The recovery is on for Central North Carolina's Deer Herd..... Threeletters EHD.

My apologies for the ridiculously long break in posts.  So much to discuss. Lets start with one near and dear…. The 2014 travesty that was the North Carolina Deer season.  Epizootio Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD).  This is a viral disease, spread by gnats, which causes internal bleeding and is extremely devastating in areas where the deer density is high.  My hunting time was also limited last year so I sat in areas that were known to be high deer traffic areas.  In years past these were gimmees for does.  My goal was meat harvest.  I used 5 vacation days to hunt sun up- down and weekends.  Not only did I not harvest a deer I saw whopping 4 deer, period.  That includes a buck swimming across a lake, a lone doe running along side the road and road kill! Generally, I would see that many per day in front of my neighborhood.  The first sign of bad things to come was the fam across from my office.  Typically we would see herds of 10+ at various times grazing in the corn stalks.  Sometimes as many as 40 deer could be counted.  Last year ZERO.  Not one.  At first I thought it were development pushing deer to new areas, perhaps me… bad wind, timing, perhaps too warm for good movement.  Then gun season began…. A slight up tick but still guys hunting over bait, running dogs  were also coiming up empty  that is when I knew… this would not be good. 

How bad was it? Lets look at number sform some of the numbers comparing the 2013 harvest to the released 2014 harvest.  For camparison we will look at the North-Central counties which have traditionally had some really strong harvests. More importantly, these areas are heavily hunted with hounds, bait and rifles.  I metion this only to say the “great mast” theory does not hold water in this region.  So lets take a look:

County	2013 Harvest	2014 Harvest	Difference in total deer harvested (2014  vs. 2013)	% harvest decline  vs. 2013
Franklin	3,554	1,608	-1,946	-55%
Granville	3,103	1,691	-1,412	-45%
Halifax	5,533	3,921	-1,612	-29%
Vance	2,592	866	-1,726	-67%
Wake	3,279	1867	-1412	-43%
Warren	3,010	1624	-1386	-46%

 That was the past.  2015 I think will be a "good" year.  Early fall into late October provided some great opportunities. Folks were reporting sightings and harvests, I saw more bucks than ever and harvested one with my bow.  One observation, most of the deer look young.  It will be interesting to see how the year finishes with 3 weeks left in the deer season.  Hopefully we'll see more like this one harvested by my frat brother from a stand near Rougmount, NC.

 

An experiment to answer a couple of bow hunting questions

What causes a deer to "jump the string"? It happens within standard hunting ranges (20 to 30 yards),  but I often wonder, why?  Is it the sound of the string snapping upon release? Perhaps the deer sees the arrow in flight or better yet hears the arrow approaching. This weekend I conducted a simulation, an experiment of sorts. From a distance of 33 yards, I shot six arrows at a 5 inch target approximately 6 inches above my iPhone.  Of the six arrows, five were in the 5 inch circle and the outlier was about three quarters of an inch high and to the left.

The recording may not capture the audio as well as being there in person, but from this distance you can clearly hear my feet on the deck and the bow on the table.  You cannot hear the string snap or the arrow's release, but you can definitely hear a whisper just before impact.

This video makes me wonder: is the deer responding to the sound of the shot? This video raises another question: perhaps they're not responding to the sound at all, but instead they are catching movement associated with the process of shooting a bow and the arrows release.  Deer are acutely attuned to any movement. This may explain why shorter shots tend to have more"string  jumping" then longer shots.

http://youtu.be/bucfxIpj090

Based upon the video what is your opinion?

The Saga of the Honey Hole, My Walden

The honey hole is quickly becoming my go to place.  It is not the best place.  It is not the most remote.  The deer are not guaranteed to move through.  I have only seen two bucks there in three years. The deer are ridiculously skittish and prone to go nocturnal.  But it is convenient to my home, less than a quarter mile away, isolated and there are deer, coyote, squirrels, and raccoons.   Public hunting land is nearby, but the proximity to the honey hole often wins out.  It's my Walden.

Last November, I logged my third and final deer of the season. Despite three hunts in front of hounds and several trips to the "big woods", fittingly my last deer was a doe from the honey hole.  A last minute hunt, during the middle of the day.

The season is over, but she will be there.  Each afternoon, I will walk my dog along the edge of my suburban oasis and invariably there will be whitetail deer to wave, "good bye".  Perhaps tomorrow I'll visit again, bow in hand and sons in tow to hunt squirrels and rabbits in the fresh snow.

