Traditional kills, anyone?

[smj]

So this year, I never even got in the woods. Two things happened to keep me out : My hunting pal called two weeks before season and said he was not going. I promised my family that I'd not hunt alone - has to do with where I go to hunt. And since I had no hunting partner I accepted a job the first part of September, which killed any idea of heading up for a week of walking through the woods!

So - I am really interested in hearing back from you guys if anyone is having any luck with traditional gear this season! If you've got it to post - post it! Please! (I am going through with-drawls and need a fix!)

Last, anyone looking for a partner for next season here in Colorado?

[oldgun]

leaving on the 31st for our 2 week hunt, in 9 years we never fail to fill our tags, got one tag for the bow and will let you know how things turn out. Thanks smj. can't wait to get there!!!!!!!

[easternhunter]

Well this is for SMJ.....LAst year I did the journal thing, but haven't started one here so I'll give a nutshell version.

This season has been slow as far as time to get out. I've only hunted evenings until this weekend. I've been lucky enough to see several deer, and it always seems that there's a few in the orchard I need to cross to my hunting ground to bust my chops when I come back thru at dark.

Well last night I changed my ground blind location,from along the field edge to curling up among the alders and brush the farmer has piled up in the center of the field on a side hill. I really had to work to open up a spot big enough to back into and sit down. I found that the slope of the hill was enough that I could actually lie almost flat on my back with my head propped up against an old stump. This really lowered my profile but still gave me a good enough view around me. All was quiet except for the flock of Canadas overhead at treetop level which I think is one of the coolest sites in nature. ANyway as I scan slowly from side to side I see nothing, but for some reason decide to really strech around to my right slowly and in the corner of my eye I spot a doe walking around the brush pile 10 yards out! dON'T GET EXCITED THO, AS i AM ONLY ALLOWED TO SHOOT A BUCK. I watch her closely and she has no idea how close I am....Well I spot a set of legs coming from the same direction and it's the lamb following her down the slope and angling around in front of me at 15yards. Too cool! I hold still waiting to see if the spike buck I saw last week follows these too but no luck. Anyway it's now dark so I have to leave and I make as little commotion as I can, but enough to send the doe and kid into the next field. Sat. morning is coming!

I'm at the ridge of the field before first light, and as I make my way to my original blind at the treeline, I get busted by two whitetails at the bottom of the field. Couldn't make out what they were. MAybe buck and doe, or doe and kid. I settle in and clean up some twigs that have grown in from last year. I'm trying to be careful, and JUST pick up a doe to my right feeding my way along the trees. No buck with her tho. She veers off to 500yards and wanders past me out of site into the next field.

As the sun clears the trees, I spot movement and a glowing tan body of a very nice fat doe with fawn in tow in the adjacent field. Way to far to shoot anyway but fun to watch....They keep looking over their backtrail, which tells me that there are more coming. It turns out to be another doe and kid. They join up and move along the opposite fenceline and thru a rough cut field below and thru the cedars on a small knoll. Well I need to go to town and decide to pack up but I want to check where these deer had gone to. I sneak over to the knoll and discover a very well used trail into the cedars and across the fenceline. This will make an excellant ambush spot as I've seen deer here before. As I make my way home , of course I jump 4 more deer in the orchard! I blat at them and they stop long enough for me to glass them. Well, there's 3 nice fat does and a really nice spike buck with one small fork on the right side!!! I've seen this guy before, but he'll have to wait till another hunt.

Tonite, I decided to sit at the top of the ridge across from where Stillearnin' and his son are set up alittle farther down the field. Nothing shows until 6:00p.m. and I spot the 3 does and the spike come out of the trees 100 yards along the ridge. The wind is swirling abit and as they draw near, they veer off and head down the hedgerow between me and SL. He may not get a chance as they are at least 60 yards out, but maybe I could cut them off!! I gather my bow and quiver and make a wide detour around the hill and come down the hay road sheltered by trees. It opens into the medow near the knoll where i had planned to setup anyway, and I thought they may jump the fence and work thru the cedars to that trail. I get ready as I'm now 50-60 yards from the field wher SL is sitting. I can see him and use my Binos to judge from his position where the deer currently are. It seems they are still above me, but I can't see them from this spot. As I ponder whether I should move up closer, I spot a doe just thru the grass at the ditchline between the two fields. SL is looking ratehr intense over ther so I stay put and wait. The doe disappearred somehow but SL was focused on something further down the field, and he gets up and sneaks to the brush pile 20 yards out. He has an arrow nocked(sorry SMJ, he shoots wheelies!) and is stalking something below the fenceline. I sneak out just far enough to watch SL kneel -draw and hold!!!!hold!!!and hold!! Why aren't you taking the shot I whisper. I know he has a buck only tag as well, so I'm sure he sees a buck. I watch with bino's for a long time and finally he releases! SL gets up and walks out of sight. I work my way over to his field and meet up with him looking for his arrow. I did not see the deer so start asking questions. SL is not really optimistic at this point and thinks he missed. after a few minutes of searching, I found his arrow....no blood-no hair... clean miss! He misjudged the distance...it was actually50yardshot and he was shooting 40yard pin. Well I was laughing and really excited. SL was kinda dumbfounded! In shock I think, as this is the first time he has fired his bow at a deer here at home in 3 years of hunting. LOVE that excitement! LOVE IT!!! Even if it wasn't me doing the shooting...
That's the best I can do for now SMJ...Stay tuned, cuz on Monday, I'm gonna ambush that spike!

[red]

Hey stevej...I took one for the landowner tonight, which was my goal before switching. The next few hunts are gonna be with trad. gear.

[BT]

Unfortunately, the traditional gear is out of the question for me this year
With everything being what it is, I don't have the time to commit to assuring that I can be proficient.
I probably could......but I wont

Sorry to hear about your misfortune....that really is the pits

[snoodslapper]

I'm in the same boat this year BT. I've not had the time to feel confident this year; just too much going on with work.

[smj]

Good luck you guys, and thanks for the posts! Keep'em coming!!!

[voodoofire1]

Well the only thing I've killed this year is time so far, in 24 days I've seen 3 deer, and 2 of those were already shot, seems the deer numbers are low but that would actually require seeing some .. they're here but hidden, the weather has shifted, the pre-rut is coming on, only a matter of time.....

[smj]

Hey Voodoo - at least you are getting to kill some time! Good luck to you, and do post the critter when you get it!

[jlc]

shot 10-11-08
Rodney Wright Stalker 46" 54@27
2020 with Magnus 2
12 yard heart shot