grizz1's outdoor journal

[grizz1]

No hunting today, rained hard last night, light rain through out today. Tuesday nights low temps that had ice on my windshield also frosted my beans, don't know what that is going to cost me, they look sick and I feel that way myself. May have a super sized food plot for the deer this winter instead of some income.
Forecast has a chance of freezing rain in it for tonight, could sure get along fine without it. Hope this storm moves on out so I can get back in the woods this weekend.

[grizz1]

Friday Oct 2nd, was able to make an evening hunt at the clover field, the wind was a constant 12 mph with 22 mph gusts, saw a wide 7 point cruising the fence line when I got there, 6 turkey. Went straight to the cam and was checking it when the deer began to show up. Two bucks came close, small and not legal, finally made up in the stand, within two minutes there were doe in front of the stand. At the end of the evening had seen 22 deer, 7 turkey.

Sat morning, heard some turkey, a few gobbles, never could catch up with them,saw 4 doe deer and missed a groundhog.The groundhog was in the ditch North of the Well.
Sat pm hunted behind my house to scout more then hunt, saw a huge deer jump up from the hay field and ran to Mikes . Never could count points, he kept his head low, tail down and ran like he had been shot with an arrow, he went behind Mikes house into the Cedars like they always do. Later saw 20 turkey but couldn't bust them up enough to call any in, they would answer but not move my direction.

Sunday morning had to work with livestock didn't hunt.
Sun evening, took Grandson Dylan to Double ladder stand, saw 4 doe, not close enough. Got down before dark and went to the clover field to get in a ground blind until dark. Saw a deer by the barn and after looking at it with binocs it was a high racked 8 point about 15 in spread. He was feeding on some white clover that is growing just outside the cattle corral. If we had stayed at the old farm house could have shot at him from the yard. We watched him for 10 minutes, gave Dylan a chance to watch a nice buck and no chance for a shot, lesson in patience. This is our 2nd hunt this fall and we've seen 2 good buck, the first one was real big, may need to take him often for luck.
Mon evening, saw one doe at the old farm house, more deer were moving after dark on the way home, full moon coming up late making for bad hunting. Weather is cool, cahnce of rain tonight.

[grizz1]

Got home from work in time to hunt but C.W. called from N.Carolina to finalize plans for end of Oct and first 2 weeks of Nov, deer hunting is about to get real serious.Cam is coming with him as he has for the last three years to try to take his fourth deer, the boy has been making me look real bad in the past.
By the time I looked at the livestock it was dark, saw 4 deer this evening between farms, all doe.
The wind has been blowing about 15 and it is real cool so will try to hunt in the morning and see how that goes.
Put a double ladder stand together tonight in the front room while watching TV, my wife thinks I've went crazy but I had a fire going in the stove, was warm and could watch DREAM SEASON while working on a new stand, which I barely got out the door to the front porch. Hope to get it in the woods tomorrow.

[grizz1]

Wed 10-7 , changed out stands today, took new double ladder and placed where Cliff's single was and moved his to the ditch at crossing. Left the gate open this spring and deer have been going through the open gate instead of under the fence where they did last year. They should both be super good stands once the rut comes in, both will be good to rattle from, already several rubs close to them and they are both in the path to my big bean field from the timber and bluestem.
PM hunted at East farm, saw 12 deer and 36 turkey. Tried getting on the turkey and got busted by the deer 3 different times, hard to hunt both these critters at the same time. Had a South wind, no affect on the birds but the deer were sure winding me as they were coming from Errol's place to my pasture.

[grizz1]

These are the four best bucks I have so far on camera, another dozen 8 pointers, and several 4 and 6 point that are 1 1/2 years old. Still ahve not been able to catch the big ones left over from last year, should be some 4 and 5 1/2 year old bucks on my place or clsoe by.
The time is near for them to start responding to calling, rattling, and the chase could start any day now. scrapes are being hit often, the scrape West of the house has 7 different bucks using it,there are at least 10 bucks on the East farm, a nice 10 and a 13 point.
So far just can't see these bucks during daylight hours, hoping that will change this weekend.
Tonight I hunted with high hopes of seeing many deer only to have seen nothing at all. In the last couple hours the reports came in from my other hunting buddies over 30 square miles of territory, 6 experienced hunters saw 5 deer and 1 Bobcat, so they just were not moving as we all had hoped for. Since we have had 36 hours of heavy rain, cool temps and the rain stopped at 3 pm it seemed that it would be good but they never came out until after dark.

