Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

Ahhhhhhhhh, Bow season starts on Monday (Labor Day). Anyone else heading out in DE? I figure I'll do a morning hunt with my brother over at Meadows Tract in Townsend. Seen a couple here and there but nothing to really get excited about.

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

Oh..too hot,
I can't imagine hunting this early.
Hope you guys do well and if you get a biggun, take it to the world reknowned Taxidermist George Roof from Delaware to have it mounted. Tell himGreg Livbuckssaid Hello, too.;)

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

Yea im heading out
on my own land in clayton

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

It does tend to get a little warm int he afternoons. But that is why we only hunt the mornings or late evenings this early. Took some more practice shots at the target today just to make sure I'm still on. Everything looks good. I'm ready to go now. :D

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

Holy moly hunting already ????
Whats the temperature been down there ????

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

i might hunt my moms in dutch neck farms..not sure. im living in fl right now..headed back to pa on the 15th...i hate it here:)

IM BACK

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Got a darn cookout to go to:(. I will only hunt evenings this early and plan to get out Tue evening on some public land close to the truck weigh station

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

I saw a few trucks parked around this a.m. especially at the State game lands , a buddy of mine went didnt see anything except squirrels. It is plenty warm around here, if you get one you gotta move fast so it wont spoil.......

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

Temps got into the mid 80's by mid-day. First thing in the morning was nice though. I guess it was around 60 degrees. Had a buck at 60 yrds and a doe at 50 yrds. Not comfortable with that far of a shot. I like to keep them within 40yrds. I was out of the woods by 9am and off to my parents house to help get ready for the BBQ. It was nice to get out into the woods after a slow crabbing season this year.

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

I'm also a DE hunter. Did not get out on Monday but, planning to this weekend. Likely head to the canal (north side) or hunt the wildlife area just south of this.

Just got a bug tamer suit in the mail as well as a thermacell. Shot a bunch in my yard over the weekend so I'm all set to go!

Do you guys in DE use these as well? Good luck and I'll post my report here if I see anything good this weekend.

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All I use is a thin balaclava if the bugs are bitin'. Same one I use for turkey hunting.

pick, where do you hunt at on the canal? I live at the end of Frazer Rd. so that would be real close for me to go after work during the week. Not trying to steal any spots but would love to be able to get out after work.

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

I actually hunt on the other side of Lums pond. More toward the bridges. Lots of land there to hunt. I think even right next to you.....

Did ou hunt Lums last year? Looks like some good areas and the archery only areas limit hunters. I'm goign to check it out a bit once they open the season there.

I tried getting out a few times last year and got chased off my stand by all the Asian Tiger Misqt's. This year I am ready for them. Just can;t wait for the temps to be in the low 60's in the am.

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

No I never have hunted at Lums. I'll have to check that out though. Thanks for the info. I guess I would have to get a permit to archery hunt within the park huh? If so do I just go to the office right there or what? I'mm gonna check out some spots next week on the canal towards the rte. 1 bridge. Hopefully I can find a good spot to hunt after work during the week.

Those mosquito's are the size of bats over there....lol. They'll pick you up and carry you away.

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Not sure if you know this. There are very large trails through the entire canal system. If you don't mind putting on a few miles. I recommend strapping on the GPS and walking them. I don't know the area that well but, last year I took a couple walks and it perked my interest a bunch. I'll be looking for a few spots in the early season. Only problem and I'm sure you know this...it is not easy to walk around with the pricker bushes. God there everywhere.

Always looking to hunt with other bow hunters if the timing ever works out.

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

where are u talking about and what side of the canal. i know the south side has alot of swamp that the deer have mastered.
i am scared to walk through that stuff, but i guess if u are following a well used deer trail, u have no worries of being
sucked in by a MUD hole or something?? i know in the winter time, the trails in the swamps are very evident. u just was the edge
of fields and u can see the most used areas. i like packing my ground blind in the winter and chasing the deer with it...double bull baby

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Did you hunt the Meadows Tract? I was at a picnic monday at the Meadows Tract. A friend lives in the last house, heading back to the education center parking lot. He works for Blackbird Forest. I did also...seasonal job. I haven't been out yet...too darn hot. Supposed to cool down in the middle of the week.

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I have hunt Ceadar swamp 3x and seen a fox, squirrel, and a friggin musk rat eating corn off the cob i was like wtf. hunted 2nite in the storm stayed nice and cool no bugs and watched a tree fall

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Yeah I do know about all of the trails and such up on the canal. I used to work for the retrieving club during events in the retrieving areas. The briar bushes are definately plentiful in there though. That's why man invented brush pants...lol.

