Sometimes…its all about the sunsets!
Beautiful Sunsets
Love Dragon Carrots!
The last of the Dragon Carrots for the year!
Wonderful Indoor Bow Shooting Range!
Marcus as you recall is my better half. He had been to the archery place last year to score bucks at some special event. Marcus is a scorer for Boone and Crocket.
Marcus is using my d-0111ad’s left handed bow and it broke last year. So he had decided that he would go to that Archery shop and get the bow fixed last week. The names of the place is https://whaletalesarchery.com/ in Dousman. He said it had an indoor range, it actually had a bar in it and they fix the bow for you right in the store. I figure it was a Saturday and they would be packed. Well they weren’t! He told me to take my bow along just in case……..in case what I think……in case my guy says they have an indoor shooting range and I think you might like it! I was nervous because I am just beginner, I have no special skills, I didn’t want people watching me, and of course I have never shot at an indoor range, so I didn’t know what to expect. Well I liked it. I was able to shoot at many different ranges. I was able to work on my breathing and strength. It was $15 bucks to shoot for like an hour or however long you wanted. Marcus was able to get some practice shots in as well. Which I am pretty sure he had fun doing. We both had a good time. Marcus was very helpful, patient and gave me lots of good advice. I was a happy girl, because Marcus could have went by himself and he waited so I was able to go. I did some pretty good shooting as well.
Intense Wisconsin Bow Season 2020 4th Sit!
Friday September 25 2020
4th sit!
Well it had been a windy day all day
So wasn’t really sure I should even hunt
Plus the skeeters were bad and the weather was warm
But its that Friday night high I suppose
I don’t know why I work all day and then come right home
Change and then go out hunting
Without getting a thing done at home
It was partly sunny all day
It was warmer
And I was worried about the skeeters
They have been terrible lately
I sat on the farm for the 1st time tonight
It it at the end of a grass waterway
Corn to the right of me
Beans to the left of me
Grass runway in front of me wide open
And a tree line and then corn behind me
It’s the Primos blind I like
But it had a rough tumble through the winter last year
And is not in very good shape
I like it, it is roomy
Marcus did a good job getting it set up
The wind was right for sitting here
I had ozoned my gear prior to going out
This is a new thing I am trying
I was going to short sleeve it
But changed my mind
I always long sleeve it
But it’s warm
I think my arms would be a dead giveaway to a deer
And I though the skeeters would just love to bite my arms
Glad I went with the long sleeve
As the skeeters were suffocating.
The walk into the blind in long
It’s an easy walk just seems forever to get there
And I am always out of breath by the time I get there
Plus, I am always hot and sweaty
The skeeters were horrible as I walked in
Its like they lay and wait and as you pass them in the grass they would murder you
They were so strong that I would flail my arms and I would hit loads of them
The blind in surrounded by farm fields.
It is actually in a valley between two fields with miles of farm fields behind me
And miles of farm fields in front of me and all around me
This is a hot spot for bucks occasionally
We have had some nice ones on camera recentl
We always put blind on the farm
This is the first time it has been in this place
Anyways all settled in
Got loaded and ready to rumble
Marcus said I should be ready for a fast quick shot
As I will not have much time
No matter what field they come out of I won’t have much time to react
They will basically be right on top of me
Well nothing happened upon me
Well I saw one squirrel
Heard a few birds, heard a mad squirrel and a crow, yup that it
But I didn’t see nothing as far as deer
You will have night like that
And this spot is one of those spots
Its hit or miss
At 640 I hear rumbling behind me that I cannot see
I am getting ready waiting for something to step out form the tree line behind me
but nothing did
The sun was bright and pretty as it went down
I could have sit there for hours watching that sun go down
Closing time was here before I knew it
Didn’t have much time to pack up as the skeeters had arrived for dinner
Dreaded the walk back
Yes, the skeeters
Surrounded me, I was just glad I couldn’t see how there may were
They walk was long
And let’s face it
I am not young and I am not physically fit
I counted to 100 a few times
Sang the ABC’s a few times as well
To distract me from the walk as well as the skeeters
The rest is history
Taco chili when I got home
And I looked forward to bedtime as I am not going to lie
My body was hurting from the walk
3rd Sit!
Saturday September 19 2020
3rd sit
Didn’t want to over hunt my new blind
And the wind wasn’t good for the farm
And we are a little behind with getting the other blinds out
And I really wanted to sit tonight as the weather was nice
And I always enjoy the hunt a tad bit more on a non-work night
And I had made the decisions that I was 90% not going to sit Sunday
Boy that is a lot of ands…..
Decided to go old school tonight
Sitting up on Mueller’s Hill
It’s a very large hill that overlooks 2 huge fields
And a huge marsh/cattails area
Followed by a tree line and then the rock river
This is a very high hill
That overlooks a very wide area.
