12gauge's Journal

[12gauge]

Got a lot to enter into the journal...better get right with it...

[glow=red,2,300]August 2005[/glow]

Scouted a few new areas on our 20 acre land, Mr. Page our neighbor even gave us permission to hunt his 100 acres that he owns. He told us that only my father, my brother, our other neighbor Kaleb, and me are the only one's allowed to hunt it, and to kick everyone off.

Only one more month to go before opening season of bowhunting! Can't wait, anticipation is growing and the urge to hit the woods is growing deeper and deeper within me! I had been practicing all summer long in some pines where me and my brother had cleared a 30 yard strip to set our targets, it is good for bow practicing. I even built me a small permanent wooden practice stand, it is sturdy and it stimulates actually being in a stand, that way i know my shots are right when i am in the real stand!

[glow=red,2,300]October 2005[/glow]

AHH! Opening season of bow is finally here! Hit opening morning, and spooked off 2 deer right before daylight even came! But no biggie! at around 6:30 (Before daylight savings time) i seen 2 does run from our drainfield and head back towards behind me in between me and the house to some pines where they bed. I never got a shot, but i was happy to see them!

That evening i seen a huge 4 pointer and a small spike, my father told me to get the spike out of the herd. So i waited until he got within where i thought was 30 yards from me and i stood up, got ready and drew. He stepped in an opening, and it looked to be maybe 35 yards...so i put the pin on his spine and released, i watched the arrow soar right, until at the last minute it landed by his feet, he jumped and then ran into the pines..

To get myself back into shooting shape, i practiced some more. Then about a week later, i hit the woods again. This time i seen a 3 pointer, i tried him, he stood behind me where i thought was 20 yards, so i drew and released, and watched the arrow fly over his back! I couldn't believe it!!

Then i tried again the next evening after school and this time i knew he was at 20 yards, but he was through some thicks. I found a hole where i could see his vitals easily! and i shot. I heard the arrow fly and heard a sound like the arrow hitting a branch..but i didn't pay it any mind. The deer ran for about 50 yards before slowing down and then walking off into the woods. I got down 30 minutes later and looked for the arrow; couldn't find it..

So i got my father to help me, we found the arrow, and it had some blood on it. So we searched everywhere the deer ran! No blood! No deer! We figured i just nicked him and headed back. But not 1 week later we seen him eating in our drainfield again. I must have nicked him...

I was again waiting anxiously for muzzleloading season to open, that way he wouldn't have a fighting chance against me with a rifle! I surely wouldn't scrape him with a ML!

[glow=red,2,300]November 2005[/glow]

The last day of bow season before ML season opened i tried with the bow to get a last chance with my bow. ML season opened up Sat. Nov. 5th and here it was Fri. Nov. 4th. My last chance with the bow. I couldn't hunt the morning due to school, but that evening i tried it. Knowing it was the pre-rut i will try to grunt. I seen the 3 pointer again! He was walking off at an angle towards the house and was at least 35 yards off, so i grunted to try to get him to come my way..

But he just kept his nose to the ground and paid me no mind....then i grunted again...still no response...

he got between me and my trail that i had made running from the drainfield to the stand, and i grunted again! No response....he continued up the trail until disappearing on the other ridge behind the drainfield. I should have taken the shot when he was on the trail, but i wanted to really wait until opening ML season! Then i could blast him off his feet!!

Finally! Opening morning of ML season! I waited anxiously for the 3 point to show! As daylight came, i knew i wouldn't see anything. Because i normally see deer right at daylight or a little before. So at 9:20 am i just sort of put my knuckle to my cheek and looked towards the drainfield, hoping to catch the 3 point coming from the drainfield.

But then a little crunch made me look back towards the ridge to my left. There not 15 yards beside me was 2 does! A old nanny doe (who was all grey) and a younger than the older doe but still pretty old, doe. Knowing i wouldn't see the 3 point, i went ahead and was attempting to take the old doe. But when i cocked the hammer to my ML, they heard me and the nanny doe ran behind a tree about 20 yards beside me. I could not see her! But the other doe was still in the opening, and broadside as ever!

I pulled the set trigger to make the fire trigger hairpin! And raised the rifle, i only got the sights up to my cheek before she sort of jumped. I knew this was as far as i can go without scaring her. I really wanted to get something on opening morning, considering it would be my first ML kill!

