In the Zone with Zem

[zemmer18]

Another year is upon us and my hopes and expectations are high. Hopefully everyone will enjoy their own seasons as well as mine as I share all my hunts once again.

I thought I would start of this year with a little map of my hunting area. I talk about my spot behind my in-laws in all my journals so why not share it.

Below you will find a link to the map.

On it there are borders and a few points of interest so you can see the lay of the land. Zoom in and out with your mouse wheel to see the whole area. Keep in mind that this is primarily my bow hunting area. The red gun area is a last resort when I can't make it to camp or I am not out with my buddies hunting. Here is the link:

maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=113364093820793910662.000475d6500da39566155&ll=42.054642,-76.108083&spn=0.002183,0.00419&z=18


I've been busy getting the honey- do list finished so not much time to scout this year but I have had the cam up since August 2nd. I've shared some pics in other threads but here are a few more:

Here's my buddy the spike from last year I believe. He will be nice in a year or two I am hoping



This guy may be a new deer to the area or could be one of the 6pts from last year minus a point. He looks to be a nice 5pt and just about to the edge of the ears with a large body.



The next few pics are tough to see. This old boy hung back just about at the edge of my cams ability but if you look close you can see a beauty of a rack. I'm guessing at least 8pts with a tall rack and some long brow tines. He is definately on the hit list should he appear and present the chance.





Also have plenty of does parading through, some with little skippers and some without. They seem to be coming in under the crabapple tree this year again but not alot of apples on it like last year. Should be a fun season and I am looking forward to it. My next update should be on Saturday sometime. Enjoy and be safe!

[Burt]

Nice Zemm! That buck is nice-go get'em! I'll be up second weekend but have my Brother-in-law at camp with a friend first weekend. Will report in. Hey-very cool with the map, I see that hill all the time when I pass through. I'll be sure to give the Zemm shout when I drive by!!!

[zemmer18]

Thx Burt - Hey on your way through you should stop in and I'll buy ya a coffee at Dunkin Donuts. If you are interested I'll pm ya my number.

[Fletch]

Looking forward to reading about your outings. Good luck this season.

[zemmer18]

Thx Fletch. I'll do my best to include all the details to make it feel like you were there with me.

[zemmer18]

10-17-09 Opening day of Bow

Woke up about 5:45 this morning. It had rained but it wasn't when I checked outside. Got all set to go and headed to my in-laws. Walked through the field to my stand and did'nt bump anything that I know of. Checked my watch and it was 6:30. Pulled my bow up and nocked an arrow and the skies opened up. Figures. It continued to rain until around 9am. Then I could feel the temp dropping and so was mine. I was soaked to the bone (no rain gear) and was getting cold. I hung in til around 10 and said I had to get some dry clothes.

On the drive home I saw a doe coming out of the woods to feed in the backyards.
Dried my clothes in the dryer and put an extra waterproof layer on in case it was to rain again this afternoon. Not sure what I was thinking but I was back in the stand by 11:40am. The rains came yet again but this time I stayed dry underneath. With all the leaf blowers and dirt bikes riding around today it wasn't exactly quiet. Around 4pm the excess noise stopped and it was beautiful. I had a good feeling they would be out to feed. That feeling must've been a gas bubble cuz I spent 10 hours on stand today and didn't see a deer at all. Saw several squirrels and a cool Red-tailed Hawk about 3 trees over from me. Other than that my neck and back are sore from standing/sitting on that little platform.

Had good movement on the camera this week, 96 pics since last Sunday. Alot of daytime late afternoon movement so thats why I hung in there so long but tomorrows another day.

[zemmer18]

Pulled some more pics off the camera. First one is a better view of the Big 5 from above. Still not sure if I'd take him or not, I'll have to see him in person.



Here is a new buck - a 4point. Have a sequence of pics of a small doe that came through and then this dude came through following her with his head to the ground. It's early yet but the cold weather is making the boys crazy.



Disappointed I didn;t get out Sunday at all. Had some things to take care of and some errands to run. I should get out Wednesday, Thursday afternoon, and Friday afternoon.

[Burt]

Good picks Zemm, good luck this week.

[zemmer18]

Headed out in the morning for a few hours. Going to be warm but better than sitting here on the computer.

