The Hunting Times

Davey got permission to go out tonight, so I picked him up at 3:30 pm.  We went back to Marshall's S farm since we are seeing deer there. Davey dropped me off at the S property line on the W end.  He drove back around to the square woods and set up a chair in the middle of the woods - where the deer ran through earlier today. I walked W to E and sat on the S side of the swamp.  I kicked nothing out of the SW woods or the swamp when I walked in.  We sat until sunset, at which time I walked W through the swamp to try and push anything out to Davey.  No dice.  There was nothing in the swamp. I then walked N along the E property line and sat until dark at the NE corner - Davey, at this point, has started walking S out of the woods. And then the deer appear.  Ten of them.  All feeding from the W to the E at the W end of the swamp.  If I would have stayed there, I would have my pick of which deer to shoot. Well, this does not sit well wit...

I picked up Davey at 6:35 am.  There was snow on the ground.  It was 34 F with wind out of the NW. We drove to Marshall's S farm and set up a bit different.  Davey went to the S side of the top / square woods and I walked to the N of the swamp. We sat until about 9, when Dave saw deer running through the woods at Mach 2.  They came from the NW and ran out the SE.  He was hoping they would come to me.  They did not.  They continued E and ran off Marshall's property to the NE. We did hear some shots this morning.  Four to be exact.  Sounded like 2 guys took 2 shots each.  None of those shots were from us. But hey, we saw deer.  We called it at 10 am and drove into Hoops for some breakfast. Text I sent to RePhil about how we're doing hunting this morning.   Looking S at the swamp with fresh snow.  Still a bit dark, but certainly legal light. Looking back to the NW at the square woods on top. Davey...

I met RePhil out at the golf course.  Ken (owner) was there working on sprinkler controllers.  Ken said he had run a doe off earlier in the day, but witnessed deer squirting out of 16 to 4.  Our plan was now taking shape. It was 46 degrees F when we arrived at our spots by 4 pm.  RePhil was overwatch on Hole #15.  I went N and sat along the fence at Hole #12. About sunset, I started walking the woods along Hole #16.  It was thick.  But ne'er any deer did come out.  We returned to the truck at dark to celebrate the season with a brewski. And so ends RePhil's firearms season. Nice evening, out of the wind.  Kinda wet and misty.

Well for the 20th of DEC, it's hard to beat 46 degree weather.  The wind laid down a bit as well, only blowing at 10 mph. I picked up Alex and we met RePhil at the Golf Course.  Alex took over watch on Hole #5, RePhil sat on the Jenkins line overlooking the bowl of Hole #15, and I took the N side of the property, along Hole #14. And we sat.  The only action we saw were squirrels - which we each saw multiple of them.  I did have a walker come strolling through.  He and his dog popped up on Hole #13's green.  I moved out so they could see me and they turned around.  They walked S down Hole #17 and then I lost them.  No one else saw them on the course. We did, however, get to see one awesome sunset (well, Alex and I did.  RePhil was in the bowl).  This is Alex's last shot at getting a deer this year as they leave for his family's Christmas gatherings. We celebrated his end of the season with one of our sponsor's beers.  Thanks ...

I picked up Alex at 3:30 pm.  We drove out to the golf course.  There was some rain earlier today, so the humidity is on the high side.  The temps hover around 40 F and the wind is down to 8 mph. Alex decided he wit sit over watch on Hole #15's tee box.  I decided to sit down in the bowl on Hole #4.  We were both in place by 4 pm. At 4:30, I looked N due to noise and saw two racks coming S, directly at me.  I cocked my muzzle loader and turned to face them.  The smaller buck saw me and both deer came to a screeching halt.  At this point, both deer are in the woods.  I can see the smaller buck, but cannot see the big one.  I wait, watching the smaller one in my scope.  He is nervous, but he cannot see me - his head is behind a tree.  He starts to stamp his front leg.  He is on the verge of bolting.  Decision time. Do I take the tough shot in the woods on a broadside deer, or do I wait it out.  Maybe if I mis...

