[Drew]

in reply to: 2019-20 season updates #142291

I got out and hunted with my 56# @ 28” Northern Mist longbow the other morning. This was my very first traditional only hunt.

I went into a valley that I usually hunt with a North wind. The valley is a hardwood streamside management zone with a creek down the center running East to West with mature pines to the North and South. That morning we had a South wind so I took my little Lone Wolf climber and ascended a tree near the creek that runs through the center of the valley. The plan was to cover a deer trail that runs along the upper third of a hill to the South. Deer tend to funnel through this valley early in the morning going back to bedding to the East or late in the evening heading back to a pasture to the West to feed after dark. Last year about this time I observed 3 deer take this exact trail moving East to bedding around 7:30 AM. If they followed this same trail it would put them broadside at 10 yards.

I was up the tree and all set to hunt a little before 6:45 AM. Around 7:25 I heard tipping coming from up the valley to the East heading toward my location. This was the opposite direction I had expected the deer to come from. I also soon realized that the two does were on the North side of the creek from me and were about 50 yards out. I turned to watch them as they passed by me going West.  So much for best laid plans. At least they did not seem to get a whiff of my dreaded human scent. I stayed on stand until 11:00 AM and climbed down. I will be back in there soon.

It was a fun hunt. I was happy to take the longbow out for the first time after deer. Hopefully I will have more to report soon.

[Drew]

in reply to: Danger of Dragging #142007

I quit dragging in favor of quartering and packing several years ago. I have come close to injuring myself several times trying to drag out deer. I found out about quartering and packing from reading the posts and watching videos by a Louisiana hunter by the name of Warren Womack.  I tried it and never looked back. All I need now is my ALICE pack, a Case Trapper and a hat mounted light (if recovery is after dark) and that is it. I can get it done in 20 minutes at most. I think East of the Mississippi quartering and packing is not a common method but out West is much more well known.

An unforeseen benefit I have observed from going to this method of retrieval is that I no longer consider how far is too far to hunt from the truck.

[Drew]

in reply to: New Eyes #141404

I picked up a pair of Vortex 10×42 in March just prior to turkey season. I used them quite a bit to glass turkeys out to 800 plus yards across cotton fields during season and I have been delighted with them. They are light years ahead of what I had been using. I could tell gobblers from jakes most of the time at that range. I had a lot of fun just watching those birds.

I plan to take them out again soon to the hardwoods and check some white oak trees for acorns. Deer season is not too far off now. I can definitely recommend Vortex binoculars.

[Drew]

in reply to: Just joined and wanted to say hello #140674

Thanks for the warm welcome.

[Author]

Posts