On the last day of archery it was absolutely beautiful, high of 55 degrees, no wind and a beautiful crystal clear day. Unfortunately I was unable to hunt today because of working and having to watch my wonderful baby girl who is only 11 months old.

Even though I couldn't hunt, I am posting my stats for the season.

 

Today was possibly the last day I will be able to make it in the woods for archery season. I wasn't 100% sold on setting my alarm before 5AM and heading out in the cold as it has been getting less than 30 degrees every night. But I woke up and headed out. It was a very cold windy morning with the ground slightly covered with snow. I went up to my lazy man stand that is only 500 yards from my house on a large non-food plot field hay field.

AM Hunt

I had off Monday for Veteran's day so I headed out to our Liberty location with my Father-in-law. I was in my stand a little later than I wanted just as it started getting light.  I hadn't been to the place I wanted to set my stand up and struggled going through the woods in the dark. I gave up looking for the clearing and set up. As it got light I realized I was right where I wanted to be on a slight ridge line about 50 yards from the clearing.

Went out today despite 15 to 30mph wind guests. I was in my stand by 3:15PM, used my doe bleat about every 15 to 20 minutes, I rattled a little bit and used my grunt call some to try and get something possibly bedding down to come in to me.

I got down at dark and on my way out I kicked a deer out. I didn't see any squirrels which is unusual or many birds. Could've been from the wind or just my sent going every which way when it would gust.

Went to Navuoo today and didn't see a thing besides about 6 gobblers none of which were close enough to shoot. The thing that is so appealing to this location is a monster 8 point that is lurking around waiting for someone to take him down and hang him on their wall. I have not seen him but he is definitely a mountable prize.

Temp 50 degrees

I saw some turkeys behind my house so I grabbed my camo and shotgun and was going to try and break them up in the woods and call them back. But by the time I got around they were gone. I figured since I already had my camo on I would hit the woods at a near by stand and see what was coming through. Last year by this time I had hit this stand in a large grass field multiple times but have never seen a buck.

Bad way to end my vacation, got a cold out of no where, but I want to go back to the same spot I shot my 8 point last week that I couldn't find. It was about 39 degrees, nice cool morning with very little wind. I walked into my stand around 6:30AM. I got set up but didn't see a thing! It was around 9:00AM that I decided to start using my doe bleat. I didn't want to use it before then because if the deer would have moved through there normally I was worried some of the smaller buck would hang around my tree stand and alert the more mature buck coming down.

Went back out today in the afternoon, this time I headed up to the power lines it was slightly windy and still wet from earlier rain. There was a large front moving in so I figured the deer would be moving. I was in my stand around 4:30PM and didn't see or hear a thing. It started to rain as expected right at dark.

Last year I hunted this location one time there was a nice rub and scrape along some heavy trails but didn't see anything either.

It was 51 degrees when I headed into the woods there were periods of stronger wind guest about 10 to 15mph. it was a very dark morning, no stars or moon. I was in my stand ready to go by 6:40AM in a very good spot above where they come through in the morning after feeding I could see about 60 yards behind me through a narrow clearing and 20 yards in front of me. I am naming the place death alley due to the fact if anything came through the woods within  100 yards it could be shot.

Location Bravo: It was 33 degrees, I was in my stand right around 6:30AM I didn't see or hear anything until 8:40AM and it was one small doe that came through alone. I waited another 30 minutes before getting down from my stand. I went and scouted to find another spot to try tomorrow morning and I have a natural long narrow opening right past a bunch of really thick undergrowth. While walking down the opening I saw various trails crossing and one scrape. I can get a shot either direction from my stand 40 yards.

ON my way out a saw two fawns browsing but no mature deer.

It was a beautiful clear day around 54 degrees no wind. I was hunting out at our recently acquired land that borders a large clover field and corn all around. I was in my stand right at 4:30PM I walked in with a climber looking for somewhere to set up because I have had no time to scout this location. On my way in I came across a stream with some heavy trails crossing and about four rubs along the one trail so I set up there.

First day of my vacation here in good old Pennsylvania I decided to hit the woods at location Bravo. It was 28 degrees when I woke up and I left my gloves at the last location I went hunting at. I saw two shooting stars on my way to my stand and it was a beautiful clear morning. I was up and in my stand by 6:30AM and shortly after I heard a dear trotting down by my stand. All I could make out was the outside of its body and could not tell if it was a buck or doe.

Saturday I had to work in the morning, there is rain in the forecast but it is supposed to stop just before dark. I headed up to Delta Hotel for a night of hunting. It is raining steadily when I arrive. I am able to walk into the woods very quietly and am in my stand around 5:20PM a little later than I wanted. By 6:00PM it was raining very heavily but it was around 50 degrees so I felt comfortable. On my way in to my stand I noticed a fresh buck rub on a tree that previously was not rubbed. I was hoping to see the maker by dark. About 20 to 15 minutes before dark the rain began to subside and I saw a doe about 40 yards down the hill sneaking by me.

Last Saturday I hunted our leased land and saw a buck come out after it was took dark to shoot at the distance it came out from, well today I was hoping he would move earlier so I could get a shot. It was a beautiful sunny day but the weather was calling for rain and the radar showed a large storm coming. With the storm coming I thought that the buck would be moving early.

I went out this morning and was in my stand about an hour before light. Just as it was getting light enough to see I heard some deer in some thickets and it sounded like they were running around. I heard the one doe bleating and she continued to bleat as they walked about 50 yards across from me. I couldn't see if there were any buck.

10/05/2013 Location Delta Hotel

A successful hunt should always begin with scouting to determine what buck if any are traveling on your hunting grounds. I like to have three or four different places to hunt and I will try to scout each one before the season begins to determine which location will yield the best hunting. All of these pictures are taking in north central PA in Lycoming County.

Just going out randomly into the woods and setting up is a sure way to lose interest and waste valuable time.


 This picture was taken a few days before the top one we had seen this six point with his twin brother on our land. He isn't quite ready this year but could be a nice shooter next year.

 Another 8 point. Although not the largest on the land he could potentially grow into a nice buck