Hunt success Harvest fail

Its been awhile since my last post (no one is reading anyway!) but I have been on several hunts since then. I was ready bright and early one Saturday morning but... the fire alarm went off at work so I had to go in and make sure the place wasn't burning down! It wasn't and I got into the woods pretty late. Same spot that I ambushed the second deer but since it was so late in the morning I did not see anything. I went back to the first spot again and went into the woods at daybreak at the same place that the screaming deer crashed in but did not see anything but squirrels! At least I know my camo is working! I had one squirrel jump onto the tree I was leaning on! I thought he was going to jump on me!!!!! But no deer. I went with a friend one evening to his 10 acre plot but the area he said the deer should come from was occupied by a couple of punks camping and making a bunch of noise! So no deer came from over there.

Then there was this morning! I scouted an area Saturday and actually found a scrape in an area below two oak trees. So there is food and traces of deer activity. I found a natural blind within my comfort range for shooting too! So I wake up at 5am load myself into the Trooper and head to the field. When I pull up my headlights find 2 deer just hanging out! I didn't even make it out of the truck and got busted!!!!! Well I waited a few minutes then got out and when I did the big doe snorted at me and went into the woods. So I proceeded the round-about way through the first field going away from where the does just went. About three quarters of the way through the field which by the way is only lit by moonlight I jump 3 more deer!! They were running over each other to get awayt from me! I saw them when I shined my flashlight on them. They ran to the corner of the field where 2 fences meet. So I moved into the second field heading for my "spot" in the dark! I stopped and listened to those deer still crashing through the thickets (later I found where they crossed the fence). When the sun finally started coming up I was able to make my way to my spot still hoping that the 5 deer I already spooked would relax and visit the acorns and scrape. And I waited, and waited and waited some more. Finally I see a really big doe and a fawn making their way towards the acorns. Now, I have read that hunters need to 'play' the wind, HA! the wind where I was was swirling every which way so there was no way for me to 'play' the wind. Apparently the big doe caught a whiff of me or something else spooked her but with a snort a yelp and a leap whoosh they were both gone! The big one was only like three or four steps away from giving me an opportunity to shoot too! Then a chill set in me that I just couldn't shake so I don't think I could have held my sights on target from the shivering anyway so I called it a day.

Things I learned:

1. theres no need to get anywhere before dawn if you need sunlight to see where you are walking.
2. I will set up at the farm equipment in the first field and let the deer come to me
3. I need a scarf!

Hopefully the next entry will include a photo of a harvested deer!