Larry A. Smail's Blog

Friday, January 6, we had a woodland covered with about one and a half inches of snow. However, the  temperatures were frigid. The morning began with in single digits. Fortunately, the morning was calm. Unfortunately, for me the winds began picking up about mid-morning. I’ll explain later.

I walked some trails first thing in the morning just to get a feel as to how the deer had moved over the night hours. Along these trails I saw coyote and fox tracks. The only deer tracks I saw had much snow in them hence they had been in the area prior to midnight for the snow had quite around that time. Walking would be noisy in this snow. All leaves underneath the snow were frozen and each step sounded like compaction and crunch.

I continued to walk and upon entering a field tracks became numerous and that would be the norm for the rest of the time I hunted. Eventually, I approached a round top area where seeing around can be good. I would see four deer walking along, but out of range. I observed these deer until they had walked to my extreme left. I caught a glimpse through the brush of the lead deer turning left. I knew what I needed to do! I backtracked quickly and set down on a log. if those deer maintained the direction they should walk to me. The increasing wind was hitting me on my left side. Sometimes I felt it more directly upon my face.

A total of about ten minutes elapsed when I first noticed deer movement. Here they come! The lead deer was about forty yards when she stopped and turned to her left. I could see the alert mode. I wondered what alerted her. There was enough limbs that I couldn’t shoot. In a moment she backtracked and was out of view. It was then I noticed the change in wind upon my neck. I actually talked internally that the deer was going to be mine! Things can change fast! I saw a flock of turkeys and a number of squirrels.

  I quit the area and went to visit my mother and Bob. I went behind the homestead to an area covered with goldenrods and brambles and briars. I saw three deer moving along the side of the hill. I trailed them and found they had crossed into posted property. I saw three more deer and they did the same thing. I decided to call the hunt.

Turkeys gotta eat, too!

Today, the 7th, found the very same conditions…single digits and increasing winds as the day went along. Also, the snow was still very noisy to walk on.

I moved into the woods to watch. Very cold to remain immobile for much more than half an hour. I was easing along and I noticed the hind quarters of a deer about 130 yards away. There would be five deer total as they went into a patch of green briars. I moved along hoping they might change their course and come towards me. They did.

I had Old Jacob up against a tree. The lead deer was moving along and within range. I cocked the hammer and the deer stopped abruptly upon hearing the sound. I was trying to align the site, but a tree of about eight inches or so in diameter lined up with the deer’s front shoulder. The deer was looking for the source of the sound. I began checking the rearward deer for a shot. A moment passed and the deer turned back the way they came.

I employed a circle movement to try to intercept them. I failed. The deer went an incredible distance for an annoyance they didn’t identify…ME! I quit about 1:30 to head home. I saw eight deer today. Squirrels wre setting tight this morning.