[zemmer18]

Slow, slow ans slow and this warm weather isn't helping. You look forward to being out there and now that you have been out and been skunked you lose motivation. I'll keep at it though.

10-21-09

Had to get my daughter on the bus this morning so I got to the field behind the in laws at 830am. Wayy too late but I had nothing better to do so in I went. Sat til just before 11 and decided to fix the ladder stand before I left. It had tilted some and made it uncomfy to stand or sit in so I adjusted it. checked my camera on the way out. 60 some pics since I changed the card Saturday but forgot my camera and extra card. I'll check it tomorrow or Friday but I am assuming it is nighttime movement. We will see.

[zemmer18]

10-22-09

Well I had my unemployment orientation this morning so I couldn't get out. Also found that our lovely president granted extensions to everyone who lost their job BEFORE June 21st and they can get 72 weeks. I on the other hand am only allowed 26 weeks but it should be fine because I get $22.50 after taxes of stimulus money to make up for it. Thanks Obama. Ok sorry about that.
3:30pm and I climb into my stand. Sun was shining and it was breezy. I skipped on my coat and hunted in a long sleeve shirt. The clouds were rolling in so I had a good feeling things were going to pick up. The wind is the only thing that did however. I climbed down at 6:10pm and no deer sighted. Checked my cam and the movement is all at night again from 7pm to 1am. The deer are around, now they just need to cooperate.

Headed to deer camp tomorrow morning to finish off the chores before gun season. Taking my Dad and his neighbor for the ride and to put them to work. Hope the rain holds off.

[zemmer18]

10-23-09
Headed down to gun camp this morning. My BIL, Dad, Dad's neighbor, and myself. Was a great trip. We cut more firewood and now have enough for a hard, hard winter or at least 2 years, lol. Also fixed up a few holes in the floor and walls. Those mice and porcupines will do almost anything to get inside that dry cabin. Threw some mothballs under the cabin too in hopes of deterring the critters with big teeth.
Had high hopes of getting out this afternoon but as we pulled into teh driveway at my house it started raining and hasn't stopped for the last 6.5 hours. Tomorrow doesn't look much better but we will see. If not then Sunday morning is the next chance.

[zemmer18]

10-24-09
What a soggy day it was here. Woke up and it was pouring out and it continued until 2:30 this afternoon. My daughters soccer game was cancelled so we ran errands in the rain this morning. When we got home it was cloudy but no rain and a slight breeze so I got dressed and headed out. Was in my stand by 3:40pm. Except for the wind it was super quiet out there today. I saw a small woodpecker fly into the tree about 10 yards from my stand as soon as I climbed up. It was neat watching it search for bugs. That was the only action I had all afternoon. No squirrels, no chipmunks, no deer. I climbed down at 6:20pm. This is getting discouraging for sure. I may need to find a new spot.

[zemmer18]

10-25-09
Woke up at 6:40am and walked to the back deck door. Opened it and the wind about blew me across the kitchen. It was directly from the West. If I went to my usual spot it would be blowing straight back into the woods the way the deer usually come (at least last year as I havent seen any this year) so I opted to get back into bed. My frustration helped ease the decision as well.
This afternoon I did some research on the net and looked over some state land about 10 to 15 minutes from my house. There is alot more than I thought out there so I checked some overheard satellite maps and plan on taking a stroll tomorrow morning and checking it out. I think I overhunt my usual stand anyways so if I can get to a good state land spot on the ground for hunts during the week, I can hunt the in-laws place closer to the rut. I don't really want to wander the woods out there during the season so I will look for an area off the beaten path and be wearing my orange just in case and have the bow with me as well. Ya never know.

[zemmer18]

10-26-09
The mind plays funny tricks on itself and it makes you question your sanity at times. My plan was all laid out last night for the morning. Got my daughter on the bus and was dressed and ready to go scouting/hunting on the state land but had to be home by 11 the latest. Well it was quite foggy this morning and I ended up talking myself out of meandering around unfamiliar State land and headed to the inlaws. As I was walking in I smelled dirt and sure enough not 15 yards from the tree is a fresh scrape. Here is a little pic of the area - pic was prior to scrape :



This thing was so fresh but I didnt have my camera or extra card to see when it was made. Nest time up I will pull the card and see who and when it was made. Spent 2 hours out there and no deer sighted yet again but they are close.