Any Luck Yet?

[petey]

How we all doing so far? Some of you guys/gals are lucky enough to already have a couple weeks under your belt I'm sure?

Unfortunately I have a 2 week wait until I can start hunting, but the pre-season warmups are in full swing. Just a few things I've done so far

1. Checking pre hung stands
2. Checking all the cameras that are out
3. Sorting through pictures and trying to pick out the one I want to concentrate most of my time towards
4. Washing and "De-scenting" clothes
5. Checking gear and calls and finding what needs replaced (flashlights, hooks, ropes, etc...)
6. Fletching and/or building new arrows
7. Tuning each arrow, with both field points and fixed blade broadheads, so they fly the same.
8. Charging up video equipment
9. Sharpening broadheads (Magnus Snuffers)
10. Spotting in the evenings to find what bucks my cameras aren't catching
11. Checking over stands that need hung and climbers for safety concerns
12. Sharpening knives (field and butchering)
13. MOST IMPORTANTLY... practicing every day with both the compound and recurve.

Heading out to shoot as soon as I'm done writing this ;)

The wait is more that a guy can bare. Been too long without blood on my hands. What? maybe 3 months?

[bulletpusher]

Bow season doesn't start here until October. But I'm keeping the target practice up, considering its been years since I've really concentrated on bow shooting.

Let us know if you get any action, soon.

[gd357]

I've been hunting since July, but nothing on the ground yet with the bow... I'm hoping to get out this weekend. We'll see. Work has been putting a damper on things of late.

I assume by 3 months that you're counting turkey season? Otherwise, there's a spring deer season I need to find out about...

gd

[blacktail]

2x2 whitetail freezer buck:D

[bigbrother]

I spent 1/2 of Saturday sitting in a tree in Ohio. One deer, a racoon, a groundhog, a couple of squirrels...that was it for the morning. Unfortunately I got rained out for the afternoon and had things to get done on Sunday. This Saturday starts the PA bow season and we've got rain on the forecast. I will be sitting in my stand that has some serious overhead cover though so, I should be good.

[gd357]

A friend shot a nice 8 point in Ohio sunday. Early season, but just too nice to pass up.

gd

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq221/gd3006/ScottT09buck1.jpg

[bowhunting23]

just got my last tree stand hung today. saw a lot of deer sign. season starts thursday, wont get to hunt until Saturday. There was about 4 or 5 scrapes like this one here. with this cold front that moved in its going to get the deer going. there saying a chance of frost tomorrow here in Iowa.

[bigbrother]

gd, thats a nice buck! definitely not one you can let walk by at any time of the season. tell him congrats.

i've been seeing scrapes here in PA as well. While I've not been looking at them daily, the earliest ones I saw were fully 3 weeks ago and I've got trail cam pics of bucks visiting them. All young deer though. This cold front will hopefully have the deer out before dark this weekend. I noticed a bunch this morning on the drive into the office. Good Luck

[kt]

me, i get by with a little help from my friends. just started a new job so i havent had much time to hunt until last friday. a friend of mine had seen two doe walk the same treeline every day that week so i got up in a tree and within ten minutes of what he said, here they came (its a doe only season) the lead deer walked right up to my decoy at 15 yds. both lungs and the off shoulder she went 100 yds through cut corn and piled up at full speed. 1 hunt 1 deer. takes the opening of buck season pressure off.
kt

[bigbrother]

I went out last night after work and noticed 4 new scrapes in a 200 yard span on an old woods road. The scrape that I've been getting pictures over keeps getting freshened every day. I've noticed very few rubs to this point though and I have yet to see a mega rub (you know the one that says mack daddy is here). While it's still early and the only bucks I've seen have been totally nocturnal at this point, I'm getting more and more excited for the rut to start. Hopefully in a couple more weeks the bucks will start cruising. If you only went by the weather you'd swear the rut was here in PA with the way the temps have been. Mid 40's and rain today, rain/snow mix tomorrow.

Good luck to all and keep us updated!

[buckhunter]

Was out on Monday and saw nothing. Slim picking so far. My hunting partner saw and almost go a doe last night. Been warm and a big acorn crop this year is keeping them in the timber. Its turning cold so I think the activity will pick up.

It was nice to get out after 9 months of waiting. Will be out Friday afternoon and Sat all day. Yea.

[bigbrother]

Saw 3 little bucks and 6 does on Saturday. Another cold (32) and snowy morning in the stand. I also saw 11 scrapes 2 squirrels and a flock of turkeys. All in all a fun day hunting. Now I just need mac daddy to stroll through.

[buckhunter]

Had a big buck lay in the field I was watching all morning. Had no idea he was there until he decided to get up and head into the swamp. Oh well, he had a good laugh at me.

My hunting partner has been into a lot of doe's but hasn't pull the string yet. Going tomorrow PM and changing my stand. Probably will screw things up but need to change. Awe the rut is coming.

[bigbrother]

The bucks are coming to the grunt calls here in NW PA. Three bucks shot since last Thursday night by guys here at work all came to the grunt call.

As for me, I've yet to see a shooter. Small bucks, little does, turkeys and squirrels.

[buckhunter]

Really starting to scrap up a lot. Found a few new ones last thursday. My bud had a moster make or freshen a new scrap today. Just couldn't get a shot at him. Going to try to get out this week some afternoon plus Saturday. Hoping to put some meat on the pole this week. The RUT is close.

[bigbrother]

My 2009 Pa archery buck. He was cruising for does tuesday night. Was late to my stand after work and was only there 20 minutes when he came by. This just proves that when you're supposed to kill one, you kill one.

[gd357]

BB,

Beautiful buck! Congrats on a fine whitetail.

gd

[petey]

Yeah, she's a beaut. I guess the bar is set now...can't let big brother best me this year. Well if he does, oh well. Definately a DANDY buck for the area he shot it in and congrats goes out. I'm happy for ya bro!

Starting to see a lot more crusing activity, so about time for me to get back into the tree. Hopefully the one I've been hunting will rear his head.

[bigbrother]

Thanks for the nice comments all.

I'm packing up and heading to Ohio now. I can be really selective now about what I shoot as I have lots of vacation saved up and originally planned for the rut here in PA. So I'll be sitting in a tree in Ohio most of next week.

Good luck to everyone!

[buckhunter]

My partner got a nice Doe on Monday. We are seeing the rut really get moving. Refresed scrapes and that type of stuff. Going to hit it pretty hard over the next 10 days or so. Found the shed of the one we are really looking for yesterday. Its amazing how they can go from a small 6 to a big 8 in one year.

[bigbrother]

Apparently the bigger bucks are locked up with the does right now. I've seen very few deer, some young bucks and yearlings by themselves. Hopefully, over the next couple of days, the big boys will be back on the prowl. I don't think the warmer weather has been helping much either. As a hunter I've got lots of excuses though! Too much of this, too little of that LOL.

I'm sticking with hunting travel corridors close to feeding areas. When they finally do move, I should see them. Good Luck All.

[gd357]

The GM of the company arrowed this giant in central Ohio a week and a half ago. 187" gross 9 point.

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/qq221/gd3006/bartsohiobuck.jpg

gd

[bigbrother]

That's an awesome buck! Just the possibility of one like that being in the woods is what keeps us going! Congratulations.