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0-7 On the opener

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    0-7 On the opener

    Well, I put in a total of 7 sits since opening morning and I got nothing to show for it. I forget how tiring these early season hunts are. Up at 5am, 4-5 hour sit, lunch and maybe a nap if nothing needs to be done (always seems like something at camp needs to be done), getting ready at 3pm, in the stand at 4pm for another 4 hour sit. Eat, clean up, chat and back into bed after 11pm for not a lot of sleep before you repeat. The adrenaline wears off after that first day (my lease mates were up at 4am the first morning, and progressively kept waking up later and later )

    First sit was a bust. I sat in a cattle panel blind off a feeder that I have to hand corn to get the deer in within my range. (actually all the feeders are like that.) Something came near, out of my window's view and stormed out without snorting. I did see a fork buck come in on the other side of the feeder, but he decided not to come in. I wouldn't have shot at him anyways.

    Second sit was a blast actually... but disappointing. I had asked a leasemate last weekend to put up a camera in an area I liked to still hunt for hogs and have run into axis multiple times. Well not only did he put out a camera a the intersection, he corned it for me too! There were lots of good pics at that spot and I knew about an area I had tucked into once while still hunting. So I went out, cut some brush, put down my chair (note that I had left my popup for this area at home by mistake ). Well, I had all sorts of animals moving around me. Had a doe circle me within 15 yards until she popped out into the lane and picked me out. The lane was too wide apparently. About an hour later, I hear the woods open up with the sound of hogs scurrying around. One big one head right towards me directly from the side through he thick brush, but stopped short and reversed and decided to take the trail to the corn instead. He was every bit of 200# or more. He came in and was feeding inside 10 yards of me. I waited until he turned more broadside and went to draw. Well, drawing spooked him and he bolted away and stutter-stopped once but just kept running. I really really really wanted to drop that hog. Not but a few minutes later, another group started coming in from the same direction. I knew this was a bigger group and would likely swarm me from the side again, so the first one up the trail on to the corn was going to get it. A 70ish pounder came into the same spot and as I drew, I got the same result, he spooked. But he made the mistake of stopping at about 15 yards broadside. I was already drawn so I adjusted and let the arrow fly. The lighted nock was indicating that it was going to be on target, aligned with the leg. I never saw the light "blink" as it squealed and took off. I thought I clipped its lower leg. The bunch took off and I got up, packed, and went to get my arrow only to be surprised by what I found. My arrow was completely covered in poop! I expected to see hair and a trickle of blood on the BH, but not a poop covered arrow. I said the appropriate foul word that described what was covering the arrow and texted by buddies. There was no blood at the impact. Long story short, I found one very small spot of blood about 20 yards up the hill where he stood for a moment, but that was it. Hind sight is easy, and I know what I did wrong.

    Third sit I went back to the same spot of opening morning. This time a doe came in from in front of me and began eating on my hand corn. She was so high strung she practically flinched at everything. I think the sound of her chewing made her flinch. Needless too say, she stuck around for 5 minutes before her anxiety got the best of her. I would have hoped she would have calmed down... but it is best that she probably ran off.

    Fourth sit I gambled on another spot I hadn't hunted due to wind conditions and limited choices. I went to a rifle blind I setup for my son that was 40 yards from a feeder. I hand corned the area that they walk through to get there, about 15 yards in front of this blind. Well, long story short, got busted by a group on their way by me to get there and nothing ever came within range, but got to watch deer at the feeder.

    Fifth sit I went my other cattle panel blind. Got busted on the way into the stand in the pre morning hours. Got situated and 20 minutes later got blown out again. I was busted no less than probably 6 times on this sit as the wind seemed to be all over the map. I did have a clear shot on a deer just at legal shooting light, but I didn't take the shot since I couldn't tell what kind of rack was on it. I really wanted to put an arrow through it regardless, but I somehow mustered some restraint. I did the same thing for my first deer the previous year thinking it was "the same doe that keeps coming by" and it turned out to be a 4pt. Oops... oh well This time I kinda wanted to know what I was sending an arrow through before hand. I did get to see deer again at 35 yards down at the feeder (this stand is at a pinch point.)

