RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Lemond, the 1st deer i ever shot was in 1988. You should have seen the looks i got at the parking area as my father and I tried to stuff the 105lb doe into the trunk of my Hyundia Excel.... LOL <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

We got it to fit somehow.

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

We didnt get any rain in Laurel. Just east of us got quite a bit. If we do get some rain before Sept 2 that might change my game plan all together.
Man this hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait is killin me. I feel like I cant spend enough time scouting, like Im missin something. Worse than a little kid :-)


AllenC

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Back when I was 18, I killed as small buck late in December. At the time I was driving a Corvette. Looked stupid as crap with that little buck dangling off the rear deck of that fire engine red 'Vette.

Had a truck for year's after that. Bought a Blazer last year to serve as a family car. Man I miss a pick-up!!

I keep checking the forcast..doesn't look to promising for rain anytime soon!!!

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

i am not pressed for the season to start. every year i am ready ready ready...then it is hot...no deer showing and u waiting until nov - dec and u put it on them. i may hunt a couple of water holes in the early season, but i am not pressed for it. does everyone see alot of people on the opener???

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Last year I was set up on public land an hour and a half before shooting time. I was the 1st one out. There are about 10 stand areas on the property for Archers. About a half hour before shooting time, i saw one other person walk in. He left about a hour after 1st light. When he left i could see it was an older guy and he was carrying a crossbow. Besides from him, there was no one else. Of course, I didnt see any deer that day either.

If the sign-in board was correct (IE everyone tells the truth) I was the only hunter to take a deer there during bow season. I talked to a guy who said he lost a brusier in the morning the same day i got my deer. I got my deer in the evening.

I guess it all depends on the area. As i was getting ready to leave the parking area last year on opening day, I guy stopped in and said he tried to hunt up the road (public land, different tract) and it was mobbed and the guys were pretty territorial. I told him the truth and said &quot;this tract was dead&quot;. He was out the the next week in the afternoon. In fact, i would bet he pushed my first deer with a bow, right into my lap..... <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

12 days and counting!!!!



Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

DEBOB, I know you and I have our disagreements over the current program, but am in total agreement when it comes to instituting a QDM program here in Delaware. Liberal Doe harvests to pull the buck to doe ratio in line and point restrictions on bucks to let them get old and big. A quality herd is good for not only the hunters but for the deer as well.

Good luck on the season!!!

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

duckmaster..i agree wit ya. i would never shot a spike or a 4pt...or 6 for that matter, but that is me. i cant expect everyone to share my views, but if they did...o man

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Duckmaster, I don't think our opinions differ that greatly. I think the F&W folks may have mis-marketed their agenda and have left alot open for interpretation. They mean well, I do know that!! A few of them are real good friends and we have discussed, at lenghth, the goals and objectives they are trying to pursue. Unfortunately, they answer to a lot of &quot;interest&quot; groups and any sales pitch is aimed at pleasing them all! Tough job!

Until QDM becomes more accepted by the hunting public (and farmers, landowners, etc.) things will undoubtedly stay the same. We, on here, pretty much represent a minor portion of the deer hunting community. The vast majority simply dabble in the sport and rarely kill a deer. I went over the stats once and seem to recall 10 percent of the hunters kill at least one deer a year, of that 1-2 percent kill more than one, and the remainder go home empty handed. Tell that almost 90 percent they have to pass up a given deer? It's tough to restrict them when they seldom have the opportunity to utilize the resource.

I'll be honest, except for some minor mis-management of public properties, I truely am happy with F&Ws approach. I think we have it reel good in Delaware. Long season, plenty of deer, and some true bruisers roming our woods (or marshes, or swamps<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>) I don't hunt much public ground but see the potential as I ride by. I scout one WMA routinely as it's close to home. With some minor modifications, it could be awesome!!! It may be the one &quot;up the road&quot; from where you mentioned above. It was hunted hard last year but there was a group of bucks routinely visible that include one possible B&C qualifier!

Good luck to you as well! I hope everyone has a safe and rewarding season!!!

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

You guys have it pretty good in DE. That's why I drive three hours down and three hourrs back every day off all fall to hunt the Eastern Shore. I wish NJ had half the bucks and half the management plan. What you guys have already, would be too strict QDM to implement here in NJ.


&quot;In heaven, even the fish have antlers&quot;

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

6ptsika, the zone i hunt in NJ actually has a 3pt on one side restriction and unlimted doe harvest. Of course the zones around it have no restrictions so the plan wont work. If they adopted this statewide, i think you see alot more nice sized Bucks and a better Buck to Doe ratio than we have now. Oh well. Its a start.

