Posts

Showing posts from December, 2024

The Last Day

Image
   The alarm jarred me out of sleep. It was December 8, 2024, the last day of Northern Zone rifle season in New York. I had been going straight-out since mid-October, never missing a day and out of bed every morning before 4:30. Although I had loved every minute of every day, my body was finally beginning to feel the aches and pains associated with bushwhacking through swamps, scaling cliffs, climbing mountains, and crossing rivers. With the exception of two travel days, I had found myself in the woods every day from sun-up until sundown. While I've heard many others say they've done the same, I've often doubted it because I know how difficult a task it is to accomplish.    The embers in the wood stove shone brightly as I cracked the door open and stacked a few pieces of wood on top of the burning coals. Although the fire was just about gone, the fresh flow of air gave it some life, and there was a slim chance of hope that the newly added wood would catch fire and bu...

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Image
 Today was my last day of hunting for the year. It was an uneventful day, and we didn't see anything. Dad and I are both optimistic about next year, so we will have to wait for about nine months to give it another whirl.    My body and mind need rest. It's time to get back on the horse and find a job. It has been beyond stressful while trying to find one, especially without any responses from all the resumes sent out. I'll keep plugging along now that hunting season has come to a close. I've enjoyed my time in the woods, but I'm glad it's over. I gave it everything I have this year. So I'll say goodbye until next year. Thanks for following along. I had a lot less followers than previous years, but I guess it's still worth it if people are checking in. 

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Image
   Dad and I headed out early today. We were in the woods about an hour before daylight. The thermometer hung steady at about 10 degrees. It was a bit nippy out there this morning.  It was loud and crunchy while walking through the woods in the darkness. We spooked a few deer along the way but figure out early arrival would allow things to settle down around us. As daylight broke, I could hear deer walking across the ridge below me. Before long, three does made their way past me and I could see the buck I have been chasing. He was hot on the trail of a doe, but I only saw fleeting glimpses of him. There was never an opportunity to get a shot. Although I felt frustrated, I knew the day was early.    Within minutes of the deer disappearing, I heard another one approaching. Looking down the hill, I spotted a one-horned spike walking toward me. Within a few minutes, he was in my lap. I would've loved to pull the hammer back and let him have it, but I chose to let hi...

Friday, December 13, 2024

   Due to severely bad weather, I actually didn't hunt the last two days. I decided to take a break and get some things in order. It was beneficial for me because it allowed me to rest my body.    As I headed up the mountain this morning, I saw a flashlight on a ridge in front of me. I couldn't figure out how in the world someone could've beaten me into the woods. Although I tried to let it pass, the sighting wouldn't leave my mind.    After seeing nothing, I headed over the ridge to take a look later in the morning. I never cut another person's tracks, so I don't know what the light I saw might have been. I guess I may have seen something that never existed.    Another day passed without seeing anything. I know I'm in the mix, but I just haven't seen anything yet. We will see what happens tomorrow when I imagine more people will be in the woods. 

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Image
 When I headed into the woods today, it was bone-chilling cold. I headed back to the area where the deer had been feeding and hoped for the best. After my initial sit in the morning, I wanted to check a few other areas to make sure I was in the best place I could put myself. I decided I would probably try to wait one out due to the amount of feeding sign I found.  In my travels, I found where a doe was in heat and figured it would probably be a good idea to stay in that area. I also found a very distinguished buck track and learned the buck had been spending a lot of time in a relatively small area.    By the end of the day, the bad weather rolled in, but I tried to stick it out until the end. Here's a picture so you get the idea.   

Monday, December 9, 2024

Image
   I headed to a spot in the southern Adirondacks to sit for the first few hours of daylight and made plans to scout if nothing transpired while sitting. Well, 10:30 came quickly, so I got up and began covering ground. It didn't take long to find where deer had been feeding regularly.    At the end of the day, I felt good about everything I discovered. I felt confident I would have a good chance at getting a crack at a nice buck over the course of the next week.  

Sunday, December 8, 2024

Image
   I woke up this morning to fresh snow and was a little disappointed. I figured the snow would be hanging on the trees and the deer wouldn't be moving much. I also wasn't looking forward to walking out of the woods at sunset with an unfilled tag for the first time in my hunting career. Although I knew I had passed a handful of good bucks, I also knew it would still sting a little, especially knowing I should've killed the really nice 8-pointer early in the season when I had the chance.    As Dad and I drove down the road, we didn't talk. The silence gave both of us a few minutes to gather our thoughts before heading into the woods. It was in the high teens but felt a little colder than that. After parking the truck and gathering our gear, it felt no different than all the other days we have hunted together. However, I knew that another rifle season in the Adirondacks would come to a close at the end of the day, and with every passing year, it means we are a year old...

Saturday, December 7, 2025

   When Dad and I headed out this morning, it was 22 degrees. There was a fresh powder of snow, so any tracks we would see would be fresh. It was calm and perfect to sit. However, the snow hanging not he branches made it almost impossible to see very far.    On my way in, I got out of whack and ended up walking a lot farther than I would have liked. I got off track in some thick stuff that looked vastly different with all the snow hanging on the branches. When I finally figured out where I was, I couldn't fathom how I could've gotten there. I made the correction and ended up getting to the place I wanted to be before daylight.    As soon the woods became light, I caught a glimpse of a deer sneaking across the ridge in front of me. After a closer look, I thought I was going to encounter a good buck. Then, as it came closer, I saw that it was a doe and it had a fawn in toe. I really got surprised with the lead deer. It acted like a buck and got me a little ex...

