In the Zone with Zem

[Fletch]

Get a pic of her and wack he in a couple years after she has some fawns. She sounds cool looking. I am not one of those don't shoot a white one but I would have passed as well.

[zemmer18]

Yeah it was a tough decision but it was so neat to see her that close I think I may have felt remorse if I had. I had my camera with me but from the time I spotted her til the time she was broadside 8 yards away in my lane took all of 10 seconds.

Oh and I never made it out in the afternoon even though I was home by 3:27!!!!

11-14-09
My buddy called and said lets go to his spot in the morning. I agreed and ended up in the ladder stand, yay!!! It is an awesome stand or so I thought. Met him at 6am and we were in the stands by 6:20am the latest. Is was showering on and off but nothing too bad. We are both in pine trees so we stayed dry and it stopped after about half an hour. I sat down for a bit and watched the red and grey squirrels up there. Good lord they make a ton of racket. Then I thought I saw a big brown thing on the hill headed down. I watched and watched but nothing appeared. About 10 minutes later at 7:40, I see a deer headed to me. I stand up, grab my bow and watch. 3 deer are about 40 yards out headed to my right. I turn in the stand and get ready and here they come.

Now I am a guest here and my buddy stated before, if you see a decent doe, whack it. I've also heard, it's brown, it's down from him. Well the 3 are getting closer and I am judging them and decide the last one is the biggest. The 2 smaller ones decide to come within 10 yards of me, heads down nibbling, and stop. The 3rd is staying back about 10 yards behind a tree. She moves forward as one of the little ones moves as well. I now have a little doe staring at me from 8 feet from the base of the ladder straight on. I'm trying not to shake but cant help it but I DID NOT MOVE. She hopped to the side as if to run but didnt. The biggest then starts scent checking the air and is at 12 yards, behind a small branch, heading straight on at me. Im not looking at the 3rd as it is a this years fawn. I was hoping for them to cross behind my tree on the 4 wheeler trail as that was the direction they were headed. The 2nd deer is now broadside but still small and if I move, the game is up. Well she starts head bobbing anyways and then locks on me. Thats when I moved my eyes only, to the left right into the 3rd deers eyes staring right up at me. PFFFT - GAME OVER. I was a statue except for my leg shaking and my eye movement for 8 to 10 minutes. The 3rd deer blew and 3 tails flew up and ran hi speed directly away from me.

I was disappointed for sure and then thought about it more all day. I start the new job Monday so this weekend is my last chance with the bow. I could've been at full draw before the first 2 came in and the game would've been won by me in about 2 minutes. Oh well, I thought they were going to pass by and then the shot was an easy one but they didnt get the memo I guess. Awesome close encounter though and my blood pressure and adrenaline were definately elevated which is half the reason we go out there. We left around 9:30am.

We checked his trailcam on the way out and at 8:40am on Friday a HUGE 8 point came down the trail, right past the ladder stand and got his picture taken. He has a few broken tines from fighting so I'm hoping he or the other fighter come by tomorrow. We are hitting it early once again and the relative is also going to be there. 3 of us and we will definately have the place covered so nothing comes out alive except us.

My buddy had some trouble sighting in the other day with 2 of his guns. We hit the range to get things worked out. He had his muzzleloader bore sighted and that one shot fine today with the new scope. He still had trouble with his shotgun, also with a new scope. At 25 yds he was 4 inches high. At 50 he was 8 inches high. At 100 he was 18 inches high. We were baffled. He took it to a gunsmith and found out one of his new scope mounts was bent from being hit by the receiver. Mount replaced, boresighted, and $46 later he still has to go back and shoot it for a 3rd time.

I hunted from 2:45pm until 5:10pm again at the inlaws by myself tonight. Very warm, very quiet. Chipmunks galore and a few squirrels but I gave it my all. Only 3 pics on the cam since I changed cards Friday morning.

[Burt]

Close Zemm, close. It's amazing how they pick up eye movement. I was trying to explain it to Zach last weekend and I don't think he believed me. Time and time again I have been busted by eye movement, not to be disrespectful to the deer but I don't look'em in the eye anymore!

[zemmer18]

I think that is a first for me Burt, because I don't ever remember getting picked off by moving my eyes in the past. I jinxed myself the night before by thinking to myself that I hadn't spooked a deer all bow season going in or out from the stand or while on stand, unless you count the snort wheeze incident.

Got the picture of the buck off my buddies trail camera. Here he is showing off while we weren't there.


11-15-09
My last bow hunt of the season was this morning. Met my buddy at 5:45am and headed to his friends house where we have been hunting. Had 2 others join us so the expectations were low with 4 guys hunting 8 to 11 acres. We were in the stands by 6:15am.

