Bambi Whacking 2021-2022

AlBeight said:

That was always my understanding as well. Summer hunt with rifle up until bow season, then again after late muzzleloader. Maybe I always did it wrong, but I don’t think so.

Edit: found this on DNR site, rules regarding time frame are vague at best....
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/DMP_General-Conditions.pdf

The specified COMAR 08.04.03.02 is equally as vague, but both do reference the wearing of orange during specified hunting seasons, so it sounds feasible that it’s okay.

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Doco Overboard said:

The boys are starting to let em have it. If you got some Sika woods nows about the time to get it on if you can make it out. Late morning sniffing going on pretty frequently past couple days.

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Doco Overboard said:

The boys are starting to let em have it. If you got some Sika woods nows about the time to get it on if you can make it out. Late morning sniffing going on pretty frequently past couple days.

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KIBarrister said:

Shot an 8 pt last night (despite my night vision issues) 10 minutes before closing. No pictures because it is an absolute ghost. I tracked it with a friend almost a mile into a soy field; great blood trails right up until they just stopped. Went 5 hours total, with the last 2.5 trying to figure the evaporated blood trail. Nearest field edge was 1/4 mile from that spot. No more blood, no more tracks, and nothing on thermal. Back this morning and still nothing, to include buzzards.

Found the arrow and confirmed pass through, vitals hit, not a gut shot (all of which is what I observed in the scope). I’ve never just lost a blood trail in a dry farm field before. Debating whether it’s even worth it to continue the search after my kids football game today; based on the blood I’m confident he was dead last night while searching (big pools, some foamy, aspiration spots) and with this weather I can’t imagine even if double digit hours of searching finds it there would be useable meat left.

As an aside, always respect your crossbow. I’m not used to using cranks, but with this Ravin I am. I had precocked two hours before, forgot, and then proceeded to ready an arrow because I saw a hot spot on thermal. Crank handle freewheeled a dozen times before I took my thumb off the clutch, with a couple fingers taking a full force blow (yes, it really hurt/s). A relatively mild “hard way” lesson for hunting all things considered (and thankfully the design of the Ravin seems to have prevented any damage), but after consideration I’d rather share my embarrassment in the hopes someone benefits from the reminder!

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Ecestu said:

What thermal are you using?

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KIBarrister said:

Flir Zeus 640 2-16x50

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KIBarrister said:

Shot an 8 pt last night (despite my night vision issues) 10 minutes before closing. No pictures because it is an absolute ghost. I tracked it with a friend almost a mile into a soy field; great blood trails right up until they just stopped. Went 5 hours total, with the last 2.5 trying to figure the evaporated blood trail. Nearest field edge was 1/4 mile from that spot. No more blood, no more tracks, and nothing on thermal. Back this morning and still nothing, to include buzzards.

Found the arrow and confirmed pass through, vitals hit, not a gut shot (all of which is what I observed in the scope). I’ve never just lost a blood trail in a dry farm field before. Debating whether it’s even worth it to continue the search after my kids football game today; based on the blood I’m confident he was dead last night while searching (big pools, some foamy, aspiration spots) and with this weather I can’t imagine even if double digit hours of searching finds it there would be useable meat left.

As an aside, always respect your crossbow. I’m not used to using cranks, but with this Ravin I am. I had precocked two hours before, forgot, and then proceeded to ready an arrow because I saw a hot spot on thermal. Crank handle freewheeled a dozen times before I took my thumb off the clutch, with a couple fingers taking a full force blow (yes, it really hurt/s). A relatively mild “hard way” lesson for hunting all things considered (and thankfully the design of the Ravin seems to have prevented any damage), but after consideration I’d rather share my embarrassment in the hopes someone benefits from the reminder!

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Ecestu said:

Decided to go have a sit on public land. Didn't even break out the tree stand. Grabbed the folding chair and bow and headed to my favorite spot. Wasn't expecting much. But I did bring out a pair of antlers from last year's kill. I hopped on the call, rattled, and waited.

I get antsy easily so I stood up to have a stretch after about an hour of sitting. Without effing fail, after I stood up to stretch my back with a couple torso rotations, I felt it. Buck was staring at me, so I immediately froze. Of course the bow was out of reach, so all I could do is hope it doesn't dart. It didn't jet, so I thought I was in the clear. The trees are thick, and I figured as soon as his head is behind the tree I can drop my phone (lol, I know, I know) and grab my bow. That kinda worked, but when I finally had the bow up and aimed, he was quartering to with his front leg and head barely visible with the rest behind an oak. I just needed him to take one more step. Wasn't happening, because now I had his full attention. He stepped backwards, turned, and was off. Son. Of. A. Bitch. Kicked myself for my short attention span.

I decided to rattle one more time in hopes of bringing the decent sized 4 pointer back. Bow in hand. The woods had my full attention. Not 5 minutes later, this scrawny 2 pointer came bebopping by. 20 yard chip shot...

And I take back the scrawny part after dragging this SOB a half a mile.

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lazarus said:

Nice! Might be small, but doesn’t look scrawny. He looks well feed to me.

I’ve yet to have any success with calling. I haven’t tried rattling though. Though I don’t tend to try calling much. And when I do it’s either in my reasonably busy rural residential property on 4.5 acres. Though my back woods creek runs all the way down in to the park a few properties down and deer tend to bed on my neighbor’s in the bamboo there during the day. Or on public land.

At least for now I plan to hit public land for early muzzleloader this year. Probably going to just bring my tripod stool and hunt the ground. At least for Thursday morning. No chance to scout this year and I’ve been “disappointed” in the past when I’ve hauled my stand in, climbed up and day breaks and I realized I can’t see sheep from there. Guess I shoulda scouted…

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Ecestu said:

Decided to go have a sit on public land. Didn't even break out the tree stand. Grabbed the folding chair and bow and headed to my favorite spot. Wasn't expecting much. But I did bring out a pair of antlers from last year's kill. I hopped on the call, rattled, and waited.

I get antsy easily so I stood up to have a stretch after about an hour of sitting. Without effing fail, after I stood up to stretch my back with a couple torso rotations, I felt it. Buck was staring at me, so I immediately froze. Of course the bow was out of reach, so all I could do is hope it doesn't dart. It didn't jet, so I thought I was in the clear. The trees are thick, and I figured as soon as his head is behind the tree I can drop my phone (lol, I know, I know) and grab my bow. That kinda worked, but when I finally had the bow up and aimed, he was quartering to with his front leg and head barely visible with the rest behind an oak. I just needed him to take one more step. Wasn't happening, because now I had his full attention. He stepped backwards, turned, and was off. Son. Of. A. Bitch. Kicked myself for my short attention span.

I decided to rattle one more time in hopes of bringing the decent sized 4 pointer back. Bow in hand. The woods had my full attention. Not 5 minutes later, this scrawny 2 pointer came bebopping by. 20 yard chip shot...

And I take back the scrawny part after dragging this SOB a half a mile.

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Inigoes said:

But how many squirrels did you see?

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GSuders said:

My dad got this 8 pt last evening just before dark. Weighed 205 lbs on the hoof. Biggest deer he's ever shot.

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GSuders said:

My dad got this 8 pt last evening just before dark. Weighed 205 lbs on the hoof. Biggest deer he's ever shot.

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Biggie313 said:

Let's go boys. Early muzzle opens in a little over 8 hours. My 13 man club only has 2 guys here for this season... Lame

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