Well my season is over and done with for this year so now I can start to work on next season, LOL.
Unfortunately I was sick for most of deer season this year but, fortunately I was able to tag one on opening day of shotgun season so it wasn’t a total loss. I can only look at it this way and that is at least I have plenty of time to get my health straightened out so when next season rolls around than I can hit it like a freight train.
I will still try to do the deer sightings from time to time partly because it is nice to read and still keeps you updated as to where and when they are around. I do have to say that I spent the last morning of muzzleloader season playing with my 5 year old son before getting him ready for school, the quality time was priceless.
Well after being two steps behind the deer and having a run in with those two dogs that were following the deer tracks I decided on a afternoon spot along the edge of the swamp where I found a very well used trail.
I got there about 2 o’clock and settled in at the highest point of this knoll. It couldn’t have been no more than ten minutes when all of a sudden I had two deer running toward me, the problem was the two deer running toward me were running because they were being chased by the same two dogs that I had a run in with that morning.
I brought up my muzzleloader and put the biggest one in the scope and bleated to try and get them to stop but, all they wanted to do was get away from the dogs. All I could do was stand there and watch as the dogs chased those two deer around the mouth of the swamp and up and over a hill on the other side. After they went out of site I put down my gun and being disgusted I said “I’m not going to see anything now” and as soon as I said that a third deer that must have broken away from the other two had come running back in the direction that they originally came from so I didn’t get a shot at that one either.
By that time I was ready to pack it up and go home so I grabbed my stuff and then I heard a gun shot in the direction that the deer being chased had gone. Right after that I heard a lady yelling for the dogs again. Then another gun shot and and she started yelling louder. I told myself that I’m done and I’m going home. As I turned to go this lady popped her head up over a knoll like a jack-in-the-box and ask me if i seen two dogs.
As nicely as I could I said yes I saw them chasing deer to the other side of the !@#$%^& swamp then gun shots and only saw one dog come back so you figure it out and walked away. I went and found another area to sit for the last two hours of day light but it wasn’t the same after that.
I can only assume that one of the dogs was shot because I only saw one come back. If that is what happened then there is nobody to blame but the dog owners. I certainly would not hold it against someone for shooting the dog for chasing deer. Don’t get me wrong I am as much a dog lover as the next person but, there is a leash law in Connecticut and I am sure there is some law that pertains to domestic dogs chasing deer.
As far as I am concerned this borders on the edge of “Hunter Harrassement” either that or these people are that stupid where they let their dogs roam free to chase deer when they live on the border of state forest land that is open to hunting and they think nothing of it. People like this need a wake up call. Maybe I will have the CT. DEP go knock on their door.
I went out this morning after we received a fresh 1 to 2 inches of snow last night. Immediately walking in I saw fresh tracks and sat on the edge of a big knoll and quietly watched as nothing came by. I decided to try my luck at still hunting which I hate to do but, I figured if anything it would give me a idea of where they might be.
I went over and down into a hollow that is fed from the swamp above and picked up a couple more sets of tracks and followed them for a bit. They headed right for my favorite place “the swamp”, so I kept going and soon came across what looked like a deer highway. Must have been a small herd so I got real excited and did a little scouting from where they came from and what appeared to be where they were going.
They were definately keeping to the thick stuff which once you get out of the swamp is laurel bushes. Seeing as I am grounded for the rest of the season I certainly can’t hunt to many areas that are covered with laurels because you really can’t see much so I concentrated on the swamp end of the trail.
I went all the way around and picked up the trail that lead into the swamp and found a beautiful knoll that overlooks the swamp and which the deer walk right over to go into the swamp. i picked out the best vantage point of where to place a tripod stool and tried to figure out a game plan for the afternoon.
As I was planning out the afternoon’s master plan “haha” I was started when two dogs that looked like pit bulls were following the deer tracks until they saw me standing there. I didn’t know what they were going to do so I cocked the hammer and was ready to defend myself. Fortuneately for the dogs one was not interested and the other just stood there and barked relentlessly at me. I was just about ready to give up and walk away when I heard some lady yell out for the dogs and they took off running, lucky for them.
I still am planning to sit that area this afternoon hoping to catch the deer coming back through the swamp. We will see, I just hope those damn dogs don’t show up again.
Well, opening morning as come and gone. I started out the day waking up with a nasty soar throat but, being that it was opening day I was not going to miss it. I loaded up the truck and headed out.
I got to area and parked my truck grabbed my gear and started for my little hidey hole. With a light crusting of snow and all the leaves it was so noisy to walk that I was almost afraid to head out for fear of spooking deer along the way. By the time I got to were I wanted to be it was just starting to become light enough to see.
I set up my climber and headed up, got situated and by the time it shooting came came I was ready. I sat there figuring that it was so crunchy to walk that I should here anything as it approached but, wouldn’t you know it I saw absolutely nothing except a couple of squirrels and a field mouse that was running around at the base of my tree.
Even though I didn’t see any deer and I felt like crap it was still nice to see the sun come up over the swamp and hearing the occasional Canadian Goose fly overhead. I did figure out one thing though and that was I will be spending the rest of muzzleloader season on the ground sitting on a tripod stool because with this IV catheter in my arm for the Lyme Disease medication I have to take everyday it is to much strain on my arm to climb a tree, so I will be sitting elevated spots looking for my obsession to come strolling by.
I am going to take a couple days to get rid of this soar throat so it don’t turn into something else so I plan to hit the woods again for this Saturday. I figure if I can get out soon enough and get a spot to watch and wait I will let others push them as they walk in.
I couldn’t wait, I had to go check my deer cam which is positioned on the inside edge of that grass pond I am sitting on. It was a nice mid day walk although it was a little noisy due to the crunchy leaves so I had to be on the alert the whole way out.
