WVHunter129's Journal

[wvhunter129]

Well I guess it is better late than not at all!..LOL Here is my experiences from this past years 2005 Buck Only 2 week hunting season.

Fri. Nov 18th - Was planning on leaving for camp at
around 1 PM. Had to wait for my father-in-law and
brother-in-law (Alvin) to get back from the bank.
Found out that my father-in-law had Alvin to also
take him to Little General, a gas station, to play
the quarter machine. Finally they arrived back at
the house. Alvin then went to get his brother, Dink,
who was going with us to camp. We pulled out and
I stopped at the gas station to top off my tank at
Little General. The price of gas was $2.21 a gallon.

Got to Rainelle and gas was $2.13 a gallon. Stopped
at Park Center Sporting Goods to look around and take
a break from driving. Alvin bought his extra buck tag.
We went to McDonald's and had something to eat before we began our trip again.

Got to White Sulpher Springs at about 3:30 PM and stopped to top off the tank again. It only took 4 gallons of gas. The price was 2.09 a gallon, gets cheaper the closer we get to camp. We stopped at Food Lion, a grocery store, so Dink could get some groceries. He had to buy groceries for my father-in-law, his brother and himself for thier camper. My father-in-law and other brother-in-law are suppose to arrive on Tuesday.

We arrived at camp around 4:45 PM. We saw 4 deer in the fields on our way up from Food Lion to Neola.

Jerod and Alvin took the truck and drove up to Sherwood Lake to get water.

Sat. Nov 19th - Got up and fixed a good breakfast of
sausage gravy, eggs and potatoe cakes with big biscuits.

After breakfast Dink and I jacked up the bux to get the
tires off the ground. My father-in-law has a old 1969
Dodge School bus that we fixed up as a camper about 18 years ago. It has been the best camper we have ever had.

We got all the tires off the ground and then we proceeded to get the generator up and running. We also brought with us an 8 foot landscape timber to nail between two oak trees for a meat pole to hang our deer. I put up tarps around my 1971 Lee camper so we could have some cover from the elements.

After that we didn't do much for the rest of the day. For
dinner I fixed cooked up some cabbage, onions, green peppers and little smoke sauages. I even added some diced up potatoes to the stew. Everybody enjoyed the meal, we even opened up a jar of hot peppers and wiennies. Boy what a meal.

Sun. Nov 20th - Got up and fixed breakfast. The usual stuff like eggs, sausage gravy, biscuits and potatoe cakes.

After breakfast we drove up to Ruckers Gap so Dink and Alvins could shoot their guns. After getting their Dink forgot to bring his shells, so he didn't get to shoot his gun. Alvin took two shots with his gun. At 25 yards he was hitting about 1 inch high from the center of the bulls eye.

After shooting the gun we drove up to the lake and got more water to have at camp.

Later we drove down to Food Lion to buy some raffle tickets from the Lions Club. The Lions Club is raffling off a Model 700 BDL 270 caliber rifle with a scope. I bought 7 tickets, but really didn't think I would win, I just wanted to help out the Lions Club. They had the drawing at 5 PM and as I said I didn't win.

Been buying tickets for about 24 years and have never won. But the money goes to a good cause.

Mon. Nov 21st - Got up at 4:30 AM and fixed eggs, sausage, biscuits and potatoe cakes for breakfast. After breakfast and getting dressed we left around 6 AM to head for Ruckers Gap.

Jerod and I got to our spot on Ruckers Gap at around 7 AM. Didn't see any sign what so ever on our way up the mountain. At around 9 AM it began to drizzle. Around 10:30 AM Alvin radioed and said he was headed back to the truck. He told Jerod and I that Dink had went back around 9:30 AM. Jerod and I stuck it out until around 1 PM, then we pulled out. Got back to the truck around 2 PM and Dink and Alvin had already left.

Got back to camp and Alvin and Dink were there and told us that they had not see anything. Neither did we, but Jerod had found two scrapes and a rub out the end of the point where he was hunting. I did see about a dozen turkeys before the rain started.