Which is why I love it here
I can see far and wide
It is so pretty up here and so peaceful
I have been sitting on this hill for the last 5 years
And have seen many of action.
I sit halfway down this field
About a long a foot ball field maybe longer
Under a tree right in the middle of the field
It was good to be back in this little spot.
I have no blind or tree stand here
I prop myself up next to a tree to blend in
Anyways the weather was warm 65ish
But there was a cool light breeze
The hay field had been cut with in the last day or two
It was somewhere between halfway done and done
But omg the bugs
Skeeters I am guess
Swarms every time I stepped
There were so many you could hear them
I was a tad concerned as I did not want to spend my night with
These little assholes
Once I got to me destination yup the skeeters were bad there as well
I hunkered down and got ready for my sit
The skeeters welcomed me for the next 10 minutes or so
I started up the old thermal cell and eventually they all left
I cannot contribute this to the use of thermal cell yet
As it was windy and skeeters I imagine do not like wind
Plus, the lack of movement by myself may have tamed them down
I had a straggler here and there but for the most part
I was not bothered by the wicked pains
But kept the old thermal cell roaring
At 5 I can hear my good old friend owl in the distance
I love to hear owls……As it is a call I don’t hear very often
I find owls quite remarkable…….And wish I saw more of them
It was a around 530 that I spotted a mom and twins way down in the bean field
The beans are tall right now and the little munchkins could barely see over the top
But they ran and frolicked like children up, down, and around the bean field for over an hour
As I watch the children play them der catbirds sing the distance
And at one point in the tree right next to me
A bird is quite angered that I am sitting here
That it screams at me for about 10 minutes
I am enjoying the crisp air
And looking down over the marsh at the beauty
Soaking in the change of the season that is underway
How green turns to brown in that ever so changing color.
Glad that my allergies are not acting up
Which I found very interesting
however I know I will pay for it tomorrow
It is getting close to closing time
My eyes on full alert
Knowing that this sit was more of a scouting mission than a hunt
As there has not been much trail camera activity in the area lately.
So, no big buck did make a presence
How ever a few minutes till closing time
2 racoons investigated the field below me
Having no idea that I am there.
Closing time…..I start to pack up……Taking care to be quite
So as not to disturb the raccoons
But the racoons don’t care or know I am here
They go about their business
I am all pack up and ready to walk back
I do a once over of the field
And I see a shadow by the woods
I could barely make it out through my binoculars as the woods behind is way too dark
I was able to see short antlers
A young man would be my guess
I watch him for a while and I think he sees me and turn and walks the other way
So, I leave for my long walk back through the field
The raccoons are not concerned as they continue on with their shenanigans
As I am walking just a few short steps from them
Guess the camo works
I get about a quarter way down the field and turn around
I always turn around a few times on my walks out
You never know what is back there
Well shit
That buck I thought turned and walked the other way
Was walking behind me
I can still barley make him out but he just walking almost right behind me
On the same path through the field
But he is still a way back
I turned to continue on
Because the skeeters have awoken from their slumber
As I turned off the field onto the dirt road I looked back for a once over
And the buck was gone
It was a nice little sit
And I embraced it as I had in the back of my mind
That it will be a few days before getting to hunt again
Not one skeeter bite
Once I am home supper is ready
And I always enjoy telling the guys of my tails when I got back to the house
Ahhhh now it’s time to relax
And appreciate GODS many blessings!
2nd Sit
Friday September 18 2020 2nd weekend after opening day.
The work week much less the workday couldn’t get over quick enough. Even if I was working at home today, plus Marcus was on his day off.
I was totally pumped because the big buck was on camera in the vicinity of my blind late last night
I was hoping he hung out in the area and bedded down close by
But in all reality I knew he had moved over to the next field, through the huge corn field
And through the swamp and onto the neighbor’s woods, because if I were him that is what I would do
4:15 rolled around and I am flying around the house, trying to make sure I didn’t forget anything.
Ok what do I need to hunt:
Bow check
Arrows check
Backpack check
Release arrow check
Binoculars/range finder check
Bottle water check
Camo fleece check
Cloths, hat check
Boots don’t forget to take off the camo sandals check
Check I think I have everything
Ohhhh wait SD cards, got to check the trail camera on my way out
It was a chilly day……I mean sunny just a cool breeze
I think I am ready………..Marcus send me off with a kiss and a shoot straight comment
I hop in the mud duck(four wheeler)
As I drive down the road
I make a mental note to create a word document………Of the things I need for my hunts
Engine roaring
Fresh cool breeze on my face
Driving fast as the wind flows through my hair
Driving the mud duck down the road always feel so good
Speed, freedom, the rush, open air
Ahhhh!
