Deer Hunting
Muzzleloader, 2024
For the most part, Muzzleloader 2024 went according to plan. Over the past 2 decades, it has become apparent that there are few deer contacts that weekend. For whatever reason, the deer are mostly absent. For us, the third weekend in October has become a dry run. We all turn out for camp, but our expectations are low. It’s just nice to have a good weekend of hunting without cold weather and work out any bugs in the system. Moose brought his 44 Cal revolver and tried his luck at Lazy Boy Angus wrote about his experience Saturday Evening: Prepared … More . . .
Yute Season, 2024
Moose, Angus, and the Mooselette joined me over the weekend for the annual Yute Hunt. Mooselette and I went out together to Hollywood Saturday morning and saw nothing. Saturday afternoon, we went to S-10. About a half dozen doe came out and stayed until after sunset, but never got within shooting distance. Sunday AM, Daddy Moose took her back out to Hollywood. This time, 3 doe showed up, but they didn’t close the deal on any of them. Da Grudge Work picked up on the Garage this week. The siding is mostly on, and the base for the bunkhouse is … More . . .
Kentucky Deer Hunting Stats
I don’t know if you’ve seen this, but the KDFWR site has some really great statistics pages on deer hunting: https://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Deer-Hunting-Stats.aspx This post has already been read 1669 times!Views: 4 Related posts: New KY Deer Stats The Sport of Not-Hunting for Deer So you want a new deer rifle for Indiana Who Comes to Deer Camp? KY Expands Crossbow Season From the KDFWR: Outstanding outlook for the hunt KDFWR Turkey Study Underway What makes a Deer Rifle?
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Eye Candy with New Trail Camera
I was having trouble with my existing decade-old trail cameras and decided to spring for a new one. This is what I ended up getting: Here is the result, highlights from the first week of July. It picked up gobs of single doe visits after dark at the salt lick. What you will see are the oddball events, including a very shootable 10-point buck Overall, I’d say pretty good for under $50. This post has already been read 1682 times!Views: 6 Related posts: Deer Hunters: Time to Start Thinking Salt Mineral Lick Update Getting Ready for Season Mineral Licks– now’s … More . . .
Tagging the Deer
It’s been almost 2 years since I finished Chemo. The process left me intact for the most part. However, I have discovered holes in my memory. A lot of peripheral things just disappeared. I’m fine now. New stuff goes into the memory banks and stays there just like it used to. However, bits and pieces just got burned out of my head. Shortly after Turkey Season ended, I was sitting in my office, drinking my coffee like I always do, and looked up at the wall. There were three sets of antlers up there. I tried every which way, and … More . . .
What makes a Deer Rifle?
I stumbled upon an article by the late Finn Aagard. Finn wrote for the American RIfleman back in the 80s and 90s. He was from Kenya and worked as a big game hunter until Kenya closed down hunting in the late 70’s and moved to Texas. His writing on guns and hunting was superb. He influenced me more than any other writer in my formative years when I was first getting into deer hunting. The article Finn wrote that caught my attention was titled “What is a Deer Rifle?” I sat down yesterday to plow through this lost gem. By … More . . .
Sighting in a Deer Rifle
It’s been over a decade since I stopped writing stuff for Deer and Deer Hunting. I used to be the go-to guy for answering questions on reloading and deer rifles. One of the most common questions I got was about sighting-in. I recently got that question again, and I went to pull up the posts I’d made here regarding the subject, and I realized that I had never saved a really good explanation of the basic underpinnings. This post is meant to correct that. First off, let me give you a basic example of what is involved. Grab a baseball … More . . .
Can You Re-Use a Scent Wick?
jgaworecki Posts: 3 Joined: 21 Oct 2014, 13:02 Scent Wicks Postby jgaworecki » Today, 15:42 Can you re-use a scent wick? Meaning after you apply say doe in heat to a wick, can you just use that same wick day after day when hunting. Not looking for opinions on this question, but would like supporting technical data as why you can or cannot re-use wicks. Do scents spoil after a period of time exposed to air? Thanks, Top User avatar shaman Posts: 2491 Joined: 21 Jun 2008, 02:38 Re: Scent Wicks Postby shaman » 2 minutes ago Here at the … More . . .
