adriaticum
10-14-2014, 06:30 PM
"Tales from the nube"
Tons of excitement, learned lots but in the end they all whitetails waved bye-bye sucker. Better luck next time.
I was so pumped last week so I took off on Thursday mid-day for the Region 3 area I have visited with Sofa King in weeks past. I saw deer there so the prospects were exciting.
I arrived at dusk, just enough time to take a drive through to see where the deer are showing.
I was basically the only soul on the mountain at the time with only one other guy who left the next day.
On my drive I saw whitetails right in the areas I expected them to be so I coined a plan for the morning warm-up.
In the morning I drove to a little elbow in the road where there was enough brush to keep the truck hidden and me and the dogs arrived before any light, turned the truck off and went for a 30 min nap. As it was getting light and I could see, I start watching the area with my binos and looking to see if there is any movement. If they are there, I would get out and crawl to the area, and smack them over the head with my gun.
There is about 500y between the truck and the “zone” where deer should be. There are a few small pine trees about 6-7 feet tall in the area. I could certainly detect movement in there.
After about an hour and a half, and by now it’s full daylight, I decided, naw, they are not here so I fire the truck up to continue to the next area and as I got to about 100y from the “zone” and 2 does start moving downhill from where I was just looking at for an hour, they spot me first. WTF?!! They looked as surprised as I was. And they were there. I quickly get out of the truck and try to sneak up on them from above (they went downhill so can’t see me again). I come to about 50 yards from them but I can’t see them and they can’t see me. As I start to lift my head they bust me, shriek like I am gutting them alive and dart into the bush before I could say a prayer. This echoed through the whole mountain side. I spooked them good. Ok so I think I am going to set up my blind there mid-day. But first I go to the top of the mountain and snoop around some mule deer areas. I found some bear poop on a peak that made me regret leaving the dogs in the truck. They might have been able to sniff it out.
Ok, now I was going to setup my blind around midday and leave it there for the 4 days like Ambush said. I came back around 4 pm and decided I was going to be in there until I can’t see any more to see what will happen. It’s was ugly windy and it was really hard to hear anything. I was in the blind for a couple of hours and it was almost sunset and I was starting to have doubts that these does would show up. As I prepare to leave something tells me to look behind me and I turn around and spot a nice 2 point whitetail buck looking at the blind, not happy at all. He was standing 20 yards from the blind at 7 o’clock, stomping his feet and licking his lips testing the air. Obviously disturbed. I did not have a window opened a crack on this side of the blind, only the mesh, so I could not take a shot at him. As I lean back to my chair to calm down he shreaks like a mad cow runs away into the bush never to be seen again. I did not see deer in that spot for the remained of the trip and I left my blind there for the 4 days. I went into the forest they were running into to snoop around for an hour. There could be possible ambush points in there too.
On the way back I see does in an area I wasn’t quite expecting them so I said I will come back in 2 days. Let’s leave it to cool off hoping hordes of hunters won’t barge in.
The next day, Saturday, I refueled and drove to some, unknown to me, areas, found some excellent bear habitat and some moose areas. Come Nov 1 it will be tough to decide where to try for moose.
I decided on Sunday probably the ugliest day, I am going to walk this 4km road and poke around the bush in these 2 areas where whitetails are showing regularly. Afternoon was a better choice as I didn’t see much in the mornings. I went to a new area in the morning and boom spooked some does but they didn’t go running like mad. It was raining and I get out and start crawling to cover. On my way I start dropping gear, binos etc. I get to an area where I can see them through the scope and they seem to lower their tails and appear somewhat relaxed. This is at 300y plus and as soon as they leave the patch of trees I let one fly. I aimed at the head and figured if I miss, I will miss clean. They looked surprised and wondering where the shot came from and slowly trotted back into the main forest and waved goodbye.
After this miss I started to have self-doubt. This one and the one on a 4 pt made me think something is not right.
My distance judgment is not good. I know my numbers but my distance judgment is definitely not good.
So I setup a log to shoot at about 60 yards to eliminate the gun. I shot it and the shot was about an inch to the left.
I’m pulling , yikes! But it’s still pretty close. So my next investment will be a range finder.
On my last evening hunt I decided to walk this entire area with 2 whitetails “zones” slowly. As I was closing in on the first area with whitetails I was really careful. Walking from tree to tree. Listening. Waited for a squirrel to stop yapping for 10 minutes before proceeding etc. I am now very close, 80 yards, from where I once spooked the does coming back. At this point there is no cover anymore and I have to be very slow and not make a sound and pray they are not looking my way. The ground was wet and the wind was blowing hard and in my favour so I figured I still may have a chance. Now I moved another 20 yards into the road to cross this little creek bed and approaching the area where the does were feeding to about 40 yards and I’m tense and ready. My gun is ready. I am waiting for something to move of make a sound. After about 15 minutes of intense concentration I start to relax and realize that they are not here. I start to move a little more aggressively in and boom. Two whitetails leap into the air 30 yards in front of me from out of nowhere and run into the thick trees. At this point I didn’t know if I should punch them or what. I am thinking, break a leg bitch, they were jumping so high I couldn’t believe it.
If I had a shotgun with buckshot I could let a couple rip with a better result. I could not believe it. As soon as I start to have doubts and relax, Boom the deer are there.
I was excited and pissed and surprised. All in one. So close.
Monday morning I was going to hit 2 spots but my tire went flat so I spent an hour changing the tire and that kind of removed the surprise factor. I still did the hunts but there was nothing there. I’m sure someone has passed through.
Anyway it’s a bitch I didn’t slap one but at least I’m turning inexperience into experience
I have to go back before the doe season ends.