For dinner I fixed roast beef for dinner. Around 9 PM we all decided to hit the bed.

Tue. Nov 22nd - Got up at 4:30 again and fixed breakfast. Left camp around 6 AM and headed back to Ruckers Gap. Got to our spot around 7:15 AM. We had some cooler weather with some snow showers
and the wind was bad. Gust up to around 30 to 35 mph. Hunted all day, didn't see anything but did have a deer blow when we were walking up the mountian. I did see something about 80 yards out on the opposite hillside, but I don't think it was a deer. I do believe it was a bobcat.

Jerod found 2 more scrapes, but didn't see anything.

We went back to camp at around 4 PM and I fixed chili for dinner.

We had a visitor from one of the other camps and we didn't get to bed until around 10 PM. My father-in-law and my other brother-in-law didn't make it to camp. Alvin had called home and found out that they will be here on Wednesday.

Wed. Nov 23rd - Got up at 5 AM and fixed breakfast. Over the night we had about 2 inches of snow fall. Alvin and Dink going to try and hunt below us from the main road. Alvin didn't stay out no time until he radioed and said he was going back to the truck.

Don't know when Dink went back to the truck.

Jerod and I found two sets of deer tracks while we were walking up the mountain. But, with thoughs tracks we also saw a set of bobcat tracks.

Jerod and I got up to the top of the mountain and found another set of tracks. So far this is all we have seen of any sign.

Jerod and I made it to our ridge and stayed there all day. Again NOTHING! We came out about 3 PM, Dink and Alvin had come up and parked behind my truck. Alvin walked back to his truck and told us that he had went out and called home to see if the others were
coming. Alvin told Jerod and I that they had left at around noon and should be there.

Jerod and I told Alvin and Dink, when he got to the truck, about finding some old rubs and scrapes out the ridge where Alvin had hunted last year.

We got back to camp around 4 PM and my father-in-law and other brother-in-law were there. Alvin had decided that he was going to pack up and go home. One reason, other than seeing no deer, was that Alvin had forgotten to bring enough of his medicine.

So Jerod and I decided that we would head back as well.

We took camp down and packed the truck. While doing this it started snowing. We left about 5:15 to 5:30 from camp and it took us 3 hours to get home due to the storm. It usually takes only about 2 hours.

Thur. Nov 24th - Thanksgiving Day - Didn't hunt.

Fri. Nov 25th - Jerod and I the only ones hunting. Alvin chose not to go today. We started in to the area we were going to hunt and at the 4 wheeler intersection, Jerod went to the right and I continued straight ahead. Jerod jumped 4 deer, two came over on the backside of the hill that I was walking behind, the other two went
opposite directions. I spotted the two that came over the hill, they had crossed the trail I was on and were in the holler to my left. I eased down and brought up my rifle to see if they were does or what.

While doing this I heard one deer blow behind me on the opposite hill.

I finally got the two in my scope and saw they were does. I waited before moving to let them walk out of site.

I got to my spot about 7 AM and found all kinds of deer tracks in the snow. These were fresh since it didn't snow until after midnight.

At around 7:50 to 7:55 I heard something behind me. I got up and turned and saw a fork of a beam as it raised its head behind a tree. While turning around my bi-pod on my Model 700 bummed the tree I was setting beside, but the noise it made didn't startle the deer.

I found the deers body in my scope and placed the crosshairs on its shoulder and squeezed. All I heard was a click instead of a BOOM!

I worked the bolt and ejected the shell and put in another. I found the body of the deer again and got the shoulder in my crosshairs again.

This time the gun went BOOM and the deer went down.

I walked up the hill...the deer was only about 40 yards away...and there he laid. It was a 6 point!!. I put my rifle up against a tree and radioed Jerod and told him that I had gotten a 6 pointer. I walked down to where I was setting and got my backpack and the empty case and the shell that didn't go off. The only conclusion I could come up with was that my firing pin was frozen. The temperature that morning was just about 10 degrees.

