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Archive for the ‘Deer Hunting’ Category

The Three Stooges on a Deer Hunt

Posted in Deer Hunting, My Family on December 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

  

Bob Miller & Donnie Smail

  Moe, Curly and Larry, a.k.a. Bob, Donnie and me, spent the morning chill among the woods of Pennsylvania. My job was to walk about trying to move some deer past these two hunters. I have one deer tag left and I am waiting for after Christmas when the Pennsylvania primitive flintlock season begins. Everybody knows how I love to use the flintlock!

    Neither Donnie (my cousin) nor Bob (my step-father) planned on shooting anything but buck or big does. A light snow helped to see contrast in many places.

Donnie went into the woods about 6:45 since he was traveling deeper into the property. Bob and I were trekking several hundred yards and climbing a steep embankment to overlook a popular area.  The hunt was to change course after a hour when I would begin sneaking around. I saw three deer at this site.

Later, I walked around Donnie and saw a doe standing about 35 yards from me. Stupid me clapped my hands instead of reaching for my camera that was still in my shoulder bag. I missed a great photo!                             

I see you too!

On my last push before noon I spotted a deer laying about 65 yards out. I called Bob and told him to get ready. I walked towards the deer and this deer continually refused to walk out of this thick vine; tree top and briar area. I saw it several times only yards from me.

      Finally the deer broke and ran up towards Bob and apparently saw him for the deer turned and slowly ran behind me and returned to the very area she originated from. I crept up and had this deer about 20 yards from me. I managed one photo through the brush. Later, Bob approached me and I saw this deer about 8 yards from me before she bolted. Bob said I will leave the deer for seed. 

Cousin Donnie

After some carrying on the three of us walked back to the road and spent thirty minutes talking with a local landowner. I saw 10 deer and two grouse this morning. I enjoyed the fellowship of kinfolk too. Laughter is the norm when the three of us get together.

I came home and laid down sometime after two and woke up at 5:20! The four hours of sleep the night before just didn’t cut it for an old man!

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Great Morning Afield

Posted in Deer Hunting on December 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »

  

Sun warming the tree tops

  Bob and I set up ny the old oak tree to watch a field for deer. We saw one earlier feeding in the field while driving along the road to park. I continued on walking, not driving, for deer. I am armed with a camera this day although I do have an antlerless tag left.

I circled back to see Bob, an hour or so, after I left him. Suddenly, I saw some deer legs in the dogwood-crabapple trees. The deer stopped and I could see a torso. The deer stepped towards us then disappeared. I notice the wind wasn’t in our favor.                

Later we walked down an old remnant of a logging road. I walked around and Bob saw 4 deer flying through the woods. The landowner’s grandson stopped by for a chat and meet Bob. I asked him if he a manual so Bob could identify a deer! Jon walked off as did we. Later he bagged a nice doe.

Show the man what a deer looks like!

  Bob walked over to watch a hollow as I circled around. Suddenly, right in front of me was a feeding buck. It had a small rack, but I didn’t wait to count points. I back stepped and hurried around towards Bob for the deer if he continued on would walk past him. However, the deer may have heard me running around. Bob saw the deer too!

Prior to exiting from the hunt we walked along when I saw what I believed was part of a laying deer. Further study positively identified the image as a deer. I studied the head with my field glasses and felt confident the deer was a doe. the only problem Bob couldn’t see it. I planned to circle onto a dirt road and approach the deer from below. Hopefully, this action would set the deer’s flight towards him. The deer had other ideas as it finally became unnerved and fled. Bob said he now saw the deer.

    We left the woods around 12:45 and I came home to cut up the deer some more and begin the jerky making. The early morning frost evolved into close to 50 degrees by noon.

I saw one squirrel and several grouse too.

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I received a photo from my friend, Randy Tost. He bagged a nice buck this evening. Congratulations Randy!    

Randy Tost's buck- Tost photo

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Frosty Morning

Posted in Deer Hunting on December 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »

  

Sunrise

  Bob and I entered the woods very early on a cold morning. The temperatures were somewhere in the lower twenty degree range and the natural world exhibited the traits of such temps. Frost was covering everything as the sun began to rise in the eastern horizon.  

Frosty fog

Bob snuggled up by an old ancient oak tree that stood guard to a field. My plan was to circle behind the field and slowly zig-zag my way through an area of mostly pines and spruces. This plan was not considered an organized deer drive by definition, but a walk to see what I could see with a possibility of moving a buck past Bob.    

Frost on trees

Although cold the walk was invigorating to me. I did move some deer out. A highlight of this move was to see the sun work it’s effects on the frost. Frosty fog was visible at certain areas with proper conditions to form it.