:mrgreen:
Tons of excitement, learned lots but in the end they all whitetails waved bye-bye sucker. Better luck next time.
I was so pumped last week so I took off on Thursday mid-day for the Region 3 area I have visited with Sofa King in weeks past. I saw deer there so the prospects were exciting.
I arrived at dusk, just enough time to take a drive through to see where the deer are showing.
I was basically the only soul on the mountain at the time with only one other guy who left the next day.
On my drive I saw whitetails right in the areas I expected them to be so I coined a plan for the morning warm-up.
In the morning I drove to a little elbow in the road where there was enough brush to keep the truck hidden and me and the dogs arrived before any light, turned the truck off and went for a 30 min nap. As it was getting light and I could see, I start watching the area with my binos and looking to see if there is any movement. If they are there, I would get out and crawl to the area, and smack them over the head with my gun.
There is about 500y between the truck and the “zone” where deer should be. There are a few small pine trees about 6-7 feet tall in the area. I could certainly detect movement in there.
After about an hour and a half, and by now it’s full daylight, I decided, naw, they are not here so I fire the truck up to continue to the next area and as I got to about 100y from the “zone” and 2 does start moving downhill from where I was just looking at for an hour, they spot me first. WTF?!! They looked as surprised as I was. And they were there. I quickly get out of the truck and try to sneak up on them from above (they went downhill so can’t see me again). I come to about 50 yards from them but I can’t see them and they can’t see me. As I start to lift my head they bust me, shriek like I am gutting them alive and dart into the bush before I could say a prayer. This echoed through the whole mountain side. I spooked them good. Ok so I think I am going to set up my blind there mid-day. But first I go to the top of the mountain and snoop around some mule deer areas. I found some bear poop on a peak that made me regret leaving the dogs in the truck. They might have been able to sniff it out.
Ok, now I was going to setup my blind around midday and leave it there for the 4 days like Ambush said. I came back around 4 pm and decided I was going to be in there until I can’t see any more to see what will happen. It’s was ugly windy and it was really hard to hear anything. I was in the blind for a couple of hours and it was almost sunset and I was starting to have doubts that these does would show up. As I prepare to leave something tells me to look behind me and I turn around and spot a nice 2 point whitetail buck looking at the blind, not happy at all. He was standing 20 yards from the blind at 7 o’clock, stomping his feet and licking his lips testing the air. Obviously disturbed. I did not have a window opened a crack on this side of the blind, only the mesh, so I could not take a shot at him. As I lean back to my chair to calm down he shreaks like a mad cow runs away into the bush never to be seen again. I did not see deer in that spot for the remained of the trip and I left my blind there for the 4 days. I went into the forest they were running into to snoop around for an hour. There could be possible ambush points in there too.
On the way back I see does in an area I wasn’t quite expecting them so I said I will come back in 2 days. Let’s leave it to cool off hoping hordes of hunters won’t barge in.
The next day, Saturday, I refueled and drove to some, unknown to me, areas, found some excellent bear habitat and some moose areas. Come Nov 1 it will be tough to decide where to try for moose.
I decided on Sunday probably the ugliest day, I am going to walk this 4km road and poke around the bush in these 2 areas where whitetails are showing regularly. Afternoon was a better choice as I didn’t see much in the mornings. I went to a new area in the morning and boom spooked some does but they didn’t go running like mad. It was raining and I get out and start crawling to cover. On my way I start dropping gear, binos etc. I get to an area where I can see them through the scope and they seem to lower their tails and appear somewhat relaxed. This is at 300y plus and as soon as they leave the patch of trees I let one fly. I aimed at the head and figured if I miss, I will miss clean. They looked surprised and wondering where the shot came from and slowly trotted back into the main forest and waved goodbye.
After this miss I started to have self-doubt. This one and the one on a 4 pt made me think something is not right.
My distance judgment is not good. I know my numbers but my distance judgment is definitely not good.
So I setup a log to shoot at about 60 yards to eliminate the gun. I shot it and the shot was about an inch to the left.
I’m pulling , yikes! But it’s still pretty close. So my next investment will be a range finder.
On my last evening hunt I decided to walk this entire area with 2 whitetails “zones” slowly. As I was closing in on the first area with whitetails I was really careful. Walking from tree to tree. Listening. Waited for a squirrel to stop yapping for 10 minutes before proceeding etc. I am now very close, 80 yards, from where I once spooked the does coming back. At this point there is no cover anymore and I have to be very slow and not make a sound and pray they are not looking my way. The ground was wet and the wind was blowing hard and in my favour so I figured I still may have a chance. Now I moved another 20 yards into the road to cross this little creek bed and approaching the area where the does were feeding to about 40 yards and I’m tense and ready. My gun is ready. I am waiting for something to move of make a sound. After about 15 minutes of intense concentration I start to relax and realize that they are not here. I start to move a little more aggressively in and boom. Two whitetails leap into the air 30 yards in front of me from out of nowhere and run into the thick trees. At this point I didn’t know if I should punch them or what. I am thinking, break a leg bitch, they were jumping so high I couldn’t believe it.
If I had a shotgun with buckshot I could let a couple rip with a better result. I could not believe it. As soon as I start to have doubts and relax, Boom the deer are there.
I was excited and pissed and surprised. All in one. So close.
Monday morning I was going to hit 2 spots but my tire went flat so I spent an hour changing the tire and that kind of removed the surprise factor. I still did the hunts but there was nothing there. I’m sure someone has passed through.
Anyway it’s a bitch I didn’t slap one but at least I’m turning inexperience into experience
I have to go back before the doe season ends.
:mrgreen: