Showing posts with label whitetail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label whitetail. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Lots of sightings...not a lot of results

Well it's been really busy over the last few weeks so I haven't had time to post about my adventures.  This new hunting spot that I've been sitting on has had it's ups and downs.  Towards the beginning of Oct. I could sit out there and see all kinds of deer.  Mainly in the afternoon hours...which is strange because it was quite warm.  I think they really liked the acorns that were scattered all around the area.  I was up in my treestand (about 25ft high) and I had a buck walk around me and at one point right underneath me.  Unfortunately my aim was off with my bow and I missed not once, but twice.  It's a learning experience and I'm getting better as I go.  Now that those acorns have dried up however I haven't really seen much activity in the area so I'm thinking it's time to relocate.  We are just starting to get into "the rut" where bucks start chasing after does to mate. 

I have one more Saturday of bow hunting planned before the state-land shotgun season starts and I plan to make the most of it.  I'll probably go out early to make sure I get the parking spot that I want and then walk in slowly trying to be as quiet as possible.  If I don't see anything by say 9:30am then I'll get down out of my tree and start looking around for rut activity. 

During the "rut" bucks start rubbing their antlers against trees to mark them and remove any velvet they may still have on their antlers.  Below is an example of a typical tree rubs along with an idea of how it got there.

Deer RubIn addition, I'll look for any ground scrapes that might be in the area.  These are places where whitetail tear up the ground, removing leaves and making it very apparent that something big was there.  They will typically relieve themselves in these scrapes in an effort to attract mates to the area.  Potential mates may also relieve themselves in these scrapes to let the bucks know they're around.

Tracking deer is one of those arts that really get developed over time.  Deer population and hunting pressure also create an increased challenge to locating the deer in the area.  When all else fails...there always just plain old luck.

If I come across anything on my scouting mission or if I happen to come across some whitetail this weekend I'll be sure to post.

Monday, September 26, 2011

It's getting dark early

As a hunter one of the things you really have to watch are the sunrise and sunset times.  In CT legal hunting hours are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.  I noticed today, when I ran out of time to mow my lawn, that it really has started to get dark much earlier than normal.  A week from last Saturday I was out and "legal hours" ended at 7:00.  Now we're down to sunset being at 6:30.  Once we return to standard time we'll "fall back" another hour and sunset will be closer to 5:30 and slowing rolling back even further until we'll all be getting out of work when its dark.  Kind of depressing, but with the earlier hours comes colder temperatures.  And that means more opportunity for whitetail...and skiing if you're into that.  I guess some conflicts are a good thing.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

A new season - whitetail 2011

Archery Season, that's bow and arrow for all you city slickers, has been open for a little over a week and a half and it's already been an eventful year.  Prior to the opening of the season I spend a few days here and there scouting the areas that I commonly hunt for any sign of deer in the area.  Scouting for deer is one of those skills that you really develop over time.  This being only my 4th season, I'm still honing in my skills.  Typically when scouting you go out and look for things like tracks, droppings, rubs, and anything else that would let you know a whitetail is in the area.  Because the deer aren't under any pressure (predators or hunters) during the summertime they typically keep to the same routine and stick to familar bedding and feeding areas.  This means that to really be successful during the early archery season you have to be right on the deer.  You need to know where they're eating and sleeping so you can be prepared for them.

Much to my surprise, there has been a lot of deer activity in the areas that I frequent.  Not only did I see lots of sign, but I had a few deer sightings as well.  I was careful though not to let them know I'm there.  Instead I sat back and watched their actions, see where they liked to enter and exit the area, and noted them on my iPhone.

The iPhone has been quite handy in hunting whitetail.  I use an app called GPSKit which lets me drop pins on a google map which mark things like spots I think would be good for a treestand, or places that I noticed a large rub or scrape.  In addition, this app has helped guide me in pitch black, right to the tree I wanted to climb, and just recently out of the woods after tracking a deer into unfamilar territory.  I highly recommend it or something similar if you have a smartphone and plan on hunting.  Maps and compasses are great, but when you're lost and in pitch black conditions, you want to find your way out quick.

After scouting for a few days I selected some areas that would be good for potential treestands.  Because I hunt on State property, I use a climbing stand which I carry in with me every time.  Some people like to put stands out in the woods and leave them there, but I can't see spending $75 on something that might get stolen if discovered.  The climber also affords some other benefits which I like.  1. I can climb a tree as high as I like as long as the tree doesn't have any branches in the way.  The higher you are the less likely the deer will smell you (Typically the first and only thing they need to do to take off).  2nd.  Call it A-D-D, but I like variety and the climber gives me just that.  If I'm out in a location all morning long, sometimes I'll decide to switch it up a bit.  With the climber, I just climb down, find another location, and climb back up.  The climber I use is the Summit Viper Ultra which I bought at Cabelas.  The only disadvantage with the climber is the fact that it weighs 23lbs and you have to carry it in along with all your other gear.

Speaking of gear, I have a lot of it and it seems like I grow my collection every year.  There are two kinds of hunters.  Ones that use a very small set of gear and that's how they've been doing it for years.  And others that have every kind of gadget you can think of.  I'd like to say I'm in the first group, but I've been mostly in the second lately.  I've got headlamps, deer calls, deer scents and all other types of things.  But really the key when you have all this stuff is using it properly, and not using it in excess which I'll sure I'll discuss in a later post.

Wrapping up....I've got a lot of hunting in this year and the season has already started.  I went out opening weekend, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Sept. 15th - 17th.  And I've already gotten some good looks at some whitetail.  This weekend was supposed to be a rainout, but mother nature decided to cooperate, unfortunately I made up my mind that I wasn't going to go out so I didn't prepare.  I don't think I missed out on anything however.  It was really hot and humid out and deer are mammals just like us.  And if you were outside in the heat you would probably not do much but sit in the shade and keep cool.  If the deer aren't moving around, it's not really conducive to hunting anyway.