Putting on the Chest Wadders on Tomorrow and Going In
 

First Off I want to Wish Every One a Happy Thanksgiving and Hope all of You Enjoy the Day with Your Family and Friends, but Most of all be Thankful for what You Have.
We Hunt a Piece of Property every Thanksgiving that has a Giant Swamp in the Middle of it, there's places you can only get to if you have Chest Waders and are MAN Enough to go in. If you can make it there through the 2 Creeks that you have to cross that are 4' deep and the Swamp Grass that borders the Swamo that has 2' of Water in it along with the Mile walk through it you'll get to the Woods on the other side where the Infamous (Double Pine Tree Stand) is
This Stand Borders the Swamp and is a Natural Funnel that ALL the Deer have to go by to get to the Swamp to Bed. There's a woods above it that is mabey 2 Miles from the road above it where the Hunters on the adjoining Property Hunt and is where the CORN is. The Deer Run to the Swamp in the Morning from those Hunters comming into those Woods to Hunt. Seldome do even those Hunters get close to the Swamp where My Stand is Because even with a 4 Wheeler you cant get your Deer out because of all the Water and Creeks that feed the Swamp.
But this is where you'll Get the BIG BUCKS and Smart Adult Deer. Im taking a Sled in with Me, the one's you use to carry your Decoys for Hunting Geese, it makes the Drag out a little easier, but not Much. I will see Big Deer in there but if I get one the Drag out will be over a Mile and a Half through the worst stuff you could Imagine, would You do it to get a Trophy Deer??
I'll be 50 this December 31st, but Im still as Tough as Nails and I just wont accept My Age, it wont be too many more Years befor I'll have to call it Quits on this Spot so befor I get there Im Going Deep!
I called a few of My Buddies that are Hunting with Me in the Morning and NONE of them will make the Trek with Me, they say Im NUTS, I say there Lazy:) some are close to half My Age and there Wimping out on Me.
I'll let you know if I make it out Alive......if you dont see OL Breechplug on here anymore you'll know I did'nt make it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
BP

I am 75 and I still hunt spots like that. of course I cheat a bit I have a Max 6 wheel amphibian ATV.

More power to you Breechplug. My long nasty drag days are over (thank the Lord). I've reached the point where I'll take a nice fat doe close to a road over a monster buck back in the boonies any day. Been there/done that. It was fun then, but not any more.

Semisane
Are you older than me?

Well Lee, I don't know how old you are. I was born in the year of the Allied invasion of Normandy (D-Day).

Well I did take a Big Fat Doe on Wednesday Morning with My ACCURA. I took Her a Tad High in the Lungs, I did'nt like how far She went though. She went over 150 yds with a Blood Trail anyone could follow, She weighed in at 123lbs. I figured after Passing on about 25 Adult Does on Opening Day and Connie having Her Buck (9pt) that it was My Time.
Our Weather has'nt been all that Great for Hunting with Today Thanksgiving Looking to be a Decent Day in the High 40's and Sun, but turning Winday as a Southwest Flow of Warn Air is headed our way. So I took that Big Doe because 3 of My other Buddys also got Deer that Morning and one of them was Driving the Deer to the Processor so I figured I'd add one more now as the Weather for this Friday through Sunday will be in the 60-65 Degree Range, not good for leaving a Deer Haang for that Long in that Warm of Weather.
So now I have 2 Adult Deer going to be added to Our Freezer and My goal of 3 is Looking Pretty Good. My goal Now is to add a decent Buck to that group. Connie Signed over Her 2 Doe Tags to Me because She's done, She's Satisfied with Her Buck. Here in NY a Hunter can Legally Transfer there Doe Permit to another Hunter, and a Hunter can receive up to 2 Transferred DMP's (Deer Management Permits) Connie was Lucky this Year and Drew 2 DMP's, both for Different areas, I filled one of Hers with that Big Doe. I now have 2 DMP's left and 2 Buck Tags. 1 Buck Tag for our Gun Season and 1 for Late ML, plus a Antlerless Tag for Late ML. I also can use any DMP's I have left over and also My Buck Tag if it goes unfilled for the Gun Season. I can still Harvest 2 Bucks and 3 more Does by the end of Late ML.
I will Harvest a Big Doe for a Older Man and His Wife that Own a Big Chunk of Land we Hunt on, they Love Venesion and it's My way of saying Thank You.
Im Not Greedy and probably Wont Fill all of My remaining Doe Tags, unless someone I Hunt with Needs another Deer Bad, but I will try and Fill My 2 Buck Tags, but Im holding out for a Nice One.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Shower time and off to Ski Country up in the Hills, Wish Me Luck!

Vaya con Dios

Good luck on getting a big one!

I look for dumb ones I can back the landowner's tractor right up to where they fall these days.

Semi is that a quiz......WHAT IS JUNE 6TH 1944:patriot:

Semi check my first post on this thread it will tell you.I sold the shop and retired 20 years a go this Nov.

