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2019-2020: My Sixth Deer Season!
My most productive hunting season to this point
Click on the hunting event below to jump
to the corresponding place on this page:
Hunting deer in Georgia 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.
NEW this season:
Hunting deer in Alabama over/near bait requires an addition to the hunting license.
These guys were my previous targets:
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| Roanoke, Alabama | Sandersville,
Georgia |
OPENING DAY IN GEORGIA (standard firearms, statewide):
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Sandersville, Georgia
High 64ºF / Low (going in) 55ºF with a 100% rain (1 to 2 inches) chance
cloudy with wind @ 14 mph from the ENE (occasional gust to 40 mph)
sunrise 7:38 a.m. EDT / sunset 6:53 p.m. EDT
CANCELLED due to oncoming HEAVY rain and wind!
This forecast changed as of Wednesday (October 16) evening
as the storm was beginning to form in the Gulf of Mexico.
Originally, moisture was bringing rain on Sunday.
development of
Tropical Storm Nestor
My hunting trip is postponed until the next day...
Also got word on Friday that Robert and Thomas will go on Sunday as well.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Sandersville, Georgia
High 78ºF / Low (going in) 55ºF with a 30% rain chance
and wind @ 7 mph from the West
It actually misted in the morning and was mostly cloudy;
the afternoon was mostly sunny.
sunrise 7:39 a.m. EDT sunset 6:52 p.m. EDT
No luck getting anything!
Robert, Thomas, and I were hunting in Sandersville this Sunday.
Thomas brought his noisy trailer for his UTV and hunted near the cemetery.
Robert was in his Honey Hole and shot two does, the first of which we couldn't find.
I was in my own stand in the morning and Edgar's stand in the evening.
Saw nothing in the morning except squirrels and birds.
The first shot rang out at 8:50 a.m., but unfortunately, Robert's doe got away.
One bird even lighted on the end of my rifle (his friend is pictured above).
Notice how the branches have grown thicker on the oak in front of me.
All three of us lunched at the Country Buffet in downtown Sandersville.
Robert advised me to hunt Edgar's old stand in the evening.
Though it was somewhat decrepit with the Mossy Oak cover deteriorating,
it was the furthest away from the newly clear-cut property next door.
Also hog droppings and other signs were seen on the opening pathway.
We promptly through corn and also Deer Cane along the path.
Behind and Front panoramic (leftward) view from Edgar's stand:
WEST to EAST
That evening, I heard grunting in the woods and I could smell the hogs.
I was looking behind and in front of the stand (always heard from left).
I had to keep sweeping my Grendel AR-15 rifle to watch for deer and hogs.
I was so sure that one would appear out of the trees before sunset.
Then another rifle shot rang out approximately 7:00 p.m.
Robert radioed that he found a doe's stomach, but not the doe herself.
Naturally, I wanted to stay in Edgar's stand to finish my hunt.
That was not to happen.
It was then I realized how noisy Thomas' trailer in movement sounds.
I kept wondering why someone was setting off firecrackers!!!
Then Thomas drove by my path. No deer or hog would dare come out then!
Robert's flashlight had gone dead, so Thomas raced over to help him.
Robert took the shot directly behind his stand, upon where the stomach lay.
The young doe fell about 20 yards to the north.
| |
| 5:46 a.m. EDT - Tuesday, October 8,
2019 |
I was able to determine that the bucks I want are nocturnal.
It looks as though, I may have to wait for the rut, which is in two weeks.
(Scroll to bottom of this web page to see rut maps for Alabama and Georgia)
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Sandersville, Georgia
- CANCELLED -
due to rain (and lack of money!)
Friday, November 1, 2019
Sandersville, Georgia
High 62ºF / Low (going in) 35ºF with NO rain chance
sunny with wind @ 5 mph from the NNE
sunrise 7:49 a.m. EDT / sunset 6:39 p.m. EDT
It was originally going to be in the mid 40's Fahrenheit for the morning.
For today, it was Thomas, Eric, and I who were hunting.
Yep! I...
GOT ONE!
Georgia DNR confirmation# 110119A491
harvested 9:13 a.m. EDT, November 1, 2019
This guy just waltzed right onto the scene at 9:13 this morning,
and I popped him!
I even had him on camera just three days prior:
The morning hunt started in the dark. |
 |
7:09 a.m. EDT Friday, November 1, 2019 |
Upon arriving at Edgar's stand, I took the liberty of
spraying Tink's estrous spray near and behind the mineral lick.
