Hunting Journal

We had quite the experience today, as Brian and I covered all sorts of ground after a relatively slow morning. It seems as if helping people once again has come back to bite me, as a guy from North Carolina seems to have decided to hone in on all of the spots we are hunting and has no regard for the ethical standards that come along with hunting on public land. Although it’s public land, there are some things that you should do to respect your fellow hunters, especially if you correspond with the people regularly and know they hunt in an area. When people have no regard for that, I lose a lot of respect for the people. It’s really not that hard to find a good spot to hunt where people you know aren’t hunting.

  Anyhow, after the guy (who will remain unnamed) and his four buddies decided to move in on us and not relocate and find their own places to hunt, we knew we had to make the best of the situation. It just amazes me how people either can’t find a good spot or don’t have the confidence to find one. Instead, they want to hunt where you’re hunting. In the end, we found a great spot. Actually, we found some top-notch places and killed a 180. I just want to thank the tar heels for breaking all of the unwritten rules of hunting ethics, enabling us to do what we do best: find more good places to hunt. We never would have killed this 180 if that hadn’t happened. While it left a sour taste in my mouth, I’m still grateful for where it led me. Now, I’ll have another great spot if I return in the future.

Battling the irritation from dealing with the unfortunate events we have encountered, we began brainstorming on places to check out where we might be able to escape the Tar Heels. We marked a bunch and began driving up every road in the area. We found seven different areas to check out, and we wanted to end at an area where we had put cameras the first couple of days. We decided we would give up the evening’s hunt and check the camera before heading back to camp for the night.

With and hour of daylight left, we went into the woods. The afternoon hadn’t given us very much optimism about anything, but I know things can change instantly while hunting… and that they did.

While pulling a card on a camera and sitting on a steep bank to view the pictures, we noticed the area had a lot of nice bucks roaming through it. Then we heard some commotion on top of the hill and looked up to see a good-sized cedar tree moving back and forth. A buck was tearing it apart. Then, he walked right down the hill to us and the arrow was through it like a hot knife going through butter. Seconds later, we were standing over a giant. The buck scored 180 2/8. I’d say it won’t lose a whole lot in the drying period and should end up just a tad under that. What a day. Go Tar Heels!!! Although it’s usually the Orange Army that takes down the big bucks we’ll stick with college references and say the Orangemen took down the big buck. Go Orange!!

  I hunted in the same area I hunted yesterday. I decided that all of the young bucks chasing does in the area meant that the big boys will be coming into the area soon. I guessed right, as I heard antlers smashing together before daylight. I could also hear a buck chasing does all through the timber. I prayed for daylight to come, but it seemed to never arrive. 

  Finally, the darkness gave way to light, and I began seeing bucks. There were a lot of bucks chasing two does through a bunch of thick stuff where I was hunting. After all was said and done, I had seen about 10 bucks and passed a few dandies. I passed two 10-pointers and many other smaller bucks. I couldn’t make myself shoot one of the lesser bucks after seeing a 160-class buck trailing all the others. He had no intention of running after a doe what wasn’t ready. Instead, he just made sure he stayed within the area so he could have her when she is ready. 

  Although I was tempted to sit all day, the heat drove me out of the woods to another area. I ended up passing another nice 10 in the area I hunted tonight. He was a little ways behind a few does. I had that 160 at 40 yards, but there wasn’t any room for threading an arrow through the brush. Sometimes I realize it’s all about luck. 

  Doug went back into the area I sat last night. He decided he would contend with the other guy in the area. Since he rolled in at dark last night, he didn’t have a spot to go, and he was familiar with the area, so I sent him there. I’ll probably send Jeff in there tomorrow.  Doug saw a few scrappers and made a day out of it. He also got severe blisters on his heels from the new boots he wore. The blisters are probably going to hinder his ability to do much on this trip. Looking at them, I’m not sure how he can even walk right now. Moral of the story: Always make sure your boots are broke in before wearing them for any length of time on a hunting trip.

  Brian saw a few nice deer today and had one under his stand in the dark. The deer had no  hair on his back. It was a nice 10-pointer. Dad didn’t see anything this morning, but he found a good buck to hunt. 

  I’ve been really close the last few days, so we will see what tomorrow brings. I feel like I’m “oh so close, but a million miles away.”

  Brian and I went into the area we hunted the first day. We decided to give it a whirl and see what happened. I think I set a record by seeing four different spikes. I don’t usually see a lot of spikes in the Midwest, but it seemed to be spike alley today. I also saw a 6-pointer chase a doe past me and a few other little guys. It was an eventful morning, but nothing big seems to be moving. 

  In the evening, I went back to a spot I hung a stand the first day. I figured I would go in and see why there was no action on the cell cam I put in there. There’s usually a lot of action in the area, so I figured I would look into the reason. Upon getting down there, I found a guy setting a tree stand up, which I figured probably led to some of the issues. I also found where someone had put aluminum foil on trees as reflective markers. On top of that, when I got to my regular trail camera, I was disappointed to see that eight different people had been past it in the last five days. That explained everything I needed to know. I was waiting for the right time to hunt the area, but it appears the right time is going to be influenced by quite a few other hunters.

  I walked out with two guys from North Carolina. One of them was the one who was setting the stand up when I went in. The stand was a very short distance to the one I had hung. Although I would never stay in an area where a stand is, I guess everyone is a little different. I’ve never felt comfortable hunting near someone else. I’ve always preferred to go elsewhere and find  a spot where I don’t have to deal with any potential confrontation or distractions. I was a little surprised.  After learning that he had no intention of hunting in a different spot, I decided I would not return. Although I set the stand for our entire group to rotate through, I decided I would not return. I just prefer being away from people and pride myself in finding places to set up where other people aren’t already hunting. There’s so much land to look over and find different places, there’s absolutely no reason to join a party. I’ll never understand why people feel the need to hunt on top of other people on public land. It’s not that hard to find other places to hunt. I guess it goes back to hunting ethics and a silent understanding. Unfortunately, far too many people just don’t get that part of it. I get it. It’s public land and we all own it and can use it at our discretion. People moving in on me over the years is probably the biggest factor for my continued success. I’ve learned to quickly find other quality areas because I like to be away from people. Too bad others don’t thing the same way. Then, I wouldn’t have to be moving around so much.

