To those of you who care, here's an update: my son got a deer, and so far I have not!
Last Saturday was opening day, and I picked a great spot. So good in fact, there were three deer underneath me, but with 20 minutes left before shooting hours started. That's when off in the distance I saw three flashlights bobbing through the woods in the darkness. That's when my deer ran away. Those bums!
One of the guys walked in a complete circle in the dark. I watched the flashlight make a huge circle on the hill opposite me. I flashed once with my light so he didn't get too close. I then watched him do another completed circle. It was clear that he had become disoriented. I flashed him again and he turned back the other way.
Needless to say, this interuption spoiled my chances of success that morning. On the way out, I came across this guy on a main walking trail out of the woods. He was sitting against the base of a tree pointing his shotgun straight up the trail --- at me! It was the same bonehead that messed up my morning hunt, I'm sure of it! Even today, I'm wondering if he had clicked off his safety while the gun was pointing in my direction!
I have got to find a safer place to hunt! These public hunting areas are like a combat zone on opening day. I counted no less than 15 shots within 1000 yds of my position, one of them 25 minutes before legal shooting hours. When I got up to the parking lot, no one had a deer! What are they shooting at? And are they that bad at shooting?
I repeat, I have got to find a safer place to hunt! (Failing that, I'll probably head out again anyway...I can't stop myself from hunting!)
By the way, I did read a very good article in D&DH about strategies for hunting public land. Advice like going in deeper and staying longer, and crawling into the nastiest places that other hunters aren't generally willing to go is advice that I follow. Also, I'm generally the first one into the woods in the morning, set up long before shooting hours begin.
What to do?
<font color=green>How many vegetables had to die to make your stupid salad!</font id=green>
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<font color=green><b><i>How many vegetables had to die to make your stupid salad!</font id=green></b></i>
mizzo, give me a call I might be able to get you some land to hunt on. were you hunting @ elms this weekend I hunt 100 acres accross the road from bay forest and 500 acres across from 235, It will be only bow only for you. sorry about your luck this year but the season is not over yet. I got a doe opening bow and last month I nailed this one.
Wow, that's a great looking buck you have there. I'll be sure to give you a call, too.
BTW, I think we talked about the Elms around a year ago or so on this BBS. The haze is starting to lift! But I wasn't at the Elms this time. I'm not "registered" there. I was hunting at St. Mary's River off of Old Rolling Road. It turned out to be a very popular (but not productive) spot. Not sure how things went from the other parking areas.
<font color=green>How many vegetables had to die to make your stupid salad!</font id=green>
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<font color=green><b><i>How many vegetables had to die to make your stupid salad!</font id=green></b></i>
Do weird stuff when you get back to the parking lot...like...undress down to flame pink undies and complain about how hot it is..carry a crybaby dollie or a barney doll...wear strange hats and or clothes...Drag a gutted decoy out and tie it on top of your car, then ask them all for cooking ideas..Tell them the last one tasted like insulation...Carry a bag load of emptie casings out of the woods with you bragging about how many shots you took without getting one...Hang Home Interiors decor on the trees around your stand...
You know, that's some dang good advice! Especially the one about the gutted out decoy!
<font color=green>How many vegetables had to die to make your stupid salad!</font id=green>
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<font color=green><b><i>How many vegetables had to die to make your stupid salad!</font id=green></b></i>
Mizzou, drop me an e-mail. Me and a friend are looking for some property to hunt on with our sons in the southern md area. Maybe we can get something together for next year my new e-mail addy is sideways@comcast.net
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2011 K&K Archery Vengenance on order
Carbon Express Maxima 250's
Slick Trick 100grn Magnums
Scott's Little Bitty Goose
Equalizer Treestand
Muddy Outdoors safety harness
Southern MD Public Hunting