Despite the temperatures, the ticks were still available to se on my pants. They moved a “little slow at the junction”. (from the old Petticoat Junction show of the 60 era.)  While searching for a few on my pants I looked up to see the landowner’s grandson, Jon. It was great seeing him and we chatted for fifteen minutes or so. I left him telling him he’d better “marry that little girl”. I often ask him, when I see him, if he had gotten married yet. Teasin’, of course! I watched him since he was 12 hunt deer. He now is in his twenties! (I guess that makes me older too.”)   

Bob dropped over a hill’s ridgeline and I was going to work around hoping to move a buck. I circled around when I spotted a buck. The buck had a nice-looking rack. I couldn’t count points. I went back to Bob and moved him hoping for a long shot at working the deer past him. My attempts failed as I heard the deer walk up another hollow. Bob was ready to go home and torment my mother so we exited the woods prior to ten o’clock.

Frost on grass

  Later, I began cutting up the buck I shot yesterday and Friday , I guess, will be butcher day!

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Third Day Buck Season

Posted in Deer Hunting on November 30, 2011| 4 Comments »

The annual Pennsylvania buck season came on Monday, November 28th of this year. That day and the next came, and went, without my presence in the woodlands. A number of variables contributed to my decision to remain home those two days. One reason was the fact that I hadn’t been feeling my best for several days and I was debating whether I should call a doctor or not. The heat was another factor. The temperatures remained around 60 degrees for two days. Since I process my own deer I was concerned with the warm days and nights…not good for keeping deer meat safe.

 Another factor is my style of hunting deer. I prefer to “still hunt” for deer. The vast majority of hunters are setting around hoping for someone like me to move the deer. (Still hunting is the method where  the hunter walks a little and watches a lot.) And the final factor is that the 4-point to one side law that had been in place and it is difficult hunting with my style and counting 4 points. This had caused me to lose some enthusiasm. For years I used a flintlock for buck and the handicap of the law and flintlock forced me into, primarily, a doe hunter.

This year the law changed once more. Presently, the hunter needs to see only three points on the main branch of antler to be considered legal. This will make identifying a legal buck easier.

        This morning originally had plans and potential plans in place. I was not going to hunt. The plans changed for our delivery of a new range to late in the day. The other possible plan was to have breakfast with a friend. Dana Gould had e-mailed me about possibly meeting. We talked Tuesday evening and decided to postpone our event and a hunt was now reality for me.

I began my sneaking around early in the grayness of the morning. Light rain and some snow occurred most of the morning. Eventually, I eased towards a field where my step-father, Bob may be watching. He wasn’t there as I watched two doe feeding. I checked along the road and his truck wasn’t there. He had decided to stay home this morning.

I continued my trek until I hunted slowly along an area that had been timbered out sometime ago.The deer like this place due to the old tree tops and young brush.

   Suddenly I noticed deer fur in the brush. A still-hunter always looks for parts of a deer. This might be a leg; an ear; a horizontal brown line; a white color, or maybe a glint of antler. I stepped one more foot and I could see antlers and the torso and the head of a nice buck! I was about 55 yards away and once I noticed three points on one side I shot.The buck was laying in this area and he never moved. The shot was true. Another buck jumped up.

The buck had a near perfect set of antlers with eight nice points. It was 17 inches across. The Remington 760 in the 30:06 caliber did the job.

I called Bob and he came with his truck. I called my cousin Donnie Smail for help once we dragged the buck to the truck. We couldn’t lift the deer onto the tail gate. While standing there a buck crossed the road near us. I believe it was the same buck I had seen earlier.

Bob and I returned to show my mother before taking the deer to my home to hang up, skin and clean some. The cold temperatures will keep the meat fresh until I get to cutting it up for future meals.

As my custom, I give thanks for the deer and respect to the deer.

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Another Wintry Hunt

Posted in Deer Hunting, My Family on January 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »

 

A hint of sun

 The morning hunt began around 8:30. I have been blessed with the ability to observe and enjoy the beauty winter has to offer. As I walked about, I peered over one hill and was granted the privilege if watching a buck edge down a hollow. I could readily see it’s rack, but couldn’t count points as usual. I hoped this deer would circle around towards Bob. The snow averaged 8-12 inches on the ground. I was concerned with Bob hunting in such conditions so I purposely kept him on the flat areas of the hill. I elected to try push deer uphill as much as possible.

Peace Bro!

  I was sneaking along and spotted a deer in its bed. I crept to about 40 yards before the doe bolted and headed directly towards Bob. Shortly, the deer turned and walked about 80 yards below him amongst thick brush. I managed to get a photo, but unfortunately it was blurred.

