Second Doe Harvest 2011

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go hunting with Beth, my brother John was out of town so she volunteered to take me even though she is not a hunter. So we put on our camouflage and headed to my suburban hunting area.

We arrived in plenty of time and set up my Elusion Mobi-Blind and adapted crossbow brace. The last time I hunted this particular property, eight deer skirted me on my left side. I moved our location about 60 yards in what I thought would be a perfect ambush.

Around 6 PM three doe came down the hill directly parallel to my left shoulder. If they came to my right they would walk right in front of me. Unfortunately they moved to the left, walking behind me. I thought here we go again, but it was still early.

We stayed vigilant, there was plenty of daylight left and I knew we were in a very good location. About 15 minutes later I spotted two doe feeding on acorns above me and a shooter buck about 70 yards to my right. We had three sets of eyes watching and I whispered we have to be careful, don't move.

It took another half hour for the two doe to feed down the hill. The buck was making a scrape, under a licking branch and never did come into range. The two doe actually passed 12 yards from us.

It was the longest half hour I have ever spent especially since I had a bug in my nose! I let the doe move away from me and took a 20 yard quartering away shot. She literally drop in her tracks.

How do I know it was exactly 20 yards? At the start of the hunt I asked Beth to step off 20 yards and arrange some dead grass in a pile. Can you believe this doe died on top of the dead grass?

Todays Observer Reporter

Letter to the Editor: Bill confounds longtime hunter

This article has been read 65 times

As a concerned citizen, I am writing to voice my opposition to House Bill 1854. This bill was introduced by Rep. Godshall on Sept. 19. This legislation limits the harvesting of white-tailed deer to one deer per hunter each year, and makes absolutely no sense as far as a game-management strategy.As a lifelong hunter, I am very concerned with all the wildlife in Pennsylvania and feel this legislation is counterproductive to proper white-tailed deer management.

Accessible Hunter

How We Roll

Thank you Dale Lowe for making this cool drawing !  I think this is fantastic and a great addition to the blog!  I feel like this is the week to tag one !

Headlamp or Flashlight ?

Daylight savings time will be starting soon, which means it will be getting dark a lot sooner.  You should be thinking about what type of light you will need on your way out of your hunting spot.

The days of using a cheap walmart flashlight are over at least for me.  I prefer using this hands free head lamp .  Flashlights can cost a great deal these days, but the quality has improved a lot.  But the cost of this headlamp is nothing compared to this $39,000  backpack !




What light do you use?  If your buying that backpack,, your  on the wrong blog...

2012 Pa Game Commission Calendar

You can order your 2012 Calendar here for just $8.95, I think they make great gifts !

This 13 x 10 ½ inch calendar features 12 striking wildlife photographs and includes tentative hunting and trapping seasons, major holidays, wildlife tidbits and plenty of room for writing in appointments and other notes. It also provides a brief overview of the Game Commission and contact information for the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters and six region offices.

That's Why They Call It Hunting

Last night I was hunting a suburban area that I know really well from last year. Being part of a deer management unit is a real privilege and makes it very easy for me to gain access to small hunting tracts close to my house, that are wheelchair accessible.

I arrived in plenty of time with my brother John and quickly set up my Elusion Mobi-Blind and put on my headnet. It was a beautiful October evening and a great way to spend my birthday. I was excited about the possibility of taking a mature doe.

The deer usually move about 6:45 PM along the wood line. The last time I hunted here I was a little out of position, so I decided to move about 60 yards down and to the right. Creating what I thought to be the perfect ambush.

Well at 6:45 PM the deer did arrive, but this time to my left and above me, trying to cross behind me. In all of my hunting experience on this particular tract of land the deer have never approached like this.

I sat there and watched eight deer approach and there was nothing I could do to get a shot. I guess the deer did not read my game plan.

That's why they call it hunting, for sure. It was still a great birthday and I had a fantastic evening watching deer with a crossbow cocked and ready.

The Right Gear

It always surprises me when I'm driving down the highway, towing my action trackchair and look over to see people taking pictures.   Or like the other day when I stopped at the gas station and had two people come over to say what a "bad ass chair" I had.

I learned a long time ago it really does pay to have the right gear.  There's nothing worse than buying something that does not work or causes problems every time it's used. 

After all these years being outdoors, I finally feel like I know what I'm doing , what I need to be successful and what does or does not work .

If you were suggesting one piece of equipment to a novice bow hunter, what would it be?

I would suggest a laser rangefinder .  Take the guesswork out of yardage estimation and you will improve your shot accuracy I guarantee it.

House Bill 1854 Response

I received a text message reply from Sen. Tim Solobay regarding House Bill 1854.  He agrees with me and will not be supportive of House Bill 1854 limiting Pennsylvania sportsman to one deer per season.

I cannot understand why any lawmaker would support a bill such as this.  It's counterproductive to proper Whitetail deer management.  Hopefully the observer reporter publishes my letter to the editor this week as well.  Have you received any type of reply from contacting your representatives? 

Grizzly Gary Radio Show and Elusion Camouflage

Tomorrow at 8 AM, I will be a guest on the Grizzly Gary Radio Show , please tune in and check out what's going on with accessible hunting this year.

Elusion camouflage will be offering a prize pack to a random winner if you leave a comment on my blog after the show. Just leave a comment and your e-mail address so that I can contact you, if you are a winner. Good luck everyone!

First Day of Buck Season

Today started at 3 AM and like many opening days before, I was awake long before the alarm clock went off. The first day of buck season holds many possibilities, I view it like Christmas morning.

Unfortunately it was really cold today and rained most of the hunt. Today I was hunting once again with Whitetail Management Associates. Here is a great group of guys who gave up their opening day to help me out again this year. Not one of them complained about the rain and everyone did everything they could to get a buck to walk past my position.

After the hunt I transfered out of my Action Trackchair

I did manage to see several deer and by late afternoon even took a shot at a mature Doe. Unfortunately I did not have quite the aim and missed my target. 

I would much rather miss cleanly than wound any animal. I still had an incredible adventure in the Pennsylvania Whitetail Woods. As the saying goes, a bad day hunting is still better than any other day. It's a long season, time to unpack my gear, and get everything dried out. Hopefully your aim was better than mine today!