The road into my stand was dry……..Sure, was glad to so that
Last week I drove through water…….It was flooded last week
Flooding drives the deer away
And that is always a fear this time of year
And the grassy drive wasn’t as muddy as I thought it would be
Actually, the whole curve was dry
Parked in front of the big bush so the deer can’t see the mud duck
Last time the area where I parked was flooded
Time to get ready…….Be quite I tell myself
Putting my pack back on is always a treat
Each time I do it
it gets easier…….It just heavy to toss over my back
Oh, the bugs were horrible…….skeeters I assume
Or some bug with wings………Swarms
Just tons of swarms as I walk in
I wonder why I didn’t get out the thermal cell
And put it in my backpack yet
I always creep quietly to my blind
As I have to walk the outer edge on the big food
To get to my blind
No other way to get there
Need to be quiet
The bedding area is on the other side of me
Grounds drier from last weekend
Food plot looks nice
I am about to make the curve to my blind
I always sneak because I walk right up on a small food plot
Don’t want to scare anything……All clear
Blind was a little warm
No puddles this time…….Getting all settled in
Shortly after I got in
Around 452 pm
Mom and fawn walk out into the big food plot
Near where I 1st walked in
They came from the cattails on the river side
Mom and fawn ate in the field for over a half hour
Up on that same notch as last time
I don’t think they saw me I mean they ate in the field for over a half hour
but Mom is smart she knows something is off
Ahhh the blind windows are open……..Moms aren’t stupid
Saw nothing for the next hour
But I sat their mesmerized by watching the flock of birds
Several flocks of blackbird I assume
Fly through the air
In their synchronized flight
Hundreds of them
Breaking into smaller flocks
And then I would see the bigger one
And wonder why they don’t all hook up together
They just flew all around above the cattails
Occasionally I would spot a lone bird
And wonder what flock he is trying to catch up too…….And what he is thinking
I wonder what all these birds flying in a synchronized dance…….Are thinking
And I am so content thinking about the birds
Such a peacefulness……that I actually smile
4 sandhills came into the big food plot
They had a little snack and walked to the cattails
Towards the ditch
I was trying to check for the injured one I had seen last week
As that was traumatizing to me
It could have been with that group……..They are gone now
Ohhhh and that darn cat bird tweeted almost the whole time
They birds were very active this evening
The sun was bright
And as I looked towards the sun I could see all the skeeters/bugs flying
Strangely the skeeters/bug did not bother me in the blind at all
So many bugs that it filled the air above the small food plot
It was quite a sight…….I wonder what kinds party theses bugs were having
About an hour in the winds picked up
And I was cold
Oh, wait I hear an owl in the distance
Back to being cold of course I didn’t take my fleece out of my backpack
When I first got in the blind like a responsible hunter
because I figured I would be fine
Nope I got really chilly
The wind was brisk
And I had at least an hour to sit yet
And didn’t let up
Mom and fawn came back out to the big food plot around 7
Made their way back over to that nob
They didn’t stay long
But soon they trotted away back into the cattails or bedding area and outta sight
It is getting close to closing time
As the sun goes down and nightfall creeps up
And you know in the back of your mind any second now a buck could peak his rack out
My heart skips a few beats over these next minutes
Waiting and watching
It always seems as though time stand stills during these last minutes towards closing time
And not a sound is made in the whole area around me
Eerily quiet and peaceful
In those minutes leading up to closing time
It is getting close
I look to the small field
And there is a doe
Barley visible with the darkness behind her
We made a brief eyeing and she trotted away
Baby was in front of her, but I missed baby cross the field
I sat the last few minutes…….And then its quitting time
Reminding myself the whole time I am packing up to not forget to check the cameras before I go
Packing up is always a chore and most night I am a hurry to get going
As supper is waiting and there are chores to be done
And I have been gone for a few hours
I don’t like that closing time right now is so late
By the time I walk out and drive home it will be close to 8
But nights, like tonight
There is not work tomorrow
Chores can wait until tomorrow
The weekend is here…….No real urgency……
I always feel a little more peace in my soul these nights
The fellla’s are back at home and chili is cooking
Which I was looking forward to as it was a slight brisk sit
I get back to the house to give my full report
I didnt see much
But there is no bad day in the woods
And I am reminded of my many blessings.
Opening day!
A few pictures from my hunt! Not the best pictures when I am trying to go undetected!