I had the bottom stand, closest to the house. My buddy had the ladder stand. Was very foggy this morning so it was tough to see anything. About 8:30 I her the leaves rustling above me so I grab my bow. I see 3 deer at 30 yards on a good trot in some thick stuff. They look as if they were going to come straight out and I could get a shot at 25 yards. Well they turned and went farther out before heading downhill past me. It was the same 3 from yesterday. They crossed the road and that was it. We got down around 9:15am. My buddy said they were 25 yards from him but too many briars in the way to get a clean shot. He said the 2 littles ones were on a beeline right down the main trail in front of me. Moma turned and they followed and thats when I saw them headed away.

I'm thankful my buddy allowed me to hunt his spot this year, otherwise my sightings would've been much worse than they already are. I'll tally up my hours and sightings and modify the post. Ok I tallied them all up and here is the damage:

From October 17th to October 31st I was on stand for 30.25 hours and saw 2 deer. Thats 1 deer every 15 hours and 12 minutes on stand.

From November 1st to November 15th I was on stand for 40.25 hours and saw 19 deer. Thats 1 deer every 2 hours and 12 minutes on stand.

My total is 70.5 hours on stand with 21 deer sighted. Thats 1 deer every 3 hours and 35 minutes. Last years numbers were better but I had fun trying this year. Bring on gun season!!!


Just got an email from my bud and one of his friends said they pulled these bucks out of the Chenango river near us. One is an 8 and the other an 11.

[Burt]

Nice buck on the trail cam, could use some bigger browtines but the hight is good. Look at him licking his nose, he's hot on a doe.
Don't those fools know you can't swim in that river in the fall! What a shame.

[zemmer18]

Yeah he is a great buck even with the smaller brows. Had no doe pics on the cam but he is smelling something. Wished I could've seen him in person. My bud went out this afternoon and sat in the ladder stand in hopes of seeing him but all he saw were dirtbikes and 4 wheelers. He was less than happy but oh well.

Those bucks mustve been fighting close to the river and in all the thrashing went in. Didn't get the story except they were pulled from the Chenango.

Also heard about this buck so I checked it out. Was shot in my county (Tioga) 2 towns over in Candor. Scored 176". That is HUGE!! The one on the bottom is no slouch either.
nybowhunter.blogspot.com/search/label/Tioga%20County

[zemmer18]

Hey all just checking in. Been busy with the new job the past 2 days and with everything else life brings. I am missing being out there for sure. I haven't gotten home until almost 7 the past 2 nights and then I have to get dinner and the kids bathed and to bed. By the time I sit down its late.
I remembered tonight that I only have 2 more nights to get my stuff ready for gun camp. I should be able to get it done tomorrow so i can cook on Thursday night for down there. I'll check in one more time most likely Thursday night. Good Luck to you bowhunters the rest of the week. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for ya.

[Fletch]

Hope the new job is going well bud!

Good luck on the shotgun opener!!

[Burt]

Great to hear about the job! Good luck Sat, weather seems to be looking good. I will post in my journal one more time before the opener.

[Burt]

Good luck gun hunting-be safe! Go get'em Zemm!

[zemmer18]

Thx Burt - I'll give it my best shot int he time I have at camp.

Not to be a downer but these last few days have been terrible for me. The job is going ok, a little overwhelming as it is alot different from my last but I am adapting. I received 2 phone calls yesterday evening while still at work. One from an employee at my last job. His wife has cancer nodules in her lungs, liver, thyroid, and ovaries. They were headed to Syracuse today so I told them I will keep them in my thoughts.
The second call was from another employee I had. He told me the IT specialist from our last job committed suicide. He was in his late 20's and had only been married for approx 2 years. I can't help but feel bad but then I don't know anything about his personal life. He was a funny guy from the Ukraine and always made me laugh. He will be missed.

My wife usually calls in so I can stay at camp but this year she can't as she was sick a few weeks ago for real. Although I have the week off, I will only be able to hunt Saturday, and until around 1pm SUnday and then I have to come home. She has to work Sunday night and all week as she usually only works 3 days. I'm hoping t oscore at least 1 at camp and then maybe I can piece together a few hunts at home in my bow spot maybe even with the bow as pressure is fairly light.

I'm not one to ask people to pray but I do ask that you keep some of my fellow people in mind as you take to the woods this weekend. Thank you guys.

Be safe and hope you all score on a nice one this weekend.

[Burt]

You got it Zemm!

[zemmer18]

11-21-09
I left work around 6pm Friday night and then got a bite to eat. Made the drive to the happenin town of Lordville, lol, and finally to camp. My BIL was there and another member named Dave. We talked a bit and then heard some 4 wheelers. It was another 2 members who have a house up the road. We shot the bull some more and then my FIL made it down around 11pm. I mentioned playing cards and the next thing ya know it was almost 1:30am. The alarm went off at 5:30am!!