I filled out my tag and I proceeded to work the deer and discovered the inner core of my Nosler 150 grain ballistic tip. I started dragging the deer out and when I reached a high point I got my cell phone out and called home and told my wife Brenda. I also told her to call Alvin and tell him that I had gotten one. I got to the to the truck at about 9 AM.

Taken on: November 25th at 7:55 AM
Taken with: Remington Model 700 30-06 with 6-24x50 Tasco Scope
Bullet: Reloads - Nosler 150 gn Ballistic Tip, 48 gns IMR 4064 Powder, Remington Brass and CCI Primers
Place Taken: Run and Gun Club, Fayette County, WV
Points: 6
Measurements: Inside Spread 11.5 inches, Outside Spread 12.75 inches, G1's both 2.25 inches, G2's: left side 4 inches, right side 3.5 inches, Beam length: both beams 14 inches
Weight: 110 lbs
Shot Placement: left shoulder



Jerod came out at around 11:30 to eat some lunch. He told me that he had seen at least 9 deer and 1 was an 8 point, but it was running for all it could and he couldn't get a shot at it. Apparently, just before he saw it he heard two shots from the area the buck came running from.

Jerod went back in around 1 PM and stayed until around 5 PM. He didn't see anything else.

Sat. Nov 26th - Jerod, Alvin and I went back to the area we were hunting on Friday. I didn't have a extra buck tag, but I did have a bear stamp.

Bear season is in the same week our buck season opens, so I figured I would try my hand at bear hunting some. Never saw a bear, but I did see one deer, and Jerod saw a button buck and a doe and Alvin didn't see anything.

Didn't get back into the woods until December 2nd and 3rd. Of course bear season was over and all I could really do was squirrel hunt. The biggest reason for going out was that it was the last of the second week of buck season and Jerod needed to get out and try and get a buck. He didn't see any either day, but did see some does. I saw 7 does and one deer that I don't know what it was. I was basically doing a single person drive.

[wvhunter129]

Man have I gotten behind on keeping this up. So here is 2006:

Should of started if during turkey season, but I was lazy.

May 25, 2006

Well my 2006 hunting season started and ended for this years Spring Gobbler season here in WV.

I didn't make it out the first day of season, which was Monday, April 23, 2006. I had to work!!! YUK! I did get out on Thursday of that first week and really had a blast even though I didn't see or get anything. I did call up several birds that morning. The first one sounded close, but the shotgun blast sounded even closer. So I move on. I get another gobbler to answer my calls. I get setup and proceeded to call. He would answer, but then all was quite and nothing ever showed up. Then I got another bird to answer..WOW...he is close, I thought.

Apparently he was over on the next hillside, which by air would only of been about 100 yards from where I was at. It sounded like he was coming my way, but I didn't realize that there was a creek below the hillside I was on. He made it there and never crossed.

The rest of the day was quite with no more birds answering.

This scenerio carried out almost exactly the same the next 4 times I went turkey hunting. Only one time did I see a bird and that was when i was going down the road in my truck to another spot and saw him running up a hillside. Just figured there was no way I would catch up with this fellow and I was right. I turned around and drove back up the road and parked. I headed out to an area that he was apparently heading towards. Concealed myself and started doing some calling. NOTHING! After about an hour I gave up and packed up and went home.

This Spring Gobbler season I was skunked...AGAIN! Maybe I am not meant to get a turkey...only deer! COME ON DEER SEASON!

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August 1, 2006

Well here it is August 1st and I haven't done much of anything other than work on getting the camper ready for this fall.

I have made a couple trips to the hunting club to do some early, early scouting. I know roughly where I want to setup my ladderstand and where I want to put my cameras up.

After hunting this one area for the past two years and having seen more deer here at this spot more than the spot I setup in last year, I have made up my mind to set the camera in this area and see what is working through the area.

Planning on going this week to set the camera up.

