With the end of the NH deer season upon me, I took from the 10th to the 15th off. I had been seeing deer pretty regularly from this one stand, so headed there last Thursday morning. I hunted most of the morning, eventually being driven from my stand by a freezing rain.
Remember Tippit's post on the damage to his truck from the ice storm, well it hit us pretty hard too. Friday morning we lost power and didn't get it back until late Monday evening. Following Tippit's advice I didn't hunt Friday, but with my family safe and warm at my inlaws, I just couldn't resist getting into the woods Saturday afternoon. Did I say mention ice yet????? Or that it got down to 9 degrees late Saturday afternoon, with a 15 mph wind?
I made my way to my stand in a winterwonderland of ice coated trees and stone walls, all glistening in with the sun shining down on it. I got to my stand to find it and my steps coated with 3/4" of ice, but as you can see I came prepared.......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/huntrdfk/P1010310.jpg)
It took me 10-15 minutes to melt the ice off my steps and the platform, but once I did I climbed in and got comfortable. This is what greeted me from the stand......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/huntrdfk/P1010312.jpg)
My weapon of choice waiting patiently for work.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/huntrdfk/P1010315.jpg)
And me all bundled up, doing my best to stay warm....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/huntrdfk/P1010320.jpg)
When I was warm enough, I was even able to keep up with the goings on of the 'Gang.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/huntrdfk/P1010318.jpg)
I was fortunate enough to see four deer late that day, but had no shots. In those conditions I could hear them coming forever......
I went back for the close of the season Monday, and while I didn't see or shoot a deer, it was as different from Saturday's hunt as it could be, with temps in the mid 50's. Same pic from my stand, this time without the ice......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/huntrdfk/P1010324.jpg)
Another season is gone, and while I didn't shoot anything, I did see my share of deer, along with a couple of pretty good bucks......now the wait begins for 9/15/09......
David
Mighty pretty scenery there!!
Fortunately we still have about 4 weeks of archery season here in Oklahoma. It's supposed to be nice Saturday in the 50's then it's supposed to be 18F Saturday morning 25F for a high.
Can't wait to get out there this weekend.
Daren
David.... You are my Hero.... This Week!
Have a Wonderful Holiday and see ya at The Bunny Hunt! :)
... mike ...
Now that is hard core!
Glad your season(for deer) ended on a positive note.
Looking forward to seeing you at the bunny hunt.
I hunted in ice all weekend. Every few minutes there was a branch breaking or a tree falling or just the noise of ice clacking in the wind.
A little unnerving at first, but I got used to it. I stayed away from the treestands though.
No deer seen, but they were bedding and traveling in my area.
About time deer season ended, now I can get on the smaller and better things.
Way to hang in there My Friend!!!!! :wavey:
Thank you for sharing,great bow and quiver; good luck for the last one
David I am glad to see I am not the only one goofy enough to go out when you have to melt the ice on the steps and the stand with a torch!!! :bigsmyl: Been there, done that, got the T-shirt!
The coyotes were having a ball here. Every set of deer tracks had broken through the inch of ice and into the 8" of snow underneath. The yotes were running on top most of the time.
Chuck you know you are welcome anytime you want to come....
Only 66 days Jamie!!!!!
Dan, I'm glad to know I'm not the only goofy one too!!!!! I just can't get myself not to go, no matter how bad it gets..... :knothead:
David
Great pictures, we visited New Hampshire back in October. You all have some beautiful country up there.
In-laws in our case are 1500 miles to the west, so Fri-Mon was spent cutting and splitting wood, burning wood, hauling ashes, hauling water, conducting a long-term headlamp test, and trying to distract my slightly claustrophobic spouse from the cares of the day(s.)
Glad to see you made it out. The rocks hereabouts aren't the only thing made of granite . . . :thumbsup:
The Blackberry pic cracked me up. Addict!
:bigsmyl:
How do you shoot with all that stuff on? :eek:
Tough guy!
