Deer Hunting:
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 2016 - 2017 |
 2017 - 2018 |
2018 - 2019 |
 2019 - 2020 |
 2020 - 2021 |
 2021 - 2022 |
 2022 - 2023 |
 2023 - 2024 |
2018-2019: My Fifth Deer Season!
* NEW CHANGE FOR GEORGIA *
Hunting deer over/near bait is now PERMITTED on Private Land in ALL Zones.
Public Land including Georgia WMAs and National Forests
still do NOT permit hunting any animals near bait.
THE VIEW IN SANDERSVILLE AS OF AUGUST 5, 2018:
My elusive 9-pointer from last year is the gray one entering the left side of the photo.
These boys were still in velvet on August 5;
later photos show most velvet gone by August 26.
It looks to be a good season coming up!
(Actually, my only deer was Opening Day in Georgia)
OPENING
DAY IN GEORGIA (standard firearms, statewide):
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Sandersville, Georgia
High 77ºF / Low (going in) 63ºF with a 50% rain chance (afternoon)
partly cloudy with @ 7 mph from the SW at daybreak
sunrise 7:39 a.m. EDT / sunset 6:52 p.m. EDT
Yep! I...
GOT ONE!
Georgia DNR confirmation# ??????????
harvested 9:44 a.m. EDT, October 20, 2018
This guy came out right after a spike at 9:44 a.m.
I aimed for this one at 9:45 and took the shot at 26 yards.
He ran through the sticky brush and collapsed another 30 yards away.
The day begins very early... It is dark!
I arrive at 5:30 and then Robert, Thomas, and Johnny arrive at 5:40.
Later on, Edgar, comes in (after daybreak...not sure why he's late).
D.B. no longer comes hunting, so Pop's son, Johnny, takes D.B.'s stand.
It did not rain as expected, though I brought my camo pancho.
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| 6:13
a.m. EDT - Saturday Me (no light), Robert, and Thomas all passing by the Pathway trailcam. |
6:20 a.m. EDT - Saturday I am spraying estrous doe urine gel onto the field. It makes white squiggly lines seen in daytime photos. |
6:23 a.m. EDT - Saturday Huge spider right in front of my stand! We
both are hunting prey.
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At 6:30 a.m., I am in my stand (semi) ready to hunt (though tired).
| The
sky is so clear, that the stars are very vivid. |
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| Not my photo /
graphic was ripped off from Flickr |
Constellation Orion (The Hunter!) can be seen at my upper left.
Activity at quarter-to-ten!!!
I just put on another layer to counter the chilly wind.
Then suddenly, a spike walks onto the field, followed by my 5-pointer.
The spike is jittery; he almosts bolts away a couple of times...
probably from the smell of my snake boots walking there earlier.
(Naturally, I spray my hunting boots the next week)
Both deer appear to be interested in the Big&J as well as the estrous jel.
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| This
is how I had my rifle scope trained. I took a shot at exactly 9:45 a.m. EDT |
This
is what my deer would have seen, if looking to my stand from the path. (Blurry... sorry!) |
Tracking the blood!
I started on the trail at 9:50 a.m.
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| At first, I
thought the deer vomited |
Zooming out, I determined his direction | I see a path and then begin to follow |
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| Upon entry into the woods | I was surprised on how much he bled | He zigged left, after the right tree |
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| Then zagged right, staying in woods | You can see his shape at the back left | There's my deer! It is 9:54 a.m. |
The entry wound on my buck was a forward gut shot with
the exit wound being further back on his left.
5-pointer buck
This Tweet became one of my most popular, ever:
|
The scope on my .30-06 appears to be a little out of alignment as
the bullet wound is left of what I intended.
Even shots on previous seasons attest to this.
Nonetheless, it did the job!
PACKING UP AND GETTING READY TO GO
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| I have my Glock 23 and Mossberg
20ga pistol grip. Necessary to fend off hogs while getting my truck. |
After the long walk to get my
truck, I roll up. I forgot to bring water in this morning; so thirsty! |
Now
it is easy to pack up. I feel miserable from the heat and little sleep. |
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| With the truck nearby, I begin
unloading my stand. Later, I realize I forgot my urine bottle. Oops |
Thomas drives up with Robert to
check on me. I am on the far left taking a few last photos. |
Still having to gather all the
trailcam pics. Lastly, time to put my buck in the truck. |
Thomas took his ATV to get the two does that Robert had shot,
while I got my truck.