Next will be doing some bow practice. Don't know why I have waited so long to pull the bow off the wall. Usually any time I have spare I have the bow out practicing.

More to follow as we get closer to season.

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August 8, 2006

As most of you know I give a thumbs up to the Moultrie digital camera that Wal-Mart sells for $98. I purchased one back in the spring and have been wanting to get it out for some time now. I ran it through a test in the back yard aimed at the dogs. Got several pictures from it and was pretty satisfied. Yea I know, it isn't a Cuddeback or Wildeye (not sure of the brand), but for a man on a budget the Moultrie will do the job for me. I fell in love with the Moultrie last year after seeing the one my brother in law bought.

Well one of the reasons that it isn't out yet was one...I wanted a steel box to put the camera in...I got one...thank you bud!...you know who you are...second and after I got the box, I wanted to mount the solar panel for the rechargeable battery...and third get the Master Lock Python cable.

Now all of this has been put together and I have a pretty good installation setup. I have it outside here at the house trying it out again. Making sure that the battery stays charged.

One thing I did do to the camera...which probably has voided the warranty...I drilled two small holes in the camera back near the battery housing and placed two rubber grommets to run the positive and negative leads for the solar panel through. Also, after hooking it up yesterday evening I brought it in today and pulled the battery and the lithium battery...basically a complete computer reset of the camera. It appears to be working fine with no problems this evening.

The one thing that I haven't gotten yet is two 256 mb SD cards for the camera. I went to Wal-Mart on Monday...the Lexmark SD cards were on sale, but there was only one left and it had been out of the package so I didn't get it. I am going to keep my eyes open at Wal-Mart and see if they get anymore in soon. But for the time being I will let the camera store the images until I get the card or cards.

I am planning on taking it out to my hunting club this weekend, maybe sooner if I get a chance. I know of an area where I have seen a few nice bucks in the past two years and I pretty much know the routes they travel. So as soon as I get the thing out in the woods and start getting pictures I will start posting.

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August 12, 2006

Well, I thought I would upload some pictures of my camera box setup. I know I have them on the cam forum, but thought I would include them in the HLOG. So here they are:


This is looking at the front of the camera installed and strapped to the tree.


Here is a look at the top of the camera showing the solar panel bolted to the top of the camera box.


Here is a side view of the camera.


Here is the opposite side where you can see the ratchet strap and the Python cable from MasterLock.


Front of camera with the lower door of the camera box unlocked and opened to show the whole camera.


This shows the disconnect that I made in the solar panel cable so I can remove the camera. Also it shows where I ran the two leads into the back of the camera. I drilled two holes and put rubber grommets in the casing and ran the black and red wires through to the inside of the camera.


Here is the empty box with only the solar panel cable in it.


Here is the top of the camera box showing the solar panel, Python cable and the wood wedge. I know everyone has heard guys say that you might need to put something behind the camera to aim it more to the ground. Well this is what they are talking about, a wedge between the tree and the camera or camera box that will angle the camera down some.

Going today to put the camera out in the woods. Hope to be sharing pictures in a few weeks.

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August 12, 2006 update:

Well, I said that I was going to get the camera out. On Saturday the 12th of August I did just that.

My son and I went to our club and I placed the camera in an area that I have seen many deer and I hope is promising this year.

In this photo I am standing at the camera getting a GPS reading.


And here is a photo of the camera setup with me away from it.


I plan on going back this Saturday to see if I may have any pictures on the camera and I also hope to have a SD card to put it the camera.

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August 15, 2006

Well it has been 3 days since I put the camera out in the woods. I am itching to go and see if I got any pic's yet, but I keep telling myself to wait. But, I am anxious to see if I am getting any pictures. Especially since I don't have anything set out at the camera to draw them to it or make them stop at it. I guess I will have to get a mineral, salt or apple block and set out.

Not going to use any feeders this year. It appears that mass crop will be good again this year. While putting the camera out on Saturday we found some hickory nuts and some acorns laying on the ground.

More to come as we get closer to hunting season.