[grizz1]

Had a busy weekend this Halloween, took Cameron turkey hunting, he took his first turkey with 20 gauge .
Moved single ladder stand from West side of timber to the "Bowl" West of the old disc. Hunted it with an hour of setting it up, the set lasted 2 hours , had 7 deer walk under it and 4 turkey. Tried to get a shot at the turkey but they saw me drawing my bow- gone in a second. My bro hunted from it Sun morning and had 12 deer go past, all doe.
Took Cameron there Sunday evening youth hunting, he took an old doe from the clover field, 175 yard shot, doe weighed 156 lbs before she was field dressed.
Holly took a huge 6 point, 19 1/2 inch spread, big bodied buck.
Dylan took a doe West of house on Kermits place so we didn't hunt together Sunday as planned.
Brett took a 10 point, will score 130 .
Pic is of Terry's deer he took Friday night with his bow, he had named this buck "Boony", don't think he'll make B&C but I sure wish I had shot him, good heavy mature buck with a lot of bone on his head.
Cam flew home today to N.C. so we are taking a break for couple of days then us old guys are going to hunt till we get one or wear ourselves out trying.
Deer camp cookout this coming Sat night, there may be some big antlers to show around the fire but I know there will be some" BIG " stories, gets as bad as being around a bunch of fishermen sometimes.

[8pt172]

Great Buck!!!! Love the mass,

[grizz1]

Hunted the East farm this morning, ladder stand at old cabin .Only saw 2 deer in the first 2 hours. Drove up to the barn, fed the cows, saw a nice 8 point cross the hayfield, then cross the road to the pear tree. He fed on pears for 10 minutes then went onto Mike's' place.
Went to the ladder stand at clover field next, saw a lot of doe/button bucks. Four of them bedded down within 30 yards so leaving was a bit tricky but managed to get out without spooking them a couple hours later. Came home, did some rattling behind the house on Brends's place, her horse came running to me but no deer.
This afternoon went back to the East farm again to clover field. Deer were all around the stand so tried sneaking in from the West but scared 3 of them away. Once I was in the stand deer were coming out within 2 minutes along with 11 turkey,all gobblers.
The deer were either small or illegal so I was trying for a turkey but never took a shot, seemed like there was always a deer in the way.
There was a spike, 3 point, 4point, 5 point and then West of me a good 8 point came into sight in the timber. I was going to shoot him but never got a shot, he stayed on Errol's side of the fence, just couldn't get a clear shot. He went Northwest down the steep hill.
I now know where the big guys are bedding, feeding and their travel route and really don't have a clue as to how to close the deal on one of them, just keep trying I guess. It is so thick where they are bedding I don't dare get any closer, most stands have been up for over a year, scrapes/rubs under every one of them but have not had a big one go by close enough, does/button bucks 4,6,and small 8 pointers under me everyday but none of the bucks I want a shot at, maybe tomorrow.

[grizz1]

