The past few weeks I've been scouting the woods behind the park where I live. Is not my land lord's property but it seem like no one goes bck there any more. I found two old make shift deer stands and one I brought back with me and repaired. I set up in one about two weeks back but didn't see any deer that morning. I did see what I think was a grey fox or a coon come by right at day break but I couldn't get a shot. I finally decided to go back in but before I did I popped a squirl off a tree with my .30-30. Poor little thing, there was nothing left.
That same day I set up the repaired stand at a different spot. There is an old road that comes from another property and as you continue to go south the woods get thick, then there is a creek and then marshy power lines. When I could finally get to the power lines I noticed what seemed like a bedding spot. The tall grass had small trails cutting across and in spots along the tree line the grass was pushed over in patches. As I was making my way back through these dence wood from the marsh to the creek I heard something large start off from across the creed stomping and cracking twigs. Couldn't see it but I knew it was big. So I set up at the end of the road and into the woods a bit toward the creek.
When I went out the next morning I got up in the old stand but I didn't feel comfortable and soon came down and tried a new spot. This was still off the road but to the right instead of strait in to the thick. I set my little camo folding stool by a large tree in an area that wasn't so thick facing east with my back to the road. The woods wasn't so dence there. I draped my camo burlap over me and just waited for a bit.
Then what do you know. A doe headed strait toward me. She got close enough to see clearly through the brush. I took aim and.......


Missed.

I later found out that my site was off way to the left. The shot aparently passed right in front of her. She ran off south toward the creek but there was another doe up beside me to my right still creeping by even after I missed my shot. I never could get a good shot on her but it wouldn't have done any good any way since I didn't know at the time that my sight was off. She eventually crossed the road and I picked up and went back in.

I have much more to tell but I'll finish my story at another time.

To be continued.......

TJ....that is just plain unlucky mate. My 1st rule of hunting is check zero either prior to leaving the first opportunity I get once on the ground. It is just too easy to knock your sight and put it out of whack.

Re-zero your rifle and get your wee pink bum back out there and bring home the meat.

Cheers, Vince

Ouch! Fix'er up and get back out there, tjp. We want to here a happy ending.

I look forward to seeing photos of the deer Im sure you will have more sucess soon.

Now that I know for sure that there be deer in them woods, I decided to go and buy some corn. I set two piles out a litter deeper in from my last spot where I set up and I set up at a new spot as well. I don't know why I move from a sure thing so don't ask, I just did. Sure enough.......NOTHING! Only some pesky squirrels and hawks breaking dead limbs out of an old tree where about 15 or so were perched. So I picked up and decided to do some more scouting. But before I moved out I put my machete to use that I just bought after I about got lost in the thick part of the woods by the creek and could barley move around. I've been wanting a bi-pod or even a mono-pod for my rifle and I seen a nice size little oak sprouting up beside me. It had a fork in it just right to rest a rifle in so..... chop chop chop..... more money saved and it's naturally camo to boot.

I started back to where I seen the doe cross and found the tracks in the dirt road. This road circles around and back up the hill toward the home by the main road. As I followed the old road I spotted more tracks across going the same direction. As I looked across from that spotting to the first spotting, across the top of the horse shoe the road makes as it were, I could make out a narrow path as well as across the other side of the road out into the woods. So I scout out deeper toward the easterly direction of the trail and soon startle another doe up the hill 30 or so yards. I have rifle in tow but still didn't have a good shot. Plus I don't yet know what is behind my target and my shot would have been up hill. I keep tracking but a little more cautiously this time. Creep a little, observe a little, and so on. What luck would have it, another doe hopping along. White tail taunting me with every leap. But she wasn't as startled. She stopped and looked back and caught me as I was crouching behind the brush again about 30 yards give or take. I may have been able to stand and get a shot off but again I didn't know what was behind my target and maybe it was a good thing. I have heard shots fire off on either side of me in the distance on prior occasions. So she hopped off and I uttered a curse or two and keep tracking the area. I soon came to what seemed to be a path but if it was it had not been used in a while as it was grown up with seedlings and such. I determined it was a path later when I glanced at my feet and seen corn cobs scattered about. The old path was virtually nonexistent though to be grown up so. I tracked a little deeper in. I did stumble across a path very much in use as I followed it north toward the main road the find the dwelling of it's owner, and as I followed it in the other direction it found the owner's quant little deer stand very much in use. Luckily both points turned up no occupancy. I never actually got any permission to be on any of these properties as of yet so I’m trying to tread lightly.

After finding the deer stand I headed back to the road where I found the first tracks. I think I’ll leave this guys land alone and stay back near where my trailer park is. The land directly behind the park and to the west of the road, no one seems to occupy any more. I believe I can hunt there with out any repercussions from angry land owners. As for the property with the road I’m not so sure. As it happens to be though, that is exactly where I need to be. I gathered up the two piles of corn I set out and scattered it out by the road in the clearing. As I was studying where to set up at next, I noticed bark missing on a few trees in the wooded area by the road. Right in the path of where I missed my first shot. I would like to put the make shift stand up by there facing the clearing on the inside of the road where I scattered the corn but I fear it is too visible from the road to the owners that may travel back there. I intend to ask permission eventually and even offer to pay for the use, but until then I want to see what I can do to find their trail back the other way on the vacant property. If that property does belong to my land lord then I know there will be no problem. He is a good ol’ boy and wouldn’t care.

Well that is all I have for now. I have all of next week to try again. Vacation days for Monday – Wednesday and holiday time off after words. Maybe we’ll have venison instead of turkey this year.

Happy Thanks Giving.

go to the local council and ask to look at land deeds or do a search online. it wont be hard to find out who owns the land. your local fish & game or whatever will also be able to help, ask the good ol boy himself he will know for sure who owns the land and if its not him he will know who to ask and may even do it for you, a word from the neighbour is a great introduction.

Here is an aerial view to better explain my position.



Now that I look at the trail from here and where I found the bed I may be able to find a spot to set up near the old stands. Its just a little thick through there, no clear shot.

well that certainly is close to home.If you cant find a good spot you could get your rifle sorted and go stalking. put on some soft soled boots/gumboots and sneak around quietly INTO OR ACROSS the wind and see if you cant just bump into something or better still see it before it sees you. then you get to carry it home to the freezer.Most of the hunting for deer is done this way in NZ it works you just have to be quiet and take your time.
as for the squirrels... I have to buy squirrel tail for tying fishing flies!!!!! mind you though 1 goes alooong way.

Mocassins, 12ga slug gun, stalk/jump shoot that sucker.