Sout Side Camera Pics 9/26/2010

2010 Bowhunting Opener (Danny and Jason)

Dates: Saturday 9/18/10
Location:  The Land, ECO
Morning, afternoon, evening or all day: Morning

Time: 5:15 - 9:00

Wind:  Moderate from W/SW
Temp: 64-67 degrees
Weather: Scattered t-storms to the north. Experienced heavy rain which tapered off to drizzle by 6:30 am
Who: Danny and myself

Game: Whitetail, opening day of 2010 bow season
 
Sightings: Two smaller bucks on the way to our stands, got within 10 yards.  We spooked another deer out of the beans.  Danny had three deer in the "Sand Box" before shooting light, more than likely the two deer we saw on the way to our stands.

Comments:
While the weather wasn't ideal, there's something about Opening Morning that is special.  Danny and I met in the Quarry nice and early (4:45) accompanied by thunderstorms, a pretty steady rain and occasional lightning.  We decided to push forward for the first "sit" of the season.  We both had planned to sit on the north side of the property.  Danny in the "Sand Box" and me in a new ladder stand by the wood pile.  A few days earlier, Danny and James had set the stand as well as planted a small food plot around it.  I was pretty excited to try it out.  I was thinking that the deer were going to wait for the storm to pass and then start moving. However, when Danny and I saw two sets of eyes staring at us from just inside the wood line on our way to our stands it was evident the deer were on their feet.  We literally got within 10 yards of the deer, which was close enough to see they were two smaller bucks.  The nice thing is, we didn't completely spook them, however our presence was enough for them to turn and trot deeper into the woods.  Then a few moments later, as we rounded the second finger, we spooked a third deer out of the beans.  Danny and I went our separate ways as he followed the field road into the woods, towards the Sand Box, I stayed along the woods and made it to the Wood Pile stand.  As soon as we split, the skies opened up and we were greeted with a good old fashioned downpour.  Luckily for us, it only lasted a few minutes.  Danny had early action, as the deer that we had spooked earlier (we think) were hiding out in the sandy area in front of him.  A third deer joined and they kept Danny awake for the waning minutes of darkness.  Of course, they were gone by the time it was light enough to shoot.  I never saw another deer, however I did have a larger animal move behind me in the early morning darkness.  Since we were deer hunting, I'll say it was a deer ;)  The rain stopped, but the skies remained overcast for the rest of the morning. 

Food Plots Are In

I was able to sneak away from the home addition and the newborn for a few hours on Sunday to finish planting the remaining two food plots on the pre-hunt agenda. To my surprise the mosquitos were not as bad as I thought they would be. I walked away with only a few bites. I mowed down the tall grass and brush around my ladder stand on the south side and planted and fertilized the food plot seeds. It should be a nice spot due to the fact that it is a heavy traffic area already. I was also able to get into the ravine around the cedar stand with the tractor and I mowed all of the undergrowth and brush that I could reach. I even dropped a few dead elm trees to open up the new food plot to more sunlight. I have plenty of seed left over to plan more plots, but unfortunately it is getting too late in the season and too close to the opening of bow hunting. It is my hope that these food plots will give the deer a reason to hang around "The Land" and give us more opportunities to bag some quality deer this fall. If they are a success, we will have to look into planting more food plots in other strategic locations.

James

Pre Season Prep

Update on Pre Season Prep from James via Facebook:

Danny and I put up a new tree stand on the north side near the old wood pile/fire pit area. I had a ladder stand left over so we put that up. We also planted a food plot all around the stand. The mower worked well in the woods to clear out the undergrowth and to expose the dirt. However.......the tractor wouldn't start so we only got the one done. We were/are planning on doing two more. One around my ladder stand on the south side and one around the cedar stand. I would like to do one near the pines, but I'm not sure if the seeds will take in that sandy soil.

Pre-Season Prep

Danny and I had some time before Belinda Reuter's funeral, so we decided to head out to The Land to hang Danny's new stand in the pines overlooking the Sand Box.  The stand turned out really nice.  It's in an awesome location overlooking a couple well used trails and scrapes.  We also moved my camera from the First Finger to overlooking the Sand Box after noticing many fresh tracks through the wet sand.  Hopefully this spot will produce more pictures and a few dead deer this season!!