Right time, wrong place, getting soft i guess

[Species8472]

Had an unexpected equipment failure on the job today that resulted in a planned all day job getting postponed at 10 am this morning. With nothing else on the agenda for the day i figured i should head up to camp and try and fill my additional tag. Got to the camp at 1 pm and wind was blowing out of the NW at 30-35 km/hour and this was the scene:



I had enough time to scout the 3 locations i had in mind and figured the snow would reveal which had the most fresh sign. First stop was a tree stand that overlooks a bush edge and some meadow area that often has transient deer moving through. The snow revealed some fresh sign so it was a possible contender for the afternoon. This is the view from the stand (picture was taken in October - hence no snow in the photo):



Next stop was a platfrom overlooking a meadow with half a dozen apple trees. No sign here at all so it was quickly crossed off the list. After this i headed down to the river bottom. The river bottom alternates between hot and cold action. When it's hot action it's like fish in a barrel. When it's cold action it is totally dead. Well on the way to my elevated platform i bumped 4 deer so i figured it's hot but i had a nagging feeling that the tree stand was the place to be. I hemmed and hawed but i guess i'm getting soft because the platform at the river is way more comfortable in the cold, wind and snow. It is a thick cedar bush with a tight canopy that shelters you from both the wind and the snow and also usually a few degrees warmer than up top in the open. The river platform shooting lane:



Well hunted right to the end of legal and the only deer encountered were the 4 bumped going in. On my way out i stopped at the tree stand just to see if there were any new tracks - of course it looked like a herd of cattle went through. Before leaving i took a quick measurement of the snow that accumulated today - 6.5 inches or 16.5 cm at the cabin:



Deer were definitely moving today, just not in front of me. No rush anyways still got 6 weeks left.

[GW11]

Can't blame you for picking that spot over the tree stand in wind and snow! Close call on the deer!

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[Sam Menard]

Always next time!

[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

Looks like a great place to hunt!!

[machron]

Story of my Hunting Life lol

[fratri]

Better a bad day of hunting then a good day of work
Congrats on getting out and giving it a try
Great looking place

[DanO]

Yes it gets harder to sit in the elevated stand on a day like that!

[dms]

Better a bad day of hunting then a good day of work

I appreciate the sentiment, and have used that expression myself on occasion, mostly in regard to fishing.
But with all due respect, it's not accurate.
First of all, I would consider that to be a good day of hunting. Even if it wasn't successful, you got to spend time out in the bush, in the snow, learned something about your herd and your locations, and made it home safely. A bad day of hunting, alone in the bush, in the cold and snow can turn out much worse.
Whereas a good day at work can be quite satisfactory, depending on your work.