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| My digital camera took this without my
hunter's orange. (What I was doing when Thomas drove up in his ATV.) The original photo looks better – is why its at the top. |
After Thomas sees me doing well with
things handled, he backs up (running over my mineral block!) and takes Robert's does (bouncing around) to front of the property. |
For the first time ever in the field in Georgia,
I registered my buck (Game Check) on an app on my SmartPhone.
Go Outdoors GA App I then left the property and proceeded
to get my buck processed.
I brought him to Palace Market Processing in Sandersville.
These guys are without attitude and will accommodate whatever need
They make great burgers!! (Angus beef fat mixed in.)
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| Courtesy removal of skullcap
and antlers. They neither charged me for the skullcap nor for cleaning my sled. |
Deer brain: A "cerebral" experience! |
Unfortunately, I had to cut the hunt short.
I ended the day early due to lack of sleep and severe reaction to poison ivy.
My eyes were swollen, itchy, and watery for the rest of the weekend.
No fun!
I believe this occurred after walking through vines, white getting my buck.
Driving home in the rain with this condition was difficult.
This necessitated a stop by Rite-Aid in Madison to get some Benadryl.
I found out later on from Robert that no one else got anything
afterwards that evening or that next day (Sunday.)
It rained Saturday after I left and was very windy on Sunday.
Robert and crew left after a half day, Sunday.
Later on... mid-week, just Robert and Thomas returned to Sandersville.
Robert told me that Thomas got a 9-pointer (NOT MINE!) Wednesday.
Thomas texted me this photo
Turns out... Each of our 9-pointer bucks' antlers were different.
His had 5 points on the left and it hung out near the creek.
Mine has 5 points on the right and goes between D.B.'s stand and mine.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
(half-day)
Sandersville, Georgia
High 64ºF / Low (going in) 51ºF with a 10% rain chance and mostly cloudy with
wind @ 6mph from the WSW at daybreak getting to 13mph from the west by noon
sunrise 7:45 a.m. EDT / sunset 6:44 p.m. EDT
No luck getting anything!
This time around, it was just Robert, Thomas, and me.
No one saw anything for the first half of the day.
Because the area had a frost the past week,
I can ditch the snake boots this time.
View from my stand from early morning to later:
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| 6:43 a.m. (with flash) |
7:15 a.m. |
7:23 a.m. |
7:37 a.m. |
7:47 a.m. (after daybreak) |
9:39 a.m. (clouds going) |
10:37 a.m. (prominent sun) |
Looking back at my stand and myself:
My second hunting foray proved to be much colder than last week!
The windy conditions forces one to bundle up.
Panoramic view from my stand
A CURIOUS FIND:
Buck crap-on-a-stick.
How often does one encounter something like this?
All was not lost for today, because I was able to pick up last week's meat!
I decided to do more ground meat
(sacrificing back straps) this time for its versatility.
Also, I will do more BBQ ribs and will additionally try a neck roast.
Both Robert and I plan NOT to go next weekend, but the weekend following.
Tim and I will be working on the permanent blind anyway, November 2 & 3.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Sandersville, Georgia
High 58ºF / Low (going in) 44ºF with a 0% rain chance and
partly cloudy early morning/mostly sunny late morning and afternoon with
wind @ 8mph from the NW at daybreak
and diminishing to 3mph from the North by sunset
sunrise 6:57 a.m. EST / sunset 5:32 p.m. EST
Peak of the Rut!
No luck getting anything!
Got here a little later (already light)...
The first thing I do is get doe estrous pee out on the field:
In all, it was a cold windy day.
There was no deer for me in the morning, then we all went to lunch.
Now full of Chinese food, I rush back on property to resume my hunt:
The Moon Guide said the best time for
bucks to come out was 2:33 p.m.,
so I get back in right after 2 o'clock.