So i put the sights where i thought was right and BOOOM! She hit the ground and didn't get up until the smoke cleared! When the smoke finally cleared she jolted out towards the woods and disappeared about 40 yards away. I knew i may have put a horrible shot because her back legs weren't working well...i got down instantly and told my father. Then "BOOM!" i heard my sister in law shoot. We went to find my deer before helping my sister in laws deer. And sure enough not 40 yards from my stand where i shot her, there she layed!

Then we went to help my sister in law find her deer. Apparently according to my brother and sister in law, she had shot a 6 point, and hit it in the leg, they said blood was falling from it's leg and it ran off limping. We searched for 2 miles over hills, creeks, thickets, trails and everything you can think of. But no deer...just blood...

That evening, my brother went back to look for him again, but found nothing but more blood! He then said he spooked the 6 point out of some thickets, but couldn't get another shot. Then the next day my folks went out again. And after another 3 miles of tracking blood, they finally lost blood. No deer was ever recovered!

We are thinking that either the buck will eventually die somewhere that we do not know, or that he will live. The debate is still within our family, and next time, my sister in law is bound to make the shot count...

(will continue the journal on Wendsday November 9th 2005)

[12gauge]

[glow=red,2,300]November 9th 2005[/glow]

Went hunting on monday evening (November 7th 2005) right as soon as it got dark i seen the silouette of a doe walking my way, she stopped 15 yards from me and sniffed around. I could barely see my sights, so i wasn't sure i would be able to make a clean shot, and plus saturday i had killed a doe, so i didn't want to clean two animals within a few days; so i let her go..

She ate around for 10 minutes, and then it got to where it was so dark, i could barely see her...so i blew my grunt call in attempt to scare her. All she did was stomp around with her hoof and blew. So i said "Get out of here deer" really softly...she just stopped and looked at me.

SO then i stood up and started to get down and she ran, then as soon as my feet hit the ground, i seen about 50 yards away, a white tail flag up and leave. I wasn't sure if it was a doe or buck, but i know if i would have stayed up there for about 5 or 10 more minutes i would barely be able to find out.

This evening (Nov. 9th 05) i will try again, my goal is to get a buck. That way, it is worth cleaning and gutting, and we've already got a full freezer of meat, so we really don't need anymore meat...but a nice set of antlers will surely brighten my day!

(Will continue the Journal on Friday November 11th 2005)

[12gauge]

[glow=red,2,300]Friday, November 11th[/glow]

went hunting last night, didn't see a thing.

I am planning on either getting up tomorrow hunting and trying a new hunting stand location, or hunt the evening in a new hunting location.

I am really looking forward to trying the stand that me and my brother Chris set up on tuesday, on our neighbors 5 acre land. It looks like a real good place!
A cedar forest extending from their house and in about 50 yards, and then stopping in a popular tree strip, which is about 30 yards across and 100 yards deep, and then on the other side it is a cedar forest as well...

When setting up the stand on Tuesday, we jumped 4 deer already. So i am thinking either tomorrow morning, or tomorrow evening, hunt the stand...

We have only 1 week left in muzzleloading season, it ends next friday November 18th, then gun season opens, there i will be able to live up to my username....good ol' 12gauge!!

Either that or hunt with my favorite and trusty 30-30 lever action rifle!

Either way i am not spending the rest of my hunting season with one kill, i will try to beat my average (which is one whitetail a year) by killing a big buck!!

It's like my Hunter's Prayer Plaq says...

"Lord please give me hunter's luck,
to shoot a mighty eight point buck,
then when luck like this is in the bag,
i will have a reason, then to brag! Amen"

(will update journal on Sunday, November 13th 2005)

[12gauge]

[glow=red,2,300]Sunday, November 13th 2005[/glow]

Went hunting last night, got in the stand sort of early, got in at 2:30pm and it gets dark around 5:30 pm or so. Right at dark i seen 2 small does make their way behind me and chased each other, playing, towards the back of the drainfield, on the ridge off to my right. Just then, not 3 minutes later, the mother doe followed on their trail. I couldn't tell if it was their mother, or a nice buck following their tracks, it was too dark to see any horns, and the moon was shinning brightly, but i still couldn't see very well.

So i watched the "mother" which is what i think it is, disappear behind the drainfield where the two babies went. I thought to myself 'if i can sneak out of these woods, by the time i get to the drainfield, i can see if the deer is a buck or not, and if it is, i will blast 'em!' well it all seemed too easy, until i got out of the woods, and the leaves were crunchin' under my big 1000 insulate boots.

