Hunting Log

[Longcolt44]

That is a great picture.

[MeatMarket]

I need a good camera with a zoom lens

[MeatMarket]

South Carolina
19 September 2016
5:20pm - 7:50pm
Mixed deciduous forest, semi clear

Partly cloudy skies, 88 degrees, occasional light breeze from the west. Waning gibbous moon.

Initial observations: Nothing making noise except the cicadas and a lonely crow singing the blues. As I write this, a couple songbirds trill and tweet off in the woods. It's pretty calm out here.

6:00pm: there is definitely something to the northeast in the direction of the bed down areas.

6:10pm: a very angry crow is quorking south of me.

6:26pm: lots of birds moved into my area and are making their noises

6:35pm: everything has died down again

6:50pm: I notice a fat squirrel climbing down a tree about 20 yards east. He goes to the far side of the tree so I can't see him. I make some clicking noises trying to imitate a squirrel and he comes around to my side of the tree for a look. He is now at ease and begins digging around the tree for nuts. I make a mental note of this for future squirrel hunting.

7:24pm: the woods are stifling this evening. I imagine the deer are lying low till it gets cooler tonight

7:50pm: Nothing today

[MeatMarket]

South Carolina
07 December 2016
7:00am - 5:20pm
Mixed deciduous forest

Overcast skies, 48-64 degrees throughout the day, hardly any wind. 7 days since the new moon.

Initial observations: the ground is wet from the last three days of rain. I'll do some stalking today. There is an abundance of squirrels and crows this morning. I have been out of the woods for the last two months as I just got married and have settled into a new work life balance. The woods were calling so I took the day off to hunt.

Post-hunt reflections: I started in my stand until about 9:00am when I climbed down and began moving on foot. I found many bed-down areas where I expected them to be with fresh tracks and three fresh tree rubs. All the deer probably got up and headed out before dawn because I didn't see anything all day. I made my way back to my stand about 4:00pm where I remained until sundown. As soon as I climbed down I saw the silhouette of a deer just in the wood line about 60yds west of me. It was too dim to see clearly by then and even when I raised my scope I couldn't be sure it wasn't a trick of the light until I clicked my tongue to get a response and it flashed its tail and ran off. Better luck next time.

When I got home I found a possum in my trap. I had been trying to trap a coon I saw going under the house before. Oh well, I'll make do with this possum. I now have its fur stretching and drying and its meat in the bottom of my freezer (it looks just like a coon once the skin is off). I'll cook him up sometime soon and let y'all know how it is.


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[Junk Yard Dog]

The only time I see a possum it's chunks of meat scattered all over the road with a rat tail to identify the remains. Coon's I see every morning and evening when they come out to see me about food. The deer are out there, they are hiding a bit more now that the seasons under way, they can still be found just outside my door, I encourage that with piles of stale bread, you never know when I might need some fresh meat in some emergency.

[steelbuttplate]

A cold North Carolina morning,Dec. 4, 28 when I left home. Barometric pressure 30.06. Good sign. Typical river valley fog, clear and frosty up out of the valleys. 6:45 I start in the woods, when I get to my stand I move it about 75 yrds, and I am up in it in new spot in 10 minutes. 7:05 light enough to see gunsights. 7:20 I hear a deer walking and it quits. I bleat, and I drop the last 3 drops of my Tinks 69 on leaves below my stand. 7:35 he walks right under me on the left side and stops. I switch into predator mode and lay my finger on the safety. 7:37 he starts a slow sneaking off walk that breaks into a trot in a few feet. As he picks up speed I'm following with the thump gun, when the sight hits front shoulder BAM. He rolls right and plows in, never moves again. I didn't even get excited. Old age, shot nerves, I just set there calmly and thanked the Lord for what just happened. Then it hits me I don't have any help, or cell service, and no hand truck. 10:15 I arrive at my truck with the deer. Thats a good kind of tired.

[Ironnewt]

Indeed it is. I have assisted one of the guys in my Hunting Club with his nice sized doe this year and my regular shooting partner got a goose this morning. I haven't seen anything in range except when it's out of season or after nightfall.

[steelbuttplate]

An owl woke me at around 3:45 this morning, I spotted a deer last night at dusk, probably 7:45 or so, it was eating not far from my door. Mother raccoon and her half grown babies paid me a visit around 10pm last night when they polished off the remaining cat food outside.

I've had to start putting panties on my chickens at night cause of them damn things.