I did hear some heavy footsteps and rustling
in the woods to my left;
this was sometime after 4 p.m., then I hear nothing else.
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| 2:52 p.m. EST |
5:46 p.m. EST |
the beginning of the afternoon hunt was the same as the end:
No deer spotted!
I will try Alabama next.
There is still that 8-pointer out at that location!
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| 10:03 a.m. CDT Sunday, September 16, 2018 |
12:02 a.m. CDT Thursday, October 4, 2018 (Notice him scraping the ground at the end!) |
6:14 a.m. CDT Wednesday, October 17, 2018 |
I named this buck Elliot, and I want to get him.
He usually appears in the morning.
OPENING DAY IN ALABAMA(stalk hunting, firearms, statewide):
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Roanoke, Alabama
High 63ºF / Low (going in) 35ºF with and mostly sunny with
wind @ 2mph from the NW -- mostly cloudy evening with diminishing wind to calm
sunrise 6:14 a.m. CST / sunset 4:38 p.m. CST
No luck getting anything!
It was cold this morning, but with little wind,
so I didn't have to layer clothing as much.
This is Tim's first outing for this season.
He took the permanent blind and I took the small stand.
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| This is my first
hunt in this stand, though its first installation and
appearance was March 2017. Even though it is a
"1-and-a-half-man" stand, it is still crowded; so much
so, that I way too easily dropped my cap and a glove
on the ground! That afternoon, I installed hanging hooks above and behind me in the trunk of the tree. |
I was ready to
hunt just a few minutes after daybreak (yeah... a bit
late). Ultimately, I paid the price for the
whole day, as my primary opportunity was just minutes
later (about 6:35 a.m.). I heard an incredibly loud
THUD. This
was a buck stomping its feet. It sounded like a LARGE horse walking. Then there were more thuds and a snort. Nothing else came by that morning. |
I truly believe
that it was Elliot making that show down against
me. Certain events delayed me from being in the
stand earlier; nonetheless, everything here is a
learning process. Elliot still has a date with
destiny. In this video (above), Elliot was seen at the 2-man stand in the southern pine grove. I may use this stand as well on my next hunt. |
Later on at 9:30, Tim texts me, saying that he saw a small doe.
It was running up the hill in the middle clearing of the pine grove
and then along the ridge of the northwestern side of the grove.
He could not get an ethical shot.
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| The permanent blind
where Tim hunted. Not completely finished; but it has windows! |
Tim's doe ran up the middle clearing seen at the tree line and back to the left to the target range. | Young doe hanging
out at the bottom of meadow, below the permanent blind. |
The afternoon hunt was fruitless as well.
As soon I got in my stand, I was sweating profusely.
Immediately, I hear rustling of leaves and a snort
right behind my stand to my right back in the woods.
Probably Elliot. Nothing seen or heard next 2 hours.
The moon rises behind me as I leave my stand.
– CANCELLED –
Black Friday and Saturday, November 23 and 24, 2018
100% rain event in Dial Community in Fannin County, North Georgia
This is the peak of the Rut, which is unfortunate!
After speaking with George the day before Thanksgiving,
we decided to postpone until December 8 due to rain.
Black Friday, November 23, and
Saturday (morning only), November 24, 2018
Roanoke, Alabama
| Friday Weather Conditions |
Saturday Weather Conditions |
| High 50ºF / Low
(going in) 38ºF with a 20% rain chance and cloudy with wind @ 10mph from the East sunrise 6:19 a.m. CST / sunset 4:35 p.m. CST |
High 64ºF /
Low (going in) 46ºF
with a 60% rain chance at first and then 20% rain and cloudy with wind @ 4mph from the West sunrise 6:20 a.m. CST / sunset 4:35 p.m. CST |
No luck getting anything!
Just me... Tim had a family reunion in Jacksonville, Florida.
On Friday, I used the two-man stand
between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m.
I had to leave early because I was cold and hungry.
After eating a rib-eye steak and eggs at the local Huddle House,
I went to the one-and-a-half man stand
and hunted there between 12:45 and 4:45 p.m.
Here is a view of my stand, ready to hunt:
Also, a ground-level view of what I'll be watching.
