2017 Phil's hunting journal

Finally made it out tonight. Felt darn good to be in a tree. Had 6 turkeys playing hide and seek most of the night. All hens. With about 30-45min shooting light left I had 9 deer read the script. NW winds. They were walking south along the corn edge and to my west. My stand choice was perfect for the set up. Couple decent sized does in the mix. Seemed as if most were button bucks. They got to where I crossed the RR tracks to walk to my stand and one of them got nervous. Then they all got nervous. A few started back the way they came. Then they turned as if they were going to proceed. Then a couple more acted goofy. Next thing I know they were all trotting back the way they came. Frustrating. I'm sure they took any bucks which may have followed the same path and changed their minds on exiting this direction. Pulled a couple cards on the way out. No big boys. More trespassers. Not a shock my shooters have disappeared. Was a relief to actually see deer.

Hunts: 1
Hours on stand: 3hrs
Deer seen: 9
Deer in bow range: 9

brock ratcliff said:

A solid start, Phil. No one wants to fill their tag on their first sit anyway!

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I don't know. Tagging a big boy on the first sit and freeing up my schedule sounded good. Then I could hunt here and there as I could fit it in to stuff a doe or button buck in my freezer. lol

Had to escort a guy with Hank tracking his deer onto this property Friday night. Went right thru the thickest stuff and hated to do so. He had the respect to contact me and get permission to recover, the least I could do is give him my best efforts to find his doe. So on my way out I pulled a camera card. Had a nice one on camera just after dark. Would have put him real close to my stand at last shooting light. I doubted I would see anything tonight as much buggering up the place as we did, but I hunted it anyway tonight.

Second hunt in the books. First on this property. It was a steady wind and strong wind up until the last 30-60 minutes. 45min to go I had a doe and her fawn read the script. Came by and offered shots. I passed. Last 15min of light and I saw a couple deer cross the field to my south. RIght at last light I saw a big bodied deer do the same. Probably 100-150yds away. Couple minutes later a second big body did the same. Got out of the tree and had to wait inside the woods for 3 does to cross the field. Thought I was safe to head back to my truck and had a fourth one blow and that was it. Decided I may as well just walk out. I'm not counting any of the deer after I climbed down.

Hours hunted: 3.5
Deer seen: 6
Deer in bow range: 2

Season totals:
Hunts: 2
Hours on stand: 6.5hrs
Deer seen: 15
Deer in bow range:11

Best hunt of the year tonight. Might be in the top 20 for best hunts all time. Farmer was picking corn to my west. Didn't seem to bother the deer. They moved as if nothing was happening. Had a year old buck come thru, then 2 does. He circled around behind them but I wouldn't exactly call it chasing. They came within 40-50yds. That was early. Later I had 3 does come out SE of me despite the WNW winds. They were joined by a fourth doe. They fed out into the picked bean field. They were looking at something 300-500yds away. Pulled the binoculars up and saw a really nice 8pt. Likely a 3yr old I've had on camera. Peeked around the tree blocking my view and saw 6 more deer. No antlers. The 8pt was pestering them. He ran them off the field and ended up running the other 4 out as well. Light was fading quickly. The field was cleared. I heard some rustling coming thru the woods. Stood up, pulled my bow off the hanger, and got ready. I sure wish it was a better look. He looked to be a 3yr old but his antlers had mud and muck all over them. I couldn't tell a lot about the rack. I don't think he was a shooter or it would have been tripping my trigger. I simply couldn't tell a lot of his rack. He was in bow range though. He appeared to have walked by a camera on his way towards the field. May kick myself later. Oh well. It was a fantastic hunt!

I believe this is the buck I saw. Big body. Looked decent from the side. Just not what I am after.



I believe this is the 8pt who was harassing does. Probably 3-4yr old. Doesn't look like he will ever make the cut. Would love to see my son get a crack at him. Not sure if Garrett will hunt this year. He isn't acting real interested at this point.



Hours hunted: 2.5
Deer seen: 15
Deer in bow range: 1

Season totals:
Hunts: 3
Hours on stand: 9hrs
Deer seen: 30
Deer in bow range: 12

brock ratcliff said:

Great update! It's going to be a lot of fun the next couple weeks!

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I'm jacked up. Seeing 8 does? We didn't have squat here last two years. Laying off the does a couple years has helped. My kids are going to kill evening hunts next week. Fitting in some hunts could be my biggest challenge.

First morning sit of the year. Walking in at 645ish the farmer was already turning dirt in the cut bean field. Got to my stand 1/4 mile or more from truck. Never spooked a deer until I was putting the LW stick onto the bottom of the tree and one jumped up and ran 5-10yds. He was within 10yds of the tree. Only saw shadows and heard movement. Wasn't a small body. Got in the tree. Around 8am the farmers brother started up the combine. At least there was a chance they may push some deer out of the little remaining corn. They didn't. I did have one 120ish buck come trotting across the field 40-60yds out. Unfortunately, I had work and family obligations and could only sit for 2hrs.

Hours hunted: 2
Deer seen: 1

Season totals:
Hunts: 4
Hours on stand: 11hrs
Deer seen: 31
Deer in bow range: 12