What Power Scope for Deer Hunting
This question got sent to me via Quora: I hunt whitetail deer. I’ve been doing it for more than 40 years. I’ve got a whole battery of rifles that will take deer. Most of them carry a Bushnell 3–9X40mm scope. Some have 4–12X40mm. These are all fairly plain scopes with a Mult-X reticle. I use them in a variety of situations— treestands, ground blinds, etc. I settled on the Bushnell Banner, because it was sturdy, it held zero, and it had coatings that allowed me to hunt in low light conditions. I have pretty bad eyesight. I’m near-sighted. My glasses … More . . .
Picking the Fall Line-up
It just past the six-month mark before the Rifle Opener. Already I am tying my stomach in knots jonesing on what rifles to take. It should be easy for a guy like me, just go to the rack as I’m taking off for camp and find the rifle that speaks to me. Only it isn’t that easy. It’s never that easy. About 5 years ago, I decided to build a decision matrix. Heck, I’m an IT guide by trade– did it for over 40 years. This was easy stuff for me. I took my entire rifle inventory and ranked them … More . . .
Obeying the Voices
Back in May of last year, I wrote this: I ordered a Rossi Model 92 stainless in 44 Mag with a 24-inch barrel yesterday. I could be writing this as an admission of weakness, but this isn’t AA. I did this with malice aforethought. Do I regret all the stuff I’ve said previously regarding 44 Mag rifles, lever actions, etc.? No. However, I do believe the voices within cannot be disobeyed. What got me down this path? I’ll tell you truthfully, that I got tired of all the nudging. It seemed like the moment I finished that thread last June, … More . . .
How long would you hunt an unproductive stand?
After a once-a-decade event of eating tag soup, the question comes up about what to do? Angus and I have already had this talk. My advice was to wait. I’ve been through this before, and it usually works itself out by the next season. This year is appearing more and more to be a result of warm weather and a late-dropping acorn crop. However, the bigger question of how to handle an unproductive stand remains. This was echoed on 24hourcampfire.com recently. https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/19068313/1 Here is my response: Now understand that my opinions are not held universally in high esteem. Some self-styled … More . . .
Rifle Season Stats
I just saw this posted: So it wasn’t just our ridge that sucked. Interesting. This post has already been read 3606 times!Views: 11 Related posts: The Savage Speaks Again Whitetail Deer — What is Overkill Anyway? What’s Wrong With Me? Deer Season Post-Mortem, 2018 On Hunting Pressure and Going Nocturnal Angus’ First Blood What makes a good deer rifle? Deer Camp 2015 — Ineff is Ineff
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Tag Soup, 2023
The title really says it all. It has been quite a while since I ate tag soup at Deer Camp. Not only did I not hit anything, I went through Early Muzzleloader and all of Rifle Season not drawing a bead on a single deer. Angus pretty much had the same luck. For the 6 of us, we only filled 4 tags. This happens to us maybe about once a decade. I have to say, for the lack of deer, we had about as optimal a deer camp as ever. Things went smoothly in the warm, dry days– no rain, … More . . .
Pulled Out Early
We decided to pull out after the Sunday morning hunt. This was after originally planning to hunt up until the rain hit on Tuesday. SuperCore had a doe. Moose had his monster that’s filling the freezer and then some. That left Angus and I eating tag soup, and there was no sign of deer and no sign it was going to change. I am not worried. This happens maybe once a decade. Our deer are ruled by the oak mast. When it is good, they will be chowing down on acorns and we hardly see them. This year, the crop … More . . .
Report From Deer Camp
I suppose an apology is in order. This has been a hard season for me. When things go right, I’ve usually gotten some meat on the pole by now and had a chance to relax a bit and get a couple of posts out. Either that, or the weather has caused me to spend a day or so in the cabin. This year has been a struggle. I’m actually much healthier than I’ve been in years. The weather has been warm and dry. However, it has been hard hunting since The Opener, a constant repetition of eat, sleep and hunt. … More . . .
Introducing Foxtrot Charlie
As Patriarch of our deer camp, I am proud to announce that a new probationary member has been added to the Shamanic Dream Team. Foxtrot Charlie will be joining us at camp starting on Sunday. From the bio he submitted: FC is a 24hourcampfire.com denizen from 2005 or thereabouts. A jaeger & soupmaker, he’s blessed to have shared hunting camps with the famous & infamous, from the swamps, to the prairies, to the the mountains, on multiple continents, even. This trip to visit the . . . 100 Acre Wood, will mark FC’s first time afield in pursuit of whitetail … More . . .
