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Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2020 1:38 pm
by backstraps
Good job Boogie! Sounds like fun and hopefully you can keep then sighting trend going.
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2020 1:19 pm
by Boogieman1
Day 3 (Hump Day)
Today was more of a kick in the teeth than anything. It has become highly apparent that there isn’t any rut action going on in these parts. When I scouted in the spring I did so with cruising bucks in mind. I believe I’m a week early and this heat wave isn’t helping. Mosquitos have just bout ate me to the bone.
This morning I set a pinch with a big open field to my back. From daylight til 10 I probably saw 30 doe angle across that field 100 yards a way. Not a buck one!
Realized my rut plan isn’t gonna fly. So I got down a lil earlier than usual and beat the bushes. I located a pretty big thicket and located several trails with rubs coming from the thicket. I sandwhiched my stand inbetween 3 of them for an evening sit. Didn’t see diddly.
I’ve already made up my mind the next deer that ends up inside 20 yards of my stand is dead meat. I’m ready to get the heck out of here and back to civilization. I haven't seen a soul since I got here. Getting a bit stir crazy. Hopefully tomorrow’s the day. Fingers crossed....
Found this big chewed up shed in a dry creek bed
Highlight of my evening a lone armadillo passed under me
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 7:13 am
by Stretch
that's not an armadillo, that's what's called a hard shell opossum! keep plugging boogie, were all pulling for ya!
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 7:24 am
by Bwhit16
Good read! Keep after it! Get one on the ground!
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 10:53 am
by mheichelbech
Boogieman1 wrote:Day 3 (Hump Day)
Today was more of a kick in the teeth than anything. It has become highly apparent that there isn’t any rut action going on in these parts. When I scouted in the spring I did so with cruising bucks in mind. I believe I’m a week early and this heat wave isn’t helping. Mosquitos have just bout ate me to the bone.
This morning I set a pinch with a big open field to my back. From daylight til 10 I probably saw 30 doe angle across that field 100 yards a way. Not a buck one!
Realized my rut plan isn’t gonna fly. So I got down a lil earlier than usual and beat the bushes. I located a pretty big thicket and located several trails with rubs coming from the thicket. I sandwhiched my stand inbetween 3 of them for an evening sit. Didn’t see diddly.
I’ve already made up my mind the next deer that ends up inside 20 yards of my stand is dead meat. I’m ready to get the heck out of here and back to civilization. I haven't seen a soul since I got here. Getting a bit stir crazy. Hopefully tomorrow’s the day. Fingers crossed....
Found this big chewed up shed in a dry creek bed
Highlight of my evening a lone armadillo passed under me
Best of luck! I definitely commend you on doing the trip period.
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 1:07 pm
by Boogieman1
Day 4
Definitely not my finest hour. I missed about a 115-120” 8pt at 5 yards or less. Wish I had an excuse but I just flat missed. I hate close steep shots and this was a bad one. I was prob 15’ up but the buck was behind me along a steep creek bank that prob added another 15’. He had his head behind a tree eating acorns, I took my time, focused, and felt good about the shot. Just didn’t work out. Performing at ones best when it matters most is what counts so I failed today.
However, about 45 minutes later I saw about 140” class 10 point just outside of my range. All in all I saw 15 deer this morning and 4 were bucks. I’ve seen more deer this week than I will the entire season back home. I feel I made a good choice traveling to a target rich environment.
Climbed down at noon to look for a better spot. Out of all those deer 75% were just outside my range. I walked the creek looking for a spot to tighten up a bit and if deer do the same thing tomorrow I should be in the chips. I went ahead and hung my sticks and stand for a quick silent entry in the morning.
Evenings have been a problem for me all week. I just can’t get on any deer. Since I hung my stand I hunted from the ground but it was another uneventful sit.
It’s all or nothing in the morning. I’m tired and ready to go home. Plan is to sit till 10 then head for home. Thanks for all the kind words fellas. I’m gonna give it my absolute best shot in the morning.
Oh here’s where the buck was standing behind me to my left when i whiffed. Took a pic so I can really let it soak in
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 1:49 pm
by Ghost Hunter
Hope you have a good Friday morning.
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 2:19 pm
by hunting_dad
Man sounds like you’re in em! Good luck in the morning and hope your shooting is spot on
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 5:45 am
by Boogieman1
Day 5
It’s all over but the crying. Loaded up and bout to head for home. Had a great frost morning. Had 5 diff bucks inside of 15 yards but no shooters. Have a 13” antler restriction else I would have emptied the quiver. Oh well that’s life and I made some great memories.
Will do a thorough write up when I have time on likes/dislikes, what went right and what went south, as well as how I would do it differently.
Thanks for all the support and following along. Get em next time.
Pic of the morning
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 9:30 am
by stash59
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 9:35 am
by Dewey
Great hunts don’t always end with a kill. Sounds like you made some really good memories during your adventure. At least you were on the deer and had at least one opportunity for a kill. That always makes it so much more fun.
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 10:29 am
by hunting_dad
Sounds like you got out of your comfort zone and got on some deer in relatively short order. Pretty good trip with some good memories. Get em next time!
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 12:49 pm
by mheichelbech
Getting in view of that many bucks and a 140’s and getting a shot is a major accomplishment in my book. I say great job and you have a great area for the next time.
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 1:36 pm
by Boogieman1
hunting_dad wrote:Sounds like you got out of your comfort zone and got on some deer in relatively short order. Pretty good trip with some good memories. Get em next time!
I got as far out of my comfort zone as a guy can get! Now I did spring scout it but when I learned that was a dud I really was in unfamiliar territory. I’m a reading terrain, timing it up, and relying on patience type of guy. When I didn’t have that it really forced me to explore.
Re: Taking the Challenge
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 1:46 pm
by Boogieman1
mheichelbech wrote:Getting in view of that many bucks and a 140’s and getting a shot is a major accomplishment in my book. I say great job and you have a great area for the next time.
Thank you! Will say if I wouldn’t have whiffed I would have had a much better time. To be truthful I was a bit scared of spending a week and not seeing squat. When I had a buck in range right out the gate it really helped my confidence even though it was a dink. For mornings I did more adapting off what I witnessed than anything. But it eventually led me to what I believe is the best tree on30,000 acres. Needs some fine tuning to block trails, and steer deer. But if I go in there post season and work a lil magic, change my timing, then I really like my odds.
Now this isn’t really out my comfort zone. But when a pitcher is down in the count u throw your best stuff. My vacation days are very limited so stacking the odds is smart hunting to me.