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Major change in plans...went this morning to scout a bean field I was seeing some real good bucks and found the woods surrounding the field burned to the ground. Of the 350 acres, half was affected. I had one stand already set on a powerline rightaway and fear its destroyed! The firemen were still there putting out the flare-ups. They had fire breaks all around the property trying to contain the blaze! Time to formulate plan B...and quick!!!!

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

DEBob, I saw the headlines in the paper today and thought about you guys down there. I hope everything works out.

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

i will be scouting sunday for HOURS..i havent had the time and i think this warks out better. i know the area..i just need to find the routes(which i know) and i am n. i will try a reallt secluded area this year..it is a really really really long walk from the road.

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Thanks Duckmastor! Just got in from walking the burned out area..WOW!! Damage is extensive! Saw two deer in our bean field when I got there and three bucks in a field across the road. All were downwind of the smoke and none seemed hindered by it. Found fresh deer tracks in all the fire breaks. Encouraging anyway! My stand remained unscathed although I can't say the same for the tree it's in. The bark is charred pretty bad at the bottom. Hope it makes it!! Will need to replace my rope used to pull my bow...it was fried to within 4 ft. of the stand.

Heading out in a few hours to formulate plan B. Good weekend to scout..just finished raining here in Dover and is somewhat cooler out! Good luck all!!!

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Went to check my secret water hole and found the contractor digging dirt again! With renewed activity on the property I have my reservations wether the bucks using the water source will be there! Plan B scrapped, I moved on to Plan C...BINGO!!! Last March my son found sheds from a real good eight point on a friends farm. The buck hadn't showed all summer. Went last night and sat back from the field edge to watch what happens...about 7 pm, the buch stepped out from the woods edge. About the same size as last year..should go 130 P&Y or so. However, his big brother was with him!!! Giant 9 point, about 22 inches inside and tall, tall tines! Figure he'll go 150 or so!! Watched them for about a half hour. Some other deer were moving up the feild edge (including a 120 class 8 pt) towards me so I decided to get out before I spooked the bigger bucks! Things are looking up!

Checked a few other fields out from the road and saw alot of deer out and about! Things are looking up!

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

DEBob, Great to hear plan C has such great potential and your stand survived the fire. If we could get some more rain and it stay's warm, you might get some quick plant growth in the burned area. That might bring the deer back to the area as long as the fire didnt completely wipe out all the cover. Good luck! Only 8 days away!!

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Duckmastor, with the cover totally destroyed, I'm going to take the opportunity to plant a few select food plots. Nexted big rain, I'll try and get some clover started..maybe mix in some ryegrass or wheat to get it green for the fall/winter. They area is decimated! With the drought already taking its toll, the fire pretty well destroyed all that was left. I doubt it'll be green anytime soon! Hope so though!

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

good luck there..is that public land u r talking about??? i became lost somewhere in there:) well, who is going out on opening..i am going to chill until that wednesday...and i will not hunt hard until nov...mayb the end of oct. i really do not want a deer in velvet:) just a thing i have in my head...i dont like the way the mount looks:)

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

My father and I will be out bright and early opening day. It'll be his 1st bow hunt. Hope he at least sees some deer. We'll be scouting one last time saturday afternoon. Check out if the corn is still up and with this rain, maybe we'll be able to see some tracks. The ground was like concrete before.

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

funny..u r right..the ground was hard and still is. i hunt swamps..and that is it. my feeling is..that is only place where a deer can appear that NO one has ever seen...ever. u have that chance. last year was pretty good in the swamps, but u must know the lay of the land and how the deer move. it's actually fun and u think.
PERSIMMONS in the swamps r the ticket,,,through NOV the deer key on them...find a nice row and they will show at one point.

last year i arrived at my spot...it has 5 persimmon trees in a row. i opened my back pack...popped up my montana doe decoy...placed it in the ground..walked to my spot(not far) and picked up my bow..i looked up and here was a BUCK already...coming to the trees..for the fruit:) he ducked in and i was ready for him to exit. i ranged it at 72yds..i have shot out to 65. he came out...spotted the decoy and did a BOB and WEAVE with his head. sniffed the air...made me out:( and got out of there, but that is the power on the persimmon..that was exact time:) the buck came to the trees in the daylight...11am..and it was warm out.

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Swamps are definitely the ticket right now. My son and I went out Sat. afternoon looking for deer sign. We found one small creek coming out of a swampy area and into some decent cover. The deer have been coming to the creek in a couple spots. Times I dont know. Any thoughts??
Also we moved into the swamps edge next to the Nanticoke river. WOW!!!!!!!! they have that place tore all to heck. BIG tracks in every direction and trails crossing in a couple places, and lots of deer crap ( alota poopin going on), leading me to believe they are hanging here not just traveling through. 7 days.........I cant sleep as it is :)

AllenC

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

My first day stand will be on the backside of a big corn field. Haven't scouted the area even once since I hung a stand. It's more of a tradition that anything else. The set up always produces the years corn is in the field. The deer make there way out along a long drainage ditch transecting the field. My stand is at the end that leads into a 10 year old cut over!