Later, I spotted another deer about 80 yards below me in its bed. I debated back-tracking to see if we could sneak back allowing Bob a shot.  The deer spotted me and left hurriedly.

Two other deer emerged about 10 yards from me from among a blow-down.  Later, I watched a deer sneak out of a briar area. I followed it straight towards Bob. I jokingly asked him if he had a silencer on his flintlock since I hadn’t heard the shot. Bob, elected to not shoot hoping for a better broadside shot.  I commended him for not shooting if the shot didn’t feel right.

Solitude

  All told I saw 14 deer sightings including three in their beds. Bob saw two. We quit around noon and headed home for some grub. The morning was a good one!  I take photos of landscapes for my memories. I hope you can find some enjoyment with them.

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More Deer Hunting

Posted in Deer Hunting, My Family on January 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »

  I have been a “slacker” with my blog in recent days. Last week on January 5, my cousin Donnie Smail and I spent some quality time afield in pursuit of white-tail chasing. Donnie and I were out of deer tags so we were “dogging” for my step-father Bob. (Donnie and I are as close as being brothers as one can be without actually being bros. Our fathers were brothers and our mothers were sisters.)  That is important information to know, but, I don’t know why. Don’t let this information out, but, I kind of like him.  Bob, on the other hand, finds much difficulty dealing with the two of us as we harass him throughout our time together.

  The second deer drive moved deer towards Bob. The deer raced past him and he couldn’t get a shot. The third drive produced some deer movement past him. These deer , also, were in high gear. Needless to say, Bob urged us to slow the deer down in the future. We stopped hunting around noon.

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Cochise... the Mighty Hunter!

  Today, January 10,  Bob and I braved the 10 degree temperature to seek some deer activity. The early walk along a gas road revealed some deer tracks. That looked promising!  We approached a field’s edge and were blessed to see a flock of wild turkeys already feasting on acorns from bordering oak trees. The flock of 12-15 birds erupted into the air sailing for the hollow. We would occasionally see a bird as we hunted the area.

The morning was witnessed by  windless time. The softly falling snow created a peaceful solitude I crave to be part of. The problems of life seem small with the natural world enveloped in such a scenario…. Beautiful time afield!

  The first drive, produced some deer past Bob. He saw two deer sneaking along out of range. We walked around together with more deer sightings. I peered over the edge of the hill watching three deer feeding along. I saw a couple of fox squirrels too.

The remainder of the morning saw a few deer, however, none of which went past Bob. As noon approached, Bob and I began a trek towards his truck. We met and old friend and classmate, Ed Orr. We talked awhile before separating and heading towards home. Later from the pick up, I noticed 5 deer feeding. We watched them for a bit before heading home.  

A scene from home.

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Couple Hours with Bob

Posted in Deer Hunting, My Family on December 30, 2010| Leave a Comment »

A shed

 The weather stations were all stating freezing rain.  Bob and I eventually entered the woods around noon to pursue the white-tail. I was walking along preparing to walk through a pine grove when I glanced down and was surprised to see a “shed” antler. Hunters seem to admire these trophies and instinctively horde them.

I chased deer around for a time, but failed to move any past Bob.  We edged along a field discussing that deer should be moving and feeding when I touched Bob, whispering…deer!

The body of a deer was feeding over a swell in the field. The deer was approximately 40 yards.  Bob squatted and gazed through 2 feet high crabgrass. The shot missed! I heard a crack in the tree line. I trailed the deer over  several hundred yards just to positive the miss call was accurate. It was!

 Later, I walked around an old foundation site. I must be getting old. I have faint memories of being in the old house in my youth. The house, even then,  had long ago been abandoned . Today, all that is present is the stone foundation and some old rusted  farm machinery. 

Old foundation stones

Bob became tired and we called the hunt off after two and a half hours. Bob does great for being 76 years old.

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A Flintlock Hunt

Posted in Deer Hunting, My Family on December 29, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Snow on the ground and deer in the woods makes for some grand opportunities to observe and /or hunt deer. I do not have any deer tags left so my primary reasons to be in the woods this day was to take photos and move some deer around for my step-father Bob and my cousin Donnie Smail.

  Early in the morning we could hear some turkeys across the road yelping and cutting. I pranced around the woods in various thick areas and saw several squirrels and grouse. I saw some deer also.

I came down over one area and could hear turkeys calling out their alarm putts. I immediately assumed the birds had spotted me. I continued to watch and eventually spotted a flock of about 15 turkeys. Suddenly the birds began to run and take to the air. They flew towards me! Some landed in nearby trees for a few seconds before continuing on around the hillside. Throughout the morning I would see remnants of this flock.