Getting Caught Up
It has been a few weeks since I could post anything meaningful about the farm, and here it is, almost time to open Deer Camp. Let me get y’all caught up. Pre-Season This is the view from the stand at Hundred Acre Wood. As you know, I was feeling pretty wretched last year at this time. In fact, I was still having problems with stamina and fatigue until about a month ago. All of a sudden, my bone marrow and kidneys finally took the last step towards normalcy, and going into September, I was feeling the best I have in … More . . .
Wash, Rinse, Repeat
I was preparing to write a report on this past weekend, and I looked up in the left corner and saw this post from last year. It’s not like that’s exactly what happened. Some of it, like the sighting-in of deer rifles, happened last weekend. We are planning to put up the blinds next weekend. Still, it is a little spooky to see yourself running down the same path. This was not how it seemed at all as it was going on. Friday was a real thunderclap of a day– quite literally. The architects emailed us a proposal for the … More . . .
On Rubs and Scrapes
Hunting Scrape Lines and Rub Lines? #18774460 09/20/23 OP tzone Campfire ‘Bwana T Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 45,943Just The Tip How many of you hunt scrapes and rub lines?I’ve not had much success seeing deer hit scrapes? I don’t get out to bow hunt much and by the time gun season rolls around they seem to be done hitting scrapes. With the exception of last year during the WI gun hunt, I saw several scrapes opened up during the season. Is it best to hunt them in October? The past few years, we haven’t seen many scrapes or rubs. I … More . . .
Back in the Saddle
I have not felt much like writing for the past few weeks. There has been so much to do. However, I did finally manage to get back out to the farm and get some stuff done. I started off by building some shelves in the bedroom to take my hunting gear. Moose and Angus came out and cleaned out one of the sheds. We had quite a storm last spring, and it came close to knocking the whole thing over. The only thing holding it up at the moment is the siding. We are going to finish the job and … More . . .
A New Youtube — Ode to a 30-30 Part 3
I have posted the last installment of this series. Enjoy. This post has already been read 13282 times!Views: 6 Related posts: The Sport of Not-Hunting for Deer A New Youtube — Ode to a 30-30 Part 1 Escape from Planet 4 MOA– Part 3 Escape from Planet 4 MOA– Part 5 A New Youtube — Ode to a 30-30 Part 2 I hunt not to kill, I kill to have hunted. Ode to a 30-30 Pt 3 — Like A Dog Returneth Eeeets Alive Pt I
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A New Youtube — Ode to a 30-30 Part 2
I have another Youtube posted. Enjoy This post has already been read 15443 times!Views: 13 Related posts: A New Youtube — Ode to a 30-30 Part 3 The Sport of Not-Hunting for Deer The Shaman on Youtube A New Youtube — Ode to a 30-30 Part 1 Obeying the Voices Will AI Replace the Shaman? Eye Candy with New Trail Camera I hunt not to kill, I kill to have hunted.
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A New Youtube — Ode to a 30-30 Part 1
I just published a new installment on my Youtube Channel. Please have a look, and be sure to hit Notify and Subscribe. This post has already been read 12745 times!Views: 15 Related posts: The Savage Speaks Again The Shaman on Youtube Whitetail Deer — What is Overkill Anyway? What’s Wrong With Me? Escape from Planet 4 MOA– Part 3 On Hunting Pressure and Going Nocturnal A New Youtube — Ode to a 30-30 Part 3 Angus’ First Blood
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Jagendehütte– A Hunting Blind Profile
One of our camp’s most productive hunting venues is Jagendehütte, the hunting shed. It is the favorite haunt of our senior member, SuperCore. He spends most of rifle season in the shed and has pulled some of the camp’s biggest bucks out of there. It is also one of the oldest venues on our farm. The history of Jagendehütte goes back to 2002. I had acquired a large packing crate from work, and over Memorial Day weekend, I primed and painted the 4 sides of the crate and some other scraps and left them to dry in the barn. In … More . . .
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