   Nobody saw much this evening, but the wind was howling, too. Actually in the area Brian went to scout out and hunt, he said he saw nine deer and had a good one go by him that he couldn’t get a shot at. I took video of a really nice 10-pointer that rubbed a fencepost in front of me. He was there for a long time., even with the guy from North Carolina sitting about 60 yards from me. I could see him in the tree. I will not return there tomorrow, but I’ll send Doug or Jeff there because they might have an opportunity to shoot that nice buck I saw tonight. My nerves can’t handle walking into the area again, especially after learning the other hunter has no intentions of finding another spot.

Brian and I hunted in the area we found yesterday. Shortly after daylight Brian had a big 9 come in. It got on him quickly and he decided to pass. After it got past him, he realized that he had made a mistake.  He saw a few more bucks throughout the morning. I didn’t see anything at all. I still can’t believe I didn’t see anything.

  We spent the afternoon looking at some new areas. We found some more good stuff. We decided to go into the area where we saw the big 10 the other day. I saw a few does an hour before it got dark, and Brian passed up a nice 8. He had a great day, and my day fell in line with the rest of my week. Dad didn’t see any deer today either. 

  The temps are rising, and it’s supposed to get into the 70s this weekend. That’s not going to help matters, especially with as slow as things have been. We will just take it on the chin and keep pushing. 

This morning didn’t start off well. We had good intentions to hunt a bottom where there tends to be a lot of regular activity. However, when we started down the road, we blew a tire and that caused all sorts of unforeseen issues. We had to change it, and when we got going, it was too late to go to where we wanted to go. 

  After quickly changing our plans, we set up on a really narrow piece of land next to the road. Brian saw a shooter 9-pointer, a couple of does, and two small bucks. Although I didn’t see anything while sitting in my stand, I sat on a log during my scouting session and heard antlers crashing together.

  When I went to investigate, I spotted a huge buck in a willow thicket. He was chasing other bucks through the thick stuff, and I watched in awe. They were across a body of water from me, and I didn’t have any opportunity to shoot.  Unfortunately, I didn’t reach for my camera until the fiasco was over, but I still was able to capture three or four of the bucks. In the end, I think I saw seven mature bucks. Two of them ended up with broken tines after the battle, and the giant 10 dominated and sent the others packing.  I’ve never seen anything like it and probably never will. It was absolutely incredible. 

  We spent the rest of the day scouting new areas and found some great sign. I think we will return there tomorrow. I have a good feeling about the place. There are some giant rubs in the area. 

I’m also glad we got all of the stands set up to use for next week when things should ramp up. A lot of work has gone into this over the last few days, and Brian and I have everything set up for ourselves as well as everyone else. We all share spots, so it’s not like anyone has an advantage over anyone else. I’m looking forward to see what happens.

I went back to my old faithful spot this morning. I haven’t been to that spot since 2015, so it was an adventure trying to figure out where I wanted to be when it got light out. Finally, I found the same tree I used to climb, and the tree had grown substantially. 

  Shortly after daylight, I had a nice 10-pointer come off the hill in front of me. He fed by me at 25 yards and took his time doing it. I filmed him for a while. I’m guessing he was in front of me for at least 10 minutes before moving on. It was a pleasurable sight to watch. 

  A short time later, a doe and fawn made their way out of the thick stuff below me and started coming on a main runway below the stand. After a shift in the wind, they stopped and felt something wasn’t quite right. They quickly disappeared, blowing as they ran over the hill. 

  Around 10, a nice, little spike followed in the 10’s tracks. It also fed for a bit before moving on. A doe followed him a few minutes later. I climbed down about an hour after the action and headed out of the woods to set another stand for Dad. 

  I got the stand up, but it didn’t leave much time for me to do anything. I decided to go check out an area I’ve never hunted. During my walk, I spotted two bucks pushing some does around. One of the bucks was a no-doubt shooter, probably in the mid 150s for score. I nocked an arrow and waited for a shot. The opportunity never presented itself, and I made my way out of the woods. 

  I saw two 10s, two 6s and two spikes today, along with a handful of does. Dad saw a few does and two bucks. He saw a really big 10 this morning that he couldn’t get a shot at. 

  We will see what tomorrow brings. I can’t seem to shake being in a crappy mood. I’m hoping it turns around a bit. I really haven’t had the ability to focus on hunting yet.

Today was my first day in the Midwest for the year. We didn’t accomplish much, other than get Dad set up in the place he killed a buck about five years ago. Although there wasn’t a ton of sign in there, there was some big buck sign and a few impressive scrapes. Brian put a few cameras in the area to see what’s roaming around. 

  We didn’t have much time in the evening, but we made the time to set a stand in a river bottom where I killed a big buck a number of years ago. There was some impressive sign, and it made my heart skip a few beats when I saw a few of the rubs 

  Overall, I don’t feel like we accomplished much, but we did put a couple of cell cameras out. I’m not sure what to think about them, but this trip will give me a better idea. 

  The weather is picture perfect. It was in the high 20s this morning and topped out in the mid 40s.  We couldn’t ask for better conditions.  We will see what tomorrow brings. 

  The trip has been anything but fun so far. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with everything going on, and it is hard to enjoy myself when I have so many things on my mind.