Most pumpkins are quite comfy sitting in one spot year after year. Works if the weather cooperates and early snows dislodge big mulies from their habitual haunts for lower elevations. Most local dinks are hanging whole in camp after the opener. Being willing to hike in well before daylight and pack out with a load of meat over a day or two will oft get one outta the pumpkin patch. Horses are more better. Pard & I woke one snowy morn' decades ago to find what looked like 100 head had migrated through our horse camp under cover of darkness. Quite the impressive highway in the snow when they've a mind to move ZIP Codes....

Safe & successful hunts to y'all!

I think we know abouts where a couple of them sleep on one of our properties, and I spent a sweaty morning last week hiking up the very steep and brushy hillside towards Nick lounging in a tree stand. If they were there I didn't step on one, so they didn't move. Such is life when hunting in the jungle.

The one I did shoot was walking around in the sun nibbling on grass at noon, I walked right up on it and there it was, and down it went.

35 yards with 00 buckshot...two in the brain, one in the muzzle, two in the neck, one of which thru the jugular. As with the two last year it was dead before it hit the ground.

If you can get close enough to hit 'em with a shotgun buckshot to the head is an effective technique to drop 'em where they stand and not put even a tiny hole in the edible parts.

The key is to spot a deer and by "2 Mississipi" be letting the lead fly. Any longer than that and that deer will disappear like a ghost.

Fish on...

Todd

Would it be cheatin' to use hog hunter style night vision, follow them back to their beds and then light 'em up at legal shooting time ?

Although a guy could buy a lot of beef for the cost of that night vision gear.

I think I will rely more on this crappy weather kicking them out of bed for a couple of hours during the day to warm up and have a snack. We are still about ten days from the usual start of the rut out there, but a few may get going earlier and this weird weather all summer and now so far in the fall can push that around a bit, too.

Out of here soon to head into the bushes and look for #2. Nick has two deer and a score to settle, he's chomping at the bit to get out there, too.

Fish on...

Todd

Apples, tree stands, trail cams & night vision, oh my!

I'm still bettin' on the big ethereal bucks.

May The Force be with you....

This is always the safe bet.

Still hoping to cover the spread, though.

Fish on...

Todd

Our deer get cracked corn covered in molasses...they stay a while and come back often.

Fish on...

Todd

"Our deer get cracked corn covered in molasses...they stay a while and come back often."

I put out the wet COB and all I got were black bears!

We are hunting on an island that has no bears!

Fish on...

Todd

"Hey Nick, what's that ?"

"It's a goddam big bear and he's swimming this way !"

"Let's get outa here !"

This thread is ready for some pictures!

Yep.
How do we know these aren't Paker-esque Armed Nature Hikes ?

Posting from a spot right now. Todd is out walking and I'm soaking up the sun they said wouldn't be out today. It's been a great weekend!

I should have been on my hunting vacation this entire week. Work sucks. Bastards.

Well at least Todd will share some of the bounty with you for all your hard work....



Right?

He's done right by me - it's all good. I'd like to be able to share back after this upcoming weekend though. The Island BT Posse is growing and a couple of guest guns will be joining us in on the fun. Supposed to have blue bird weather this weekend which will suck for deer but be great for my complexion.

I finally got on the scoreboard Saturday evening with a nice little 2x1 buck out of one of our tree stands. Not the big boy I was hoping to get, but a good 2.5 year old "problem child" buck that will eat well and no longer be doing any damage. There is also one less stinkin' Song Dog roaming our grounds.

Nice job Nick!

Congrats!

Watched his twin brother on Friday. Dink 2x with a shattered port side antler. He was determined and was relentlessly pestering a doe for quite a spell as he played follow the leader. Fortunately, they stayed upwind. The local boys musta stunk up the woods. Either that or the big bucks are reading the game regs again. Got real quiet after opening....

Congrats Nick !