Off to a Great Start
October 4, 2011 by Lindsay Schmeltz
Filed under Deer Hunting, Lindsay Schmeltz, Outdoors
Here it is, October 3rd. We are three days in to what looks to be a very promising season. I spent the afternoon and evening of opening day in my stand. I cannot begin to express how much better I feel, physically and mentally. I also cannot begin to tell you how excited I was about the outcome of my first day out this year. I have a long running tradition of unsuccessful bow hunts. Normally, I just don’t see deer, and when I do, they are off in the distance, well out of range. This year started off so much better. I couldn’t have asked for better weather, cool and breezy, just beautiful. I had probably only been in my stand for an hour when the deer started coming in. The first to present themselves, a doe and fawn, out of range, but they slowly walked past about 40 yards from my stand. Next I had a small four point buck come in and linger for over thirty minutes, practically begging for an arrow, but this early in the game, I’m going to be picky about my buck tag. I had a spike walk 20-30 yards past my stand on the other side of the creek at least four times. Then saw what looked to be a decent eight point buck skirting along the edge of the cornfield about 35 yards from my stand. Once again, it’s too early in season to use a buck tag when I know what bucks run around the area. Saw a few more does and fawns slightly out of range with 30 minutes or so before it was too dark to see. I still had to get the memory card out of the trail camera, so I decided to pack up and head out so I could see what I was doing. I sent down my backpack and bow, unhooked myself from the tree, turned around, and there was a doe and fawn walking directly at me. I decided to sit and wait it out. I watched them for a few minutes before the doe came in and sniffed my backpack and finally walked off. Talk about close encounters! I could have had a shot at either one within ten yards, but it was still a great opportunity. Climbed down the tree, got the memory card, and headed back to my car. I spooked a couple does and fawns on my way through the bean field on my way out, but they went back into the woods where they came out through the waterway. I can’t wait to get back out in the stand this week.
Closer to Paradise
September 20, 2011 by Lindsay Schmeltz
Filed under Deer Hunting, Lindsay Schmeltz
It’s September 19th. It’s been raining for two days and there looks to be no end it sight. It’s gloomy and cool. It just feels like deer season. I don’t mind, because today, I am one day closer to paradise. I’ve been shooting every day and I’m feeling very confident. A great way to feel 11 days before opening day. I have all of my early season gear separated and ready to wash. Bow is ready. The only thing that seems to be missing is patience. I have never felt so ready this early before, and I’m not sure what to do with the extra time.
We haven’t checked trail cams for a while now, so I’m not sure what’s going on near my stand. It makes me nervous and makes me wonder if the bucks on cam a month ago are still hanging around now. Will they still be there in two weeks? The beans and corn are brown or starting to turn, and I’m afraid they will be out before season. Another reason I’m a bit hopeful that this rain continues for a while. Sorry farmers!
I feel like a child waiting for Christmas. I want to be out there. I want to be up in my stand listening to birds and squirrels. I want to smell the crisp autumn air. I want to take in all that deer season is to me. It’s mystical and magical. It’s beautiful and peaceful. It feels like the last tract of land that hasn’t been touched by civilization, a place to truly get away. Sitting in my stand is the only time I can truly feel at ease. No worries and no stress, the world can’t bring me down. I’m elated. It’s the reward for all of the hard work that has been done throughout the year.
In a little over 11 days, if you need to find me, just look for the white oak tree in paradise.
The Stands are Finally Up!
September 6, 2011 by Lindsay Schmeltz
Filed under Bow Hunting, Deer Hunting, General, Lindsay Schmeltz, Outdoors
Today was a great day to have my first post! It’s been a busy day at one of the hunting properties. Today was a little bittersweet, it was the last time I stepped foot on the property I will be hunting opening day of archery season this year which is always a little sad, but it also means that I have less than one month before archery season opens.
This morning we took the daughters to my mother-in-laws house for the day and set out to hang the last tree stand. The stand was the third lock-on that we put up on one of two properties that will be hunted this year. They both lack trees suitable for climbers in most areas and since they were logged last year, there were few trees with good coverage. However, it’s a grown up mess of briars and tree tops with deer trails as far as the eye can see.
The trip back to the decided spot is about a half-mile from the road, and with no four wheeler, it’s a tough walk. I carried the backpack with all of the tools, straps, and steps and my husband carried the stand. We kicked up a nice mature buck on the way in, but managed to get in mid-day when most of the deer are on the far southeast corner of the property. It took a good two hours before we finally got enough limbs cleared to even put up the stand. Then another forty-five minutes to get the screw in steps in good position for me to climb. It is an ugly climb up about 17 feet from the ground with two limbs that have to be maneuvered around. There are many trails that intersect about 20 yards from the tree my stand sits in, and a it’s right in front of the deepest spot in the creek that still has a small pool in the bend that the deer are frequenting. We cleared out some shooting lanes and I’m left with almost 300 degrees of shooting area out to 20 yards with a few clearings out to 30 yards. The picture above is taken from the camera that was situated in the tree that is directly north of the tree my stand is in, so you get an idea of what I will be looking at just ten or so feet higher. Disregard the buck, that’s Six-Shooter, the one hit wonder that gets spotted once or twice on the cams each year and then he’s gone. I won’t see him again this year. He’s not the one I’m looking for either. The reason I decided to brave the half-mile hike daily was a nice buck that we have coined “Ghost”. He’s a 165″+ ten point with stickers at the bases and sky high tines. His sheds scored around 168″ last year, but he looks to have lost some height on his right side this year. He’s 5 1/2-6 1/2 this year and a beauty. There are two nine points with crab claws that I have my eye on as well. We typically name all of the bucks that show up on cam just to keep them sraight, because in the last three years we have over 40 different bucks on cam and it gets confusing going by number of points. Unfortunately, this year we’ve only had one doe on camera and I’m afraid the bucks will be moving out come late October, so I need to get in here early if I’m going.