After two hours of waiting and then getting cold,
patience finally paid off.
I could hear footfalls in the woods to my left.
Then this guy showed up and crossed the path in front.
I methodically trained my scope on him and took the shot.
PROCESS OF COLLECTING MY DEER
AND GETTING HIM TO THE PROCESSOR:
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| 9:13 a.m. EST |
9:30 a.m. EST |
9:31 a.m. EST | 10:38 a.m. EST |
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| 10:41 a.m. EST |
10:44 a.m. EST | 10:44 a.m. EST |
11:01 a.m. EST |
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 |
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| 11:02 a.m. EST |
11:03 a.m. EST |
12:51 p.m. EST |
5:01 p.m. EST |
I did get my meat from this buck and the subsequent doe
on Sunday, November 17, 2019.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Sandersville, Georgia
High 65ºF / Low (going in) 36ºF with NO rain chance
sunny with wind @ 7 mph from the NE
sunrise 6:51 a.m. EST / sunset 5:38 p.m. EST
Yep! I...
GOT another ONE!
Georgia DNR confirmation# 110319D4918
harvested APPROXIMATELY 4:50 p.m. EDT, November 3, 2019
Robert got a doe that morning at about 8:30.
I heard footsteps behind me about 20 minutes after that,
but saw nothing that morning.
 |
|
| 11:16 a.m. Robert field-dressing his doe |
11:29 a.m. Robert dragging his doe to truck |
The afternoon was more interesting for me:
Though I was hoping that 8-pointer would show,
a doe did show instead.
 4:52 p.m. EST  4:53 p.m. EST |
 5:46 p.m. EST |
 4:59 p.m. EST  5:00 p.m. EST |
Harvesting my first doe of the season!
By the way, the trailcams are
still seeing that 8-pointer hanging around:
| |
d |
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| 3:48
a.m. EST - Sunday November 3, 2019 |
4:25 a.m. EST - Sunday November 3, 2019 |
4:33
a.m. EST - Sunday November 3, 2019 |
I have to try again for this buck later!
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Sandersville, Georgia
Cancelled mostly due to lack of money!
This is a shame for me, as my big buck is still out there.
Also, he is mostly at the mercy of Robert and Thomas.
November 11th Update: Robert did NOT hunt the weekend because he worked.
Thomas and Eric went down on Saturday, but they did not get/see anything.
The full moon was Tuesday morning, November 12.
- bitter cold hard freeze Wednesday & Thursday -
- actual PEAK of the rut for middle Georgia is midweek -
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Sandersville, Georgia
High 62ºF / Low (going in) 44ºF with a 10% rain chance
mostly cloudy with wind @ 8 mph from the NNE
sunrise 7:03 a.m. EST sunset 5:28 p.m. EST
This was moved from Saturday due to rain
(and work exhaustion.)
No luck getting anything!
No shootable deer were seen by
Robert, Thomas, or myself.
Robert may have seen a doe early afternoon.
I spent the second half of the day watching:
West for feral hogs -and- East for a big buck
I went to go pick up my meat (2 deer) from The Lodge after dark.
The man on duty said that not many people were bringing deer this evening.
We speculate that after having 20-degree nightly temperatures,
this suddenly-warmer weather did not appeal to the deer.
Robert and Thomas are expected to hunt Friday, November 22.
Temperatures will hit close to 70 degrees, so I don't expect deer to move.
I have to work this Friday, anyway. A cold front comes Saturday.
OPENING
DAY IN ALABAMA (stalk hunting, firearms, statewide):
Saturday, November 23, 2019
YES... a week later than last season!
Roanoke, Alabama
High 64ºF / Low (going in) 57ºF with 90% rain chance
cloudy with wind 9 mph from the WSW
sunrise 6:19 a.m. CST / sunset 4:35 p.m. CST
- CANCELLED -
Due to predicted heavy rain and
lack of inability to pay for the Alabama license!
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Sandersville,
Georgia High 60ºF / Low (going in) 41ºF with 10% rain chance
sunny with wind @ 10 mph from the West
sunrise 7:09 a.m. EST / sunset 5:25 p.m. EST
There was a 100% chance of rain on Saturday
immediately before this day;
hopefully the deer will MOVE with the advent of a
drop of temperatures as the cold front moves through.
No luck getting anything!
This was difficult as the buck I wanted
kept showing on the camera.