I usually won't go through any heavy mud unless I have my waders with me. During the warmer months I am not about to take my waders that have 1000 grams of thinsulate in them with me anywhere. I'd be sweating bad.

Bow, Actually my brother talked me into going over behind my parents development off of Caldwell Corner Rd. It is pretty hot but I figure I'd rather be out hunting or crabbing in it then to be at work.

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The state bought 2 farms behind the weigh station last summer. Corn and beans there but also a lot of hunters as they are starting to find out about the place. It's bowhunting only. Scouted it last year and as soon as I get my bow back I'll be in there, Wed I hope seeing that the temps are only supposed to reach high 70's. Opening day there was 4 trucks in each place. Lums I scouted with the head guy over there and he showed me a few spots. That would ideal with the time change as I work in Delaware City and get off at 2.

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Bummer that I work all the way up in Blue Bell, PA. Not condusive to hunting on the week days. Would love to get out at least one evening a week, then Sat as well.

I skipped this week since it was so humid on Sat morning. Evening looked nice as stated above and of course today (Sunday) feels great and can't hunt [:'(].

Love hear the reports.. .keep them coming.

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

i go to school dow in woodside and as soon i get off i get 2 my house ASAP and grab my bow and head 2 ceader swamp ASAP usually in the woods by 5:00ish

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rick where is the spot at and was there alot of sign??

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

Lemond, which spot? Lums or the weigh station ? Lums there was plenty. If you want to kill a deer he said go right behind the maintence shed. I think thats Rt71, not sure. Behind the weigh station I didn't see much but am told the first one you come to is the one to hunt. I scouted the 2nd one.

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thanks for the tip,..my son went to camp one year in lums..deer are everywhere..i have a pic of a monster shot there a
few years ago. where are the weigh stations??

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Don't know. I think you have to get some kind of permit to hunt in Lums also,don't quite remember, I will check.I remember that monster buck you speak of. If I get my bow back in time I plan to hunt the first location (A) behind the weight station Thur evening and probally Fri evening as well. Don't know about Sat yet.

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Rick - As of last year, you did need to register to hunt there. Also, their season may have opened later. Possible in Oct. I don't recall that it was open to hunting this time of year. Could be section specific though. I have not hunted there yet but, plan to this year. Also, I see that have archery only areas. Sounds like fun!

Buddy of mine mentioned to me today that he saw lots of parked trucks this evening below Augustine and along route 9. I'm sure someone is laying into the buck.... I can't wait.

My main bow is being worked on....good thing I have two others at the moment.

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

Well i found this thread a little late. I shot a small doe on opening day adn shot right over the back of a nice 8 point on tues evening. He was about 50 yards out and i shot for about 55 yards and he ducked the shot. Ohh well. Theres always tommorow.

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Retaks, That sucks about the missed shot but there's still plenty of time to make up for it. I was out the other day and had 5 doe 30 yrds in front of me. As I drew back I heard a snort,a big doe was behind me that I never saw come in and spoiled everything. Oh well. That's just another part of the whole hunting experience.

Good luck to all this season.

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ground blinddd

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

lemond the truck weighing station is on Rt 13 S of Blackbird, ( that was my last project before I retired) turn off Rt 13 onto Eagles Nest Landing Road and cross over Gumbush and the first spot is right there on the left up about a 1/4 mile , the next spot is attached but parking is on up about a 1/2 mile on the left. 1st farm has soybeans the 2nd has corn.....I;d go for the dornfield........

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

OK - I can finally post a hunting report.

I got out at the canal this morning from 6 - 9am. roughly 70 degrees in the am and almost 80 when I was leaving. I quickly realized why I like cold weather. With in 10 minutes I was all sweat. Made it to where I wanted to hang my stand and sat for about 40 minutes. got down and did a slow walk out checking a spot I hunted last year.

I did not see anything this trip however, did see a fresh rub. That was in the first 5 minutes in the am so, was happy about that. Today hunting was better than sitting home!

I'm still getting used to hunting thick areas this early. I need to find some areas in Delaware with mature trees....get out of these pickers :)

To the veteran Delaware hunters, are you hunting think cover this early in the season?


How did others do today?

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

thanks for the information...i will have to lookon the map for that location...sounds good:)

RE: Opening day of Bow in DE.........
 

u guys dried out already??