The draw of persimmons is awesome...second only to white oaks!!!!

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

DeBob are you going to hunt over at your Grandfathers place in Bull Pine.

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Hey Ron! Believe it or not, in all the years I've deer hunted and all the ground he owns, I've hunted PopPop's maybe once or twice. As you may already know, he's not a huge fan of hunting. He always tells me to go but I know how much it bugs him so I go elswhere. It's getting harder to turn down....between he and Krugers and my uncles ground (near the old dump), there is getting to be alot of nice deer in the area! I look for sheds every winter and find quite a few around the home place!!!

Where did you get your ground in Pennsylvania? Some friends just bought allot of land that surrounds my fathers in Sullivan County. Except for it being dry, things are looking pretty tgood up there!

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

I am on Beech Creek mountain in Clinton County, about 12 M. S of Renova, am going up either this week or next.

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

hey..what camo pattern r u guys using?? i am using mossy oak..and some shadow grass:)

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

camo...whatevers cheapest at the local K-Mart or WalMart!

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Im washing my RealTree Hardwoods Green in scent supresent detergent as we speak. Its the best pattern for early hunting i've ever seen!!

One more day of sleeping through work until the 1st day. Im stoked! If its not raining too hard i'll scout 1 last time mid day tomorrow. If not, i'll still drive down to check out the Corn status (up or cut).

Sept is just to get the itch out as far as i'm concerned. What I'm excited about the most is the fact that there is a solid month between Muzzleloader and Shotgun season where archers will be the only guys in the woods. If the weather cooperates, the rut will be kicking in real good then!!! Im thinking 11/2 and 11/9 are going to be full days in the stand for me. I wish I had more vaca time. I had to use alot of it early in the year. Stupid Honeymoon!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>



Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

it's time to get out the muzzy's:) another year and hoping for a great one..i knw they r there..i just have to put it together..the swamps are calling ....and i know he is out there:)

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

coolerpup..that sounds great...try it early or u will miss out...once the pressure get's in there...good night. pressure has a funny way of cooling things off, but the spot could come back in a month or so. once the initial opening days r behind us u may want to hunt during the week...and at off PEAK times. good luck

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Well, went out scouting one more time before Monday. The sign was there but it's thin. The corns still up so all we can hope for is we catch some poking around in the woods right around sun up or that maybe other hunters push the corn heading to stands. The wind isnt looking good for the area either (not terrible, but not great). We will be there though. It'll be opening day! Cant miss that <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Good Luck to all!!!!

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

well duckmaster, sounds as if there was not alot of pressure out there this opening day. where were u hunting?? i have noticed over the past couple years...there seems to be less pressure in the woods during the archery season...shotgun isnt that great either. what do u think???

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

Actually lemond, it was pretty crowded this year where I hunted. The past 2 years, its been me and maybe 1 other guy. My father and I were there 1:40 before shooting time and 4 stands were already taken (4 out of 10). 8 people total by the end of the morning. Funny since I really saw very little in 4 weekends of scouting. Maybe these other guys new something I didnt. Oh well, i'll be out there next saturday. Good hunting to us all!

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

duckmaster, are there trees there that u can hunt out of?? i never hunt out of the state stands. i tried them a few times, but i then went with the alpha hang on system. it is made by Lone Wolf. great system..light and i can hunt anywhere with it:) shootem straight..

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

I left the regs for the area at the office, but during archery season, you can hunt from the ground or bring in portable ground blinds or climbers. I guess if you put a hang on up it'be be ok as long as you took it home at the end of the day. I dont know that for sure though!

I dont regularly hunt from the state stands usually either. I prefer hunting the ground in natural cover with the wind in my face. I just hang a tag on the board closest to the stand i'm hunting, letting other hunters know i'm in the area. Hopping in a stand though on opening day, IMO, is just the easiest and most considerate thing to do, since there are usually plenty of people in the woods. Get to the stand early and quickly then getting out quiet and quick is the best thing to do. After a couple weeks when things thin out, i'll be moving to the ground. My pre determined ambush spots... <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Good Luck tomorrow.

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

duckmaster..nice:) look at the lone wolf web site..the alpha system is perfect for the hunting u r doing. i hunt the same type of ares:) all it consist of is straps. one strap goes around the tree..u tighten it down and hang your stand on the little hook..and u can get into ANY treee with...well, just about. i have the 3 sticks...they put me up there..they attach the same as the stand. each stick has 3 steps on them. good luck

RE: DE ARCHERS
 

how r the TICKS on the deer you have shot???