Instantly i seen 3 white flags raise up and take off into the woods. One deer was in the middle of the woods! I never could see if it was a buck or not...

My brother never did see anything, and neither did my brother in law. So only i seen 3...

we got news last night that someone up the road had killed a massive spike. We are afraid that person had killed the 3 point that constantly hangs around our place, and eats corn out of our drainfield. He is almost tamed, and if he was killed, he ain't tamed no more!

I pray to god he isn't dead, here lately we haven't seen him...but i still hope he will come back!

>:(Today is Sunday so no hunting! Damn Virginia law! (pardon my french )

Instead i have a day of relaxation...sitting back, watching TV, and working in my garden. I tried rattling last night, but it didn't work...

Hopefully tomorrow evening will work out for me...

(will continue journal on Wednsday, November 16th 2005)

[Rackman]

Your daily journal is very interesting and I look forward to catching up on it every chance I can. Keep it going and may God bless your hunts

[12gauge]

[glow=red,2,300]Wednsday, November 16th 2005[/glow]

Went hunting last night....caught a cold, so i am sniffling and coughing....but it didn't hurt my day on the stand. I got in my stand at 4:00pm and then dad come riding by on the ATV to his stand. About 5:10pm I instantly heard my dad shoot, his stand is located down in a creek bottom about 70 yards from my stand at least. I am on a ridge, and my ridge runs down into the creek bottom where dad is. But anyway, once i heard my dad shot, i heard my mom from the house saying "Go Randy, Go Randy, Go!" I just laughed and said to myself..

'It wasn't Randy mom, it was dad!"

Not 5 minutes afterwards i heard my brother shoot! He is watching another creek bottom about 500 yards away from me. I was thinking this is my evening because the deer are moving! So i waited patiently. It got prime time, started to get a little darker, and a little darker. Then i heard dad crank up the ATV and i seen the tail lights through the trees riding away from me! He was going to go find his deer...

The noise pretty much scared everything in the forest, i kept hearing things run all over the place. But nothing by me...

I was hoping to catch something running by me in fear of the ATV, but nothing. I watched my dad with the 4 wheeler run all over the woods finding his deer and trying to find a way out of the creek bottom. I laughed watching him make his attempt to get out of the creek thickets...

About 5:40 i was waiting for him by my stand. It had gotten so dark i could barely see 20 yards in front of me, but i am so close to the house i can see the lights so i didn't bother leaving the woods, i was curious to see if dad bagged a monster buck!

About 5:45 he finally emerged to my stand, in the back of the ATV was a nice spike! I congratulated him and we left the woods. He explained to me that the deer was 80 yards away from him, and with his muzzleloader with a scope, he made a clean lung shot!

after all that, dad finally talked with Chris (my brother) and my brother had gotten a doe by mistake, he said that Chris thought he was shooting a buck, but it waas a doe. My dad explained that my brother had gut shot the doe, but it only ran 40 yards before dropping. So that tells me that the deer went into shock...

I was happy for my dad and brother, but then again also kind of discouraged, because this day was like a day a few years back. My brother, father, my brother's friend and our neighbor and I were all bowhunting. Everyone got a shot, even me! But everyone got a deer...i missed...

I told dad it was like deja-vu and he just laughed and said "Hey! You got one way before we did!" i just laughed and agreed.

So yesterday turned out ok, both my bro and dad got a deer, and i got a doe opening morning of ML, so we all got 1 deer each. I am going to break that and go for a buck this time!

My average is 1 deer/ per year, i want to at least make a new record!

This evening because of my cold i will stay indoors...

(Will update journal on Thursday, November 17th, 2005)

[12gauge]

[glow=red,2,300]Thursday, November 17th 2005[/glow]

What an unbelieveable morning! Woke up this morning and got ready, then at 7:20 am right before leaving to school, a nice 6 point stood in the drainfield about 70 yards from the house...

It was too far for my open sights muzzleloader, so my dad had given me his knight&Hale's muzzleloader which had a scope. Now you remember that my dad and brother had shot a spike and a doe the other evening, well dad never did clean out his muzzleloader...

I put the crosshairs right on him and "PAP!" the cap went off but the ML didn't go off!!!

The 6 point ran off and disappeared into the forest!!

I came sooo close to a good story to tell my friends at school! Now i have a story of my missfire on a nice 6 point!!!

Hopefully this evening i will see him again, i will be on my stand waiting for him!! and when he comes i will be ready with my ML!!!