I worked around the hill when I saw  the back of a deer for a few seconds. A minute later a shot rang out where Donnie was to be. I hastened my steps towards him. We found hair and twenty yards later some blood. I was walking slightly above Donnie. He said lots of blood. I told him we will find the deer. A minute later I exclaimed, “There it is!”

Donnie with a doe

 The sixty yard shot hit true. The doe went about 60 more yards.  Bob and I hunted until about 1:00 P.M. before going home for some deer burgers.

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Deer Hunting

Posted in Deer Hunting, My Family on December 9, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Woodland Snow Scene.

   Bob (my step-father) and I went to the woods today to see if he could harvest a deer. Bob remained stationary to watch as  I walked about armed heavily with a camera. I had 22 deer sightings by 10:00 A.M.! I saw one decent-sized buck. Few of these moved deer went towards Bob. Two doe did come up a hollow. One deer stopped behind a tree and while Bob leveled the scope on it waiting to see the front shoulders a lifeflight helicopter flew over low. (We later learned of an accident near Elderton, Pennsylvania.)

Later on in the morning we crept along a right-of-way peering for another doe we had seen going in that direction. Suddenly, I tapped Bob pointing over the embankment. I could see feeding deer, in fact, there were five deer feeding along.

Bob, excitedly, prepared for a possible shot. Finally, one deer exposed it’s body from among the brush and Bob fired. From my position, slightly behind, I thought I noticed a flinch. I could only see the back of the deer.  Of course, chaos erupted with deer movement all about! Two deer came up to our right and Bob fired again. I hurried along the right-of-way to see a single deer cross. I surmised the other deer was down.

We surveyed the lower woods and saw nothing. I went over the embankment and shortly saw blood.  I came back up over and looked down and within feet of us lay the doe along the ditch-line.

Bob and his doe.

  Bob tagged and field-dressed the deer. I took photos. He stated that he wasn’t entirely sure if this deer was the same one he initially shot at. A “red-flag” immediately blew in the wind. I said I better walk back and check around.  I found sign of a hit and later saw the deer about 100 yards downslope watching me.

I went back and told Bob what was transpiring. I knew I had  to use my unused antlerless tag. I wasn’t hunting with a firearm. (I was waiting for flintlock season to use the tag.) I grabbed his 30:06 and placed one shell in the chamber and crept back to where I saw the deer. I placed the rifle against a tree and took careful aim and shot the wounded deer.

One needs to always do what is right when hunting. The hunt was unfortunate, but in those minutes after the initial shot much confusion happened. Bob, was troubled with the experience and I worked to comfort him. It all worked out. I will be canning more deer and stocking up for the bad times ahead.

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A Week’s Worth of Interests

Posted in Deer Hunting, My Art, My Family on December 6, 2010| 2 Comments »

Turkey Scratchin's!

I have been a busy little fellow. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday of last week butchering the buck. I made sixteen pounds of burger; canned 35 jars of venison; made jerky; cut steaks; and sliced some thin “steak-um like strips of meat.  My butchering influence stems from my grandfather. In my youth, I enjoyed going to his butcher shop. Man…I miss him!

Bob, as the Great Pumpkin!

  On Saturday, I took my step-father, Bob hunting deer. I told him where he should go and watch during the early hours. I went along in another direction seeking bedded or feeding deer. I hadn’t gone far when I heard the rustling leaves and watched a feeding deer below me. I made a sneak from the site and located Bob. We quietly approached the site and the deer was absent. I eased along a gas well road when I spotted three deer in a thicket. I motioned for Bob and he came to me. One deer walked away and directly below our position.  In the minutes following, Bob missed!

Storm site where I shot the buck.

   I continued hunting with my camera. I saw four turkeys; squirrels and a grouse. I, also, saw a number of deer during my trek around attempting to move a doe past Bob. I did see a nice buck, but I couldn’t get a good photot due to brush and trees. Imagine trees and limbs in a woods!

We didn’t hunt the entire day. Bob failed to see many deer, but he seemed to enjoy our day afield.

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Sunday, December 5, the family all got together to celebrate my mother’s 81st birthday. Her birthday is actually December 6th, but we decided that Sunday,  would work out better for all. We went out to eat and later filled up even more with birthday cake! My mother, Ruth (Smail) Miller is in remarkable shape. We all tease her a lot, sometimes, probably,  too much.

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I spent the day finishing up my fourth painting depicting furbearers of Pennsylvania. The bobcat completed this series. The other three animals are: Muskrat; Raccoon; and a grey fox. Photos pending!

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