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| Listen to the wind... | It's good that I brought extra layers! | simply COLD... |
It was SO COLD with all of the wind!
I herein made the decision to buy a better coat.
I had originally planned to go first to the permanent blind
because the weather had predicted rain early Saturday.
However, the rain mostly finished early.
I awoke at midnight to loud rain.
I spent the first two hours starting at 6 a.m.
in the two-man stand.
...Then I moved to the permanent blind until 10:30 a.m.
THIS WAS MY FIRST HUNT IN THE BLIND THIS SEASON.
Nothing showed. EVER.
Sunday (evening), December 2, 2018
Roanoke, Alabama
High 73ºF (starting hunt) with 15% rain chance and sunny
with wind from the WSW @ 7mph
sunset 4:32 p.m. CST
No luck getting anything!
This time, I took my daughter, Olivia, with me.
Olivia couldn't wait for this, all week!
She wore her orange vest, even when she did not need it.
It was very comfortable weather when we started hunting.
Neither one of us needed a jacket.
We both got to try out the new chairs I picked up.
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A nice view (with 3 shooting lanes) from the blind.
We didn't get a deer, but we spent some quality time!
– CANCELLED –
Friday evening and Saturday, December 7 and 8, 2018
100% rain event in Dial Community in Fannin County, North Georgia
rainfall was expected be near one-half an inch
I have been watching these weather predictions for 2 weeks
– CANCELLED –
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Moderately heavy wind in Sandersville, Georgia
I was going to do Sunday instead of Saturday
because of the heavy rain and wind,
but the wind was later predicted to get up to 15mph on Sunday as well.
At least I can get some rest and catch up on chores at home.
Prediction was also:
High 53ºF / Low (going in) 43ºF and cloudy with a 10% rain chance
sunrise 7:35 a.m. EST / sunset 5:29 p.m. EST
Wednesday and Thursday,
December 19 & 20, 2018
Roanoke, Alabama
| Wednesday Weather Conditions | Thursday Weather Conditions |
| High 61ºF / Low
(going in) 40ºF with a 10% rain chance and mostly sunny with wind @ 4mph from the ESE with clouds and RAIN moving in early evening sunrise 6:39 a.m. CST / sunset 4:37 p.m. CST |
High 53ºF /
Low (going in) 48ºF with
a 90% rain chance and cloudy with wind @ 6mph from the East – total rainfall is expected to be 0.75 inches – sunrise 6:40 a.m. CST / sunset 4:37 p.m. CST |
No luck getting anything!
Late breakfast at Huddle House
after the first morning hunt
(getting warm & getting fed)
The first day found me with two near misses:
[1] A doe came out at 7 a.m. from directly behind my stand,
then high-tailed it into the woods to my far-left.
There was no way to get my gun trained on her in time!
The doe ran from behind my stand (left of photo), onto and up pathway,
and through the woods left of where point of bright path is (right of photo)
I hunted from about 6 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. I saw that doe at 7 a.m.
and immediately heard another one right behind me, but it went a different way.
[2] A gray coyote came down the turkey trail at 4:55 p.m.,
urinated, and then walked the NW passage towards the barn.
Yeah... the camera says 16:51...
It was 2 minutes slow.
I had my crosshairs on it, but after pulling the trigger, the
gun didn't fire! The dry fire "snap" didn't even phase the coyote.
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| Deer scrape on
turkey trail 4:53 p.m. CST |
The scrape is
left of lone little pine tree (itself right of center of photo) |
I hunted that late afternoon from about 4 p.m. onward.>
When I saw that coyote, I was almost about to pack it up for the evening.
Pulling the trigger resulted in a metallic SNAP (not the usual blast).
Due to incoming rain, it looks as though
I may MAKE GOOD use
of the permanent blind on Thursday...
...and it is just as well! The trailcams
show MUCH activity near the pine grove.
|
 BUCKBERRIES! |
Well the rain was so heavy the second morning,
and I was so tired, that I slept in a bit.
The second day found both Tim and I with no shots:
From the front windows, Tim and I could only see about 60%
of the center of the above 11:53 a.m. panoramic view.