(Will update journal either later today or friday, november 18th 2005)

[12gauge]

[glow=red,2,300]Friday, November 18th 2005[/glow]

No luck in seeing that 6 point again, i think he is too smart to come up in our drainfield again!

If that gun woulda gone off i woulda had me a nice 6 point to go along with my doe!

Oh and btw, i did get all those pictures developed yesterday, and i got them downloaded onto the computer. Posted a few pictures of my garden, my treestand, my ML, and more importantly...my doe!!

Well today is friday! So TGIF! I figure tomorrow morning i will work on that tree stand some more, i added a new addition for my nephews and neices. On the first floor (7 1/2 foot up) i added a bridge that runs from my stand and connects to a tree, there i can built a diamond stand because there are 3 trees on the other side not including the tree the bridge is connected onto...

Hopefully i can knock this whole project off this evening and maybe tomorrow...

Then not only will i be happy, but my nephews and neices will be too! They will have their own section where they can play and have a picnic or whatever they want..

Well school is in the way now, so i better go ahead and finish off today first before i work on the stand...

(Will update journal on Sunday, November 20th 2005)

[12gauge]

[glow=red,2,300]Sunday, November 20th 2005[/glow]

GAHHH! Sunday so no hunting here in Virginia! Man i hate the blasted Virginia Laws!!

Yesterday was the opening season for gun, so in the morning i took off with my 12 gauge, hoping to live up to my name. But nothing...instead, i practically froze! Temps down to 25 degrees...

Yesterday evening i went, again didn't see nothing....got out of the woods at 5:26pm when sunset was at 4:50pm, so it was a little dark...

My brother had shot at a monster buck with his 30-06 yesterday morning, but he missed. He said the buck was at 80+ yards and he took the shot...

but he missed...hopefully tomorrow evening after school i will see him and give him some buckshot pellets!

Worked on my brothers house today, i was stuck setting and screwing the cover boxes for the electrical outlets...not much fun, but it gave me something to do besides sitting at home...

Tuesday i am going on a field trip to Luray Caverns, there is a huge garden maze that we are going to! It's a geometry class and we are learning about perimeter and area, so we studying about finding those in a maze...our principle approves so we are definatley going! it's just 12 of us at the most, so it won't be too crowded...1 1/2 hour drive on a short bus won't be too much fun, but i will surely bring my CD player!!

Can't wait for the field trip!!!

(will update journal on Tuesday, November 22nd 2005; after field trip )

[glow=red,2,300]EVERYONE HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE THANKSGIVING[/glow]

[12gauge]

well a day late...oh well!

The trip was canceled!!!

Anyway...

[glow=red,2,300]Wendsday, November 23th 2005[/glow]

AHHH! GOOD MORNING!!!

Why?

I got me a nice 5 pointer this morning!!!!

Brother woke me up at 7am this morning and told me there was a buck in the drainfield, so i got up and he handed me dad's 30-06, i snuck out to the back porch, put the crosshairs on him and shot him in the heart!!

PERFECT SHOT!

He didn't run but maybe 30 yards and dropped! That's my second kill this year!!!!

After that i went to work from 9am-1:30pm. Had to scrap a house up the street...

Anyway, now it is time to relax!!

Will post pictures once i get them developed!


[glow=red,2,300]EVERYONE HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! GOD BLESS TO ALL! [/glow]

[12gauge]

Yikes! Last update was before Thanksgiving!!!

I really need to catch up on things!

[glow=red,2,300]December 21st 2005[/glow]

Brother, Father, Brother in Law and me tried to do a drive during the morning. We had just gotten tons of snow and ice the previous night and already with the warm sun setting in, the snow was dripping and falling from the trees. Sitting on the stand with my single shot 12 gauge shotgun, i was collecting huge globs of cold, wet snow in the back of my jacket!

Needless to say 30 minutes passed and nothing came. Heard my brother talk to my father down in the creek bottom where he is stationed at. I knew the hunt was over, but i still stayed just in case. Finally they recovered me...

No success....

Pretty much since then i haven't been hunting or seeing any deer. Cold weather has kept me indoors. Now after christmas the days are getting highs in the 40s so i still grab my bow and shoot a little other than that....that's it...

God bless

[artemis]

Was wondering what you've been up to - haven't seen ya on the site in awhile. Good to see ya back online.

[12gauge]

[glow=red,2,300]December 30th 2005[/glow]

Just started with my ghillie suit that i've looked online to build...only got the back of the legs done and it took me all day! I haven't even started on the front or the shirt yet!

