Sunday, September 28, 2008

Second Day Hunting, Not So Perfect.

Sunday morning, September 28Th, I woke up at 3:30 a.m., started the coffee brewing and went online checking sites and waiting for the coffee. By 5:30 a.m. I was dressed and heading out the door to my parents place. The weather was calm winds,61 degrees and partly cloudy with the barometric pressure rising. A perfect start to what I had hoped would be a perfect adventure to the woods. By 8:00 a.m. the sun was just about to enter the field when a loud crashing noise from just behind me got my heart pumping. I grabbed my bow with high hopes only to have them shattered by a large 140-150 lb. doe charging out of the woods and into the field just below my stand then quickly back into the brushy woods across from me. The large doe was followed by a large Siberian husky which I quickly recognized as one belonging to a new neighbor who had moved into the area about 2 months before deer season opened. Though I haven't spoke to the new neighbor yet, now is the perfect time to ask him to please keep his dog tied during hunting season to prevent his untimely demise. Anyway with the morning hunt blown, I went inside for coffee,a sweet roll and some conversation then home for rest and relaxation till evening hunting time. As evening approached I decided to give hunting a break and stay home with the wife. Monday morning I hope will hold better adventures as I plan on returning to my parents place for yet another try at the big doe or maybe even a buck. Further updates to follow as time allows so stay tuned.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Opening Day , September 27th in Tennessee

Opening day finally made it here and I was up at 3:00 a.m. this morning checking over everything to make sure I had it all together and ready for the hunt. I started the morning off by hunting over a small half acre field ( yard actually ) at my parents place where they have been watching the deer play around their pond. After 4 hours of sitting in the stand and seeing nothing but birds and squirrels I decided to go in and visit with my folks and have a cup of coffee. Evening came around and at 2:00 p.m. I decided to hunt a stand in the woods hoping for better luck. There again birds and squirrels but still no deer. I found out that on Friday afternoon there was a buck and four does playing at the pond at my parents place so I'm hoping for their return Sunday morning as that is where I'll be trying again. The weather today was a little windy and cloudy most the day with a 40% chance of rain but the rain held off and Sunday is just supposed to be cloudy without rain. I really hoping the deer will move better Sunday morning and it's supposed to be a new moon Sunday night. Anyway I'll be hunting as much as possible this year as it could be my last year due to my parents health failing. I'm also going to try hunting feral hogs this year and if anyone knows how to salt cure hams please let me know. A black bear is also on my agenda but will have to wait till next year for that as I'm going to Maine to hunt with my father-in-law. I'll try to keep updates regularly on my hunting progress for everyone.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Deer Season's Upon Us.

Deer season here is just 2 weeks away and I 've just finished posting a 10 part version to Deer Season Preparation which I follow every year. Though everyone probably has their own way of preparing for the season, this I hope will get everyone fired up and in the mood to go hunting this year. I'm expecting to read alot of great stories from everyone about their adventures of hunting and of coarse there's always those of you with a good tale and a laugh for us as well. I deeply appreciated all my readers and look forward to visiting each and every one of you this year. Though I've had some rough times this year early on I feel I owe it to my readers to continue my blogging and give my support to everyone as they have supported me when I needed them most. Here's wishing the very best for everyone of you, a safe and prosperous year of hunting this year. Please think to try to take a family member, friend or new acquaintance hunting with you this year and show them how to continue our great heritage of hunting as it was handed down to us by our fore-fathers and to care for the lands as we have done ourselves in the past.

Deer Season Preparation ( Part 10 ).

