Reintroduction and a little catch up
Hey all, back here under a new name after a couple years away, went by RiverRat before
You all know how busy life is, moving, selling houses buying houses, having a kid, work, other struggles but lifes great, couldn't be happier and back to getting some more time in the bush
When I was here before I was new, started hunting in 2014, primarily small game and waterfowl solo ventures.
Got out for a deer hunt a couple years back, gun hunt up north. Best bud and I had kids around the same time, got homes, and into hunting, hes up north now on a big piece of property so we have our rookie deer camp, hell yeah!
No deer haha, feels good though having our camp together
That was pretty much it that year
Next year was another one with a sole deer hunt, logistics and scheduling wasn't right so it was with an existing small group out in the kawarthas for shotgun hunt, wife's friends husband, who hunts, so now my friend haha
One day with him and his friend, buddy got a doe that morning, too bad the buck was 20 minutes behind her haha miss!
Awesome experience being a part of it, field dressing, dragging, just hanging it and looking it over and skinning
I need one now, need not want, things are getting easier at home and work, it's time to get after it
So I have a farm I have permission on. It's just outside of my small town. Like really close. I mean I can get in the truck, go there park, hike into my spot in 20-25 minutes. This is too perfect, I can't let it go for granted.its gold Jerry, GOLD! Awesome spot, couple different crops that rotate, 2 creeks that join up to a small river, neighbouring property to the west is 140 acre vacant lot no trespassing, only access would be the main road other than the back way through private property, big pond, an awesome sanctuary next door.
So I got out for spring tukey, covid made it tough but I got out opening day, beautiful day. Saw birds in the field strutting around hens doing their thing, couldn't get them in to my lone hen decoy, one Tom was starting to but stuck with the group, they worked their way into the bush to the right slowly walking through, tried calling them back and nothing.
Now this is the big main corn field I'm on, to the right near where they went into the bush is a small gravel laneway through about 75 yards of forest into an opening, the hay field in the back, maybe 10 acres in size on a bit of a slope. I hear gobbling coming from there, screw sitting around, let's go see what's up.
I start slowly going down the lane, I can see them at the other end up on the hill back at turkey stuff, when I crouch to walk I'm out of eyesight, I can just see heads pole up over the ridge when they gobble the way they are positioned. I get to the end of the lane now I'm crawling, they're maybe 30 yards up the hill, JUST over the horizon, right there. I placemat when decoy, and crawl back maybe 10 yards, laying prone along the edge of the lane, resting over my pack, decoys on the other end of the bead, box call under my chest left hand on it lightly clucking.
Shes coming in, a hens coming down the hill for my decoy, slowly but a consistent pace, right up to it, I hear her chirping purring clucking making lots of chatter face to face with it, I could throw my glove at her shes so close, hearts racing, hands shaking, they'll come too, stay calm. Waiting for what felt like minutes but was likely 15 seconds with her at my decoy she starts to go off to the right opposite from where she came. Ok they'll follow her they've all stuck together all morning they'll be there next and I'll get my shot, shes wandered off now on her own, its quiet, what's the holdup boys? I slowly stand up to see over the top of the hill, they're at the other end, full strut, single file, down a path into the bushes, let out some more calls, they vanish into the bush
Didn't come back that day, but what an awesome experience so much excitement, anticipation, success in ways but some things can't be controlled, just approached different next time. The next time I got out, perfect storm for a bad day. Literally it was the may snowstorm, not many birds coming out to a decoy being buried and my visibility was maybe 15 yards in the whiteout, barrel had maybe 3 inches along it every 30 minutes it seemed. Left around noon, and covid/work/daycare complications ended my season.. but it was a good first turkey season in my eyes
Flash forward to this fall, didn't think I'd get out at all, this has been tough on everyone, mainly for us the daycare issues with sniffles missing tons of work for that, making up lost time at work when I can I assumed this season was shot, but for once it happened. Finally. Shes encouraging me to go! Haha she wants that freezer full, pandemics good for one thing when your married to a thrifter, screw the crazy panic buyers go fill that freezer boy!! You got it LAdy!
So I did no real prep for deer, no real scouting, I have no cameras, but whatever let's get after it already and do this got vacation days, works leveled out let's do it.
I want to do something so I go out and place some rackstacker in a spot I found just in the forest edge, a bit of a clearing with some rotten stumps so put the granular and jelly stuff into it and just leave it, no cams, no idea if it was worthwhile if it will do anything just hoping maybe it will keep one hanging around a bit, make this part of the daily rounds who knows it's a start.
I get out for my first day a few weeks later with my compound. You see I've had it for a few years, I went with it over crossbow because of the fun of practicing it and getting better, if I can't get out for a hunt I can feel like I'm doing something and progressing, and I have. I feel comfortable out to 30 yards max, I've got the space to practice and can get it in here and there so thought it would be a fun rewarding choice... so will a crossbow I'll soon find out. So I'm at the farmers blind he told me to use since they won't be out this year, says they use a trail to the left fairly heavily and have gotten deer there before. Wind was perfect for that situation, it's on the opposite end of the field I was at for the turkeys, so top of the hill, can't see the bottom due to slope. And of course, 2 hours in, a doe is working her way up that field from the bottom along the edge to my right, headed my direction, to me right but kind of behind me so the winds not ideal but I'm not busted yet.
Of course figured the left from what I had learned, so she went right, I'm learning that's deer hunting for ya. She starts working out into the field and stops when shes dead in line with my wind. I did all the stuff the sprays the soaps the boops the beeps, but the wind is king out there...also I did all that and still had a coffee haha dooyyyyyyyy
So she catches my wind and is gone, down the hill into the bush. That's ok, don't have anterless just wait, someone will be following her, before I know it like a ghost there he is, on her trail exactly probably stepping into her tracks. My release is connected, I'm positioned. Heart is beating out of chest how can't he hear it, hes maybe 40 yards out, (remember when I said a crossbow would have maybe have been just as fulfilling and my range is only to 30 yards with the compound? Yeah..) just a little closer, 35, my hands shaking, I've got tension on the string ready to draw back trying to control my breathing, he stops right where she did, we lock eyes, he blows and poof, gone as fast as he appeared, 6 points, tall, patient zero the cause of my current fever, the only prescription is that buck
Anyways, been out 3 more days, day 2 I found scrapes and rubs, no deer but a great day my eyes are starting to pick up on this stuff more I'm noticing more and learning more all in season no cams..
Days 3 and 4 though less and less sign. Did I blow the area out? Are they locked up now? Did someone get him during november controlled? My wmu doesn't have November controlled but neighbouring ones do maybe I I scared him to the next township! Maybe they just dont frequent that area much..
I'll be back out next friday and saturday morning before the areas under the December controlled. I still have that fever, that moment when I had him in front of my will be in the back of my eyelids for a long time. I fear I may never really cure it, just keep it tamed, chasing that antlered dragon for the rest of my life.
Lads, more hooked than I've ever been. Glad to be back with some stories experiences, new knowledge and in this community
Cheers
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