That would comprise the entire pine grove.
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| got my
breakfast; heading to blind |
unpacking my stuff within blind | front window view (windows closed) |
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| windows open; rifle ready | Here comes Tim! | Tim is unpacking |
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| First time we BOTH hunt in the blind! | getting colder; put coat back on | later, see one deer, but no valid shots |
I made it to the blind by about 10:20 a.m.
and Tim swung by just after 11:00.
We both saw one doe on the upper field at 1:25 p.m.;
it was running back towards the right back into the woods.
Later on... the fog starts to roll in at 4:00 p.m.
Here is a panoramic view at 4:12 p.m. from behind the blind.
The Brooks property lies on the hill and center of the photo.
View out of front windows during fog at 4:33 p.m.
The fog got thick as soup and then hunting towards
the end of legal time actually became a significant challenge.
– CANCELLED –
Sunday and Monday, December 30 and 31, 2018
50% rain event in Dial Community in Fannin County, North Georgia
With no covered tree stand or blind, the rainfall would have been annoying.
I was going to take Olivia hunting up in ridges, but we can go later.
George told me that this was the first time
that the cabin was free around New Year.
Normally, on of his sons stays there at that time.
Prediction was also:
High 46ºF Sunday / Low (going in) 36ºF Monday
and cloudy with a 50% rain chance with low wind (3-4mph)
Sunday sunset 5:34 p.m. EST / Monday sunrise 7:44 a.m. EST
George may turkey hunt here in the spring.
Deer hunting for me will have to wait until November 2019.
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Sandersville, Georgia
High 70ºF (68ºF predicted) / Low (going in) 37ºF with a 10% rain chance and
sunny with wind @ 3mph from the WSW
sunrise 7:34 a.m. EST / sunset 5:39 p.m. EST
This was the first time back since November 10.
No luck getting anything!
Robert let me use the Honey Hole on account
he had to stay home due to sickness.
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| Honey Hole in the
morning – 7:47 a.m. EST After getting stuck in the mud |
Honey Hole in the
afternoon – 3:32 p.m. EST After lunch time |
When I arrived that morning, I got
Stuck in the Mud!
This delayed me for about half an hour.
Photos taken in afternoon; much more water was present.
I was concerned on whether I could either hunt or even leave.
I took a risk leaving the property and coming back.
Some places were very difficult to get through.
Early Evening (5:16 p.m.)
Panoramic View from the Honey Hole
I could not definitely determine whether I heard any deer;
nonetheless, I saw none.
THIS IS THE END OF DEER SEASON FOR ME IN GEORGIA.
Monday and Tuesday,
January 14 and 15, 2019
Roanoke, Alabama
| Monday Weather Conditions | Tuesday Weather Conditions |
| High 48ºF /
Low (going in) 38ºF with a 10% rain chance and mostly cloudy with wind @ 8mph from the NNW sunrise 6:45 a.m. CST / sunset 4:56 p.m. CST originally, high was predicted as 50ºF |
High 43ºF
/ Low (going in) 36ºF with a 10% rain chance and mostly sunny with wind @ 5mph from the NNW sunrise 6:44 a.m. CST / sunset 4:57 p.m. CST originally, high was predicted as 53ºF (became much colder with a low of 31ºF!) |
This was going to be January 10 and 11
but it was changed due to work scheduling issues.
Tim could not make this event due to a family medical emergency.
No luck getting anything!
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On Monday, the deer won't even come out until just as I leave the blind:
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| Blue LED lantern in
the permanent blind; I use this to attempt not drawing much attention |
first deer just
freezes at the Central Alley, 5:25 pm Attention was drawn, anyway |
Going to breakfast on Tuesday morning
Tuesday was as unproductive as Monday,
but I did get good reconnaisance on a 11-point buck:
(click image below to better count the points)
This guy first showed December 26 and then 90 minutes
after I departed my blind on Monday evening.
My eleven pointer on video...
