The rut was in full swing on opening weekend. The rut is when bucks chase does looking to breed. While sitting in the stand I seen several small bucks chasing does. I was hoping to catch a bigger buck slip up and make the mistake of walking out but it never happened. But one good thing about letting all of those smaller bucks walk is knowing that they will be there next year, and hopefully bigger.

November 14 is when modern gun season finally came in. I of course was in the woods on this day, accompanied by my girl friend. We seen a few deer and had the oppertunity for my girl friend to harvest one. This was her first of hopefully many more deer to come. I have found that it is more exciting for me to hunt with someone who has never killed a deer and watch them kill one, than me killing one myself.

With the winter setting in the leaves are almost gone. This is convenient for the hunter. With the leaves off the woods become more clear for me. Thus allowing me to see farther and notice game quicker. The leaves being off of the trees means they are on the ground. This is another tool I can use to pick up on game. If the leaves are dry I can hear the animals coming. Being able to hear and see better allows me to notice the animals before they notice me.

early muzzle loading season came in during October. It was a fairly productive hunting weekend. i hunted all day Saturday and Sunday morning. Saturday was the most productive as far as number count. i seen approximately 20 deer but no big bucks. I was able to harvest a doe saturday afternoon. Sunday morning was a cold wintery morning. I only encountered one deer, but it was worth it. It was a decent 8-pointer in which i had the oppertunity to take.

the weather is dropping off colder now and deer are starting to be more active. this is fortunate for hunters like myself because season is soon approaching. Hunting is so much a big part of my life that i often refer to the seasons as to which hunting season is in, instead of winter, fall, spring and so on. opening day of deer season is like Christmas morning for me. Its the best thing that i look forward to throught the year.

September 11, 7:00 am, sitting in the blind, nothing in sight. Then all at once, I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye. There was a turkey no more than 25 yards, and turkey season is in. I draw back, put the pin on it, then released the string. Whack the arrow hit a tree behind it. Not only did I miss once, but it happened twice. It was an ultimate failure. A 25 yard shot should have been nothing.
I forgot how important getting gear ready and practicing was, even though i had just talked about it in a previous blog. Had i prepared my gear and practiced, my odds on hitting my target would have increased. This goes to show what happens when you don't prepare yourself. So before you hit the woods, remember to hit the practice field.

Practice

In a way you could to consider this to be like a sport. Just as you do in any sport, you do the same with hunting. You practice for hunting just like you do in sports. The most important part in sports and hunting is practice. I know the phrase "practice makes perfect" often seems over used, but it is one of the best phrases to go by. Basketball skills are only learned by doing, as is hunting skills. Shooting is a very important part of either of the two. The only way to shoot better is to practice. This all ties in with the previous blog of preparing for the upcoming hunting seasons. I have come to realize if you haven't shot for a while you can be a little rusty if you know what I mean.