Won't rehash the shots.....

I thought about what effects crop rotation might have on my early season hunting a few months back. I'm finding it tougher going than I even imagined.

I saw 9 deer Opening morning. I saw 8 opening evening. So far, so good.

Since then.....I saw3 Monday. Zero, Tuesday. Zero, Wednesday. 2 Thursday.ZERO, this morning and 1,this evening.....a glimpse of a deer in the thick stuff at 4:30PM.

I'm not terribly concerned, though. I shot my first deer of '06 on 9/30, last year. IDO think the beans in the fields are killing me, though. I have no access to the bean fields....and no way of getting in between their bedding area and the beans. So....I'm hunting fringes, funnels, etc... I think I'll be fine when theyget on the acorns. I need the frost to hit and the farmers to get the blessed beans outta the way!

These are things that I'm going to have to learn and note asI......gain experience.

My '07 season may end up being the best I'vehad to date.....but it's starting out showing me how little I know about deer hunting.

I hope to hear some great opening day stories from you guys who opened, today. Pulling for all of you!

Good luck tomorrow. No Sunday hunting in NC. We're headed out to hear some music.Have a great evening, guys.

Glad to hear your stayin optimistic jeff... its still very early... and deer huntin aint easy...

my opener was good.

I got a little rain in the early am, then the cold front roared through like a freight train... wind was crazy.. only stayed till 1030...

Hit a different farm in the eve, couldnt ask for better weather on the opener, usually its much warmer... had plenty of activity saw 4 bucks and a bunch of does.. passed up a young 8 pt.. he's still in full velvet.. but only a 1.5 yr old... hes one that needs to live! probably bout 100-110" was hopin for one of the big ones to show...but they didnt... I'll be out friday and sat...

Are you moving around to different stands? You may want to take a break. I thought your area was kind of small. You don't want to over hunt it.

Beans are very tough to compete with right now. Like you said, I've seen your area, when the acorns are falling and the beans are gone, your deer will be back. Hell, you know they are there it's just hitting it right and being between the park and the beans.

I'm going to compete with beans this year as well. 2 seasons ago I watch a bachelor group of 5 bucks enter a bean field the same place, the same time for a week and a half. One good shooter in the group. No trees to hunt them so after that first week and half of watching them I set up a ground blind, sure they came out, behind me. [:-] No shots, after that night they started breaking up and wondering alone.

Hang in there Jeff, it's hunting and it'll turn around. No doubt.

Jeff I think you are right with the beans killing you. Speaking of frost I think it's getting down in the 40's here tonight. It just "felt" like deer season this morning. I can't wait, 7 more days.



I'd say this week was VERY rough on you, I know it would have been on me. You have already seen as many deer this week as I probably did all year last year.


Jeff, I look forward to talking to you somemore.


Aim lower

Some years go easy, some years are a struggle, but they are all meant to be learned from and enjoyed. No matter how they end up for you, I'm sure you'll make the best of the situations.

Hang in there.

Jeff,

Even if the beans are harvested (which I'm sure is about done), there will still be tender second
growth which they love.

As you noted, you need a freeze, even a light one should put an end to da beans. Then, I agree that
they will be rotating heavy to you.

At least you guys have a long season over there!

You've got the desire, attitude and time to right the ship.

Gonna be tough around these parts as well this year. We had a very late freeze this past spring......I've not seen a single persimmon tree w/ fruit on it....No white oak acorns.....All the corn is out, and today's combines just don't leave much behind.....Not a viable food source anymore.......I wanted to do some scouting today, but didn't want to stink the area up, so I didn't.

Hang in there Jeff, long way to go yet.

Having to hunt the deer does make it a bit tougher. Your up for it. I got thousands or acres of beans and corn around me but the deer can be patterned. Good luck this comming week.

Jeff, do your oaks have acorns? Like mo said our white oaks froze this spring. I don't think there are many. We do have a pretty good crop of red oaks and pin oaks tho. They are starting drop in some places.

I have also found out that once the does figure out you are hunting them , they can get hard to kill too. I try to keep them thinned out around here too.Keep at it and best of luck on your goals.