Now, I turn to the flyrod and bassbugs; spinning reels and floats, baitcasters and cranks.  Standing in a stream, waders on, and "waving a stick"..... my favorite way to hunt.

First Deer of 2013 - Archery Hunt

I had a few days off and got in some great public land hunts.

Day 1: Temperatures dropped into the low 30's overnight. The high temperature for the following day was expected to be in the mid 50's.  After weeks of warm temperatures in the 70’s and 60’s, deer should be on the move.  I intended to hunt an archery zone where buck or doe harvest was legal.  So, after dropping the kids off at school I, met up with my hunting partner and headed out to the woods.  The lunar calendar said it was a great day with prime activity between 10am and 1pm.  A pre-hunt inspection of my bow revealed a serving that was coming apart.  We had time so I went back to the house grabbed a shot gun and hit a different piece of public land open to firearms.  About 11:15am I caught a glimpse of a large mature buck crossing a shooting lane about 60 yards off.  I watched as he followed a ridgeline headed my way.  I lost him in the trees.  About 15 minutes later I am surprised by the sound of shots fired behind me, I turned and between me and my partner stood a 6 pointer.  I got off one shot at 16 yards and missed. 

Day 2: After doing some cleaning around the house I decided to do an afternoon hunt.  After all, the trusty calendar said the prime time for today was 2:40pm - 4:10pm.  I prepared to go out with the shot gun when the phone rings..... My bow is ready!  I ran out figuring I could pick it up about noon, sight it in at the shop and hit the woods by 2pm.

With bow in hand, I slipped in downwind of an established travel corridor.  In the past, I have seen rubs along the ridge, lots of deer passing through and one or two mature bucks.  This corridor is a deer favorite because it provides access to the entire property without crossing any open areas and all wind is funneled through.  They can smell and hear anyone the moment they step into the woods.  However, if you make your way within 30-40 yards of the ridgeline, there is a prevalent cross wind that carries your scent away from the corridor. A perfect ambush site.

I reach my tree and climb up about 25 feet with a Lone Wolf hand climber. I tie off my life line, notch an arrow and take a seat. Less than 5 minutes into the hunt, to my right, I see a large doe making her way out cautiously testing the wind.  Immediately I know her, the Nanny Goat.  I and this ole girl have been going at it for a few seasons. She is a very large and mature doe.  Almost every time I hunt this area, I lock wits with the Ol’ Nanny. Her markings are very distinct. I have watched her lead the herd in this heavily travelled corridor of public land for at least 3 seasons.  She is the first one to appear and the guardian who stomps, snorts and blows to warn everyone else.  Smart and wily, I have been busted by her more times than not. In fact, she got wind of me a week earlier.  I only saw her, but she stomped and it sounded like a cavalry scattering in the forest around me.

She appeared about 60 yards out surveying the tree line.  I could see several more does about 20 yards beyond her eating.  She was on sentinel duty, as usual, apart from the group.  She gradually began to forage and wandered out of sight into the trees. I know this game.  She wanders away out of sight, but keeps an eye on whatever in the tree line got her attention. While foraging, she will constantly circle the area to catch wind of anything untoward and peak into the canopy for anything unusual, movement. I did not move and barely breathed for fear of giving off enough scent to blow my cover.  If she picked me off again, it would be same story…. I draw at a deer, she stomps, snorts and everyone runs.  

Like a ghost she re-appeared just beyond a tree about 40 yards out from me, head down, eating mushrooms. She was unaware of my presence and totally relaxed.   I had no intention of taking a shot that far.  I practice out to 50 yards, but 30 yards is about where I draw the line for hunting.  I had a narrow shooting lane and figured she would stay in that position until she finished the mushrooms off.  The canopy hid my silhouette. I could draw smoothly, set a good anchor, aim and hold it for as long as needed. I decided to give it a go; waited for the wind to settle; aimed small and released the arrow.  The shot was true.  I was able to trace the flight and heard a solid thud. She jumped turned and trotted off about 75 yards, made a hard right turn and disappeared over a hill.  I stayed in the stand focused on the last spot I saw her. Trying to memorized everything about that last positive sighting just in case there was no trail to track.  In the distance I heard rustling in the leaves.  I knew then she was down, I was certain that I finally got the Nanny Goat.

