Post by: uncoolperson on October 15, 2010, 09:29:03 PM
This is my year, sure I've got school and work (and the wife reminding me I've got homework to get to) getting in the way, but tomorrow morning it's gonna happen!
Got it playing through my head, just as the sun starts to peek through I'm gonna finish my smoke and coffee, water some grass on the side of a road before I begin my trek. aAnd before I've finished my lawn care he'll be standing there broadside and stupid at 10 yards.
have fun hunting tomorrow.... I'll probably just be wandering about with a rifle.
Post by: C-Money on October 15, 2010, 09:32:25 PM
Post by: markts on October 15, 2010, 09:34:54 PM
Post by: seth30 on October 15, 2010, 09:36:54 PM
Post by: Little Dave on October 16, 2010, 01:52:53 AM
Maybe save a few for the late archery season. :chuckle:
Post by: uncoolperson on October 16, 2010, 05:58:42 PM
and walking down a trail had squirrels going crazy 200 yards ahead of me for a mile or so.... but they wern't making a racket when I walked by.... kind curious as to what I was pushing along.
also, grouse heads are mighty small, and I need to figure out my point of impact compared to point of aim at 20 feet.... if I had a shotgun I could have limited out on grouse (wasn't anticipating grouse up that way) in under 10 minutes.
Post by: fishingnut71 on October 16, 2010, 07:36:43 PM
Post by: uncoolperson on October 16, 2010, 07:39:33 PM
take it easy on the grass on the side of the road. It might make you see things that might not be there. Good luck anyhow
just watering it, looked thirsty
:pee:
Post by: seth30 on October 16, 2010, 07:41:17 PM
Post by: uncoolperson on October 28, 2010, 07:18:29 PM
I start my walk, stopping for every falling leaf, bird jumping around, voices in my head. and when I finally get to my clearing I realize I forgot something back where I had lunch. I start doing the math and if I give it a good fast walk up (super duper up) and jog down I should have 20 minutes to watch this clearing before heading back... so I do it, drop my pack, empty my pockets of most of my stuff and start my trek. I find my misplaced item pretty quickly and start jogging down.
not 3 minutes into my return jog I see big brown blob 10 yards away in the road, takes me a moment to realize "hey deer!!!!" and apparently it takes her a moment too, we lock eyes for a spit second and she jumps off into the woods off the road. Thinking to myself watching a deer is watching a deer I wander to the edge of the road to watch her wander off, and I hear something behind me, I look across the road and there's what appears (90% sure) to be a small spike. that starts freaking out and trying to bound through the woods making a racket on his way.
So, I'm sitting there laughing to myself "deer to the left of me deer to the right, what do I do?" and I notice deer running through woods will set chimpmunks off, set's em off good. So I sit and wait for awhile (I can tell they are still nearby) hoping they try to regroup (will blacktail regroup?). and I hear the sounds moving off, perhaps they were scared of the big orange thing hiding in the ditch. So I attempt to cut the one off that looked like a spike, and by the time I get in place it's too dark for me to be shooting at anything (and I realize I left my flashlight with my pack), I did however see a shadow moving about where the deer was heading.... ohh well, next time.
So there we go, new hunting technique, pretend you're a truck (jog down roads).
Post by: ser300wsm on October 28, 2010, 07:25:03 PM
Post by: top pin1 on October 28, 2010, 07:59:41 PM
RIFLE?? :chuckle:
Top
Post by: Hunterman on October 28, 2010, 08:00:12 PM
Hunterman(Tony)
Post by: uncoolperson on October 28, 2010, 08:24:17 PM
i wanna know what you forgot and had to go back for?
buff balaclava
Post by: uncoolperson on October 30, 2010, 10:28:50 PM
Post by: webbspinner on October 30, 2010, 10:58:41 PM
Post by: uncoolperson on November 17, 2010, 07:30:00 PM
Post by: woodrat on November 17, 2010, 07:49:35 PM
Post by: mjbskwim on November 17, 2010, 07:54:16 PM
Never killed a deer before this season.
5th day out I killed a very fine tasting doe.
Just sayin'
(change your tactics and standards,TONS of deer out there)
Post by: uncoolperson on November 17, 2010, 09:03:02 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on November 18, 2010, 06:01:49 AM
I hope this does not come off as harsh. That is not my intention, but I have a hard time understanding how anyone can go 5 years without shooting even a spike blacktail. This is not all directed at you, as I have seen a few of these types of threads lately and have been wondering how the experienced hunters can help. Hunting can be tough and it is not always easy to fill a tag but a 5 year dry spell on bt's is hard to understand.
So the question is, "How do we turn this around?"
A couple of things in your post caught my attention.
"I may not be as bad as the worst hunter in washington... but I'm a close second"
You need to stay positive. We all get down (and I have even "prayed" for a spike before) but that is when the action tends to happen and you will not be prepared. During the off season do what ever it takes to be confident, scout, read, shoot, etc. and it will pay off during the season.