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| 8:43 p.m. CST, Friday, January 4, 2019 |
6:55 p.m. CST, Monday, January 14, 2019 | 2:20 a.m. CST, Tuesday, January 15, 2019 |
| Mineral Lick...
first good video |
Mineral Lick...close-up appearance | Central Alley...chasing doe [no sound] |
For Tuesday evening,
I used a new misting device:
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Using Hunter's Kloak misting: Was empty in 3 hours using 9-second bursts. |
  I used this for pre-rut. |
I picked this up from Walmart after breakfast!
Yes... it contains estrous doe urine. I placed this in the Central Alley.
I got more scent cartridges for the misting device that evening and
plan to use this on my next couple of trips.
When the bucks finally do come out in the daytime,
maybe I won't be just "pissing in the wind."
At about 3:38 p.m., the sun lights up the woods.
The window in the left photo shows heavy afternoon sun.
This window will get a Roman shade, eventually.
The photo at the right shows my main viewpoint.
I am taking the next weekend off due to heavy rain and cold.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Roanoke, Alabama
High 53ºF / Low (going in) 24ºF with a 0% rain chance
and mostly cloudy with wind @ 5 mph from the WNW
sunrise 6:40 a.m. CST / sunset 5:07 p.m. CST
No luck getting anything!
Today, I broke out my Grendel rifle
for the first time deer hunting.
Friday and Saturday,
February 1 and 2, 2019
Roanoke, Alabama
| Friday Weather Conditions | Saturday Weather Conditions |
| High 61ºF / Low
(going in) 29ºF with a 0% rain chance and partly cloudy with wind @ 4mph from the SE sunrise 6:36 a.m. CST / sunset 5:13 p.m. CST |
High 60ºF /
Low (going in) 39ºF
with a 10% rain chance and cloudy with wind @ 4mph from the East sunrise 6:36 a.m. CST / sunset 5:14 p.m. CST |
No luck getting anything!
This weekend had me with a VERY unfortunate miss.
I no longer hunted with my Browning .30-06 rifle for the season remainder.
Information and photos were later updated July 2020.
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| I was walking across
the property on February 10th to check the trail cameras and came across this |
Would have been my
largest point measurement to date... Atypical, nonetheless. |
Bullet hole from the
shot I thought I missed... It's obvious that he was eating corn (from my feeder?) |
UPDATE: Turns out I hit the 6-point deer. There was no blood trail.
The buck exhibited no "mule kick" (as is common) and I saw no entry wound.
Yet, he ran up the back left hill in the woods and later came down to expire.
I found him a week later on the back lower field just east of Chestnut Hill.
The final event of the season:
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
February 8, 9, and 10, 2019
Roanoke, Alabama
| Friday Weather Conditions | Saturday Weather Conditions |
| High 57ºF / Low
(going in) 52ºF with a 10% rain chance and mostly sunny with wind @ 15mph from the NNW sunrise 6:31 a.m. CST / sunset 5:20 p.m. CST |
High 55ºF /
Low (going in) 37ºF
with a 10% rain chance and partly cloudy with wind @ 7mph from the ENE sunrise 6:30 a.m. CST / sunset 5:21 p.m. CST |
| Sunday Weather Conditions |
| High 47ºF /
Low (going in) 40ºF with
a 20% rain chance and cloudy with wind @ 8mph from the East sunrise 6:29 a.m. CST / sunset 5:22 p.m. CST |
No luck getting anything!
Friday and Saturday were largely unproductive.
After Saturday mornings' hunt, I did a late breakfast and came back early afternoon.
This time, I focused on getting a new window treatment installed:
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Saturday evening beauty
The only deer I saw up close happened on Sunday,
they were a doe and a buck, which were being chased by a small black dog.
This same dog (seen from trail cams) apparently leads two other dogs around the area.
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| 7:10 a.m. CST, Tuesday, February 10, 2019 |
| Central Alley...stupid dog chasing deer [no sound] |
After this, and this and finding my lost deer carcass, that just ended it for me.
So... I decided to do something a little more productive.
ALREADY... preparation is under way for Season #6.
I called it after above-mentioned disappointments and just put out corn.
My strategy now is to keep ALL deer coming to not only the property,
but to this general area (below the permanent blind).
THIS IS THE END OF DEER SEASON #5 FOR ME.
ALABAMA and GEORGIA specifics