She was much bigger than I expected. No camera tricks, her body is as large as it looks below. She has some very distinct markings on her that allowed me to identify her.  This, to me, is the equivalent of a trophy buck, an OLD doe. The smartest deer I have ever hunted.

Almost one year ago (April 12, 2011), I initiated this blog with a post about a wily turkey that eluded us for an entire season (The Screamer).   That old Tom had me and my two sons obsessed with turkey hunting.  Addicted!  We were up and ready to hit the woods every Saturday morning!  The only things that kept us away from the woods were a tornado and…….. well that’s about it!  We were off to a hot start, turkey hunting every weekend we could.  Not much fishing, but enough success to feel like I accomplished something.  I did catch my largest cat fish ever!  I was ready for what I expected to be a fun and successful deer season.  Lots of prepping, scouting and practicing.  Some pretty in-depth posts about bow hunting public land  and selecting the right tree-stand for the hunt.  Of course work and life forced a little hiatus and I literally only got to hunt or fish about half as often as I expected.  That’s the life of a Dad.  Not that I’m complaining.  The fish and game will likely be there for as long as I’m able to follow them, but little league football, dance recitals, science fairs, Daddy Daughter dances and family bike rides are fleeting.  My two little hunting buddies are bound to grow up and move on.  They may return, but for now I’ll enjoy the time we have.

Please follow and enjoy as I attempt to make year two more entertaining and informative than year one!  In addition to posts about fishing, deer and turkey hunting, I will expand my topics to include some new things I’ll be exploring in 2012:

·         Gardening (flower and veggie gardens)

·         My first attempt at fly tying

·         Creating a sportsman “EDC” not the urban survival type…… 
·         Reviews of equipment (some old, some new ) for the field and the water.

Last but definitely not least, I would like to thank all those whom followed my rookie season of blogging.    I’ve received a number of emails from friends, family, people surfing through and followers.  To you, I say thanks.  The notes were encouraging and I will post much more regularly in 2012.   Kev2380 thanks for asking about me last weekend (I’ll post a short review of our Eno river fly fishing trip shortly).  River Mud, thanks for listing me as a blog to follow in the River Mud blog!!!!  I got a huge spike in views after your listing and hopefully I’ll keep them coming back and perhaps even following! 

About 16 posts +/- a few last year.  I expected to make about 24 or more.  This year looks a bit more promising.   While I missed the turkey opening, I will probably get after the screamer in about 2 weeks.  No… I am not worried about someone else getting him.  Judging by the number of folks hunting the archery zones and actually bagging a bird using archery gear………. He’ll be there.  Before I end this post, I am going to set some 2012 challenges and I’m posting them here so I can’t back out…. 

1.       Harvest three archery deer (any sex).  Two for the food kitchens to help feed the hungry (donation via Hunters feeding the Hungry) and one for the grill!!!!!!!

2.       Harvest one turkey using archery gear

3.       Catch, photograph and release a “Neuse River Slam” on the fly: largemouth, striper, and catfish.

4.       Catch and photograph an Eno River roanoke bass on the fly

5.       Bonus: Harvest an archery feral hog.

Spring is here, a season of re-birth and renewal for the outdoorsman.  Time to get started on 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A wrap up of the 2011 Deer Season

I intiated this post November 2, 2011... edited it December 29, 2011 and didn't remember to review and release it until well....... now (January 16, 2012).  What can I say? Life happens and sometimes a lack of time for hobbies or play is an indication of great things to come and memories in the making. 

Football, school, work and (gasp) social invitiations significantly limited my opportunities.  The biggest factor being little league football (Pop Warner).  My Wife has had enough of football and she has never been one for hunting or fishing. She was not exactly thrilled by prospects of bowl games, big plays, road trips, last minute victories and..... a trip to the playoffs.  So let's take a moment to blog out a quick review of the 2011 deer season before we move on to the 2012 fishing season. 

• Hunt 1: The season 2011 deer season started September 8, 2011.  Our first hunt didn't take place until mid-October.  The temperature was above normal in the mid 70's.  The warm temperatures meant food was abundant and as a result, the deer were scattered about, well into pre-rut patterns and  pretty much nocturnal.  So the boys and I hunted from a pop-up ground blind.  A shoot through blind is great for this type of hunting because: it holds in odors; is very mobile; and most importantly it is really the only way to hunt with two restless boys.  We set up about 4 yards off a 20 yard cutover with lots of natural cover, acorns, tracks and other signs of heavy traffic.  I took some "doe pee" and began covering our scent trail in and the perimeter around the blind.  About 15 yards from the blind in a hardwood stand I look up and there are 3 does looking at me!  I stare at them, they stare at me.  After what seemed like an hour (a few seconds), I blink, they snort and wave goodbye.  End of the day.........