I picked up Davey at 6:45 this morning.  It is a warmer day, like 34 F and the wind is down to about 10 mph.  We drove out to Marshall's S farm in the dark. I dropped Davey off at the W edge and he set up along the creek - covering E, N, and most of the S (the exception being the property line which is too far to even see).  I drove around the N and parked.  I then walked E and S to the swamp. It was still not legal shooting light when I came around the last point before the swamp, and promptly scared off two deer.  Mind you, I never saw them, I just heard the snorts and the loud crashing as they pushed SE through the swamp and off property. That would be all we would see for the next three hours.  We walked out and met Harold by my truck.  He needed a ride to the N farm, which we gladly provided.  He said we now have permission to hunt next year. My view of the swamp - facing almost due S

Alex and I got up early to head out into the 20 mph wind.  It was 24 F.  Not a great time to be climbing a deer stand unless you are dressed like Bob Gregory's kid (if that reference is too vague for you, think Randy, Ralphie's little brother, in A Christmas Story). Alex walked N onto Neal.  I walked E to the bottoms on Marshall's N farm.  At least I would be out of the wind!  I had not gone 100 yards when I saw what I thought might be a young deer coming across the field.  Nope, the gait is wrong.  It's a coyote.  Nope, I hear a dog.  Must be a dog.  Wait, the dog is in the yard.  It IS a coyote.  No shot as it was too close to the house.  It winded me and bolted.  I continued on down the road. This coyote, however, wanted to go S really bad as I caught it again trying to sneak around Harold's implements on the other side of the house.  It saw me again, and that was the last time the two of us would meet tod...

Me, Davey, and RePhil drove out to Nebraska and met Phil's son Aaron (A-A-Ron) there.  We stayed in a luxurious cabin owned by Kent Burget.  Trust me, it was awesome.  We hunted pheasants for 2.5 days and ducks for 0.5 days.  And it was COLD.  The warmest day got up to like 23 F.  Brrr. We had a blast.  Not a lot of birds died, but we would go back tomorrow.  My iPhone said we walked just short of 15 miles.  RePhil's FitBit said we did almost 17.  Regardless, walking in the high CRP grass while chasing dogs, it FELT like we had walked 40 miles! As usual, I am creating My Secret Public Journal of the trip.  This is a PowerPoint presentation with all of the photos and my recollection of what happened on the trip (yes I do keep a daily written record in my journal as events unfold).  I do this so that we can remember all of the trips we have taken.  They are fun to go back and watch again even.  Please note that thes...

Back from vacation.  Muzzle loader still not shot in.  Shame on me.  Ran some errands in town (Christmas shopping) and then sighted in muzzle loader.  Took 5 shots and had to adjust scope. Headed off to golf course at 4 pm with Alex.  We walked out to our posts at 4:24.  I heard the first shot at 4:25.  Sadly it was not either one of us, but someone was at least out hunting.  Alex posted over-watch on Hole #5.  I walked out 18, down 13 and posted on the tee box of Hole #15.  We sat until dark.  I never even saw a squirrel, let alone a deer.  Alex at least saw one opossum. It was chilly this evening - about 24 F, but the wind was blowing between 15 - 20 mph from the SW.  Hey, the odds improve greatly of shooting a deer if you are actually in the woods... Over watch on the tee box of Hole #15 Sun going down as I walk out

The Good Lord had blessed us with more than we deserve, that's a fact.  But we got up early to commune with Him & Mother Nature.  I picked up Alex and Nick at 6:30 am.  We drove to the golf course and awaited first light.  It was 24 degrees out with only a slight breeze - finally. Alex headed to Hole #4 to block the S.  Nick went to over-watch on Hole #16.  I walked up #17 and promptly jumped a bedded buck and doe.  They ran W, where there were houses, completely blocking any chance at a shot.  I did not even pick up my gun.  I continued up 17 and as I was about to make my turn E, I heard the hunter to the N fire.  I turned around and went back down 17.  I walked the maintenance path to the pump house and stayed along the woods on Hole #14.  I could see the other hunter was still in his stand.  He must have missed. And then Nick fired.  He texted that he felt good about his shot, but that he was staying put....