[wvhunter129]

It is now August, 2006.

Checked my camera I guess on the 19th, can't remember and that is what I get for not coming to the forum to add to my HLOG. Took the laptop with me...didn't have a SD card yet...I had four pictures of nothing! One picture looked like something was on the camera. I did notice that my wedge had been knocked out and that the cord from the solar panel had been pulled out of the camera steel box some. The cord looked like something had nawed on it. Might of been a squirrel or coon...don't know. The one picture looked like something white in the corner of the image. Cleared those pictures and started fresh. Didn't have any salt or apples or anything set out. Had the camera on a known travel area.

Went and checked my camera on August 26th or 27th, can't really remember. Battery was at 13% and I didn't have any new pictures. So I pulled the whole setup and brought it home. I checked the connections and tested the solar panel with a volt meter. Seemed like everything was working like it was suppose to. While I had it home I did buy one SD card and put one in layaway at Wal-Mart. Hooked everything back up and ran some tests. Seems okay.

September 3, 2006 took my camera and a salt, apple and corn flavored block to the exact same place. Checked the camera on September 6th and had 32 pictures, I know 3 of them was of me so that meant 29 of something. Checked again on Saturday after the bow shoot and also to put out some pears and had 42 pictures. My son's girlfriend was with us and she had a digital camera that uses SD cards, so we pulled the card and looked at the pictures.....DEER!!!! There were pictures of does, does with fawns but no bucks. Went back yesterday with a buddy from the hunting club to make sure he wasn't setting up his stand to close to us and my camera had 59 pictures. Will go this weekend and pull the SD card and replace it with a fresh one after I pick it up from layaway and hopefully I will have some pictures of a buck. As soon as I get the pictures on the PC I will upload them to the web.

[wvhunter129]

Here it is October 5th, 2006 and I have missed entering some stuff. I will try and recap. Was planning to go and help with the bow shoot on the 29th, but my son's truck (my old 1984 S-10 that I gave him and had been setting for 5 months)...that we just got legal on Friday...broke down Saturday and I spent most of the day working on it. Went to the club property late that evening September 29th and had 72 pictures on my camera. Checked my sons camera and he had 19 pictures. My brother in law had over 80 pictures on his. After getting home we found out that he had a nice looking 6 pointer on his camera. On my camera I had a 6 point buck, not the same buck. Alvin's buck has some distinctive tines, no way to mistake his 6 point for mine or vise versa. Jerod took his 35 mm film to Wal-Mart and got his pictures developed. He had nothing but does and some fawns that just barely had spots remaining.

On Sunday October 1st, Alvin and I took my ladder stand and set it up. I wanted to do it before October...something like August or around the 1st of September but couldn't get any help...everyone to busy. I couldn't take it myself...needed someone to help carry it in and help set it up. But, got it up and I got up in the stand and loved where I had it. No lanes needed to be clear at all. I had my digital camera with me but forgot to take any photos from the stand. Hopefully will make a trip in there on Saturday...not to squirrel hunt but to check the camera...and then I will take some pictures from the stand.

Not long now!!!

Got out this evening and shot at the 3D target about 6 or 7 times to make sure everything is still good.

[wvhunter129]

October 7, 2006 - Went to the hunting club this morning to do some squirrel hunting. I finally decided that I would hunt out of my tree stand. More interested in seeing deer than squirrels. Got to the club about 7 AM and worked my way to my stand. I first checked the cameras. The 35 mm had 25 pictures on it and the digital had 12. I brought the 35 mm home since I had no more film, but just changed out the card in the digital. I did take my laptop and had it in the truck so at lunch time I could check my card.

Sat at my stand for about an hour and spotted a big gray on the ground. Could get a shot at him...moving to fast. I was hunting with my 22 lr, I like having a challenge. To easy with a shotgun and also I didn't want to make a lot of noise in the woods.