Saturday and Sunday
November 30 & December 1, 2019
Roanoke, Alabama | Saturday: High 72ºF with a 10% rain chance partly cloudy with wind 8 mph from the SSW sunrise 6:25 a.m. CST / sunset 4:34 p.m. CST |
Sunday: High 64ºF / Low (going in) 56ºFwith NO rain partly cloudy with wind 15 mph from the West sunrise 6:26 a.m. CST / sunset 4:33 p.m. CST |
No luck getting anything!
I was so sure that a deer would come along
as many are showing on the trailcams due to the bait.
Just Saturday morning, I hunted in the permanent blind.
Then I decided to do more stand hunting for the remainder.
One deer did snort at me at 4:35 p.m. on Sunday.
This was when I was in the stand at the Turkey Trail.
Saturday morning.
First time using timer on my iPhone for a selfie.
| |
|
| Hot doe. |
Buck affected
by the rut! |
This is probably why I should have
stayed in the blind ...But not doing so educated
me on the timing of the rut here.
Friday and Saturday
December 6 & 7, 2019
Roanoke,
Alabama
| Friday: High 60ºF / Low (going in) 38ºF w/ 30% rain chance cloudy with wind 4 mph from the SSE sunrise 6:30 a.m. CST / sunset 4:33 p.m. CST |
Saturday: High 63ºF / Low (going in) 44ºF w/ 10% rain chance partly cloudy with wind 5 mph from the ENE sunrise 6:31 a.m. CST / sunset 4:33 p.m. CST |
Yep! I...
GOT a third ONE!
Alabama DCNR harvest record# 195L19127E07
harvested 4:50 p.m. CST, December 7, 2019
This ties my record with the 2016-2017 season!
It is my first Alabama deer in 3 years
and it is also my first Alabama doe.
This was the view just before sunset, Saturday evening.
Central Alley is the pathway seen between
the two pine trees in the middle.
I saw a dark small figure come down the path at 4:47 p.m.
At first, I thought it was a dog; then I looked through my scope.
It was a fawn with no spots! It came through and walked to my right.
It never entered the meadow, but behind the
small pines leading to the feeder.
My heart was beating so fast and I was breathing heavily.
Two minutes later (4:49 p.m.), its mother skittishly came behind.
Once she turn turned her right side to me, I took the shot (4:50 p.m.).
The .30-06 bullet went through her right chest
and left shoulder; she just plopped down immediately!
The next door neighbor, Ralph, texted me one minute after my shot,
wanting to know if I got it!
Naturally, I took a bunch of photos and was texting people like crazy.
It was getting dark fast and I had to put my LED lights
on the ground for photos.
One buck stomped and snorted at me at 5:30 p.m.
Was it the big guy I had waited for all weekend???
Then I went to get the truck and the sled to collect my deer.
Saturn and Venus could be seen at the southwest direction after sunset.
She was heavy, but I got her on the truck by
pushing the sled up into the bed.
Next eventual steps were to:
(1) pack up everything from the blind
(2) pack up everything from the house
(3) take my deer to the processor [East Alabama]
Tag# 222
(4) drive home to Georgia
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Roanoke, Alabama
High 60ºF / Low (going in) 40ºF with 10% rain chance
partly cloudy with wind 5 mph from the South
sunrise 6:36 a.m. CST / sunset 4:35 p.m. CST
An Impromptu Decision; I almost didn't go today!
No luck getting anything!
...though I saw two different fawns after sunset.
Saturday and Sunday
December 21 & 22, 2019
Roanoke, Alabama
- CANCELLED -
Due to me spending time with family
for the Christmas holiday season.
Also, it rained ALL DAY on Sunday!
Monday, December 30, 2019
Roanoke, Alabama
| High
57ºF / Low (going
in) 49ºF
w/ 10% rain
chance partly cloudy with wind 9 mph from the West sunrise 6:44 a.m. CST / sunset 4:33 p.m. CST |
No luck getting anything!
I brought Olivia with me this time,
so she may have a chance of seeing deer.
Only thing is... they didn't show this time!
Saturday, January 4, 2020
Sandersville, Georgia - CANCELLED -
Due to family and I getting the flu;
also, it rained liked CRAZY!
In fact, the next two weekends would NOT happen.
It would rain one weekend and I took my family to the cabin, the next.
