the buck, but decided it wasn't worth shooting, given the longish shot and odd angle. The deer was on the move to, and it was probably the correct decision. These deer were quickly followed by a second spike buck.
Later in the afternoon, three does came from across the ravine to my right. They were followed by a decent buck with a VERY white ~8 point rack. They milled around for quite a while and moved alternately closer and farther for a long time, eventually working behind me. I alternately put the crosshairs on the deer, but never liked the angle and distance until they were directly behind me, working towards me. Eventually, the smallest doe was right behind me, with the buck 75 yards from me. Since the other two doe were not in a good place, I thought hard about the smaller one, then got a little greedy, and seriously considered the buck. He worked closer to me and I put the crosshairs on him. At this time, the does smelled/saw/heard me and bolted. Since the buck was just standing there, I took the shot. It ran about 30 yards directly across behind me and stopped. I was shooting a Thompson Center ProHunter (single shot) but got reloaded with enough time to take a second shot. The deer reacted as only a hit deer does and ran. After a few minutes, I slowly got out of the treestand. It was very windy, but thought I had heard the deer crash, and I knew he was hit. I spent about a half hour looking for the deer, followed by alternately looking for the deer, and blood sign. Eventually well after dark, I headed home realizing further looking in the dark was not a good idea.
I called Mike the next day to make sure I could cross into the neighbor's property. Melissa and I went out to look, Mike joined us after an hour or so. We all looked alternately for the deer or blood sign. Neither was found. I did find the tree that my first slug hit. It appeared to have red around it, suggesting a decent hit.
I know the second round connected, so I was very baffled as to how a deer with two 12-gauge slugs runs any distance. Never found any blood on the ground, nor the deer. I feel really bad. This is not how opening day(s) is supposed to turn out.
Plan now is to let things quiet down overnight and Monday (November 14). I'll head out Tuesday afternoon again. The good thing, is I'll have plenty of time on the stand to think over what happened and what to do (and not do) both this season and for the future,
What this blog is...and is not
This is intended to be a blog for my adventures. Since this will only be updated during or around my adventures, there will likely be times that this won't be updated for extended periods. But, it will be a way to capture things that happen during adventures.
I don't like to use the word vacation. Vacation conjures up images of laying on a beach doing next to nothing or sitting for hours in an airport, waiting for things to start. While adventures may occasionally have these occurrences, they will hopefully be rare. Laying on the beach may be OK for a short period, but anything longer than that would be akin to torture. I'd rather be doing things. Going somewhere with the journey as important, or more important, than the destination. Leo Tolstoy said that there are really only two stories, A Stranger comes in to Town and A Man goes on a Journey. This will be the latter, although at times, the journey may be short (as in the first real post).
Vacation should be a time of recreation. The word "recreation" gets its origin presumably from the verb to recreate, begin anew. Hopefully my adventures are a way to recreate myself, relaxing can be done anytime. To date, my adventures have successfully recreated on occasion. And, while all have been memorable, memories have and will fade. So I put keys to screen and pen to paper to help remember these. Since everything can come to an end, be lost, the adventures can also be kept in hard copy form. Both serve a purpose, although what this is or could be, I won't know until it is over.
So, let the adventure begin...
I don't like to use the word vacation. Vacation conjures up images of laying on a beach doing next to nothing or sitting for hours in an airport, waiting for things to start. While adventures may occasionally have these occurrences, they will hopefully be rare. Laying on the beach may be OK for a short period, but anything longer than that would be akin to torture. I'd rather be doing things. Going somewhere with the journey as important, or more important, than the destination. Leo Tolstoy said that there are really only two stories, A Stranger comes in to Town and A Man goes on a Journey. This will be the latter, although at times, the journey may be short (as in the first real post).
Vacation should be a time of recreation. The word "recreation" gets its origin presumably from the verb to recreate, begin anew. Hopefully my adventures are a way to recreate myself, relaxing can be done anytime. To date, my adventures have successfully recreated on occasion. And, while all have been memorable, memories have and will fade. So I put keys to screen and pen to paper to help remember these. Since everything can come to an end, be lost, the adventures can also be kept in hard copy form. Both serve a purpose, although what this is or could be, I won't know until it is over.
So, let the adventure begin...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)