After so many months spent waiting, preparing, and obsessing over deer season its hard to believe the season has already begun. Unfortunately I, like most hunters, have limited time to spend in the woods due to the bane of our existence, work. That being said, I save up all my sick and vacation days to use for pursuing my whitetail dreams. After a vacation day spent on Monday, I have already logged 20 hours on stand. Due to a visit from Pope Francis effectively shutting down all of our current job sites, I will be able to hunt this Friday and Saturday. After that, probably Saturdays only till late October with an evening hunt during the week sprinkled in here and there. I must admit it was nice sleeping in for work today, my body hasn't adjusted to the 3:30am alarm clock just yet.
One thing I have noticed this season is the deer seem smarter that I remember. Usually opening day is a guaranteed doe for everyone I hunt with. I have a valid excuse for my empty trunk bed. I was with a friend filming a hunt when we had two does come in behind a tree and bed down 25 yards from us. The wind was in our favor, so we figured eventually the does would get back on their feet and continue into one of my shooting lanes. We waited for about an hour until the lead doe stood up, shook the sleep from her face, and began to head our way. That's when suburban deer hunting struck again. A neighbor a few houses down decided 9am on Saturday morning is the perfect time to let their kid go outside and practice.... the trombone. It sounded like Jim from American Pie pretending to be "Petey" at band camp. As the silence was shattered the 2 doe took off like their tails were on fire, taking their delicious back straps with them. That was a first for us, but probably not the last time this will happen. Hopefully by November the kid will be able to carry a tune.
On a serious note, the deer do seem to be more educated this year. I never had to pay too much attention to the wind before, since most of our spots are in close proximity to people and their scents. I had a few does and one small buck try in vane to pick me in the tree, but on both occasions they never seemed comfortable around me. I know I was clean. I shower scent free before each sit, and my clothes are washed with Hunters Specialties Fresh Earth detergent and sealed in a garment bag when I'm not wearing them. It seems the deer have been coming in down wind and picking up something they don't like and changing their course. The problem with limited time and properties to hunt is that if I do not have a perfect wind on Saturday, I have to wait till next Saturday. That could mean going two to three weeks without sitting in the woods, and that's just torture. If the trend continues I may have to look into changing my stand placement.
So it looks like I am going to me an amateur meteorologist this year, monitoring wind directions and cold fronts to maximize my hunts. Just another tool I can use against my quarry. While I am at it, I should brush up on my lunar phases too. You can never have too much information when chasing an animal that depends on weather cycles to tell it how to act. Nobody ever said filling tags is easy. It can be a grind at times, but for most bow hunters, they would not have it any other way.
I am a relative newcomer to the world of bow hunting, today being opening day in Pennsylvania, marks my 5th season in the woods. As for most hunters, opening day signifies a fresh start, full of hope and promise that this will be the best season to date. I too share this belief, for this season I have a definitive goal. Harvest G2.
In years past I have never shied away from preseason preparation. I turned it up a notch this summer, putting out my Moultrie cameras in the first week of June, and giving my herd a steady diet of corn and Big and J feed supplements. From that first 2 week period I noticed two bucks that had potential. I never had bucks on trail cameras worth naming before, so my names are a result of lack of experience as opposed to lack of creativity. A 9 point 3 1/2 year old became "The 9", and a 6 point 4 1/2 year old 8 point became "G2". For the next 90 days I went back and forth on which buck I wanted to put my antlered deer tag on. The 9 may score better, but could really be a stud if he can make it till next season. The problem with that strategy is where I live and hunt. Southeastern Pennsylvania receives a ton of hunting pressure. Combined with population density and major highways close by, these deer have a lot pitfalls to navigate from year to year. The land I hunt is a 8.5 acre rectangle with neighboring tree stands not far from it's boundaries. The 9 would have to beat the odds to see his fourth birthday for sure.
G2 started as a 6 point, growing a set of matching crab claws to complete his mainframe 8 status. The one feature that always stood out was his large G2's that rise well above his rack. He is definitely an older buck, fat bellied with loose skin hanging from his neck. The two bucks bachelor grouped up, appearing in numerous trail cam pictures together. By the time the calendar reached mid September I decided that the first buck that walked into range would receive a dirt nap courtesy of yours truly.
That mindset changed at 7:11pm tonight. With twenty minutes of shooting light left I was glassing in the distance and noticed a lone tine. As the buck continued his assault on various brush and an unlucky pin oak, I realized it was him. G2 was 115 yards to my right, directly down wind. I watched him until the sun faded into the horizon as he thrashed his way violently through the 4' high cover. Never before has the sight of an individual buck consumed me like G2. His high reaching G2's, perfectly symmetrical crab claws, aged white face, and his dominate persona. I was in his woodlot, not mine. I knew than no other deer will satisfy me. For this season to be a success, I have to put my hands on that rack. He never got closer than 100 yards, but I have time. PA's season runs until the end of January. I accept G2's challenge. To out wit a mature buck on his turf on his terms is no easy feat, but believe me, no victory is more rewarding. So take it easy tomorrow and enjoy your Sunday G2, I'll see you Monday night, your place, not mine.