• Hunt 2: Started pretty much the same, but I did not go on a long walk to cover our scent this time!  I just cleaned up our scent around the blind (quickly and queitly) and hunkered down expecting the does to come back up the trail.  About an hour into the hunt, I looked out of the window and what did I see coming in? A coyote!!!! I got around to a stable position and tried to draw my bow when I realized that I had my release strapped on backwards. We had a really good wind and he was no more than 10 yards out when he heard me fumbling with the strap and/or the boys moving in for a better vantage point to watch.  Did he run?  No, he actually circled us about 10 yards out then drifted 15 yards and stopped to look back at us. I shuffled again to turn his way, drew back and he jumped behind a log and slowly walked away. We must have done a great job of playing the wind.  He went about 20 yards further and started digging at something under a tree. I think he heard us again, moved to try to wind us, didn't get a good bead on us, but was nervous enough to move on. They are smart! He just seemed to keep outside of my shooting lanes.  Of course about 5 minutes later in that general direction, I saw the does we were waiting on take off tails flashing. If the coyote couldn't wind us from 10-15 yards, I don't think the does got us from about 40-50 yards. I suspect they either ran up on the coyote digging or got his scent and ran off.

•  Hunt 3: The third hunt was an evening hunt from a treestand (~2 hours) which I actually tried to blog live.  The most exciting part about it was that it took place on Christmas Eve a few hours before church.  This time I hunted a nice parcel behind my home.  As as soon as I sat in the stand, I heard dogs barking in the background.  and shortly after I saw about 4 does high tailing it across a ridge.  I never saw what was chasing them, but I didn't see any dogs or hunters either.

•  Hunt 4:  The fourth was a last ditch effort to avert a 2011-2012 skunk!  The boys and I grabbed the groundblind and headed out to a known travel corridor for some does.  This hunt occurred on the very last day of the season, during the last two hours of shooting light. Our last chance.  We waited, desperately watching the tree line for any hint of deer or movement.  Suddenly, in the very last minute of light, there appeared a head bobbing.  It just appeared like a ghost. I could see a really nice mature doe, but she was quartering hard towards us and about 10 yards out, from the corner of the blind.  A really bad bow shot.  I needed two steps .  Just then, a light wind, I heard a short.  BUSTED! Suddenly, it seemed the woods came alive around us!! Deer were everywhere!  Their camo is perfect!  Never saw them.  My boys were adrenaline junkies at this point!  We didn't get one this year, but the final hunt was exciting enough to bring us back. 

The 2011 deer season is over............. 4 months until we hunt the screamer again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Time to practice!

September 10, 2011: Opening weekend for the North Carolina's Archery Deer Season!!!!!

Life has conspired to keep me from posting and enjoying the outdoors!  My fishing expeditions have been severely curtailed and lmited to a few (successful) short but sweet outings.  Nature walks have been limited to the backyard for the most part with some success. 

However, in one week from today, September 10, 2011, we will celebrate: kick-off for the 2011 NFL season and opening weekend for the North Carolina archery Deer Season opener!  As I prepare this post I have a follow up coming immediately that you hunters will like.  It details some of my gear and a really nice little something for the season.  While I wrap up those, I’d like to share a little about how and/or why I started bow hunting and what I’ve learned over the years.

I am probably an anomaly (in more ways than one) when it comes to bow hunting, but folks like me are quickly becoming the norm…. I’ll explain.  Yes, it is rare for someone to pick up hunting later in life, as I did.  There is where the caveat comes in.  However, whereas participation in hunting and fishing overall has been experiencing a steady decrease, participation in big game hunting (deer, elk, turkey, and bear) via archery and black powder has been steadily increasing.  ESPN did a great show on this about a year ago.  A great number of those new bow hunters are: over 30 when they take up the sport, suburban/urban residents and most of whom did not grow up in a house with hunters.  I had relatives who hunted deer but they used traditional “Southern” methods: shotguns and deer-dogs.  No tree stands, food plots, corn piles or bows.   As a youth, I had an interest in hunting (deer, rabbits), but without access to guns, rifles, dogs, land or mentors I was pretty content watching the Southern Sportsman on Sunday mornings.  Later, (2001-2007) I moved to New Jersey where (of all places) I met as true an outdoors man as ever existed.  He introduced me to the concept of bow hunting and tree stands.  I took the NJ Hunters’ Education and Safety course and examination in anticipation of going out with him, but never got around to buying a shotgun (too restrictive up there) or bow. 