    Sixth sit I returned to the scene of the crime with the hogs. I spent another hour making that brush blind better. I brought some twine and tightened up the cover and made the opening much much smaller. I remember thinking that even if I didn't see anything, that I'd be happy with the effort of building the blind. Well, I found out that I'd have to test that thought. I did see a squirrel though.

    Seventh and final sit had me returning to the same feeder again as opening morning but on the other side in a pop-up due to the wind. Didn't see anything other than a rabbit and so I packed up and headed home.


    My takeaway from this trip was some reaffirmation that I need to make some changes in my setups. I am hunting a place that was not setup for trad hunting. The feeders are in open areas that allow for gun hunting from far away and that makes it difficult to put in tight covered bow blinds that will be inside 15 yards for me (the only trad shooter.) Last year I winged it and got lucky a couple times to have deer within range. On the positive side, the impromptu brush blind was extremely rewarding and I was pleased that I was able to pull that off.

    #2
    We're tied - I'm 0-7 too. Hunted Saturday morning through Tuesday morning.
    I could have killed plenty of WT doe, but if I was going to kill a doe for meat - I wanted an axis doe instead, and none of them came within range. I saw multiple younger WT bucks, and only one axis buck - none of which were ready for an arrow.

    I bombed on a 25 yard shot at a nice hog. Went over its back by what seemed to be an inch or two at the most.

    My next go at it will be the end of the month. Hopefully I'll improve my score!

    Comment


      #3
      but....YOU WERE HUNTING!!!!!!

      Comment


        #4
        If I see deer I don't consider it being skunked. Sat 4 times so far and yesterday evening I was skunked! Notta! The other 3 sits I have seen 11 bucks and 7 Doe. 1 decent buck but I have 2 targets and neither have shown.

        Comment


          #5
          Are there any large trees on the lease? If so, find the perfect tree for a treestand (15-18ft high) and start hand corning at 10-12 yards...........always keeping wind direction in mind. At least its worth a try. I'll bet it'll help with getting busted as often. Good Luck!!

          I sent you a PM
          Last edited by Hunter Todd; 10-05-2016, 11:09 AM.

          Comment


            #6
            I'm 0-2, Gonna try to make it 1-3 this evening!
            Keep at it!!

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by bwssr View Post
              but....YOU WERE HUNTING!!!!!!
              This! Keep your head on a swivel and your nose in the wind brother.

              Richard

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Hunter Todd View Post
                Are there any large trees on the lease? If so, find the perfect tree for a treestand (15-18ft high) and start hand corning at 10-12 yards...........always keeping wind direction in mind. At least its worth a try. I'll bet it'll help with getting busted as often. Good Luck!!

                I sent you a PM
                Where do I start when it comes to trees. I run into problems when it comes to trees

                1) I am not a big fan of heights, but I have and will hunt out of trees because I like to hunt, not because I like climbing trees. I usually feel a lot better if I use a life line rope. Because of that, it isn't my "go to" setup if I don't have to.

                2) Because I live in suburbia, I don't get to practice elevated shooting. I do all my shooting on the ground, so when it comes time to hunt, I choose that option first from a shooting confidence standpoint.

                3) I bought a tripod, but at 7 ft to the seat, I was still getting picked off. 7ft isn't high enough.

                4) I don't have straight pines... so ladder stands are harder to place, etc, etc (I am in the hill country... cedar is king... oaks are tangly.

                5) The feeders themselves are set in locations where they are kind of in the open, where lots of trails cross. Getting on those feeders means you are spreading your scent down a lot of trails. If I were to reset the place, it wouldn't be like that, but I share the lease, and all setups are community setups.

                So this is why I hand corn near feeders or on pinch points to feeders. I can't get out there every week to refresh hand corn, so I am just corning areas of existing high traffic due to the existing feeder locations.

                I am really trying to rethink my strategy, so I am open to a bunch of ideas, and getting vertical has been suggested already and I am considering how to do that... #2 is really the sticking point, and I'd really need to find a way to practice elevated shooting more often. It might just mean I setup some other baiting areas that can accommodate my hunting style.

