sp69
PMA Member
Tonight provided a hunt I will never forget. My brother and I found this great spot a few weeks back while bird hunting. An unpicked beanfield surrounded by trees deep on state land.
I had gone there a couple of times and saw some deer but was hunting the wind on those days and couldn't get to where I thought the best location was. I had this feeling with snow cover that this place would be a hotspot.
After a long walk through deep snow I made it back to the beanfield. This is when I encountered my first problem. Footprints..... Knowing they had to be made today I followed them to where I could fairly tell where someone would be setup and decided that I would have to walk to another spot about 300 yards away. I was one the same beanfield but kind of around a bend from where I figured another hunter was. Didn't want to take any chances with muzzleloader season open. I had a my bow as I filled a tag early muzzleloader season.
Problem #2 was dicovered after finishing climbing up the tree and going for an arrow and discovering my quiver had detached and I didn't have anything to shoot. I was in total shock. Just couldn't believe I worked so hard to get back to the area and then had no arrow. I knew it had detached when I was climbing and slipping up the steep bank on my way back to the spot. Still can't believe I didn't notice but it has been a season filled with a comedy of errors....
Well it was 3:00 and I decided I would sit it and see what action I could. I no more turned around to take a seat and there were 4 does, one small buck and 15 turkeys in the beanfied 125 yards away. I couldn't believe they didn't see me go up the tree.
I was just praying they stayed out of range. Imagine that but I was only an observer. I do have an archery turkey tag to fill also.
About 4:15 two nice bucks show up with about 10 more does. Both probably 130-140 class. 5 minutes later I can see 10 more deer heading to the field. I saw one about 200 yards away that was definetly a shooter. He got behing a couple of trees right where I was originally going to setup and the spot where I figured another hunter was. I kept waiting to hear a smokepole go but heard nothing.
After a couple of minutes all the deer in the area spook and are all high tailing it out of there. None in my direction but heading up a hill to the west. I am watching this one deer in particular head up the hill when I see him fall get up then hit the ground again. Right then I knew someone had arrowed a buck. Sure enough I climb down the tree arrowless see a hunter and am pleased to see someone had success.
I helped drag out a 150 class ten point for a hunter from Missouri. Boy was he happy as was I. I might have felt different if I had an arrow with me after climbing that tree. We both shared a good laugh.
I have two more days to fill my archery tag. I know I will be heading back as he told me of many more deer he has seen. In fact he mentioned he counted over 60 deer on al all day hunt Monday. Wow.... The deer were moving well at mid-day in 0 degree temps.
Sorry for the long post but I hope you enjoyed my memorable evening. Oh yea I picked up my quiver on the way back to the truck right where I knew it would be.
sp69
I had gone there a couple of times and saw some deer but was hunting the wind on those days and couldn't get to where I thought the best location was. I had this feeling with snow cover that this place would be a hotspot.
After a long walk through deep snow I made it back to the beanfield. This is when I encountered my first problem. Footprints..... Knowing they had to be made today I followed them to where I could fairly tell where someone would be setup and decided that I would have to walk to another spot about 300 yards away. I was one the same beanfield but kind of around a bend from where I figured another hunter was. Didn't want to take any chances with muzzleloader season open. I had a my bow as I filled a tag early muzzleloader season.
Problem #2 was dicovered after finishing climbing up the tree and going for an arrow and discovering my quiver had detached and I didn't have anything to shoot. I was in total shock. Just couldn't believe I worked so hard to get back to the area and then had no arrow. I knew it had detached when I was climbing and slipping up the steep bank on my way back to the spot. Still can't believe I didn't notice but it has been a season filled with a comedy of errors....
Well it was 3:00 and I decided I would sit it and see what action I could. I no more turned around to take a seat and there were 4 does, one small buck and 15 turkeys in the beanfied 125 yards away. I couldn't believe they didn't see me go up the tree.
I was just praying they stayed out of range. Imagine that but I was only an observer. I do have an archery turkey tag to fill also.
About 4:15 two nice bucks show up with about 10 more does. Both probably 130-140 class. 5 minutes later I can see 10 more deer heading to the field. I saw one about 200 yards away that was definetly a shooter. He got behing a couple of trees right where I was originally going to setup and the spot where I figured another hunter was. I kept waiting to hear a smokepole go but heard nothing.
After a couple of minutes all the deer in the area spook and are all high tailing it out of there. None in my direction but heading up a hill to the west. I am watching this one deer in particular head up the hill when I see him fall get up then hit the ground again. Right then I knew someone had arrowed a buck. Sure enough I climb down the tree arrowless see a hunter and am pleased to see someone had success.
I helped drag out a 150 class ten point for a hunter from Missouri. Boy was he happy as was I. I might have felt different if I had an arrow with me after climbing that tree. We both shared a good laugh.
I have two more days to fill my archery tag. I know I will be heading back as he told me of many more deer he has seen. In fact he mentioned he counted over 60 deer on al all day hunt Monday. Wow.... The deer were moving well at mid-day in 0 degree temps.
Sorry for the long post but I hope you enjoyed my memorable evening. Oh yea I picked up my quiver on the way back to the truck right where I knew it would be.
sp69