One evening, early spring 2008, I was stuck in traffic and kind of thinking about all the things I wanted to try and/or experiences I wanted to share with my children. Would bow hunting deer become another one of those ‘things’ I wanted to try and never got around too?!?  I looked over to the side of the road and saw a sign that read “North Carolina Game Lands-Archery Zone”.   Was this a message?   If not now when?  A typical Gen Xer, I took the ‘DIY’ route, researched, and found a website that calculated my draw length, estimate the optimal draw weight, and help select the proper equipment.   My research left me well versed in the jargon, equipment and laws and however, it was not until I actually placed boots in the woods with bow in hand that I really learned the important lessons.

Lesson 1:  A compound bow is not a toy. 

I finally purchased a really sweet bow called the Whisper Creek Stealth LX in a ready to hunt set up.  Admittedly, the days of bench pressing 305 pounds for show are long over, but I am still capable of reps in the 250-260 range and rowing in the 150 pound range without shoulder pain!   However, pulling back on a 70 pound draw for the first time and trying to hold it while aiming left me breathless and after a dozen shots I could not help but think “what have I gotten myself in to?”  I missed from 30 yards and hit a tree.  To my astonishment, the arrow was so deep in a pine tree that the tip remains in it today.  Respect earned.  I practiced religiously from late March until August.  By September 2007, I was shooting 3” groups from 20 yards and 9” groups from 30 yards.  Just before the season started I robin hooded an arrow from 20 yards………….

I was ready!

Lesson 2: Hunting is challenging, exciting and dangerous.  A guided hunt with an expert is worth every dime in terms of safety and education.

Given my lack of experience, I felt the best decision would be to invest in a guided hunt to “learn the ropes” before going out on my own.  I booked a day hunt, locally, for the second weekend in December.  I could not wait!  I used a vacation day and went out on my own as a “birthday” gift to me the weekend before……  I selected an “Archery Zone”, on some public land that I was familiar with from fishing.  I found a nice game trail with fresh sign.  This was early December post-rut with temperatures in the low 50’s.  About 15-20 yards off the trail; I set up a stool beneath an overhang, camouflaged in, and readied to hunt from the ground.  Suddenly, I see this little piece of dead vine waving in the wind in front of me.   I don’t want any movement to draw attention to me or obstructions throwing off the shot.  So I pull out my knife and cut it.  Unfortunately, as I put the knife back in my sheath, I touched the string of my bow and it literally blew up in my lap….. 70 pound bow and a rage broad head!  After being stunned, I realized my hand was cut between my left index and middle finger and the first three fingers of my left hand numb!  A few stitches and I was out in time to pick up my daughter (my fingers were tingling for weeks after).  Pride shattered and shaken by how close I came to disaster I was obsessed with getting my bow fixed and ready for the guided hunt next weekend……..  The local shop replaced my string and the next weekend I was on a guided hunt in Caswell County.  Didn’t harvest a deer but learned a lifetime of information. 

Lesson 3: Seasons change.  The habits of people and animals change with the seasons.  Know the way and lay of the land now and as it will be. 

For the 2009-2010 season, I decided the best way to hunt public was via tree stand.  Considering the mix of tall straight pines available I selected a climbing tree stand.  I also found time to scout a few weeks before the season and identified some great places off the beaten trail and fairly absent of human activity.  I’d found some really good looking public land deer less than 5 minutes from my house.  ‘My’ season didn’t start until after Pop Warner football ended, but I was fine with that.  I hunted hard for two weeks and never saw a thing!  Thanksgiving weekend I was in my stand, sitting amidst oaks down-wind of a creek bed heading to the lake.  I sat 20 feet up watching the sun rise and enjoying the sounds of the woods awakening. Two hours after sun-rise: nothing.  Three hours and I see …. No, can’t be.  Yes it was so, there were 4 dogs running under my stand followed at a distance by two men with shotguns and a radio.  They never saw me, but I watched them on the 2-way working the dogs.  I decided it was a lost cause and climbed down.  Nice guys, offered a shotgun and chance to run with them.  I told them maybe next time, I’d been out for while and needed to head out.  Later in the season I took the advice of an older hunter I met, “if they running dogs, go late”.  I went out one more time about two hours before dark and sure enough, I saw two bucks cross the creek about 60 yards away at last light.   Season over.