I stayed in my bunk til about 630 then got ready as everyone filtered out the door. I hunt across from the cabin so it's a short walk. I got dressed, made my lunch, and made the walk to my stand by 7am. Was a fairly warm day. I decided to sit until 10:30am. Nothing moving by me but there were more shots than I have heard in those 3.5 hours than I have in the past few seasons down there. Most were towards the back of our property so I decided to walk that way. I walked to a great lookout spot where the deer cross at about noon. I sat for an hour there and moved on again. Took another hour and a half to get to the next spot I wanted to get to but our newest member was set up there. We talked a bit and I moved back out of there. I headed up an old logging road to the spot I shot my little buck last year. I finally jumped a deer at 2:45pm. It was a little skipper from this year. She leaped across the road and then slowed. I eased up some more and peeked over the birm and she was headed away but no shot. Stayed there on the property line until 4:15. I saw the guys from the club above us but dont know any of them. They drive all day long so Im sure some of the shooting was them.

I was half a mile from camp so I started back. Man am I out of shape. My legs were cramping up and getting charlie horses galore. It was a painful walk back with plenty of stops but I made it just at dark. Had a great beef stew dinner that I had made for everyone and then headed to town to call the family and get some different mantles. No mantles and I forgot to take my cell phone so it was a wasted trip.

One of the members Andy took a nice doe in the morning. My FIL took a large bodied spike at 11am. My BIL shaved some white hair off a doe, no blood. Not a single squirrel sighted by any of the 6 hunters out there today. It was a weird opening day. Played cards until 11pm and I was falling asleep at the card table. Very sore as well.

[zemmer18]

11-22-09

I must've been very, very tired and sore. My BIL tried to wake me this morning or so I am told but I never knew it. I ended up missing the entire morning. I slept until 10am. I couldn't believe it myself. When I got up I had a headache and just felt crappy. I watched my FIL debone his deer on the tailgate of his truck and then he made cheeseburgers for lunch. I decided to walk a little to stretch my sore legs but it was going to be on flatter ground today.

11:30am and I headed out the door and down the road to the main gate. I crossed the hard road and went up the short hill across from the cabin. It's a bout a quarter mile down to the hard road and I was going to push that flat back to my spot across from the cabin. I made it to my spot around 12:45pm. Didn't put up a flag. I had to leave there by no later than 3pm so I figured I would sit until 2 or 2:15 and head back.

Just before 1pm I heard a twig snap below me. I grabbed my rifle and was looking that way. Then I see a head appear from behind a large rock. She instantly locked onto me. No clue how she knew but she knew. She moved forward staring at me but was headed straight on at about 35 to 40 yards. I could see her ears sticking out either side of the tree that was between us. She then stepped forward more to get a good look at me. She was quartering to me and I had that front shoulder area exposed. She turned slightly and I saw the whole shoulder and pulled the trigger. Well tails flew up all over the place. She had 2 deer behind her I never heard or saw. The one I shot at ran out into an opening and 2 little ones followed her. They stopped between 120 and 150 yards out and I had to wait for the littles ones to clear out of the way. When they did my scope was already on her and I squeezed again. She went down immediately, dead in her tracks. Not 100% sure if I hit her on the first one. Looked as if she was dragging that leg but couldnt find an entrance of exit where I aimed. The 2nd shot caught spine and exited out her neck, taking out the windpipe in the process.

Had a little remorse for shooting momma but the skippers will join another group hopefully and be ok. So I head over to her and get to cleaning quick like. I had to get home. I am taking out the heart for my buddy the school teacher who uses them for his anatomy class when I hear crunch crunch behind me where the deer came from and where my stand is. I am thinking its my FIL coming to help as I had to leave. I dont see anyone but I hear the leaves crunching. Then I see a deer strolling to me and it stops at 15 yards from me. Its a buck. I have a bloody knife in my right hand, a bloody heart in my left, a doe behind me on the ground, and my rifle another 4 feet behind that. Thank goodness it was only a spike with 2 half pencils sticking out of his head. He looked at me and then I said out loud to him, "Sorry I shot your girl" He shuffled forward about 5 feet and stopped again. Looked at me, put his head down and then walked off. I could hear him wlaking away for the next 10 minutes. He was in no hurry and in no way afraid of me in the least. I talked to him and moved around as well and he didn't care. Was pretty darn cool and funny at the same time.

Finished up and drug her straight down the hill (thank goodness again) to the creek. I drug her through the water and then didnt have the leg strength to pull her up the bank on the cabin side. My FIL and Dave were there to help me out. Dave then proceeded to tell me he was coming back for lunch and saw 2 of the 3 deer feeding below. They saw him and darted up to me. I thanked him for pushing them to me and then told my story. I cleaned up and packed the truck and as I was pulling away I checked my watch and it was 3pm on the button. My wife was happy I made it home at the time I promised because she had to work tonight.

Was a good weekend except for the sore legs and headache I can't shake. I will snap pics tomorrow. My FIL was bringing her back in his pickup either tonight or tomorrow morning. Not sure when I will get out again but it will be soon as I am off this week. I'll keep ya posted.

[Burt]

Way to go Zemm, cool encounter with the spike! We were in bed by 8 pm opening day! Everyone was so tired. (are we getting old?)