Well, day number 1 was OK. I had a doe and her two button bucks walk all around and under my stand, and two other does walk right over my entrance trail without a care in the world, so my scent elimination program must have worked a little, or the word is out that I can't hit the broad side of a barn. However, no bucks were spotted.

I also discovered I need to get into 'hunting' shape, so to speak. I had a hard time standing still. I was as fidgetity as an eight year old school boy. Hopefully I can get back into a more disciplined state soon for hunting.

This morning I was disappointed watching the weather. It's supposed to be in the high 80's this weekend, so I decided then that I wasn't gonna go out, but then as I thought about it at work some, I remembered an area with some small secluded ponds on them that is bordered on three sides by cornfields and one side by a small patch of over looked woods. I think I will set my stand up in the woodlot's edge overlooking one of the ponds and see if anything comes out to drink later in the day. The only problem is that the Missouri River is nearby as well, so there is competition for their drinking needs. The ponds are a little more secluded, though, and may be closer to get to. It may work, who knows.

Does anyone know when the deer are more likely to drink, morning or evening?

Thanks.

When it's warm they like to drink first thing after getting up from their beds in the evenings. I hear they sometimes get up midday as well. They prefer the closest most secluded water holes during daylight. The hot early season is really the only times to hunt a watering area unless water is scarce.

Looks like I'm going to head out this weekend after all, as long as the rain isn't "hurricane like". I've got to get one of my deer cams set up on this field also. Here's what the guy down the road from our farm said yesterday;

"I haven't heard from you in a while. I jsut tought that I would tell you that I saw yet another buck in the bean field Sunday afternoon. The deer seem to be coming from the thicket that you were referring to and feeding out into the field. I have not seen them enough to really have a travel route figured out but I thought I would share the information that I do know with you. Good luck. You have got some PIGS out there."

Only one thing to say... "Suuuueeeeee. Suuuueeeeee. Here Suuuueeee."

Go get them pigs.

OK fellow team LUNG BUSTERS i knocked the dust off one of my Easton Axis ST yesterday ( 9-15-04 ) I took a big doe at 25 yards & let a lil buck keep breathing . but I will take the chance to put some meat in the freezer. good luck guys. Oh i will post a pic later , it was a quartering away shot , that HOYT HAVOC-TEC AND EASTON AXIS with a bad to the bone MUZZY did the trick .

Brad

Sounds like you got things in order with your hunting. The bucks are in trouble.

ShadowAce

Goodluck this weekend.


I botched up big time tonight. Got done with work and had a little over an hour of daylight. Wind was perfect for sneaking into an area to try a stalk on the buck that belongs to these sheds if I saw him.



Well I saw him. He got bigger!! He now has split brow tines and the sticker that you can't see in the picture coming out the side of the forked G2 is also forked now and much longer.

I pulled a picture perfect 300 yard stalk and closed the gap to 22 yards. I needed a half step to get a clear broadside shot at him. I had a brunch of dead branches to deal with on a scrubby tree and plus all the snap happy dead branches on the ground. I was using the tree for cover once I got within 40 yards. That last half step will be one I regretfully never forget!!

He dropped his head to feed and I took the last half step only to have him snap his head up as I finished the step. He must have caught some moment of me.[:@] We spent the next 30 seconds eye balling each other. I've had many a stared down with deer as I mostly ground hunt with bow. Never had my knees shaked this bad before though. LOL

Had I drawn before I took that last half step, I could have shot him as he started walking away or even when he first snapped his head up. I hate hind sight and blundering like a rookie!! Stupud !! Stupid !! Stupid!!

I did win the stare down. What a relief!! Still had a chance. He circled around me. The only shot I could have had was once he got directly downwind fo me and halted in his tracks. He was 15 yards but facing dead on. I passed not liking that shot at all. He turned and took off. My gawd he was impressive. A stalk of a life time on a buck of a life. Was a long depressing walk back to the truck!!

Tim

Ahhh, Tim, I can feel your pain. I sure hope you can get him this year, not so much for the contest but so that you don't have to live with the, "what could have beens".

You got close once, you can do it again. What an impressive set of antlers, and he's bigger now?!? WOW! Good Luck.

-Brad

Tim, keep your head up. Things will work out. I must say that your story really got my heart racing, and in even in your own experience, that's what it's all about. What a memory! Good luck!

Dang mammasboy. You been kinda scarce around here!

I've been around, just quiet. My season starts today and I will keep tabs on here of my hunting progress. Man I'm pumped! Good luck everyone!