Saturday, Sunday, & Monday
January 25, 26, & 27, 2020
Roanoke,
Alabama
Saturday evening:
10% rain chance
partly cloudy with wind 2 mph from the WNW
sunset 5:06 p.m. CST
| Sunday: High 55ºF / Low (going in) 31ºF w/ 10% rain chance cloudy with wind 4 mph from the WNW 60% rain chance in the evening sunrise 6:40 a.m. CST / sunset 5:07 p.m. CST |
Monday: High 54ºF / Low (going in) 43ºF w/ 10% rain foggy & cloudy with wind 7 mph from the WNW 10% rain chance in the evening sunrise 6:40 a.m. CST / sunset 5:08 p.m. CST |
No luck getting anything!
I hunted Saturday evening and all day Sunday and Monday.
Just Sunday and Monday, I had extended late breakfast breaks.
Nothing showed in the daytime, but I heard a bleat Monday morning.
I believe it was that adolescent fawn
whose mother I harvested last month.
My ten-pointer is back!!!
He made a large appearance this week.
| |
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| Wednesday morning, January 22 - meadow
bottom |
from the permanent blind - gun points
where buck was |
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|
| 3:11 a.m. - appears at top of turkey trail | 4:40 a.m. - near permanent blind, top
of meadow |
| |
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| 3:21
a.m. - 10-pointer makes scrape near tree stand |
that
afternoon - I take a photo of the same scrape |
Despite multiple methods to attract the 10-pointer,
he never came out during legal hunting hours.
So I try the next weekend...
This little guy pops out right before
I get back after Monday's breakfast:
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|
Sunday & Monday
February 2 [Groundhog Day] & 3, 2020
Roanoke,
Alabama | Sunday: High 66ºF / Low (going in) 35ºF w/ 10% rain chance sunny with wind 10 mph from the West sunrise 6:36 a.m. CST / sunset 5:14 p.m. CST |
Monday: High 70ºF / Low (going in) 40ºF w/ 10% rain partly cloudy with wind 7 mph from the SW sunrise 6:35 a.m. CST / sunset 5:15 p.m. CST |
I decided not to hunt Saturday to take care of things at home.
I drove to Alabama leaving home at 4:45 a.m.;
it was 33ºF when I got there.
Then it was 6:20 a.m. CST when I started hunting.
No sight or sound of any deer on Sunday.
The trail cameras showed most deer staying away the past week.
Though my 10-pointer showed up Thursday night:
Monday morning had some beauty to show:
So I try the next weekend for the last of the season...
FINAL Event of the Season:
Friday, February 7, 2020
Roanoke,
Alabama | Friday: High 49ºF / Low (going in) 42ºF w/ 20% rain chance mostly cloudy with wind 14 mph from the West sunrise 6:32 a.m. CST / sunset 5:19 p.m. CST |
Yep! I...
GOT a fourth ONE!
Alabama DCNR harvest record# 205B65448B07
harvested 5:42 p.m. CST, February 7, 2020
I got this doe from 75 yards at 5:42 p.m. CST,
just 7 minutes before end of legal hunting.
This sets a new record for the most deer in a season!
It is my second Alabama doe this season;
the first was two months to the day.
I slept in this morning because I was very tired and had a partial cold.
Hunting today almost didn't happen, but I held on.
I arrived at 1:00 p.m. and began hunting at 2:30 p.m. (Central)
It got dark and very cold quickly.
[It was 35ºF when I cleared the field].
 |
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| Very cold! Even in the
blind. |
She fell right where I shot
her |
I used a portable light to gauge distance |
|
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| From the blind, I measured
75 yards |
Got her into my sled |
Pulled my truck onto meadow
slope |
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| Hoisting sled into bed of my
truck |
Loaded on my truck | Go to deer processor |
Once again, East Alabama Deer Processing handled my deer.
T.J. said that his cooler was full,
but he nonetheless made my situation a special case.
All other customers of his are locals;
I am the only out-of-towner and a loyal customer.
Tag# 710
I discontinued the hunt for Saturday.
Rather than go straight home, I stayed the evening.
I came home mid-morning Saturday to a
rainy Atlanta and a snowy Gwinnett County!
That's it... I ran out of money, patience, and time.
I will look for my 10-pointer buck NEXT season!
NOTE: The Covid-19 Pandemic
began immediately after this!
I remember reading about a strange virus
being discovered in New York as I was
scrolling the news on my iPhone,
late afternoon in the blind.
ALABAMA and GEORGIA specifics