Man did it get cold last night.  I woke up to 26F.  At least the wind has died down to a respectable 8 mph.  I met RePhil at Marshall's N farm at 6:45.  It's now down to 24F.  Our game plan was similar to last night, but only I was not going to walk all the way to him. I had taken my clothes inside last night to dry them out.  I had forgotten my hat.  When I picked it up this morning, it was frozen solid and flat as a Frisbee.  Not wearing that one.  Fortunately I had a back-up beanie in the truck.  I wore it instead. I again walked down the road to the bottoms.  Along the way this morning, a truck stopped and the driver & I had a chat.  His name is Adam.  He said he has seen one doe this year, but shot seven coyotes.  He said the Haynes (S of the road) shot a nice double-brow tine buck.  He had pictures.  It was a nice buck. I sat in the bottoms only about 100 yards N.  Since it was so cold, ...

RePhil and I decided to try our luck at some other property this evening.  So he walked N and then E to sit on the Neal-Boyd property line about 400 yards N of Marshall's line, covering the field back to the W.  I walked down the road and onto Marshall's bottom ground / tree farm.  It was about 46F and the wind was kicking at 18 mph.  We just can't seem to dodge the wind this year. I walked N, then up the hill to the standing corn - at about the same time that it started to rain.  Awesome, I thought, because the rain would be cover for any sounds that I might make stalking along the edge of the corn looking back into the woods. RePhil texted to see how long the rain would last.  I pulled up the radar on my phone.  It appeared to be rain turning to snow, so I told him to sit tight, man up, and I would be pushing deer to his position shortly (I hoped). I walked the entire edge of the field, in the rain / freezing rain.  By the time I got to wh...

RePhil and I headed to the golf course at 3:30 pm.  It was 47F with 20 mph winds - and wouldn't you know it, there were golfers on the course!  Those idiots are Crazy with a capital "C."  Who else but hunters would be out in this kind of weather? As we mulled around where we were going to go hunt, the owner Ken came out and told us to go kill 'em all.  It was about 90 minutes to sunset and so he was not going to let any more golfers on the course at that time, so it was ours.  We took it! RePhil went up and held the over-watch position on Hole #16's fairway.  I went off to the fence line along Hole #4's fairway.  And then the temperature dropped.  The winds kept up, mind you, but the colder weather was sure coming in. We sat until sunset and then slowly walked out - and we saw nothing.  We got cold, but no deer died this day.  Turns out that when I got to the bridge (left-hand side of first picture) that the wind was blocked. ...

Kathy has joined me and RePhil at the golf course.  We meet up at 3:30 pm and head out.  It's 32F and the wind is still blowing at 15 mph. Kathy heads to Hole #4's tee box - a location that gets her out of the wind.  RePhil heads E to Jenkins.  I take up a spot to the far N along Hole #14. We sit for 2 hours, not seeing much.  Then, I spot a yearling running in the woods to the N.  This is not property we have permission to hunt, so I do not get too excited.  She finally works her way S and pops out around #14's green, 150 yards E of me.  I have less than 2 seconds before she is gone again.  Then three doe come running from the N.  They cross and stop at the same spot the yearling was standing @ 150 yards. Note that I have stated 150 yards twice.  I know the distance.  But what do I do?  I get excited and put the crosshairs directly on a big doe.  And then I yank the trigger.  What am I, a rookie at th...

It is quite different this morning than it was yesterday.  We are seeing 36F on the thermometer, but the wind is whipping around at 17 mph.  Nick has decided he can sleep in today, so it's just me and Alex heading to the course. Alex sets up over-watch on Hole #5 with his .243.  I head for the "bowl" of #15's green to get out of the wind. We sit until it's time for church, and see....absolutely nothing but a huge murder of crows and four squirrels.  Good to be out hunting regardless. Sunday morning.  Hole #15's Green.  Lots of puddles. Yes, the ground is soggy.