Sat there for another hour and didn't see anything. Finally decided to get down and find another spot. Moved to the top of the ridge and found hickory cuttings all over the ground. Found a spot and got ready...about 20 minutes I caught something to my right bouncing. Sure enough another grey...running from a oak tree into a hickory...he wouldn't set still...he was on a mission. He got a hickory nut and ran back into the oak. I lost sight of him, but finally saw him laying flat on a limb...I guess he saw me as well. I took an off handed shot at him and missed, he swung around on the other side of the tree and disappeared. Waited for about 30 minutes and never saw him again.

Around noon we came out of the woods and went to Foodland for some delicious hot dogs!!!. While eating the hot dogs I fired up my laptop and looked at my pictures. More pictures of does. Alvin (my brother in law) pulled his card from his camera...he had 42 pictures. Out of those 42 pictures he had about 30 pictures of nothing but BUCKS!! He has 5 different bucks visiting his site...a 3 pointer, a 6 pointer, two 7 pointers and an 8 pointer. Some pictures had two or three bucks in them...one picture was of the 3 pointer sparing with one of the 7 pointers.

Went back into my stand area with 5 gallons of apples and pears to put out. After dumping the apples and pears decided to set in the stand again. Wasn't in the stand 30 minutes and saw 5 deer!!! No bucks but saw deer!! Jerod saw 7 deer...no bucks.

All in all today was a good day. Didn't get any squirrels, but I saw them and saw deer...couldn't ask for anything any better...WELL maybe it to be bow season!

[wvhunter129]

I know there is a gap between the October 7th, 2006 and now, but just been busy at work and getting ready for the archery opener.

Well guys I did it!!! Saturday morning at 7:50 I shot my very first buck with a bow. Of course I have taken does, but never a buck. In fact years ago I lost a 6 point buck due to a bad shot placement.

But, the deer gods have forgiven me and let me take a buck this year.

I arrived at my stand at 6 AM and was setup to hunt by 6:15 AM. The woods was quite and the stars and a half moon were bright! I heard something like a deer go over the hill, at least it shounded that way. Then as light broke I heard and saw some squirrels running around on the ground.

At about 7:45 AM I heard something like someone walking to my right. I looked up the hill and saw a deer coming my way. I stood up and got positioned so I could be ready for a shot. Finally I saw that it was a buck, I drew my bow back just before he got in front of me...only 20 yards away. Then he stopped and looked right up at me...DANG!!! I HAVE BEEN MADE! He looked at me for what seemed like an eternity...then he made a complete 180 and started walking back the way he came. I then took the shot!! I saw the deer jump and start back up the trail he came down. The whole time I watched my arrow (they have white fletch wrap on them) bounce up and down. I saw him make it to the top and then lost sight of him.

I radioed my son and told him that I got one and was going to give it about 30 minutes, and while waiting I was going to get down and check the spot he was standing.

I got down and went to where he jumped when I hit him. I looked around for hair and or blood. Didn't see nothing. I saw where he made impressions in the leaves and I moved up slowly and looked for blood. Didn't see any...I was getting worried then I saw it...BLOOD!!...just a little drop. I started to look for more and started tracking the trail. I noticed the further I went the more blood I saw. He had went up the hill and I guess the arrow was still cutting cause the further I went up the hill the more blood I found. Just as I topped the hill I found my arrow...covered with blood and a whole lot more on the ground. I picked it up examined it and put it in the quiver. I pulled another one out and placed it on the string. I didn't go 3 steps and I found him!!! He went about 10 yards from where the arrow came out and fell. In all he only went maybe 50 or 75 yards from where I shot him.

Now I will tell you what he is....and SEVEN POINTER!!!! Not really anything to write home about, but my first 7 pointer. His inside spread is only 7 inches or so.

Here is a picture of him.



I will submit the measurements tomorrow. I am at work right now and don't have access to the rack. Of course it is a small rack...inside spread is only 7 inches!