Lesson 4: Be patient, learn your game. 

During the 2009-2010 season and immediately after, I took note of every sign and fleeting glimpse of deer (doe or buck); where signs were strongest opening day mid-season and after; where they ran when pushed, where they came from; weather.  I studied them hard and formulated a plan for 2010-2011.  The land I hunt is open to “either-sex” harvest by bow and /or muzzle loader (no dogs) from the second Saturday in October through the second weekend in October.  After that, only “antlered deer” may be harvested by any legal means until the last week of the season which is either sex any legal weapon.   Knowing that, I decided to avoid any where I found evidence of rutting bucks after the 2009-2010 season until November.   I wasn’t so concerned that I would run off the bucks.  This is public land these deer are accustomed to hikers, fishermen and campers.  My concern was alerting other hunters to hot spots and creating lots of traffic - putting the older bucks on alert!  

20 November 2010, I headed out to an area where I’d seen good signs and rubs in mid January 2010 about 2 weeks after the season closed.  I trusted my instincts, notes, scouting reports and set up on faith.  I climbed about 15-18 feet up into a low canopy, set my bow in the holder and checked the wind, perfect.  I let things settle down and had a phone in hand taking notes of the set up.  Suddenly, less than 10 minutes in the stand, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye.  Tines moving through the bushes….. I thought, “Finally, after 3 years, it’s on!!!!”  Buck fever set in: I could feel my heart, hear my breath and taste the adrenaline.  He looked up in the trees, sniffing not overly alert but checking things out.   Had he winded me?!?!!?  He’s looking dead at me, if I reach for my bow he’s gone!   I sit fighting the urge to blink. He walks behind a tree, head down and I take advantage with a fast smooth movement to full draw.  When he came to the other side about 25-30 yards out, I had my sights locked in ready to go.  When he dropped his head again, broadside, I let her fly and that Rage 3-blade found the spot.   The arrow was true and I got my first buck:

An 8 pointer with one break off that would have put him at 9.  I took this buck on public land in the midst of regular gun season. 

So that is my experience.  I hope you enjoyed and learned from my mistakes.  In the next couple of posts (soon!), I’ll discuss my new tree stand the set up/modifications, gear selection, strategy and goals for 2011.  A lot to cover in 10 days. 

The Screamer

I intended to launch this blog months ago, but I never got around to writing.  What I needed was something to write about.  I needed an inaugural post that captured the essence of what it means to be a “Suburban Sportsman” and to set the course I wanted this blog to follow.  I will follow up later with my definition of “The Suburban Sportsman” and why I feel it is so important to recognize him/her.  For now, enjoy the first post and perhaps you will glean what it means to be a Suburban Sportsman.

My boys and I have been talking about taking a wild turkey with a bow for months (actually a year) since watching an archery hunt on television. I purchased a cheap ground blind on clearance at the end of deer season, a set of mouth calls and a how to CD from the bargain bin and practiced infrequently on the drive from work.  The spring of 2010 was unseasonably hot and dry in central North Carolina and between work and family the boys and I made one trip that lasted about 30 minutes.  Our collective 2010 real world “turkey hunting” experience was a whopping……. 90 minutes! 

April 9, 2011: Opening day of the regular 2011 spring gobbler season and we were ready.  The night before we did our due diligence: Blind (check); chairs packed; bow- restrung, tuned, dialed in; broadheads sharpened; calls, snacks, juice boxes, licenses, headlamps (check)-packed!  I never got a chance to walk the woods or use a locator call, but I had in mind a stand of bottom-land mixed hardwoods that I crossed many times during deer season.  Though I had never seen a turkey there, it just looked “turkey-ish” and I knew the land well enough to be comfortable navigating in the dark.