                I've thought about using shoot through mesh as I have not had issues with it other than it shortening shooting hours due to light.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Shiloh View Post
                  We're tied - I'm 0-7 too. Hunted Saturday morning through Tuesday morning.
                  I could have killed plenty of WT doe, but if I was going to kill a doe for meat - I wanted an axis doe instead, and none of them came within range. I saw multiple younger WT bucks, and only one axis buck - none of which were ready for an arrow.

                  I bombed on a 25 yard shot at a nice hog. Went over its back by what seemed to be an inch or two at the most.

                  My next go at it will be the end of the month. Hopefully I'll improve my score!
                  Funny, my next trip out will the end of the month as well. Although... I maybe doing some "scavenger" style hunting up the National Forest and a sit or two at Hilltop lakes before my next trip out to the lease.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by SwampRabbit View Post
                    Where do I start when it comes to trees. I run into problems when it comes to trees

                    1) I am not a big fan of heights, but I have and will hunt out of trees because I like to hunt, not because I like climbing trees. I usually feel a lot better if I use a life line rope. Because of that, it isn't my "go to" setup if I don't have to.

                    2) Because I live in suburbia, I don't get to practice elevated shooting. I do all my shooting on the ground, so when it comes time to hunt, I choose that option first from a shooting confidence standpoint.

                    3) I bought a tripod, but at 7 ft to the seat, I was still getting picked off. 7ft isn't high enough.

                    4) I don't have straight pines... so ladder stands are harder to place, etc, etc (I am in the hill country... cedar is king... oaks are tangly.

                    5) The feeders themselves are set in locations where they are kind of in the open, where lots of trails cross. Getting on those feeders means you are spreading your scent down a lot of trails. If I were to reset the place, it wouldn't be like that, but I share the lease, and all setups are community setups.

                    So this is why I hand corn near feeders or on pinch points to feeders. I can't get out there every week to refresh hand corn, so I am just corning areas of existing high traffic due to the existing feeder locations.

                    I am really trying to rethink my strategy, so I am open to a bunch of ideas, and getting vertical has been suggested already and I am considering how to do that... #2 is really the sticking point, and I'd really need to find a way to practice elevated shooting more often. It might just mean I setup some other baiting areas that can accommodate my hunting style.

                    I've thought about using shoot through mesh as I have not had issues with it other than it shortening shooting hours due to light.
                    I understand your frustrations. I dont have any pines either but you'd be surprised where you hang a ladder stand. To solve the hand corn problem I bought a ghost feeder (silend feeder) and installed it on a 35 gal feeder barrel. I hung it about 25 ft up in an oak tree. I use a boat winch to raise and lower it. It works like a charm, silently drops corn twice a day and I only have to go into the area every three weeks to fill it up.
                    Also, 95% of my practice is from the ground. The other 5% is sittin on top of a 10 ft step ladder 10 yards from my target. (much faster than climbing a tree to just to practice) I just remember to bend at the waist while shooting from the tree. Again, Good Luck this season!

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Don't feel bad, I'm 0-6 myself. I'm gonna hunt here again tomorrow though, and head to Big Oak Friday. Hopefully the score will change!!

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Im 0-5.. going to different land this weekend for a change of scenery..

                        Comment


                          #13
                          I am getting the impression that folks might think that I am upset or something... Certainly I am disappointed, but last year it took 11 sits before I finally got a deer down and put several after that and came home empty handed. So I certainly have some perspective. I am grateful that I was able to put in those 7 sits. At the same time, I think there is room for improvement on upping my odds.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Keep after em!! Not trying to critique you at all, just thought I'd throw this out there. Have you tried Corning a little further out? Use to, I would corn around 15-20 and deer just seemed very high strung. I am completely comfortable at shooting a deer at 30 yards. I know people here will say nothing over 20, but I have never had a problem with deer ducking 20-30 yd shots. Not saying it can't happen, because I know a deer could easily duck it, I have just had good luck with it. So maybe try Corning 20-25, if you are comfortable shooting past 20. It may not change a thing, but I think it's worth a try!

                            Comment


                              #15
                              0-3 here....seeing animals but nothing i've wanted to shoot so far

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