First morning of opening day of bow season.

[MCgunner]

What a BEAUTIFUL morning! God blessed us with awesome weather, high 50s, clear sky. The moon is a declining half moon and was out. Didn't have to use my head lamp to walk to my ladder stand out back.

I settled in and pulled the gun rest down as I'm shooting a crossbow. About 15 minutes before dawn, I'm hearing movement behind me, then I see an adult deer, believe it was a buck, might have been that shooter 8 point, but I couldn't see it well enough to see horns in the shadows of the trees in the moonlight. I mean, he was just below my stand, me 12 feet over him. He hopped some brush and moved on. He's been coming out in the evening after 7, so maybe he'll be back this afternoon.

So, I sat there enjoying nature to the max. I need to get back there and chase squirrels more. Squirrels were everywhere. There was one on the tree next to me about 15 feet away trying to make out what I was. I was in my leafy camo with my face mask/boony hat on. I had my little NAA .22 in my pocket and could have laid him out with it. It would have been my first squirrel with that gun. I've taken a half dozen or so rabbits with it and numerous night time pests over the years, but never a squirrel, but being the prime time of the morning for deer movement, I didn't bother. I just sat there and watched him. There were squirrels in trees all around me, some out in my woods barking, amazing what you'll see if you sit still for long enough. LOL Even saw a rabbit hop across the fence about 50 yards off. Lots of rabbits out there. The owls were talking, crows flew and had I had a shotgun, I could have killed a half dozen of 'em.

Anyway, it was SO nice out this morning, even though I didn't score, I thoroughly enjoyed it and had to post. I love this place, don't have much of it, but it is just FULL of game. It's like sitting in church marveling at the creator's handiwork when I'm back there. Didn't have to fire up the thermocell, either, skeeters weren't that bad. I did learn that I don't wanna use that gun rest. I can rest my elbow on the hand rail of the seat on the stand and get REAL steady and with the gun rest out of the way, I can move a LOT easier. Had that deer come by after light, I couldn't have maneuvered on it easily enough. He was probably 10-12 feet away. I'm going to go to my backyard range and see where I need to hold at 10-15 feet. That could be some good info right there if I get THAT close and can shoot.

So, not only did I enjoy the morning, but I learned something. This was my very first day on stand with a crossbow. I'm deadly off hand out to 40 yards with the thing, not sure why I thought I needed the gun rest. LOL I mean, I don't intend to take a shot past 30 yards, anyway.

 

[hoghunting]

Have to agree with you, that cold front feels extremely nice, especially since the highs will be the low 80s instead of the mid 90s. Good luck this evening.

 

[MCgunner]

Good luck to you and everyone that might be bow hunting this weekend.

I shot from 15 feet, 25 feet, 45 feet, 20 yards. From about 15 yards in to point blank, I hold about 8" low with the top (20 yard) red dot. From 20 yards out, like always. So, I know what to do, now. Guess the thing is pretty flat shooting out to 15 yards, then it starts to drop. I shoulda done this earlier, but never really gave it much thought. At least I didn't shoot at and miss anything, or worse yet, get a high hit. I'm learning.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I loved bow hunting from a tree stand when I lived in NY. The things you see! Game unaware of your presence and l living as they do.

 

[CaptTripps]

First day or archery season here in PA. I have a couple doe tags this time. I was out this morning but the weather sucked. 60% of rain so I thought I would risk it. Started raining on the drive to my spot. 38 degrees, 10-15 MPH winds. I only lasted a few hours, didn;t see anything, couldn't hear over the rain. Long-time rifle hunter, this is my second season bow-hunting and I think I am addicted. I'm shooting a 50 pound PSE Nova with 90 grain Muzzys'. Mondays forecast is much better, I'm hoping to tag something.

 

[Captcurt]

In Full Deer Killing Mode.

Our season opened 9/26. I shot a doe opening day and one Thursday. I got on a farm that is loaded with deer and the owner wants them thinned. Well, not thinned but eradicated. He raises cattle and can't keep the deer out of his calf feeders. Told me that feed was $260 a ton and he would bet that the deer ate at least a ton a month, possibly more when the acorns are gone. We have a doe only gun season next week. I ordered a new Rem 700 243 to celebrate with.

CaptTripps, Be careful hunting in the rain with a bow. I quit years ago. Sure, it is a good time to see deer and they like to move in a light rain, but bloodtrails are non-existent. A bloodtrail that a blind man could follow washes away very quickly during a shower. I might take a shot with a rifle if I can pick my shot, but not with my bow. I will stay home.

 

[MCgunner]

I loved bow hunting from a tree stand when I lived in NY. The things you see! Game unaware of your presence and l living as they do.

Yeah, Jim, this afternoon was really fun. No deer sighted, but a rabbit came hopping along and went into the brush. After a bit, he came running out and just sat. I debated a bit about trying a shot, said to heck with it, why not? It was only 6pm, had an hour and a half left. I lased the range at 24 yards, held where I thought I needed to and let the bolt fly. That rabbit jumped 4 feet in the air and took off. No blood, found the bolt, no blood, but rabbit fur on the broadhead, the fletching, and around the nock. ROFL! That woulda been first blood for the crossbow. Oh well, it's a pretty small target and I think it hit just a tick low.

So, I'm sitting there later watching the squirrels play and all of a sudden they take off chattering jumping through the trees, the birds in the brush start squawking and high tail it out of dodge, then a big barred owl flies up and lands on a limb, so heavy he made the limb sag. Dead silence, nothing there, but me and the owl, then off he goes. 10 minutes later the woods are alive with squirrels and birds again.

Yep, don't have to shoot anything to have a good time. Kinda wish I'd pegged that rabbit, but I honestly didn't figure I could get THAT close. LOL. I don't know why not, though. I group 'em tight at that range on the target. I just had to try. Awfully small target, though.

 

[MCgunner]

A bloodtrail that a blind man could follow washes away very quickly during a shower. I might take a shot with a rifle if I can pick my shot, but not with my bow. I will stay home.

I had that happen once. Shot a doe with my SKS at about 80 yards and it took off running and as SOON as I got out of the blind to go look for it, it came a downpour. Lasted about 15 minutes, just long enough to wipe out a blood trail. I looked and looked, gave up, walked back to my dirt bike parked about 150 yards away on the ranch road and, danged if that doe wasn't layin' within 10 feet of my motorcycle! She had a big hole in her ribs, too, KNOW she had to have left blood, but for the rain.

 

[EIB0879]

Yeah, I didn't get drawn for any hunts in Texas so I'll be hunting in Ark starting next weekend. I'll be carrying the bow and rifles since bowseason has already started there and there will be a private lands antlerless gun hunt going on Oct 10-15. I'm pumped.

 

[sage5907]

I also hunted the season opener with my Martin Dreamcatcher recurve. It was hunting the Special Northwest Zone in Oklahoma for elk and the deer season also started. Several bulls had been seen in my area and I hoped I might get lucky. As it turned out I saw several deer and two doe walked by me at less then 15 yards. The doe didn't even notice me but a trailing fawn picked up my outline and perked it's ears before moving on. My hunting partner saw a cow and calf in the dusk of the evening and chose not to shoot. The total season tag allocation for the area is two elk and at the end of the 2nd day the number of elk taken was still zero. The elk season closes when the 2nd elk is taken. It's a good life!