The alarm sounded at 4:00 am and we were out the door by 4:45am.  By 5:00 am we were sitting in the drive thru waiting on a half dozen donuts, coffee and water when it hit me…….. Sunrise is a little under 2 hours away and we are not in the woods!  So we sped on and about 15 minutes before sunrise found ourselves in a cold, damp pop up blind in the midst of a 40-something degree mist/fog.  A lack of scouting and nice rain hours before tempered expectations, but it was me and my boys (6 and 10 years old) versus the world.  I yelped, clucked and yelped again and again.  Loud, soft, fast, slow – nothing.  After about an hour, l looked over to see if my partners had any ideas…….. They were curled up under hoods and jackets fast asleep at their posts.  Damp and cold, we packed it up and hiked out only to see some sort of off-road foot race being run within a few hundred yards of our blind. 

It’s never cold, damp, or slow on television.   The turkeys always come fast and aggressive.  Strutting, gobbling, fanning and scratching up dust ready to get those spurs into anything that moves.  In my mind, this long awaited adventure had to have been a huge disappointment for two young boys.  It was over and I couldn’t imagine either of them wanting to do this early morning hunting thing again. Driving home I accidently played the turkey calling CD and my oldest says, “Hey Dad, is there any reason we can’t go somewhere else later today? Maybe, we should and try some of those different calls they are doing”.   I said, “Yeah lets get some breakfast and warm up.”  Remember, I am as new to this as they are and all I read about were ‘morning hunts’.  So we went home, had some brunch, honey do list, a couple of haircuts for school, watched a hunt turkey hunt on Versus and surfed the web.……… Lo and behold there was a poll of local hunters which said 2-6pm was the next best time to hunt.  Moreover, according to the 2010 harvest statistics, one of the best places was only about 10 miles north.  At half past noon, we still had 2 hours to be somewhere and another good 3-4 hours of hunting. The car was loaded and we were headed out!  Once again we were going blind, but with the sun up I could easily mark a trail deep into the woods and pick out a good ambush site. 

We learned from the AM hunt!!!!!!!  We set up in a flat piece of mixed pine-hard woods on a ridge overlooking a small drop off into a sandy cove.  We took up positions in the corners of the blind, so as to not outline ourselves, each person taking a window.  As there were only three of us, one window was unmanned and we closed it to keep the light down.  The window we closed was covered by two or three large mature trees and as such offered less visibility beyond 5 yards or so. 

So we settled in, had a snack, drink, let the woods calm down then we started: cluck, cluck/peep-peep/ cluck…..cluck. I waited a few minutes then made a series of cackles and rustled some leaves. A few more clucks then a series of slow-mid tempo yelps.  Nothing.  A few more up-tempo, aggressive yelps and cackles and a couple of purrs.  Nothing.  I remembered someone saying over calling is the biggest mistake of beginners so I paused 15 minutes, had another drink and called a series loud yelps. Out of nowhere I heard loud yelps followed by what sounded like a scream off in the distance.  I yelped again and the same response, closer. This didn’t sound like television and it was angry.  About now, I am convinced that someone is making fun of us.  There was no way those were real turkeys!  So I stopped calling in hopes that this guy would have a laugh and pass on…. 10 minutes later this screaming thing roars LOUDLY behind our blind sending my youngest straight up in his chair and shocking the oldest to owl eyes.  It was coming from behind him! I admit, I was startled and confused… this sounded like someone had a speaker blasting behind us.  Literally, this yelping scream seemed to roar like a cannon!  After we get some composure, we looked around and saw nothing.  I am now seething, but we remain calm and silent. Inside I’m thinking, “What kind of jerk would do this!?!? I have my boys out trying to have a serious hunt and some yahoo is behind us having some fun!”  So I start opening the back window of the blind, slowly.  After all, this guy isn’t playing by the rules. He could have a shotgun in an archery zone blasting at sounds, movement and targets unseen……. So I crack open the back window and right in front of me is a gobbler tall enough to be eye to eye with me in the back window!!!!!!!!  Needless to say I was shocked.  He was too!  We were ‘reach out and touch’ distance away from each other eye to eye!   I don’t know who was more surprised!?!?!  For the record (unlike what my wife claims) No one ran!!!!!! If I had a shotgun he would have been marinated in jerk overnight and on the grill last Sunday!

We called a little more but decided to call it a day.  As we rode home my boys were now adrenalin junkies and trying to get me to stop at every pullover to try again!  We will!  We found The Screamer and for the next two months we’ll be on his trail!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued……………..