One More Sleep to the 2021 Muzzleloader Season

[MikePal]

Like the saying goes: A bad day in the bush is a whole lot better than a good day at work.

No kidding, it was rather invigorating sitting in the -8 with the Sun peeking thru the trees at sunrise. Best vacation I've had in years

No deer were seen, but had a great time watching the Turkeys. They apparently are roosting in tree about 200 yards from my stand. Heck of a racket a fly down. There are two groups, about 24 in one, mostly all hens and a 2nd group of 7 that are all Toms. They circulate thru the area once every hour or so.
A bit annoying but sure break up the monotony.

I'll give that spot another 8 hours (4 dawn and 4 dusk) today then I'll move on to another stand later in the week.

[Big Jack]

So no deer in ML season yet.

We did well in shotgun/ml season though so no complaints.

[MikePal]

I think there's something wrong....what season are we in ??

[punkrockerpj]

lots of turkeys kicking around. a few yotes more active. i find with this snow here and first rut come and gone the patterns have changed a bit. back to cover, food and first and last light tactics

[impact]

I have been alternating between two WMU's this week with one being archery only. (municipal bylaw)
Just walked out at dark and 2 deer standing in the field a couple of hundred yards away from my archery stand in the bush.
Nothing on camera the last couple of days so they have me figured out.
Back to ML for the remainder of the week.

[dilly]

I am seeing deer, just not one I want to shoot yet. Now that the week is ticking along, my standards are going to slip.

[Bolingbroke]

They drove me nuts today. A buck tearing up the trail I walk in with 2 fresh scrapes and 3 beds in the snow. Not a piece of deer hide seen other than a coyote crossing a field in the far distance. It was -9C walking in this morning and the crunching of the crust was heard for kilometers I'm sure.
Gorgeous day to be out though.

Like the saying goes: A bad day in the bush is a whole lot better than a good day at work.

That depends on how much work is waiting for you when you get back sometimes....

Decided to try a guide this year and they dumped me in the worst position and terrible stand. Lots of deer around and the only one I wanted to shoot (a fat spike) I blame solely on the blind. Every time I moved he would turn and look and stamp and snort... I was so busted but he was hungry, he headed out tail in the air long before I even got the gun to my shoulder. You couldn't move without the floor making a noise (cheap boards for the floor), the windows were too big, the curtains useless in the sun which from about 10am to 4pm I could have taken the chair and sat on the hill behind for all the cover it gave. I should have taken a picture, standing at the bait pile you could see the inside clearly with the sun shining in. Wind direction and rain did me no favours too as all the deer seemed to be coming from downwind until they caught my scent and reversed course and made they even made it colder in that box. I enjoyed getting out, the bald eagle and ravens were interesting... the "camp" (mouse hotel with no apparent attempt at pest control) had me switching to a hotel and driving an extra 30+ minutes so for their part, nice guide, owner seemed only interested in money (showed up to make sure I paid him the full balance the last day) and I would say what a complete waste of money! In a couple decades of hunting that is probably the worst blind and "camp" I have had!

[gbk]

Bolingbroke-to bad to hear that,sucks.
Just a curiousity, is this was Ontario ...or else?

[trimmer21]

That depends on how much work is waiting for you when you get back sometimes....

Decided to try a guide this year and they dumped me in the worst position and terrible stand. Lots of deer around and the only one I wanted to shoot (a fat spike) I blame solely on the blind. Every time I moved he would turn and look and stamp and snort... I was so busted but he was hungry, he headed out tail in the air long before I even got the gun to my shoulder. You couldn't move without the floor making a noise (cheap boards for the floor), the windows were too big, the curtains useless in the sun which from about 10am to 4pm I could have taken the chair and sat on the hill behind for all the cover it gave. I should have taken a picture, standing at the bait pile you could see the inside clearly with the sun shining in. Wind direction and rain did me no favours too as all the deer seemed to be coming from downwind until they caught my scent and reversed course and made they even made it colder in that box. I enjoyed getting out, the bald eagle and ravens were interesting... the "camp" (mouse hotel with no apparent attempt at pest control) had me switching to a hotel and driving an extra 30+ minutes so for their part, nice guide, owner seemed only interested in money (showed up to make sure I paid him the full balance the last day) and I would say what a complete waste of money! In a couple decades of hunting that is probably the worst blind and "camp" I have had!

Sad to hear that. Most of the time,the very best guide is your own two feet. Remember the old adage "If you want it done right,you have to do it yourself."

[Bolingbroke]

Bolingbroke-to bad to hear that,sucks.
Just a curiousity, is this was Ontario ...or else?

It was in Ontario, I'm hesitant to say who simply because part of it is hunting and weather and luck. He did fit me in as a solo hunter and some other guides just add a bunch of money or say minimum 2. That said I also don't think he had spent any time looking at the stand and the deer traffic etc., the height and sun shining in made me stand out about like a Christmas tree on a dark night and that "camp" building had mice inside, but what ever the heck was in the rafters was a lot bigger and more worrying when you are trying to sleep!

Sad to hear that. Most of the time,the very best guide is your own two feet. Remember the old adage "If you want it done right,you have to do it yourself."

That's what my wife made me promise and after that its my plan. Anyone have any maps of crown or township properties you can hunt Toronto east? Rather than going north east seems to have alot of deer and might be worth a change of focus and closer.