2009 Journal
|
Logged in as: Guest
|
|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
2009 Journal - 10/1/2009 1:08:36 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Opening day Bow (Antlered) is two days away. All my clothes have been scent sanitized and packed into my carbon storage bag. All gear has been sanitized as well and stored in a plastic bag in my pack, also in the carbon storage bag. Will put my new Rage 2's on tonight, wipe down the bow, quiver, check the sights and put it back in the case until opening day. I've gone over my strategy, how I'll get in the woods and what I'm looking to harvest. The rest is all in God's hands....oh and the forecast 70% chance of rain showers on and off through the day, thunderstorms, and mid 70 temps... 
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/4/2009 11:26:57 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
I had some mixed emotions going into the Bow Opener based on having to find a new hunting location a week ago, as well as a forecast for rain. Both proved to be non-factors and although I did not kill a deer that day I saw plenty of them and it was great to get back in the woods again. The mornings hunt presented a few challenges as I was running behind and testing out a new configuration, which led to the first missed opportunity of the season. A 6-8 point with two does in tow appeared like a ghost as I was still getting settled in the stand and quickly faded out of range by the time I grabbed my bow and was ready. The rain held off until 3pm at which point it came down in buckets. A quick download from weatherbug.com on my BB told me the rain would last about an hour and then become clear. Based on that forecast I stuck it out figuring once the rain stopped the deer would come out again...and come out they did...all does and not the shooter I saw earlier that morning . All told I saw about 14 deer that day, no shots but nevertheless it was a great day and I was happy just to see deer. For me it confirmed my scouting skills on a new piece of hunting ground I had walked only once before. I'll have to refine my stand location and setup, but I'm definitely in the right ballpark.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/5/2009 12:20:55 AM
|
|
|
DoeEyed
Posts: 623
Joined: 12/1/2008
From: Door County, WI.
Status: offline
|
I am glad to hear that it has worked out in your favor so far. 14 deer in a day is a great day in my book! Good luck on the next shot opportunity.!
_____________________________
Holly
All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen
Ralph Waldo Emerson
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/5/2009 12:42:36 PM
|
|
|
cutngut85
Posts: 107
Joined: 8/4/2009
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
That's awesome to hear DeanoZ.......seems like the new property searching payed off! Best luck next time out!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/5/2009 3:01:59 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Yes it did CnG...I went out there during my lunch hour to adjust my stand position about 75 meters NW...I'm in a better spot and sure enough thats closer to the convergence point...I wanted to be right on that point but someone else has the same idea..grrrr public hunting!!!!! Anyway, they have to come through me first and I'm hunting tomorrow morning so we'll see what happens...thanks for the well wishes all...hope to have some good pics tomorrow!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/6/2009 12:12:55 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Relocated my stand southeast and did a short hunt this morning. Wind, temps and and just coming off a full moon so the deer were moving. I actually bumped a few going to my stand, even though I went way around to avoid doing that. Got my stand configuration down so it went a lot smoother this morning. Saw a fox and 1 doe, that's it. Pretty certain I had the place to myself...only saw one other car in the lot. Perhaps the sightings I had on opening day were more a result of hunters bumping more deer my way? Still I'm certain this is a good spot so I'll be back there on Saturday morning.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/6/2009 8:58:20 PM
|
|
|
charlie
Posts: 49
Joined: 9/27/2009
Status: offline
|
what town in jersey do you hunt? i hunt in readington 15 acres kind of hard deer like to stay close to houses. best of luck.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/7/2009 10:19:01 AM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Charlie I hunt public land in Monmouth County. If you go to their county website they have several properties you can access once you apply for and purchase a permit...as does Hunterdon County as well. Is your spot in Readington public or private land? I would not write it off..there is some good hunting in that area and when the rut comes they will be moving all over the place. For sure I'm betting you probbaly have a few monsters lurking in the safety of those residential areas...they'll come out eventually just a matter of time and patience.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/8/2009 11:28:10 AM
|
|
|
cutngut85
Posts: 107
Joined: 8/4/2009
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Charlie - Readington is a great place to have land to hunt! 15 acres is more than enough land to hunt and come another few weeks, deer will be moving a lot more......especially those big "backyard" bucks!