From Nov 5th until tonight, Nov13th, been bowhunting for big whitetail bucks, sometimes with a N.C. friend. Although no one took a deer this last week it hasn't been for lack of trying, sometimes we were close and other times it seemed all deer had vanished from the earth.
Craig saw the largest buck, he said on the conservative side the deer would go 160 or more. This buck was jumped as we were walking to stands, just outside the yard from my old farm house.
The best day I had was a morning hunt where I saw 7 bucks, all were 7 point or better but just couldn't get them close enough. When the bucks started showing themselves the doe disappeared, we are now seeing more bucks than does.
On Nov 11 had a very good 8 point come in close at first light,the shot was behind me and to the left, should have been a slam/dunk but I only cut hair from him low on his brisket. He spun around ran for 20 yards then 10 minutes trying to find the source of his minor cut. I later found a few drops of blood but he is going to be fine from my shot.
Nov 12 While on the ground, again trying to make my way slowly to a stand mid morning, I heard Blue Jays screaming at the top of their lungs, so I stopped and watched the area for awhile. Ten minutes later I could see a deer nose from behind a tree, then an eye came into view, a bit of antler then caught my eye. One more step snapped me to afull attention as a very good 10 pointer stepped out at 80 yards, a good 18 inches wide, long tines and massive. It took some time but he finally decided to move,RIGHT at me. Caught totally off guard, I had no where to to hide and he came straight in as if he were on a string, at 20 yards the show ws over for me as he spun back East , walked up to the old disc by the clover field and watched me from a safe place. I have never seen this deer & don't have any pics of him. Seeing this buck on my land was worth the week long hunt but I sure would have enjoyed bringing him home, got a place on the wall reserved for this fella.
I'm hanging up the bow for awhile, Sat Nov14th our firearms season begins so we have a new weapon to hunt with. I'll be hunting more open areas and crop land, should see more deer, remains to be seen how successful I'll be.

[grizz1]

Chad's deer, a true monster. At first the cell phone pic and story had him as a 9 point but he has more points , more like 12. Chad has him green scored at 193 Gross, he has to dry, will have deductions but this is the best one taken in my neighborhood so far that I know of in 09.
I'm sure Chad will have a great story when I see him, hunted all week in the rain so he probably earned him for sure.
These are the big guys that I just can't seem to stay calm enough to get it done so my congratulations will be given to Chad for taking such a magnificent deer. And that new property he bought and took the deer on is looking a lot CHEAPER now!

[grizz1]

Not getting to hunt much the last few days, Last evening bro went to East farm and saw a giant just at dark coming from the South toward the white gate. He tried to get to the haystack for a shot but the buck went back SouthWest instead of coming to our timber.
Tonight we decided to hunt for him again, one guy on each side of the crossing , by the old disc and big oak tree. There was a SW wind, light rain/mist, hazy, should be perfect evening so we thought. After the hunt, we counted up the deer seen--0, nothing. Got home 30 minutes after dark- 7 deer in the driveway, all does, never fails, always in wrong place.
Doe only season opens tomorrow, may take several of them out this week if given a chance, they are eating my beans and knocking them down terribly bad, keeps raining and can't get any crops out of the fields. Could be costing 50 to 100 dollars a day now to feed deer by lost crops, don't want to keep this going much longer. Now that buck season is closed may be able to get some of the other guys to take a few.

[grizz1]

Went to the East farm this evening to check on cows, it was 4PM. Left farm and went East at 4:15 to go to town. At the bottom of the big hill, glanced to the North, 50 yards out was a giant of a buck. Looked to be at least a 10pt with some other stuff going on that made his rack look like a thorn tree. He turned and started walking away as I passed him giving me a good look.
Called my bro, gave the description of the buck and he thinks he is the same one he has met up with twice,I would have seen this deer tonight 600 yards from where he was seen the other two times but on property I've not hunted for years. It appears this buck is living in cattle pastures with brushy ditches in them that branch out in all directions.
Hard to bow hunt this area but I'm going to have to try him a couple days anyhow, Bro is wanting a crack at him with Muzzle loader, he is a dandy buck, think he might make it above 150. Buck season closed last night for firearms so he was out for an early stroll this evening-- How do they know?

[grizz1]

Went bowhunting this evening after getting chores done. There were 5 deer coming into the West field as I left the house, all doe. Since these deer were so far away they never spooked as I went around the end of hay field to set up by the beanfield corner at old plow.
With a fresh snow some areas such as Bob's hill were much more visable but my beans and hay field have so much cover the snow didn't help much for making the deer stand out.
The 1st deer out close to me was a button buck, next one was a 6 point, 3 doe came in from the East, saw me and started blowing and stomping. This went on for 10 minutes with all deer just staring in my direction, finally the doe went North to the mushroom ditch. When they went out of sight a nice 8 point came from the East across hay field, I wanted to shoot this buck so got as ready as possible. He began checking the doe that were now coming back out into the hay field, a 4 point buck joined the group and started my way. With the 8 pt in the lead all was going good, was as ready as I could be without drawing yet, at 50 yards the old doe passed the buck in a run, came back towards me and began blowing again. This stopped all the deer and kept me from getting a shot until it became too dark.
I'm going to shoot this doe the very next chance I get even if a buck is on his way in, she has caught me at least half a dozen times this fall, seems to be the same one any way. Half the time she is looking up in trees and if there is any thing out of place she raises he-- about it. Probably same one that snorts at me when I go out for firewood during evening hours, likes coming up in my yard but thinks I should stay in the house. She has moved up to the top of my hit list after tonight.
Saw a total of 16 this evening, 4 were bucks, one was nice 8 point.

