Today is the last day of the "normal" 2012 Indiana Deer Hunting Season.
Normal, because this year Indiana instituted a late doe only firearm season starting immediately after Christmas. And, there is still muzzle loader season.
After hunting a lot during the first week of the season, I really wanted to get out a little more after a long stressful week at work. The area was blessed with near perfect temperatures on Saturday morning. I woke up early enough to have a cup of coffee and a quick bite to eat and still have enough time after a slow start to get into the field.
I headed out with plenty of time to drive, walk, set up the stand, climb and get settled before daylight; there was no reason to rush. I got set up and for the first time since buying it over two years ago tried my LED headlight instead of my flashlight. I have no idea why it took me so long to try this, no more holding my flashlight between my teeth, this thing is great.
I was set up in the tree with 45 minutes of darkness to spare. Since temperatures were near 45F, I thoroughly enjoyed the time in the dark. People who don't hunt, or who don't hunt in treestands simply can not understand what this time is like, sitting in absolute quiet in near pure dark in the middle of the woods. Although mostly cloudy, the moon brightly shown for only brief periods, casting eery shadows through the trees and brush. The wind was predicted to pick up, but the early morning was nearly complete stillness.
As it got light, squirrels started moving, but very little else. I heard a few gun shots in the distance, none close by. This was more shooting that I heard toward the end of the first week of the gun season, suggesting deer movement might be returning after the crush of opening day, but I did not see any deer all morning. Given how quiet it was, I'm a little surprised by this. I sat calmly until late morning and then had to work to sit still for a final half hour until I climbed out of the stand, walked the south end of the Mike's property before heading back to the truck. For the second year in a row, I am skunked out of Indiana's gun season. Like I remarked earlier, after years of shooting a deer on opening day or the second day, I am relearning venison humility. However, I think I overall enjoyed this season more than many of the last few years.
Today, the last day of the season opened with torrential rain at daylight. I often like hunting in the rain since many other people sit it out, as long as I can stop that annoying drip of rain that always seems to find a path to the back of my neck. Having the right waterproof clothes helps. But hunting in heavy rain on the last day of the season reeks of desperation.
A recent article in American Hunter (I think it was this magazine) suggested a deer population crash was imminent and only drastic action could save it. This seems odd at best given many states are pushing doe hunting to help control the current population levels. I'm not sure I believe population declines are at hand and if it is close, a solution is easy - a rarity in government policy. Decrease the doe hunting opportunities. The county I'm hunting in allows seven does to be shot per hunter. Most don't, but gosh that is a lot of deer. When I started hunting two decades ago, Michigan handed out doe permits like snake bite serum. Now states are practically begging us to shoot does. I wish I could have obliged.
Does two years without a deer on some fairly decent property suggest we're seeing a deer population crash? Not remotely, that is why it is called hunting. Thanks for the extra time in the field and thanks for the Bundle License. Please use my non-resident license fees wisely for the intended use of conservation. Kroger is only about 10 miles away.
I've been experimenting with muzzle loader loads recently. I've been playing with IMR White Hots and PowerBelt Platinum bullets. I'm not sure if my muzzle loader does not like one, or both, of these; since the gun must be disassembled for proper cleaning something else may be going on as well. My last shooting range outing was disappointing. I'm probably going to sit out the muzzle loader season and continue to experiment. I can always return to my old standby of Pyrodex and "normal" PowerBelts. These have served me well for quite a while - maybe I won't sit out the black powder season after all.
And then there is the late doe season. I hope to get out for a day or so then, but we'll have to see. With a crushing population decline right on the horizon, maybe I better not.
Good Hunting.