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/12/2009 10:59:17 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Saturday I was in my usual spot at the county park I hunt. Not as many hunters this weekend, but their presense was definately felt, watching one fumble to his stand not more than 100 yards from my spot, white flashlight blarring all the way..and another crashing through the woods to my west...so I had a feeling that mornings hunt would be fruitless. Yet a nice doe came by providing the perfect broadside shot..she actually came right to my tree but was none the wiser, so my scent routine is working well. i let her walk as right now I'm more interested in getting a buck,Glassed a spike in the distance but he neve came within shooting range..I'd of passed on him anyway. I left the woods at 10am, just as it started to rain and so I'd have time to scout another piece of public property that affords Sunday Bowhunting. My maps spots were good as there was good sign and well worn trails. I found three spots and set up in the most promising of the three Sunday morning. It was a stream crossing with intersecting trails...only problem was finding a suitable tree to hang my sstand from. I did find one but unfortunately it had a lean and would only allow me to clime to 12 ft. I sat there Sunday morning...temp was hovering just above 40...it was cooler than it had been in some time and i figured the deer would be moving. Shortly after sunrise I noticed movement to my front and a nice fat doe came into range, turned broadside about 10 yrds out and then stopped, looked up and saw me...she could not quite make out what I was, but was unable to wind me. She wasn't sure what I was but was nervous nevertheless, and bolted. No matter I was not planning to shoot her anyway. That was the only sighting I had all morning and came off stand around noon. I discovered cornfields on another section of the land and scouted the woods leading to them, only to find two huge oaks and the ground littered with acorns...untouched. So for the evenings hunt I hanged my stand in that spot, wondering if they moved later. The afternoon came and went without a single sighting...which I found perplexing? Perhaps it was the loud engines of hot rods and dirt bikes that caused them to steer clear of the area. I'l be revisiting the first spot in the middle of the week.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/14/2009 4:19:37 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Back to the same spot this morning. Conditions were good, low 40's moderate wind out of the NW, cool clear crisp morning. Deer seem to be bedded on the edge of the fields just before daybreak, I keep busting them getting to my stand so I'll have to find a different approach. Morning was quiet, no action except late in the morning when I saw a big Doe and Yearling about 60 yrds out walking along the edge of the field and treeline. The mock scape I made appeared to have been refreshed earlier in the week, I cleared it and freshened it up by peeing in it and I'm going to give that spot a rest until next week. Tomorrow the winds will be right to try a spot I've been wanting to hunt but have not yet...should be interesting...more to follow.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/15/2009 11:59:10 AM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Had the woods to myself this morning...hunting morning weekdays on public land is definitely the way to go. Winds were out of the NE 10-15mph- this morning so Iwas finally able to sit in this one stand (double inside field corner). Made it in without bumping a single deer, I'm guessing they were not moving much and had been feeding through the night in preparation for the Nor'easter we're getting. Was much of a repeat of yesterdays events. Had a Doe and her fawn come by the downwind side of my stand just as I was about to call it quits. Good news is they never knew I was there, so the scentlok suit and routine are working. Also tried a short grunt and rattling sequence with no visible results. Have other obligations this weekend so the next time I get out will be early next week.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/23/2009 2:38:55 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Back in the Park this morning, but in a completely new spot. I did some mid-season scouting along the rivers edge to see i I could get a bead on where they are crossing. up to this point I had been hunting mostly the interior section of this 185 acre parcel. Since I'm getting busted by deer along the field edges on my way in I had to change my setup and entry/exit. Found two good crossing sites with trees I could hang from. Had only time to clear one quickly and did that yesterday with the intent of hunting it this morning. Its a bit deeper in the woods , but was a good opportunity to get away from the masses...or so I thought. Got in the tree, no problem and with plenty of time. As day break came I glassed across the river where the timber opened up and was grassy...definitely one of those fringes that you know deer find interesting. I glassed some more and not more than 60-70yrds away someone had already put in a ladder stand....grrrr. He or she was not hunting it so no matter. Did not see any deer this morning...that was a first in all the times I'd been hunting there, this being hunt #9, but there were fresh tracks from the evening so i know the are coming through there. When I came off stand I crossed the far side of the river to check out the terrain I found so interesting on the other side. Turns out this area seems to be a bedding/staging area with well worn trails and fresh scrapes. Despite not seeing any deer, this is a good spot and I'll be hunting it again soon.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/26/2009 11:35:05 AM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Hunted the WMA property on Sunday. It had rained heavy the day prior so the ground was soggy and the stream was a raging river in some parts. Based on that I opted not to hunt the crossings, but instead focused on a funnel near a water source with a group of rubbed cedars near-by...one of which was 6 inches in diameter and recently rubbed. I had come across this spot during my last hunt and only had time to mark it on the map. I selected a tree with the wind quartering in my favor but without having opportunity to clear lanes ahead of time (and not wanting to disturb the area) I made the best of it. Got on stand around around 3pm, stayed until legal shooting light and saw absolutely nothing. The rub was facing towards the feeding and field areas so my sense is this is probably more of morning stand. i don't like to get hooked into hunting over sign but its pretty hard to ignore this classic one...and whatever did it is no slouch! I'll be back in that spot again soon!