Last Day Gun Hunt

Back to the same spot as I told about on Tuesday. This time very little wind but enough to carry our scent across the marsh. I saw 3 antlered white tails WT, 12 doe WTs and 7 sikas but all were across the creek...not one deer on our side. A great morning to be out for sure. Turkeys were gobbling and the geese were flying good. Left at 11:30.

Cold, Windy Sika Hunt

Headed to Dorchester, despite the weather report of high winds, to see if I could catch a stag being blown around within range. Didn't happen....I saw a young whitetail 3 pointer under the feeder. He said shoot me, shoot me but he lives to see another day. I did see a stag and another unknown about 400 yards across the marsh. The wind was so strong that it would have stopped the bullet before it got there LOL. I hung in there til 11:45 am. I intend to go back when the wind slows down and the surrounding properties provide some pressure. The view was stunning with a great mix of phrag beds, short grass, needle rush marsh, creek and a great view.

Another Great Day with Joshua

Joshua came over Friday night and we prepared for his second deer hunt by handling the rifle some and going over good kill shots while looking at deer in various positions. 4 am came early but he was excited. Ate some brekafast and dressed for the cold. At the farm we met a father and his 10 year old son who was trying to kill his first deer. Joshua and his boy hit it off from the start.

We were on stand by 6:15 and didn't see a deer until about 9:45. Before 10:30 arrived we saw a total of 5; none with antlers. Since Joshua killed a doe on youth day he decided he wanted to only kill an antlered stag or whitetail....it was his decision and he stuck with it. We heard his buddy shoot but it was a miss.

Into the lodge we went and had a great lunch while the two boys played pool and kept occupied. They were truly deer hunting buds. Morning hunts were planned but both wanted to stay and our gracious host said please do. We went back to the same stand with great anticipation for seeing a lot of deer. Well, we saw deer that Joshua could have killed but he was holding out for the antlered deer. We heard a stag bugle a couple of times getting closer each time but we ran out of light.

Just before we called it quits we heard his new friend's gun go off. getting over to their hunting site we found his friend standing next to an adult doe anxious to tell Joshua the story. High 5s all around. Neat thing: his friend killed his first deer, a doe, out of the same box blind within 10 yards of where Joshua's first deer fell.

What a great day...time with my grandson. We went home where I fixed us supper and then took him home. His mom told me they watch a movie. I was lucky to make it home and crash. We appreciate the kindness of our host to let us hunt on such a great farm.

 

Sika Country Gun

Tried the old sika spot in Dorchester this am despite the strong winds and it was fairly cold. Actually the wind swung around and blew the wrong way. When that happens I'm out of there; and so I was. I didn't see nor hear anything while I was hunting.

Stopped at the Birthday Boy's shop Jason Kephart and picked up a thumbhole stock I bought for the Encore. Jason felt, as I did, that the season was kinda slow...not much movement. Maybe this string of cold weather days will help. I want to take a sika hind to put in the freezer this week...that doesn't mean I won't put a good stag on the ground though.

Tomorrow morning  will be fun as I take Joshua, my grandson, again with hopes that he can take a sika or a decent whitetail buck. I better take a sleeping bag for him to crawl into as it is supposed to be pretty darn brisk. He is excited to go...I do believe the hunting fire burns in him...we'll see.
Later

Gun Season Hunts in Maryland

Well, I started gun season on Sunday evening in Somerset County. The weather was cold and the regulars (5 of us) were hunting. I scouted around a little and taking the wind into consideration I decided to do a first evening ever in a stand I put up last year in January. A camera was on the finger of land closer to the bedding area island. It was a good evening to be out but I never saw any deer until reaching the food plot with very poor light. No one else saw a thing.

The next morning was cold and found me in a stand on the neighboring property. I saw movement to my left but it was small 6 pointer which turned to walk up right past me. I earped him he stopped at about 12 yards getting his picture taken, ran a few steps then looked back one more time. I saw a button and that was it for all of us...they just weren't moving. That evening I took a stand off the road. A couple back in the thick caught my wind but I never sighted a deer. The owner took the stand I was in that morning and saw two but no shots.

The last morning brought a big chahge to a warm 51 this morning.  I elected to walk and scout out some edges along a bedding area. I carried my Winchester 30-30 cal. I jumped a couple out of their beds. I located a good stand tree overlooking the edge and will put it up soon for some late season action hopefully. One of the guys saw a nice 2 1/2 year old 6 pointer that he passed on. He saw 3 other 6 monthers which he passed on. The owner saw a small buck and a fawn.

I came home that afternoon . The three that stayed did not see any deer in the pm. We are supposed to get a cold front Wednesday night. Good for that. The pics show the view from a spot I hunted and  what one of the big boys made.