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Post by Burt on Dec 11, 2009 5:22:31 GMT -5
Shoot a big one Zemm! I'll be up that last weekend for smoke pole. Have to pick up that last deer I got also. Funny how most of the bucks on our trail cam did not get shot this year. The small 4pt did but the bigger ones I have heard and seen nothing.
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Post by zemmer18 on Dec 12, 2009 20:49:19 GMT -5
12-12-09
What a Saturday it was today. I ended up getting out of work and grabbing a bite to eat at 7pm. I made it to camp just before 9pm as it was snowing hard and the wind was blowing so the roads were sketchy to say the least. We stayed up playing poker until 1am and decided to sleep in. It was cold so we were up 3 or 4 times in the night feeding the woodstove. My BIL woke me up at 830am along with my FIL. He was headed out already and told me to go to my spot I usually go to. I got up and got ready and my FIL and I left the cabin at 9am.
I made it across the creek and headed up the hill. Just as I was about to crest up top I heard a shot behind me. It was my FIL. I waited but no deer came running up the hill. I continued on and made it to my spot. There was a hard crust of snow on top and it was loud and tough walking. I broke the crust and was getting settled and I look and here come 2 deer running right at me. I hadn't been in the woods 25 minutes and had a doe 15 yards away eyeing me. She didn't like it and snorted and took off. I watched the 2nd deer and it didn't move. I looked for the other one now off to my left at 30 yards. I could see her head, neck, and front shoulder line is all so I held the crosshairs at the base of the neck and squeezed. Down she went in a heap. The 2nd one ran back about 60 yards and stood there looking around. I was hot and sweaty from the walk up the hill and the adrenaline rush hit me and I suddenly felt sick. My legs got weak and I almost puked. That was definately weird so I sat down in the snow and leaned back against the tree to relax. I watched the other deer for the next 25 minutes mill around and look around for the other one. I knew my BIL kicked them to me so I was waiting for him to come and shoot. Finally I got up and went to look at my deer. The other one took off the way I wanted it to but my BIL was down below it by 70 yards and he never saw it. I got to my deer 30 yards away and here comes my BIL. We laughed and got to business. My hands were frozen red popsicles when I was done but he carried my rifle to the cabin for me while I drug her. Man I was thankfull for all that snow as dragging was a breeze.
We discussed doing a small push to him before we met for lunch at the cabin. He headed up the road as I went in to wash up and get my hands warm again and to stop tingling. He wasn't up the road 200 yards when he hears splashing in the creek. He looks and there is a doe running in the creek next to him. I heard the boom and just started laughing. I thought he got one. I got cleaned up and headed up the road. I saw his tracks in the snow so I followed. I ran into him and he missed. I did the small push to him from there which produced nothing.
After lunch my BIL headed up back and I would do a larger push to him. It was tough walking but I forged ahead. Nothing. We met up and split up again. I told him where he needed to be and I headed to the old road to walk up to our field. Well he ended up cutting fresh tracks so he didn't go the way I had suggested. I was walking up the road and I hear BOOM. I stop and wait. Within a minute I see a deer headed to me again. I knelt down behind a tree and waited. It was another doe he put right in my lap again and she too came within 10 yards of me but never saw me. I went to see if he downed one but it was another miss. He shot at the one that ran by me and it may have been a little too far and through some stuff he probably shouldn't have tried to shoot through. He yells to me, "I'm having a friggen blast out here" and we both busted out into laughter. It was a fun day. BTW had he gone where I told him he needed to be, that deer would've been dead as it was feeding within 50 to 70 yards of the spot I suggested and shot would've been a clear one. Thats why it's called hunting and not killing right?
The shot from my FIL was a miss as well. He did say he tried a pop shot to get the 4 doe he jumped up to stop or change direction but it didnt work. I saw 3 and could've shot all 3 but ended up filling my FIL's tag. My FIL saw 7 running away from him today. My BIL saw 4, shot at 2, and ended up with nothing. He did almost hit one on the way home tonight right in front of me. He called me and said that was miss #3 for the day and he was most thankful for that miss cuz he was driving his wifes Explorer. 14 deer sighted by 3 hunters today, no to shabby!! We closed up camp after eating some venison sausage from doe #1 this year and headed home to a hot shower and electricity.
I'm meeting my neighbor at 7 tomorrow morning to hunt his place for the last day. I still have a buck and doe tag for up here so maybe #4 will fall tomorrow. If not, I have had a pretty good gun season this year and I am looking forward to muzzleloader next weekend.
SIDE NOTE: My FIL told me someone shot the Big5 up by his house during gun season. Was hoping he would make it through but oh well. Glad another hunter could enjoy him.
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Post by Burt on Dec 12, 2009 22:21:00 GMT -5
That's cool Zemm! I love days like that. It's funny but I tell people 'expect it when you least expect it" I can't tell you how many times late season or at last light or walking out you come across deer. I'm back up next weekend. Got all the holiday stuff in order so what the heck!
We got 4 deer this year, 1 four pt and three button's. Good luck next weekend!
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Post by zemmer18 on Dec 13, 2009 18:00:20 GMT -5
Thx Burt. It was fun for sure. We all got together and butchered her up today. Luckily I got there early and snapped a few shots of her. I must say she didn't look real big in the woods but when we got her home and hung, I was surprised. Here she is.   I did get out with my neighbor this morning. No one else showed up so we hoofed it around ourselves. My legs are killing me even more now. He saw 7 and shaved some hair off of one of their backs. I didn't see anything. |
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Post by Fletch on Dec 15, 2009 11:57:01 GMT -5
Way to go man!! Nockin em down!
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Post by zemmer18 on Dec 15, 2009 20:20:37 GMT -5
Thx Fletch. I have had a good gun season for sure. Our camp did about average as always. We took 4 doe and a spike. I saw a spike after I shot my 1st doe, so we saw only 2 bucks all season. Tons of sign (rubs and scrapes) all over but never caught a glimpse of any of them.
My buddies camp had a terrible year. 5 doe down, no bucks, and only sighted 3 bucks total all year. He has hunted there for 29 years and they have never had a single digit year deer wise. Last year they took 17 or 19 total between members and guests.
I wished I could've gotten out a little more but I was spoiled by having bow season off. I already have vacation time accrued and thought about a few hours off this week to ML hunt but that wouldn't look too good at the new job. I planned to hunt with my buddy all day Saturday but he can't go so I am hoping I can hunt with the other guys at his camp. If not I will go with him Sunday morning. I'd like to get one more to help out the other members of his camp that don't have any venison. I'll keep ya posted.
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Post by fasteddie on Dec 15, 2009 21:31:59 GMT -5
I am still trying to fill some tags . Not seeing a thing !
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Post by zemmer18 on Dec 16, 2009 21:37:44 GMT -5
Srry Eddie, If I was up your way, I'd offer to come out and push em to you. Get those sons of yours to walk the woods and do some drives for dear ol Dad!!!
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Post by zemmer18 on Dec 17, 2009 20:01:19 GMT -5
Well my buddy had to fly to TX for a funeral so I wont be hunting with his buddies on Saturday at his place. I did however solidify plans with my BIL and a buddy of his. We are going to hit a 20acre spot to start off Saturday morning. We will try a short sit and then push it before too long. After that we have another 30 acre spot to hit. Hopefully we will get them moving. My bud will be back Saturday night and his wife gave me the message that we are going out Sunday morning for sure.
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Post by zemmer18 on Dec 20, 2009 21:17:50 GMT -5
Well I had high hopes for this weekend but it wasn't meant to be.
12-19-09
My BIL made the plans for us this weekend to meet a coworker of his that suppossedly had a 20 acre spot we could hunt. We ended up getting there at 630am so we stopped for coffee and Mtn Dew and got all our stuff ready at first light. We walked in and his buddy sat both of us in treestands he had set for the season. It was soooo cold that nothing was moving except the turkeys we kicked off the roost as we walked in. That'll scare ya everytime, haha. I asked how many acres it was on the walk in and it is 80, not 20 like my BIL thought. His buddy pushed to both of us around 930 or so as we couldnt sit any longer. We left with no sightings.
My BIL and I headed to the other spot. It was out there in the middle of nowhere and showed some promise. We parked and I walked down the road to the nearest posted sign and cut into the pines. I zig zagged back and forth and worked to him but I didnt even cut an tracks at all. We worked the swampy area together and he said he heard some deer above him. He went and checked and found 5 beds and fresh tracks. I walked most of the 30 acres and only saw 1 set of tracks. It was disappointing to say the least. We quit after that and I was home by noon to get ready to go "santa" shopping with the wife. What a joy that was.
Had plans with my neighbor for Sunday morning. I got up, got dressed, stepped outside with all my gear at 8am and he wasn't out there. I waited 5 minutes and nothing. So I texted him and he was still asleep. He called me and said he was bailing on me and that maybe we'd got out this afternoon. Never happened. I was disappointed but he had that trip he just got back from and things were just crazy for him so no biggie.
Had a pretty good year all in all. I still haven't taken one with my ML but someday I will. Hope you all enjoyed my ramblings and pics throughout the season. I'd like to wish everyone a Happy & Safe Holiday season to you and your families.
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Post by Burt on Dec 21, 2009 5:26:05 GMT -5
Yes it was a decent year, there is meat in the freezer and great memories were made.
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Post by zemmer18 on Dec 29, 2009 19:30:17 GMT -5
You are correct Burt. I had a great year considering the circumstances. I'm sad it is over though. Maybe I will do some bunny hunting once it warms up a touch. My BIL had mentioned maybe doing some ice fishing and my neighbor said that there was some talk about coyote hunting on his land this year. I'm not ready to put the guns away is what I'm saying.
Well I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all a safe and Happy New Year. Here's to making things better in the new year!!! CHEERS!!!
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