[wvhunter129]

Here it is November 10th, 2006 and I am at home. I worked on Monday and had Tuesday (Election Day) off and Friday (Veterans Day observance) off. I took Wednesday and Thursday off on annual leave. I figured according to Charles Alshimers, Deer and Deer Hunting magazine predictions this would be the best time to be in the woods to catch the bucks in the seeking phase of the rut!! Well Tuesday was a nasty day and my brother in law was sick so I didn't get to go. Wednesday the same things. Thursday was a beautiful day and I was all pumped up about going, then my brother in law let me down again...one he had a doctor appointment, but then after that he didn't feel like going.

Now here we are again, a beautiful day and I was all siked up to go hunting the evening before. Then my sister in law calls me and tells me that she isn't sure if my brother in law is going to go. He would call me in the morning. So I was up early...no call...no brother in law. So here I am on a beautiful day on the computer.

I could of went I guess, but I prefer not to hunt alone. I guess I am going to have to get over that. I have been so use to hunting with my son, who now works 5 days a week, that I am use to someone being with me. Especially after having my heart cath 2 years ago I don't like the idea about being alone in the woods.

I will be going tomorrow, even though the weather is looking bad. Jerod is off on the weekends...another reason I wish Fayette County had Sunday hunting, at least for archery season.

[wvhunter129]

November 11th, 2006...I finally got to get into the woods today. My brother in law again bailed out at the last minute, but my son was off work today so we went. Got a late start...didn't get to my stand until 8 am.

It was a breezy day that is for sure. At one time when it started to cloud up it did get sort of calm.

At 9:15 am I had a lone single doe come down the hill to my right. The exact same trail that the 7 pointer was traveling on opening morning. She walked right in front of my stand. I had a 20 yard shot for at least 5 minutes, but I was hoping to get a boss buck to come and check her out. I already have meat in the freezer so I am passing on does and young bucks now. I want something that I can send to the taxidermist to get mounted.

Jerod saw a doe at my brother in laws stand. He decided that if uncle wasn't going to get out and hunt that area that he sure would. He wasn't there a half hour until a doe came within bow range for him. But Jerod is like me...he is waiting for the boss buck. He said the doe messed around for a little and then started out the ridge. A short time later he saw her run over the hill with another deer behind her. We can only assume it was a buck.

Around noon we came out to get some lunch. While eating lunch the rain started so we decided just to head back home. Don't want to risk getting sick before buck season.

This will probably be the last bow hunt until after buck season or muzzleloader season.

I guess now I will get my bowhunters survey completed and have it ready to mail in.

[wvhunter129]

11/18/06 - pulled out for camp in Greenbrier County.

11/19/06 - checked zero on my brother in laws 35 cal. Marlin.

11/20/06 through 11/25/06 - 1st week of buck season and didn't see a deer all week. When I say deer I mean deer...no bucks, no does or any fawns/yearlings...nothing notta one!!

Heard a pack of coyotes running something, but never saw them or what they were running.

Saw 3 turkeys, 1 bear and enough squirrels to probably give everyone on the board their limit every day!!

Had a good time at camp and wasn't really discouraged. That is the thing, I just enjoy being out and if I get a deer that is a bonus. I just wish I would of seen just one!

Going out the last day and hope to get a buck on the club property here in Fayette County.

[wvhunter129]

Well the 2006 WV Buck Season has come and gone now with me not see the first deer!!!! That's right I hunted the whole first week about 9 to 10 hours a day in Greenbrier County, near Neola, WV and never saw the first deer!

This past week I had to work and could only hunt yesterday. My son and I arrived at our hunting club property here in Fayette County and got into the woods just as daylight was approaching. I went to my favorite spot.

I hunted that spot for about 5 hours without see a deer one. I think the moon being out and all the shooting last week has put them to nocturnal movement. Also, after the high winds on Friday I bet they were in the bottoms...not sure on that one, but there is some reason I didn't see any yesterday.

Well there is next year for me to try and get a buck and there is also muzzleloader season coming up on the 11th. Here in Fayette County we can only hunt bucks since the DNR got smart and did away with doe season.

