First sit of the year

[ANYFISH2]

This evening turned out to be the first sit of the year, due to poor weather and not beimg able to sneak out during the week.

The trail cams showed there seemed to be pretty consistent daytime movement all season, to date.

I was pretty excited to get out.  Then I arrived to property to realize, this parcel was super inundated water.  Forcing my lazy but to walk the lenght of this 200+ acre piece sloshing the whole way.  No wonder they haven't chopped the drowned out corn.

As I made my way out, I met up with the neighbor, who was anticipating hunt ducks there this evening.  After a short talk he tells me he will hold off till the morning.  I was kinda please with his decisions.

I arrived at the stand and got set up about 4:30.  The view from the stand revealed the many trails the critters were using to navigate the lake that was once a field.

To my suprise they seemed to want come right my way!

The evening got interesting at 6pm.  To the west about 400 yards the ditch that drains this property has come over its banks and made a killer duck pond.  There must have been 200+ birds on all afternoon.  This must been too much to pass up for the neighbor, as he busts the pond and sets up his decoys.  Not sure this going to be a good thing.

Not 15 minutes later, I about jump out of my stand to the sound of 3 shot gun blasts and fleeting flock of Canada geese.  This evening may not work out I start thinking.

A short couple minutes pass and I hear splashing the west.  I look that direction to see a large doe and 2 fawns start coming between me and the neighbor!  In short, they turn and work quickly to within 20 yards but not giving a good shot, not sure i was interested anyway.  Just as they enter the woods behind me another doe and a single fawn fly out from the same spot the first 3 came from and run straight into the corn, Seconds later another, this time it is a young 8 point buck, he works directly to me, to within the same 20 yrd area the first entered my woods.  No shot was offered, he wasnt big, but he definitely would have made me proud to call him my first.  It just wasn't meant to be.

Now the neighbor is gathering up his geese it appears.  I sit and watch him hoping he doesn't spook any deer that may still be wanting to come out.

To my surprise, I turn and look directly in front of me to see a nice lone doe working out of the tall grass in front.  I get ready as if she stays on that trail, it will bring her right to me!  And it does,  she quickly walks to within 7 yds when I try to stop her, unfortunately she sees the Neighbor at the same time.  She spooks but stops about 20 yrds out, perfectly quartering away.  I let the arrow fly, finally for change, not questions about the shot!  She never made back to the woods she came from!  I actually watched her crash into a big old splash! I have rarely see my bow kill tip over.  Still only 6:30.

I sit until dark, seeing 2 more deer, a doe and a fawn.  I leave to get my reinforcements, son, his friend, and my wife.

We return about 8, to recover her.  It is really the first time i was forced to dress a deer in water over my boots, as there just was high ground to do it near by.  It was quite the experience to recover, and drag out(and carry until we found "shallow" enough water to drag)a deer that far through that much water!!  It was a first in many ways today.

 

 

[paceman]

Sounds like a fun hunt! Congrats!

[Wanderer]

What an interesting evening of hunting!

Congrats on a real nice looking doe!

 

By the way, the neighbor you talked to kept his word.  He didn't go out there till Monday morning.  His brother didn't know you guys made a deal though! 

 

Small world....

[ANYFISH2]

True story wanderer?  As it turns out it was just fine!!

Thanks guys.

[Wanderer]

Yep!

[ANYFISH2]

So you know George then?  I have a difficult time remember who is who in that clan.

Good guys, I am sure we will cross paths again. 

It is a small world after all.

[monstermoose78]

Congrats on the doe !!

[Wanderer]

9 hours ago, ANYFISH2 said:

So you know George then?  I have a difficult time remember who is who in that clan.

Good guys, I am sure we will cross paths again. 

It is a small world after all.

Yup, George.  And yup, a good guy.  I haven't met the rest of the clan.  I shot clays over the summer with him.

[ANYFISH2]

Tell him thank you for being accommodating to me when I got out there.  

I wish him good luck as well with the ducks and deer.

We may see each other again,  I will be back out again looking for a buck, and the wife looking for her first deer ever.

 

[Wanderer]

I'll let him know!