This Saturday opened up the firearms season for deer in Indiana.  The morning looked bleak.  While it was 56F outside (which is odd for the 18th of November), it was also raining - buckets.  I awoke at 5:40 am, and yes, it was raining.  A few texts back and forth and I confirmed that Nick and RePhil were in, but Kathy was going to stay warm and dry in her bed. We met at the golf course at 6:45.  Sunrise was 7:37 am, making legal shooting light 7:07.  However, with the cloud cover, it was not going to get light until much later than 7:07. The rain broke and it looked like we might get 2 hours in before the 'all dayer' set in on us.  We left the parking lot at 7:07 and headed out.  RePhil was off to Jenkins on the E side of the course.  Nick was over-watch on hole #5 with his .243.  I went to #17 to block the W side. The rain had stopped for now at least.  First shot heard was early, like 7:10.  It was not our group, but wa...

So for the past three nights (up to the end of goose season) we have had about 20 geese fly into the pond late in the evening - like at last light.  They fly off again sometime between 8 - 8:30 am, according to Kathy who has witnessed this. So I decide that the Saturday (second to last from season ending) to sneak over and poke a few.  In the midst of a conversation with Krueger, I mention this.  He's game. So at 7:00 am, Krueger is at my door.  He walks over to Kathy's house and then due W to the pond.  I walk down the lane and hide over the berm at the ditch.  I can hear them clucking - they are there! I do not have to wait long - boom!  Boom!  Boom!  Krueger unloads his gun and the honking intensifies.  I have two small flocks split me - the smaller flock flying N of me and the larger flock flying S of me.  I decide the S flock is mine.  I fire twice and watch two go down before the lane.  By the time I am on the ...

Well, season opened on October 1st.  It's been quite warm and I've been busy, but those are just excuses for not getting out.  Alex and I finally got out tonight. I picked up Alex at 4:15pm.  I went to Marshall's bottoms and Alex sat in the East stand on Neal's (since the W stand straps are all broken).  Alex jumped a 6-pt buck with a doe in the fence row walking in.  I saw one large deer (buck? doe?  too far to tell) at the far end of the bottoms.  It never came by. It was 45F when we went out, but with the wind, it felt like 35.  I stalked the bottoms until about 6:30 pm.  I walked back to the truck as Alex texted me that he had fired his crossbow.  Upon confirming blood on the arrow, I drove back to help him track. We tracked E to where the doe jumped the fence heading S.  We walked S to the Neal / Marshall line and found blood crossing onto Marshall.  Alex left his crossbow there as it was getting dark, and we tracked...

So I joined Mama at the grocery store this week.  Good thing.  I saw Leinenkugel's Snowdrift Vanilla Porter is out!  Whoo Hoo!  Got some.  So I decided to use an old recipe I got from Leinenkugal's newsletter and make up some meatballs. I mixed two pounds of pork sausage with one pound of hamburger.  I threw in onions, garlic, BBQ sauce, Club crackers, Country Bob's, and worcestirshire sauce and mixed it all up with my hands.  I made 67 uneven shaped meatballs from this mixture.  I put them in cooking pans and baked them at 350F for 20 mins.  After cooling, I put them in a roasting pan. While those were cooking, I chopped an onion and sautéed that.  To that pot I added two bottles of Snowdrift Vanilla Porter, brown sugar, more BBQ sauce, and some cayenne pepper.  I brought that mix to a boil and then poured it over the meatballs. The entire batch is now in the fridge, soaking up all the goodness.  I will put the roaster i...

Our front door was leaking, putting water on the floor - the old tile floor that had been in place since 1965.  So we decided to replace the door and the floor. Here are some before and after shots. Old tile and oak door. Leaks around lower-right (see spot on floor). Also note decorative glass. Outside view of old door.  Termite damage at bottom. Door gone.  We measured FIRST to ensure it fit before pulling the old one out.  Smart! New door in.  Looking from the outside. New door has plain 3/4 glass.  Lets in lots more light. New floor installed. No, I did not do the work.  And the deeper we got into it, the more happy I became I chose NOT to do this myself.  I did not have the proper tools to take out the old stuff, especially the flooring.  I did not have the skill to put in the new door and hang it square.  So, we hired our favorite local contractor Mark Bond, who did all of this in 1.5 days. ...