Killdeer :thumbsup:
Nice pix bud...see ya soon!!
Dave, its something about those late season hunts there are so peaceful. With snow or ice an being that cold ,it only adds to it :thumbsup:
David, You must have either cleats or ice skates on to be able to stay on that small rink...ahh I mean stand :eek: I'm headed out today with some nice snow cover than 12 more inches coming in tomorrow! I still have until Dec 31 to tag one...tippit
I hit the woods saturday afternoon too....with the hopes of a nice quiet day in the woods. all I heard all afternoon was chainsaws and construction equipment. there was a lot of cleanup being done.
I somehow managed to tweak my back and since sunday have been laid up on the couch. can't wait to get back out there though....
Great pic's David.. Didn't get the ice here like Tippet and yourself.
Now if only the two doe fawns can bring me a decent buck instead ofthose raggy forkhorns.........
That is good stuff there. I cannot imagine hunting when it is that cold. The deer would die if it got that cold here. I know the hogs would. WOW!
ha ah thats a winner nice going, tip of the hat to you!
You look very comfortable Dave....glad you had a chance to spend some time in the woods after that storm. Nice pics......
Jeff I didn't climb into the stand until I had melted all of the ice off first, I've got some marbles loose but not enought to do that!!!!
Considering the conditions Joe I was fairly comfortable, I spent about four hours in that stand, but had layered properly and had chemical feet, hand and body warmers everywhere!
Marc, Jeff and Paul....keep after them, I know I would if I was down there.
David
Will do David.Got out this afternoon.
Finally after two months of watching these does a shooter was following. Tippets arrow is on the string. The buck is a high, wide (better than 20' inside) 8pt and only interested in the does....
Mama stops to look for me. We've been watching for each other since the second week in October.For now the wind is right.She's doing the head bob and although nervous not stamping her feet. After 20 minutes of this the buck begins to get ansy. He comes up the run ears forward and lifting his head high to catch any scent of what has the doe concerned. He stops facing forward at 10 yds. Doesn't take him long to decide something isn't to his liking. He turns 1/4ing away and I stop him at 15 yds with a voice grunt.
I check the does before drawing the bow. Their attention is on the buck....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/Shortbldtr/IMG_0139.jpg)
Now the bark on that maple doesn't look abit like the hair I was concentrating on
:rolleyes: but after sawing Tippets broadhead out of the tree and a few licks on the stone it's shaving hair and ready to go tomorro.
Thanks for the tips. We're getting a ice storm here right now. Hap
That's awesome, got a smile from your pics!
From your pic, you remind me of Mikey in the Christmas Story movie. Thank goodness you didn't fall down...You'd never been able to get up. They wouldn't have found you until spring. :bigsmyl:
Grat pics and nice story. Sorry you didn't get one. Tracking in snow is a lot of fun.
Paul, It was probably the dang broadhead...forgot to tell you they fly a little funny in the cold :D Had a doe at dark come by but just couldn't risk the shot even though she was highlighted against the snow. I'll be out again today but forecast for 12" of new snow staring this afternoon. If I get a shot I'll be trying to run the deer down...no letting 'em sit with snow coming down! tippit
Arrow flight looked great until it caught the tree Jeff. Think it was a case of operator error. Very impressed with the steel. Head was buried up to the last hole in wood.Cracked the epoxy so I recentered and reglued and is ready for another go.
No action this morning so product testing will have to wait
Good luck this afternoon.....
No ice in the forecast
doc says the best thing for my back is walking. he DIDN'T say I couldn't bow along! :)
I might try tomorrow after the snow. they're saying light and fluffy 12" or so....so hopefully I can shuffle through it... :)
That's a trophy tree compared to the one I killed Paul!
Good luck you guys, tomorrow might be pretty good sandwiched between these two storms.......
David
Awesome pics. Sweet looking bow and quiver as well. How do you like those quivers?