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to get that suit complete, if not then i have all year until hunting season to make it..

I also got our trampoline that we got from christmas up...took me several hours by myself, but i got it!

[glow=red,2,300]December 31st 2005[/glow]

FINALLY got my brother and his family moved into their home! I have the basement to myself now!

Got the front and back done on the ghillie legs! I will finish off more with the front and then work on the shirt! I've posted pictures in the DIY of the legs so far, then when i get done with the outfit i will take a picture of me wearing it!

Also helped the kids put up their trampoline today, they got one too for christmas! Well the rest of tonight and tomorrow i will finish up with the legs. Then start with the body!

Brother in law came to us tonight and showed us a nice 6 pointer he got with his shotgun. Pretty much for me it's been way too cold to hunt, besides i've killed two for the year, and we don't need anymore venison...

School's back in session Tuesday the 3rd. I really am (not) looking forward to it...

*Artemis, yeah i haven't posted in forever, been trying to help bro and sis-in law moved out, plus i've been relaxing and enjoying my break off from school. Catching up on other forums that i go to. But now i am catching up on posting here! cya round the board!*

Will update Journal ASAP!

[12gauge]

[glow=red,2,300]Sunday, January 1st 2006[/glow]

Finally got the pants completed with the ghillie suit, now i started a new and easier project, no it's not the blanket, but instead it is a top hat! The hat i chose is an olive green strap at the chin hat. I put the chicken wire on and put grey and black fabric on it so far, i will finish it this evening or tonight, that way before i go back to school on Tuesday (January 3rd) i will be able to start on my body portion (which will be the hardest...)

Folks bought us a new Foosh ball table and an Air Hockey table! Foosh ball is like soccor...then sometime later on we will be getting our pool table in, probably by January 11th or something...

So we will have a pool, air hockey and foosh-ball table to play and mess with!

Right now (2:03 pm eastern) i am watching my folks put it together while i play our slot machine we got for free from one of our neighbors that didn't want it...well really i am typing on the computer (duh!) but i will be watching them after i get off lol!

Pretty much for today and tomorrow i will be working on my ghillie suit, tonight and maybe tomorrow i will finish the hat, but i am sure i can get the hat done tonight, that gives me all day tomorrow to at least put the wiring on the body of my suit.

After this ghillie suit is complete i will work on another project that at least will blend in well and be useful (really) for hunting. I am thinking about either doing a ghillie blanket that you can throw over yourself to hide or a portable ghillie blind...

The blind would be the biggest project, so i guess i will save that for last. All it would be is a circle of either volleyball netting or some other netting besides chicken wire (even though chicken wire would be cheaper and lighter) and go into vague detail on the designs and grass like strings...

So for today (Jan. 1st) and tomorrow (Jan. 2nd) i will be working still on my ghillie suit! And preparing to go back to school on the 3rd...

[glow=red,2,300]I hate school!!! [/glow]

[12gauge]

[glow=red,2,300]Monday January 2nd[/glow]

Apparently we had school today, but me and my parents were confused into thinking that tomorrow is school so pretty much i got a free day...

Anyway, i completed the hat last night and the funniest thing ever! I went downstairs to the basement with my ghillie hat on to show my parents and instantly when dad seen me he aknowledged my presence with "Hey Ghillie Head!" both me and mom died laughing! I will be known in this family for now on as Ghillie Head!!

I started and finished putting on the netting to the shirt of my ghillie suit, and it fit perfectly! Now i have the lower portion of the suit complete with the fabrics on. I figure i will be able to at least get up a little higher tonight and then finish the front maybe tomorrow after school.

Then maybe Wednsday i will be able to start on the back. What is good is that my pants and hat are complete the only thing i have to do is do the shirt, after that i am done!!

Well not really cause then i will be working on another ghillie project. The blanket....

I am thinking about just taking a long strand of that netting and placing the fabrics on. Then attach some kinds of fabric or base to the bottom that way the fencing doesn't scratch me up too bad...

I will cross that bridge when I get there...

Right now (1:13pm eastern) I am typing on the computer while my sister and her husband are playing air hockey that we set up last night. Mom's 'bout to go out and get her hair cut and i am going to work on the ghillie shirt!

(Lol! Ghillie Head! That cracks me up everytime!!! )

God bless to all!

Sincerely,

Ghillie Head, AKA 12 gauge