[grizz1]

Last evening Jan 8 there were 54 deer that came out into the beanfield 1/2 hour before dark.
This afternoon, Jan 9th felt more comfortable at 8 degrees and 5 mph wind so decided to put plan 3 into action. A very good 10 pointer has been in the South field so thought he was my best chance for a shot on a good buck. At 3pm walked down the driveway, East to the bridge, took the bottom of the creek South to the intersection of both creeks, climbed up into the top of large brush pile where I could see all of my place. Was expecting to see about 12 deer come out near me, a couple by the house and the rest on the West end.

As should have been expected (one)deer came out near me, a doe, the rest were across the road. Twenty deer were at the West end, one buck had a large 5 point rack on his right side, looked as if he had shed the left side.
From this new vantage point I was at least able to see all the deer movement for the evening on my entire farm and they have changed their route, at least tonight. There were 14 deer that came from the North, made the 1/2 mile trip across my pasture fast, right past the house ending just west of my driveway. One very large 10 point was in the group and the 3rd one to pass the Cedar tree at fence crossing. I've sat this area before and it has never been close enough for bow, tonight would have been the time as all 14 crossed on the trail under the cedar.
Another 8 deer went under the new stand from the North, the old 'unkillable' doe came from Brendas pond stopped on the ridge top in hayfield while all the others ran to the bean field. She was the last deer to jump the fence into the beans, even then she didn't take a bite for at least 5 minutes.
Tonights stand put me at a greater distance from deer then at any other time I've hunted this fall but I learned more about where they came from and certain deer. The old doe and her group left the timber on Mike last but made it across my open field for 3/4 mile in about one minute.
Picked up the bow for a shot at the doe near me, ended up holding for over 10 minutes, when I did draw she jumped out a few rows where I couldn't get a good shot. By this time my hands were hurting bad, went back to the bridge, crossed the road and tried to make it to my levy by the yard as some deer were coming to the house. They saw me crossing the food plot by the creek as the snow was so deep I couldn't stay in cover so crossed out in the open. This made them walk back West to a safe distance while I went into the house. Once back in the house by the wood stove, there were 4 does came running down the open creek bottom, crossed the road, went under the fence and came out at the darn bridge where I had just came from.
I froze out too early, had to quit so the deer all had a safe evening once again. Lost good count but there was right at 48 deer in the field by dark. Next hunt is going to be under the cedar tree West of the driveway, may not work out but it's closer to the stove and coffee pot.

[grizz1]

Been catching up on lot of chores I neglected while deer hunting, the past week has been so busy look forward to going back to work so I can rest up.
Been trading work with my cowboy friend in exchange for his help and some great steak dinners. So far in the last 10 days we have preg tested 210 cows, hauled alfalfa from Iowa for calves, he found a pickup that I ended up buying,hauled a huge load of firewood,went shed hunting with NO LUCK, butchered 2 elk, processed them which turned into an 8 hour job and now all frezers are FULL to the max.
Probably have 375 lbs of Elk burger plus the loins, I ground hamburger for 3 straight hours, packaged for 2 hours and have been 2 days trying to find freezer space for it all. Now tonight he calls and says we are going to have a 1250 lb steer next week so I better eat up.
Our annual fish fry has now been changed to a Beef/Elk BBQ which is fine by me cause it's caught and in the freezer, just need warm weather now.
Lot of sheds have been found but I'm not having any luck so far, friends game camera still showing bucks with antlers near my house so evidently still early.