I figure it is approximately 1 mile +/- in to the pond. As I approached I made sure nothing was inside browsing around. I slowly crept up to my camera which is on the opposite end of where I am sitting. The last time I checked the camera it was November 15th which was the day after I harvested that 7 pointer. At that time it had 9 pictures on it so I turned it back on and left. Now being November 25th with only a week and 3 days before muzzleloader season starts I am reading the camera and it says I have 13 pictures now.
The pond is still seeing some movement which is good and I still have a half roll left and another week to go so I turned it back on and snuck out as quietly as possible. I figure when I go out to sit with the muzzleloader I will change the film while I am there so I should hopefully have some more pictures by the end of next week to share, that is if they develope clear enough.
Well here I am counting down again. Shotgun season ended early for me but, I am not complaining. So here I sit waiting for Connecticut’s State Land Muzzleloader to open which is December 5th to December 18th. to be a little more Technical it actually is this far away,
1 week, 4 days, 22 hours and 15 minutes
My gear is all set and ready, still left out from shotgun season with the exception of many a few more pieces of clothing. I figure the temperatures will be slightly lower by then which is a good thing. The gun has been sighted in and is ready to go and the hanging pole has been emptied and is waiting.
Now if I can get the doctor to not interrupt to much I should have time to hopefully fill a tag. It is all good though because as long as I can get out there and at least see some than it’s good and like I always say “If I fill a tag than that is just a bonus”
I haven’t had to many deer sightings but, I understand being gun season and all that. Once it quiets down they will start to venture out in the open, I just hope it is not in front of any automobiles. I know the last time I checked my deer cam it had 9 pictures on it and I had only put it out 10 days before so I will be checking that as soon as I go out.
I just finished cutting the buck up this morning. I have been doing that myself for years partly because I could never afford to have a butcher do it but, with things the way they are I am going to start looking into having it processed by someone.
Yesterday I skinned it out and then quartered it so I could at least get it in the house. From there I cut of the Tenderloins and Shoulders and left the two Hind quarters for this morning. I am sure I would have gotten more off it if I had it professionally done but none the less I got a very nice roast which I need a recipe for and I have quite a few Tenderloin steaks as well as regular steaks plus a few packages of Stew meat. I am also in the market for a good thick stew recipe so if anyone has either of those two recipes I would appreciate that you share it with me.
It is a lot of work to do by myself and I never use to mind. It would generally take me 1 whole day between skinning,quartering,cutting,packaging and cleaning up but I am moving a little slow these days so it took 2 days to do it. The next one is going to be done by a butcher for sure. I do remember talking to a Taxidermist that I have used in the past and he said he processes for about $75.00 so I am going to call him and see if he is still doing that.
If anyone is interested in doing it yourself I will include this how-to video on processing a deer which could help you.
I must have done my homework because opening day was the day for me. I did not get what I called “The Grass Pond Buck” but, I think I did even better. This 7 pointer came strolling by at 0750 hours this morning.
time - 0750 hours
temp - 34 degrees
barometer - 29.99
wind - south southwest
sky - clear & sunny
When I went to the check station there was of course a long line and I was very happy to be in it. The official weight was 136 pounds. Not to bad I think. I had my older son help me drag it out before he went to work, actually he was a half hour late but he did not seem to mind. My wife Heidi took the pictures and I was happy to get it home before my younger son Tyler had to go to school so he at least got to see it as you can tell from one of the pictures. Seventeen years and I have never harvested one on opening day, so this will be remembered for some time.
Well here we are, down to counting the hours now which are 17 hours and 35 minutes to go. It is the day before and I of course have to work tonight so I am getting all my stuff ready to go before work so when I get home from work at 1:00 a.m. I can go right to bed and get up at 4:30 a.m. to load up and head out. That only gives me about three hours sleep but, you got to do what you got to do. Besides if I am lucky and tag out early than I can relax but that has never happened, not on opening day.
I will be hunting the mornings only obviously because I work nights except if it is a Saturday, than I will hunt all day. because I only hunt in the mornings I don’t carry a big pack like I will be taking to Maine, I usually just carry a fanny pack which is usually big enough for what I might need.
In the picture is just some basics, there is more odds and ends but, these are the basics.
1. climbing stand
2. insulated boots
3. shotgun w/ ammunition
4. fanny pack
5. light gloves
6. grunt call
7. deer drag
8. surveyors tape for marking blood trails
9. squirt bottle w/powder for checking wind direction
With the Connecticut state land shotgun season right around the corner and my trip to Maine right after that I have been very busy trying to get things done before the hunting starts. The shotgun is all sighted in and ready to go and once that season starts I will not have much time to prepare for my muzzleloader hunt in Maine so I took the muzzleloader to the club this morning to sight it in.
As you can tell by the picture that is 2 groups of 3 rounds each so I think I am going to be alright with where it is hitting. The first three were at about 3 o’clock and so I made a little adjustment and ended up hitting my next three at 1 o’clock and slightly closer. I should be fine out to seventy five yards before I have to adjust for elevation.
With the shotgun season and my trip to Maine back to back I really don’t have a lot of time to get ready so I have been doing it all now. I think I am just about set, just a few small details too finish up. Once I got home this morning I took it apart and got it all cleaned up and put back together and back in it’s case, ready to go.
Once I get back from Maine I go right into Connecticut’s state land muzzleloader season here so I will be a little busy from the 14th of November right up to almost Christmas eve. I will still do what I can to keep you all posted on what’s happening via Tails and Trails so stay tuned for more of Rick’s Hunting Adventures. Let the Obsession continue.