Now that you've taken your deer what next? Well most hunters field dress the deer before dragging it to the truck but I prefer to field dress mine either at home or after getting to the truck so as not to leave any evidence of my kill in the field for other hunters or predators to find and move in on my hunting spot. After field dressing the animal then take it to the checking station and either back home to process or to your local meat processing plant. Most of the time I prefer to process the animal myself and thus save myself roughly $60.00 - $125.00 depending on the weight of the animal. Processing the animal yourself is relatively easy and usually takes about 30 - 45 minutes with a good sharp knife and a bone saw. Hang the animal from a sturdy tree limb or hanging pole and begin with the removal of the hide then the back strap ( Tenderloin ),then proceed to the head, neck, ribs, backbone and finally the hind quarters. Be sure when removing the hide that you keep your hands clean and don't touch the musk glands located on the inside of the hind legs then touch the meat as this will taint the meat with a wild gamey taste. Most hunters prefer to remove these after field dressing the animal then thoroughly washing their hands. These musk glands can also be used as scent attractants if kept in a baggy until the next time you hunt. During the processing of your animal a good wash tub full of cold water is very helpful in keeping the meat fresh and aids in the cleaning process as well. After processing your animal your now ready to begin putting it in freezer wrapped packages. Using your knife and bone saw again cut the meat into meal size portions and Wash the meat thoroughly, getting all the hair, blood and excess fat off the meat as possible. Wrap the meat in freezer wrap, label and pack in your freezer. The meat will now keep from 1 - 3 years and your now ready for your next hunt. During cold weather temperatures of 35 degrees or colder the animal can be left to hang for days to tenderize the meat but sometimes makes a harder job of processing. If you leave the animal hanging to tenderize be sure it is up off the ground high enough that dogs and other animals can't get to it.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Deer Season Preparation ( Part 9 ).

You've secured a place to hunt, done your scouting, hung your stands, checked your equipment and opening day has finally got here. You sit ever so quietly in the stand as the morning sunlight peeks over the horizon, breaking the dawn of a new day. With only one thing on your mind this beautiful morning, you begin to wonder if all your hard work will pay off then suddenly a doe appears from out of nowhere and is followed by a nice buck. The pair come ever so slowly down the trail through the woods directly under your stand. You hesitate until just the right shoot presents itself then all hell breaks loose and you quickly realize you've just shot you first deer of the season. After waiting 15 - 30 minutes you climb down from your stand and begin tracking your deer. A speck of blood here a puddle there then finally you spot the deer piled up in a brush pile not more then fifty yards from where you shoot it. Now you sit down relax and enjoy the moment, relive the thrill of the days hunt, realize all your hard work was worth it and then your ready to finish your days hunt and head for home with your prize or are you?. Many of us don't think anything about the fact that your supposed to tag the animal immediately after finding it. Tagging the animal is an essential way of saying this animal is mine, I shot it, I tracked it down and now I'm claiming it as my animal. This is the only way you can actually say the animal is truly yours when you get to the checking station and acquire the permanent kill tag identifying the animal as your kill. Be sure to fill the kill tag out correctly in the field when tagging your animal as this is usually what the checking station goes by to fill out the permanent kill tag and your next hunting tag for another animal. If the kill tag is incorrect the next animal you check in could get you in trouble proving it is your animal. It only takes a moment to check your tag to be sure it is correct and can be corrected quickly before you leave and remember to that the permanent tag is also supposed to accompany the carcass until processing is complete. Following all the game laws is part of an essential way of hunting and provides us all with a safe and successful hunt. These game laws are usually published in a brochure by the wildlife resource agency of your state and can be found in any hunting store or by contacting the wildlife resource agency in your state for a copy. It only takes a few moments to read over these laws and could save you alot of heartache or even your license or more. Please be sure to check the game laws in your hunting area and have a safe, enjoyable and prosperous year.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Deer Season Preparation ( Part 8 ).

This year as you did your scouting you may have came across a really good buck or you've found some old rubs from last year that have told you there was a really big buck in the area. Perhaps you've been dreaming of taking a trophy buck this year or you've been watching you're herd tring to locate a trophy buck. The real question is " What exactly constitutes a buck as a trophy? " . To many a trophy buck is one that ranges from the 150 - 190 class on the scoring system but in my book I believe that any deer could be a trophy. It really depends on the hunters preference and standards. Sure they have record books for trophy deer but just because your deer doesn't make the record books doesn't mean that it's not a trophy. Your first buck would definitely be a trophy and to me anything larger then what I've got on the wall would be a trophy. Perhaps you've been hunting a particular deer for the last couple of years now and you finally take him this year, that would be a trophy buck. It doesn't really matter the size of the deer all that matters is that you've taken a buck that you consider to be a trophy. Everybody has different thoughts when it comes to classifying a buck as a trophy but to me it's still up to the hunters standards. If I wanted a real classifying trophy I'd go on a guided hunt for a monster buck and be paying alot of money for it but myself I enjoy hunting the smaller ones in my own neck of the woods and keep hoping for one bigger then whats on my walls now. It keeps me happy, it saves me lots of money and you never know when that monster buck ( that could make the record books )will show up in your neck of the woods.