Lee, you have about eight years on me. I didn't realize you were such an old fart. :p

Count me in with the old guys. Semi is two years older then me. And I am with him on deer harvest. I wrenched my back twice this year dragging two heavy does through the woods. If I keep this up, I will have to make trip to the doctors for more zanaflex for my back. but I gotta admit that stuff with some oxy really make for a nice night and no pain. Have to watch that stuff, it is potent. It calls for two of the oxy's and one zanaflex and I thought I was on my way to the starts. I only use one of the ozy pills now.

BP glad to hear you on the forum. Had not heard from you in a while. KNow you have been busy.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY FORUM BUDDIES!!!

:groupwave::groupwave::groupwave:

Good to hear from you too rafsob! Another one with a Bad Back, I know how it is. When I was 17 and Playing Football in High School I injured My Lower Back, crushed My L4 and L5. Every now and then I'll throw it out but I refuse to still ack My age.
I still cut Logs in the woods and Carry them 300 pounders on My Shoulders to MY Truck, but then one day I'l just bend over to tie My Shoes and Im done for a week, I just never know when it's gonna happen. I refused to have an Operation,
I did do a BAD thing 5 years ago when I was on Pain Pills for My Back, I'd take them in the Morning with My Coffee and NOT EAT, then go to Work. Well after about 3 Months of doing this one day O thought I was having a Heart Attack, My Wife Connie rushed me to the Hospital.....Long Story Short them Dang Pain Pills ate a Hole in My Stomache, My Heart was Fine. But I could hardly even drink plain Water and No Spicy or Greasy Foods as this would make Me feel like I could'nt Breath. It took over 4 Years for My Stomach to Heal, No More Pain Pills for Me unless I absolutely have to do them.
I'll be 50 this December 31st and even though Im gonna be 50 and have a Bad Back I can still drag out 2 Does by Myself, and the drag was over 2 Miles with My ML. I still Carry out Logs on My Shoulders and I will still outwalk anyone in My Hunting Party and Not Break a Sweat doing it. Last Saturday, Opening Day My Friends Nephew who shot a Big Doe was dragging out His Deer, He's only 16, I was Dragging out My Wife Connies 9pt right with Him, He had to stop because He was Sweating so Bad, I did'nt even Break a Sweat. He asked Me how Old I was and why I was'nt sweating like Him and how in the heck can I do it, I just thought to Myself because I refuse to Act My Age and I Love what I do, not a good reason but I'll take it. I still have an ocassional Smoke and a Short Glass of Crown every now and then, If Im gonna go out Im gonna do it doing what I Love to Do.
Today was'nt the Best of Thanksgiving Days for Hunting, Not Many Guy's out.....I'll Post a Few Pics.

Stay young my friend and keep having fun in the woods.

When I deal with drugs, I am very cautious. After my open heart surgery, they gave me a lot of super pain pills. I ended up flushing them down the toilet and stayed with over the counter stuff.

I have two tags left and am still looking for the big guy. If not I will tag a coupe of deer for a needy family in our hunt club camp area. They are an Amish family and our club is trying to help them make it through the year. Been a good year for me and I want to help someone in need. :patriot:

Not the Best Thanksgiving Days for Hunting that I have had. I have never seen so Few Hunters out and the Shots I heard were far and few between.
I did see some Deer but No Shooters, Im blaming it on our Weather, warm, in the high to low 50's. This Friday and Saturday are forecasted to be in the low to mid 60's! with No SNOW untill December 1st, that'll still give me about 20 Days to Hunt untill it's all over.
Here's a few Pics I took today.....
The first one is some of the Swamp I have to go through, the next is a Big Beaver Dam the Beavers built accross the Swamp, the next is the Swamp and the (Double Pine Tree) that I have to get to, it's in the Far Right Hand side of the Picture. The next is a Island that's surrounded by the Swamp, the Deer like it here.

Here's a couple of more Pics.......The first is the Double Pine Tree tha I Hunt From, it's the Pine Tree in the Back to the right, next to it is the Island that you can only get to with Chest Waders.
The next is what a Beaver did to a Cherry Tree, I cant believe what this Beaver is thinking, this is a Big Tree, it must have taken him forever to do this.
The next is a Fish that I assume a Beaver caught and pulled ashore and ate. I could'nt tell what kind of a Fis it is and I know My Fish. There's Carp, Suckers and Bass in the Swamp but this one looks like neither, does nayone have a clue what kind of a Fish it is?

Breechplug, that's a real hunt right there. I almost wonder if a little boat, like a wee lassie, stored back in there wouldn't give you even more mobility?
My buddy and I did a trip at Fawn Lake in the ADK's, boated in w/ all our gear for a few days. What a great time paddling to get on stand in the morning! Didn't actually even see any deer though...

There was a lot of deer movement and quite a few shots around 9:00 this morning; finally saw a little chasing as a spike ran 3 does by me maybe 15 feet away, he was grunting the whole time. It made me wonder what would happen if they met up w/ the big boy I've seen around?
My guess on that fish is a smallmouth bass, pretty good size though.

Breechplugs not as Dumb as You thought:p I have a Boat there, I mostly use it for Duck and Geese Hunting, but it's a Pain to use it usually during Hunting Season as there's too much Snow and Ice on the Swamp. It's easier just to cut my way through with My Waders, and a-lot safer.......I wont tell you about the one time I fell out of the Boat in the Water in the Dark......

Snakehead!