Friday, December 6, 2024

   Today was pretty chilly. It was 17 degrees when I headed into the woods.  I got a late start because the wind was blowing so hard. I'm guessing it was consistently between 25-35 mph. It never let up the entire day. However, I did see a few deer.    At day's end, I had seen seven deer but never put my eyes on a buck. My face is feeling the effects of the nasty wind and cold. I was comfortable in the woods the entire day, and when I got back to my truck the thermometer was actually lower than when I headed in. It was 16 degrees.    Maybe tomorrow will be the day. The wind is supposed to calm down, and the temperature is supposed to climb a little bit. 

Thursday, December 5, 2024

   Well, the forecast called for 3-6 inches yet again. Yet again, we got zero inches of snow. I just can't figure out how weathermen can be so wrong regularly. It's mind-blowing in many ways. Well, that's neither here nor there, just frustrating to deal with and try to prepare for the day.    The morning was perfect conditions to be a sitter. There was minimal wind, and it was 24 degrees. I had a good feeling. I was set up and ready to go about a half hour before daylight. I knew this would give me time to let everything around me settle back into place before things came to life.    With my eyes closed and waiting for daylight, I extended my thoughts a little too long and had a strange feeling. When I opened my eyes, I could see a deer standing next to a big tree. Then, I noticed a smaller one behind it.    They stood there for a few minutes before moving on. They seemed a little spooky and jerky jerky. Eventually, they went down the hill and tur...

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

   This morning was the coldest day I've hunted this year. When I got out of the truck, it was 9 degrees. Dad and I took our time getting into the woods, as we were plenty early enough to arrive at our destinations well before daylight. The sky was speckled with stars, and I could almost feel the coldness just looking into the dark sky.    On our walk, I felt like today was going to be the day. In my experience in the area where we were hunting, the deer tend to move well when the temperatures are in the teens and single digits. That's unlike most places, but I've hunted this area long enough to know its tendencies.    Dad's day started off quickly, as he had a few does go by him right at daylight. He said they kept looking up the hill, but he  couldn't see what they were looking at. Finally, he saw some movement and noticed a deer making its way away from him through some brush. Unfortunately, I have a cell camera in the area and we later found out th...

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

   It was another great morning to be in the woods. It was slightly warmer when I headed into the woods this morning than it was the last few days. It was 24 degrees today. I could actually feel the difference in temperatures. It felt somewhat warm to me.    Dad went with me today, and I felt like we were going to get one. It just had that feeling when I headed out the door. I can't explain to you how much I cherish the time I get to spend with my dad in the woods at our current ages. I never imagined we would still be going at it like we are nowadays, but I love it.    We took our time getting where we were going, and we still made it well before it got light. It was a great morning for sitting. The wind barely moved a twig, and it was comfortable to sit. I tried something new today and used an insulated bib that I bought in the '90s to throw over my stuff after getting dressed. It worked well and kept me toasty warm. I can't believe I never tried it in th...

Monday, December 2, 2024

Image
  The sun came up and took the darkness away this morning and that was the last I saw of it. The rest of the day was somewhat gloomy, and it chilled me to the bone. I couldn't have asked for a better morning to sit. As I wandered through the woods in the darkness, I got to a spot and my inner voice spoke loudly. It told me to go no further and park my ass in that spot.    As the morning progressed, I felt good about the choice to stay there. Although I hadn't planned it, I felt confident. Around 9:30, I looked to my left and saw a deer standing under a hemlock tree. It's back was to me and it was looking at another deer. I pulled my glasses up and saw that it was a nice buck. After further examination, it was a 7-pointer that would've been an 8, but he was missing a brow tine.    Then, he began grunting and all hell broke loose out in front of me. I watched him run the doe all over, stopping no more than 20 yards from me on two different occasions. It just wasn'...

Sunday, December 1, 20224

   We all went our separate ways this morning, each of us hunting in an entirely different area. It was a cold day, and I made good time getting to where I wanted to go. I was settled in before daylight and felt good about my chances. However, the snow was still clinging on the branches, making it almost impossible to see clearly for any distance. I knew I would have to be on point to see a deer and get a shot off before it disappeared into the white abyss. However, in most other areas there wasn't any snow left on the trees. The low, swampy spot attracted the snow and didn't want to let go.    The morning dragged, and I began wondering if my streak of not seeing many deer would continue. Then, around 11 a.m. things changed, and I saw a doe and two fawns. It gave me a renewed sense of hope. I'm not sure why, but it instantly instilled a confidence that had been lost the last week. I felt like I was in the game again, and my entire attitude changed.    The r...

Saturday, November 30, 2024

   I got to hunt with my dad on this last day of November 2024. I never imagined the time could go by so fast when I was hunting with him when I was 12 years old. I didn't know people wouldn't live forever, and I had no idea what people meant when they said, "The older you get, the faster the time goes." Well, now I'm well aware about what they were saying back then. Although I consider myself middle-aged, I know I am well past that, and my dad is old. I remember looking at my great grandfather when he was 80 and thinking about how old he looked. My dad doesn't appear that way to me right now, but I wonder if he would if I were a kid again.    We took our time getting into the woods, but we both arrived to our designations before daylight. Although there was still a lot of snow hanging on the trees, I felt confident. However, as one hour led into the next, my confidence began waning.    Around 11:30, Dad called me on the radio to tell me he was on the score...