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 10/30/2009 1:06:32 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Back to the county park yesterday afternoon and this morning. I had set up at the river crossing again. Was a very promising area with all the right sign, transition area, and funneling terrain. I setup in a different tree that provided a better vantage point and shooting lanes , but not far from the original tree. To my dismay another hunter showed up and occupied his existing ladder stand about 70 yrds on the other side of the river crossing. Saw two does further up from him and that was it for the evenings hunt. Returned early this morning, was all setup and just before sunrise the same fella with buddy in tow come crashing through the woods, white flashlights blazing...if there were deer in the immediate area they were long gone after that! To add insult to injury he starts this loud rattling sequence that must have went on for 5 minutes and it was still pitch black out! Now even if a buck does come in, for sure you can't see him or legally take a shot...so why bother...did he honestly think the buck will stick around and wait for daybreak? Suffice it to say the hunt was a bust! Time to find a new spot...just love public land, lol!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 11/3/2009 11:06:23 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Hunted the WMA on Sunday afternoon. Took the opportunity to do some on the fly scouting on two parts of the property I had previously been unable to scout do to time constraints. My hunch was correct on one portion that borders to private CRP fields with a strip of woods that creates a nice funnel. Some very well worn trails and good buck sign. So I setup there for the afternoon since the winds were right for it. No action until 4:30 when I saw several deer bolt out of the opposite side of the woods into the CRP field. Looked like a bunch of does and the way they were moving something was chasing them. So I hit the grunt tube and doe bleat and a fork horn came in to investigate. My goals were to take at least a 6 point this year, so I let him pass. A spike came out of no where, also responding to my calls. Unfortunately he busted my movement and snorted. Although I took no shots, I saw deer and I have a feeling as the rut heats up this spot is going to produce.
I took this week off from work to hunt the rut. Suffice it to say the chasing is underway...not a lot but between the hunt at the WMA and the two hunts over the last couple days at the county park, it seems to be on the fringes of being underway and in-line with CA's predictions. The county park spot is heating up..have seen on avg a half dozen deer daily...mostly young does with a spike, 4 pt, and 6 pt mixed in. The 6 pt I would have taken had he presented a shot...but he was 65 yards away and cruising...as a matter of fact, all the bucks I've seen, with the exception of the spike have been cruising for does just inisde or on the field edges. I'm going to adjust my stand sight closer to the field edge as I sense this will only continue and become more prevalent as the rut kicks into full gear. Either way, i believe I'm well poised to take a shooter soon, just need the right guy to come by my stand. Taking tomorrow off from hunting...I'm tired and need to regroup. I'll be back at it Thursday, hopefully with a kill!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 11/8/2009 2:17:33 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
The remaining two days I had off I split between the two public areas I hunt. Last Thursday I went to the county park and set up along the field edge, hoping to catch that 6 point cruising along the edge again, but no such luck. Matter of fact I saw one doe and she made her way from the field edge in the high CRP grasses...that was it for that day. The following day I spent at the WMA property. it was much cooler High 30's in the morning to low 40's during the day and very windy. I had under dressed and spent a good part of the day questioning my sanity, especially since I had not seen a single deer until 3pm. A forkhorn showed up about then and presented the perfect broadside shot at 15 yards, but again I passed on him hoping for something bigger. I had two does circle around my tree stand, and really wanted to take one of them, but they never presented the right shot.
So that was my week of hunting the so called rut. I'm not convinced the rut is in full swing yet here and could not hunt over the weekend. The upcoming week is going to be a warm one and my hunts will be limited to mornings only before work. I'm hopeful that by my next hunt on Tuesday morning, things have heated up considerably.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 11/10/2009 1:27:38 PM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Temps were unseasonably warm, low 50's this morning. Hunted the field edge stand where I had seen bucks cruising earlier last week. Woods were dead, only saw one lone spike. If the rut is here you wouldn't know it or all activity is taking place at night when the temps are cooler.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: 2009 Journal - 11/20/2009 11:52:53 AM
|
|
|
DeanoZ
Posts: 940
Joined: 10/9/2008
From: New Jersey
Status: offline
|
Was back at the county park yesterday morning. Winds were not right for my normal spot so i gave it a rest and instead went back to the river crossing. Got within 20 feet of my stand and then heard the unmistakable snort of a deer just over the other side of the river. That was pretty much it for my hunt, sat there for part of the morning and then had to go to work. Made small chat with another hunter who managed to take a a 7 point last week, also mentioned another fella who took an eight...so where are these bucks when I show up? The common theme between these two hunters are these Bucks seem to be closer to the edge of the park entrance...which tells me they were staging just inside the entrance waiting for receptive does...I've been going to the other side hoping to catch them before the cross over the river...and based ona scrape I saw there as well as some rubs, its seems they are coming past that stand at night on their way to feeding. The season has been a frustrating one for me to say the least. Not throwing in the towel, but I have to tell you there are a couple times I wanted to! i'll be back at the WMA tomorrow and in a new spot...time to change tactics!
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
|
Printable Version