"I've got school and work (and the wife reminding me I've got homework to get to) getting in the way"
Is it getting in the way mentally as well? When you are in the woods you need to be focused on the task at hand and not thinking about work. How much time are you really hunting? Six full days and at least 5 nights after work during the general season are what I set aside every year. Sometimes I need that time, others I don't.
" 9 hours of hiking around, estimating probably 13-14 miles in today"
Way too much hiking for most blacktail country. I don't know where you are hunting but if you are in the lowlands that is a lot of hiking. Slow down and compartmentalize. Learn a smaller area and know it better than you know your own yard. Notice the amount and size of the deer tracks and turds. Notice what they are feeding on and where they may hide during the season.
"and I need to figure out my point of impact compared to point of aim at 20 feet.... "
Don't be shooting grouse, coyotes or anything else while deer hunting. Why put every critter on notice when you don't have to?
"and when I finally get to my clearing I realize I forgot something back where I had lunch. I start
doing the math and if I give it a good fast walk up (super duper up) and jog down I should have 20 minutes to watch this clearing before heading back... so I do it, drop my pack, empty my pockets of most of my stuff and start my trek. I find my misplaced item pretty quickly and start jogging down."
Forget what you forgot. If you have your tag and your rifle then you can get what you forgot later. You would have been better off staying in your spot and watching until dark. Yes, you saw deer but in your hurry you put it on alert. A buck would have never given you a shot in that scenerio.
20 minutes is generall not enough time. If you had the whole day to hunt than you would want to be on your evening spot at least one hour before dark, if not two hours. If it was the only time you had after work then you do what you have to do.
Don't get me started on smoking. I know some great hunters that are smokers, but they have confidence, skills and plenty of kills. For a beginer or someone who is unsuccessful I would suggest not smoking while in the woods.
Post by: uncoolperson on November 18, 2010, 07:06:38 AM
I know right, law of averages says I should have put something in the freezer by now... I'm not much taking it as a 5 year dry spell, it's more 5 years of teaching this slow learner.
That was a joke about the guy on here with "the worst hunting in washington" signature line, he's got a few more years than I do.
School and work are just keeping me from getting outside, not cutting my outside time short. took vacation time so I could wander the afternoons/evenings during the week during general, and doing the same for late. May not be a bunch, but I still got close to 60 hours in general season.
that 13-14 mile day was a spur of the moment, "hey I still haven't looked here" thing... then I had to follow every trail and side road I could find... exploring with a rifle
yeah.... but him and his 5 friends scared me, I had to get revenge. what was going through my mind was "a definate dinner beats a long shot".
that clearing is mostly just a place to wait for sunrise/set... I wasn't taking it seriously (too many trucks rolling by), just a "I've still got x minutes and I might as well".
On the smoking, man I know.... I'm not quite no smoking ever, but 4-5 for a 12 hour day is about as good as it's getting this year. Only before I'm moving on.
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on November 18, 2010, 07:33:17 AM
You would be a great candidate for reading Boyd Iversons Black tail book. Get a copy of the first edition. Used there about 15 bucks. Search Amazon for it.
Its a awesome book and will instill confidence in you like you have never had!
Post by: teanawayslayer on November 18, 2010, 08:20:26 AM
Post by: Raul Duke on November 18, 2010, 08:23:06 AM
I've been hunting 3years now and still havnt fired my rifle. But between my buddy and son we have gotten 5 deer in 3 years.
Plenty of meat in the freezer.
Hang in there. we will get ares sooner or later.
Post by: Mike450r on November 18, 2010, 09:39:36 AM
You will learn from watching and doing what the experienced hunter does much easier than anything else in my opinion.
Post by: d-rock on November 18, 2010, 09:59:17 AM
But EVERYONE on this site knows what it is. I love hunting. I stalk and hunt all year long and as soon as the season is over I am excitedly looking for ward to next year. It doesn't matter that I don't pull the trigger, I am doing what I love and besides, as soon as you pull the trigger the fun is over and the work starts (not that I wouldn't mind a little extra work). Don't get me wrong I am frustrated as heck but it's what I do and what I love to do. If it was easy it would be called killin, not huntin.
So hang in there and know that while a ton of guys on this site are extremely successful there are a lot who are on here to learn and make connections with the successful guys and maybe get a leg up.
Besides you could be working, or worse yet at home watching hunting on TV.
For me, I am looking forward to a little snow for this weekend, it might be my lucky day. I'm off to late modern.
Post by: billythekidrock on November 18, 2010, 04:35:37 PM
BTKR has some great advice. But the biggest problem I see is your moving wayyyyyyy to fast. Slow it down, move less and you'll see more animals.
You would be a great candidate for reading Boyd Iversons Black tail book. Get a copy of the first edition. Used there about 15 bucks. Search Amazon for it.
Its a awesome book and will instill confidence in you like you have never had!
I agree 100% with all of the above.
My brother was a speed demon when hunting. Run here and spend a couple minutes, go there and glass for a few....always on the run. He did have a few oportunities and killed a couple animals, but after a few years he finally slowed down. I think last year was the first that he hunted and didn't get an animal in about 15 years. Slow is the key. Confidence in your area and your abilities and go slow.