If I don't connect with a buck during muzzleloader then I will attempt to get another deer...buck or doe....with the bow before the season goes out.

[wvhunter129]

December 16, 2006.

Got up early enough to get to the woods just at daylight, but was lazy getting started and didn't get into my stand location until 8 am.

Hunted this spot for about 2 and a half hours. Didn't see anything. Did hear a squirrel bark and saw plenty of evidence that deer and turkeys both had been around.

ALSO, some IDIOT stole part of the stabilizer from my ladder stand. I don't have a problem at all if someone wants to hunt out of my ladder stand if not hunting that day. BUT to take a piece of it now that just totally ticks me off. I know someone hunted out of it, there was a Pepsi bottle tied to a rope used to host my bow up to the stand. Also, there was a empty pack of Marlboro Lights lying on the ground. Whoever took the piece of stabilizer had to unstrap it from the tree and unscrew the knob that locks it into place. So it was deliberate. I did check the cable and lock to see if someone had tried to tamper with it. Didn't appear to be messed with.

They even went as far as to pickup my salt block and move it about 8 to 10 feet and put it in a hole in the ground where the roots of a big tree that fell over.

I am thinking about taking my camera and climbing stand over there and hooking my camera up about 12 to 15 feet in the tree and use the laser aim and point it at the ladders stand. Come back down and see who I catch screwing around my stand!

Well enough about my stand.

I finally got up and started to a different spot. I had gotten about 200 yards or so out a old logging road when I saw a white flag!! I knelt down and saw 3 more flags. They were up on the side of the hill about 100 yards from me. Couldn't make out what they were. Jerod had just set down about 30 yards back up the old road and was watching a bottom. The deer seemed to go over the top of the ridge and so I moved on. I made it to the area I was wanting to get to and hunted there until about 1 pm.

About that time Jerod had gotten up and made it out to me and informed me that just after I left, he had a doe being chased by a buck come down from the hill where I saw the 4 deer earlier. They came down the hill and crossed the road way and made it into the bottom he was watching, but everything happened so fast that they made it into a laurel thicket before he could get his gun up to his shoulder. They also came down about 30 or 40 yards on up the road from where he was setting.

So it was a good day. I did get to see some deer and he saw a doe and buck. Just couldn't connect.

Now I have to clean that muzzleloader and pull the bow back off the wall and get ready for next Saturday and the week of Christmas!

[wvhunter129]

Well Christmas came and went and for whatever reason I just didn't get out to hunt the week I was off work. One thing was my son had to work Tuesday through Friday so that kind of closed the door on hunting during the week.

Did go and get my ladderstand out of the woods on December 30th. I still am ticked that someone stole a piece of the stand...I guess it could of been worse and they could of taken the whole thing.

Didn't see any deer that day.

January 6, 2007, Jerod and I went on what we called a squirrel hunt but it was more of a scouting trip. We decided to go onto the club property and just walk all day looking for sign and hopefully see some deer.

We did...we saw two deer and immediately they jumped and went over the hill into a thicket. We checked our stand locations to see if deer were still visiting them. We also checked my brother in laws site. All that we had out was salt blocks that we put out before archery season. It looked like the deer were still visiting the salt blocks and mine and Jerod's spot. Now my brother in laws spot you could tell for SURE the deer were still visiting that site. The leaves were all gone from around the salt block and the ground almost looked rooted up.

We walked into some areas that we hadn't ever been in before. Discovered some nice looking areas that I am thinking about putting my ladderstand up in. BUT this time I will make sure that if someone wants to try and steal it they will have to work for it!! But I think the area I want to put the stand no one ever goes to, not unless they like going down a holler and through some laurel and over some downed trees. It is one of those out of the way places where a lot of hunters won't travel cause they have to walk to far and you can't get a 4 wheeler in there unless you want to be cutting trees all day.

This is my last entry in the 2006 Hunt Log, it is time to get started on the 2007 log. Good luck to all my hunting brothers this 2007.