Saturday September 12, 2020
1st sit
Opening day has arrived
I don’t normally sit in September
But I switched jobs earlier this year
Which resulted in Iess time off this year
Long story
Anyways
Let face it I am not a fan of getting up early to go out hunting
I mean there are days that I will but most I won’t
Why you ask, well I do things that make me happy
1st off there is nothing appealing to me to get up that early to hunt
It throws my whole days off for the rest of it anyways
Usually I will be so tired and less motivated
In return getting nothing accomplished
And let’s face it I have enough lazy days already
Maybe morning hunts are appealing to others
I don’t feel any less of a hunter because I do not get up in hunt mornings
I will once the rut begins and a few other days here and there
I am an evening hunter
So, the condition this evening where not ideal
It had misted and sprinkled most of the day
Plus, it had rained the last 3 days
It was hazy and cold
But I was itching to get out there
You know that adrenaline rush
You feel through your bones
Plus, I suppose I was excited to sit in my new blind
I wasn’t even sure I could get to my blind
As the week before the road was flooded
I decided to put on the old waders
And was just going to walk in through the water
Hoping the water hasn’t risen that high since last week
Wasn’t really hoping I would have to do this as I am not a pro walking in waders
Especially Marcus’s waders that are 5 times too big for me
I do not have my own
As walking in water in not something I particularly enjoy
I am not a duck hunter, yet either
As I pull out of the driveway it is misting
Enough as you can see it in the distance
So, it’s a good mist
The drive to my blind is still flooded
But it appears to have went down a bit
So, I drive through the water to get on the other side
So, I can walk to my blind
I parked in front of the bush against my better judgement
As I wanted to park behind
But it was flooded with water
As I ventured in mom and fawn were eating in the big flood plot to me right
They scattered quickly
The ground was mushy
And the skeeters were horrendous
I get to my blind and have to figure out a system as this is the first time
I have sat in a raised blind( I am afraid of heights)
Plus, I have my crossbow backpack on
Eventually I managed to get in the blind and get all set up
I was in the blind by 5(why so late you ask, that another blog entry for another day)
At 630ish a doe walked across the big food plot 100 yards plus away
But appears to be on a mission
I assume it was mom from earlier going to find her child.
A short time later 2 sandhills are walking across the big food plot
Looks like an adult and child
The child wing looks hurt
It is acting suspicious
It eventually leaves the adult, which I find strange
And comes straight towards my blind
The wing looks broken
I can hear it making some type on call/noise
it walks right by me and on to the hidden path
No idea where the adult went
The wing looked broke but I am aware that cranes can fake an injury to avoid predators or deterred
Predators from other cranes
So, I wonder what is going on here
If this crane is faking it is a good actor/actress
I say a prayer for the crane
The skies are dark and bleak
And the clouds at times look like a sky will open up and it will storms
It never does
It mists from time to time
I hear noise behind me occasionally
I do not have any windows open behind me as it is all willows and I have no shot
Plus, I don’t want over exposure
I know for a fact that the deer bed in here as well
Hence the location of this blind
This area I am in is the bedding grounds
for many of fawns over the years
See my other post about my blind(not up yet)
About 15 minutes later child crane and adult walk out on to the small food plot
Hang around for a minute or so and turn around back down the hidden path
I wonder to myself
What is up you guys
About 7 to my right on the other end of the small food plot
I see 2 deer frolicked toward to hidden path
Small deer
Then a doe comes out from the willows to my right
Behind me about 25 yards from the stand
She knows something is different
Something makes a noise below the blind
Its new it is working its kinks out
Well miss doe
Hears the sound and we play a staring game for 5
Well I notice at the back of the small food plot behind ma
There is a fawn eating on the bush
Ma is still standing about 25 yards out
I have no interest in shooting a doe at this point
Finally, baby runs over clumsily
And stands by mom
And then a teenager runs up from the hidden path
The hidden path goes into a hidden field
Obviously
So now I have a teenager, fawn and ma all looking at me
Waiting for me to just screw up enough that I move
Nope sorry not this time
Eventually after 5 minutes or so
They cautiously meander behind my blind and out of site
The teenagers get within 10 feet of me as there is a path in front of my blind
that the deer travel.
I do not have any windows open to the front of the blind there is a big bush there
And I don’t like to overexpose myself
Plus, there isn’t that great of a shot there anyways
As the teenager gets to the left of the front of the blind he gets skittish and tramps away.
I figured mom and fawn went into the woods to walk around my blind to get to the big food plot
What its getting close to closing time
It is raining now
I start to back up
I won’t shoot a deer in the rain
I fear losing the blood trail
As I walk out the path about 10 feet from my blind towards to big food plot
I am met by a fawn about 10 feet from me
There is no other way to get back to the mud duck
One of us has to move
I stop and we admire each other for roughly 5 minutes
I flail my arms in the air letting baby know a threat is coming
I do this several times
But she just hangs out and looks at me
So, I slowly start walk towards the fawn
And eventually it decided it is time to move
The walk back to the mud duck is long as it is raining now
Not bad for opening day
I saw 5 deer tonight
Any night seeing deer is a good night
Plus, I got to see deer on opening night as well
Back home I share the stories of my hunt
Eat some dinner
Watch a show and off to bed I go.
(sadly, I write this entry a week after and have probably forgotten many a detail, lesson learned)