Legacy

I had a different stand in mind tonight also but the wind had other ideas. It's forcasted as NW but it is a bit more west than it is north here. The wind is calming down nicely. Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Big scrape opened up on the tree next to me... Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Back on stand for the pm. The rain in the morning kept me grounded as I'm sure it did for most of you guys. High pressure is rolling in and the wind is slowing down a bit. Temp has dropped about ten degrees from the morning high. A bit warm in the sun and a bit breezy but tuck in a perfect spot for the conditions. Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Some good pics there Billy!

No one would ever be foolish enough to argue the benefits of low impact hunting or the quality hunts vs quantity. We should all be invested students of both of these practices already. But that is a whole other discussion. My point was only to encourage everyone to go after those deer they have patterned. Early season is a great time for that (late season also). I have had a couple conversations as of late with guys stating they were waiting for "the rut" to go after "their" bucks. I asked them why they were waiting... The buck you are after is showing himself during the daylight and your not hunting him??? Neither really had an answer. Most guys I know would kill for 20 days in the field let alone 30,40,50. There is nothing wrong with picking your days but so many pass on hunting in the early season even if they have the opportunity. The season goes fast. Get out and hunt!

My take on the early season...Get out and hunt. If you have a big buck on camera right now and think you may have him patterned then the time to kill him is now. I feel most people are reluctant to hunt big bucks until the rut but don't wait for the rut. The rut can be amazing. But... the rut takes us into some level of chaos. Right now is time to kill a patterned deer. That deer wont be easy to pattern during the rut like he might be now. I am not encouraging you to hunt your best rut stands for the sake of hunting. I'm talking hunting patterned bucks. I know a couple of hunters that thrive on this way of thought. Their goal is to be tagged out in October and they have done it many times. They diligently hunt single bucks. Their cameras go out May or June and they hunt with their cameras. The targets are bucks they know are in the area. They scout and try to pinpoint what that buck might be doing, they hang a stand and attempt to kill him. Look, if other spots are not showing you the bucks you want to see then you should probably stay out of there until "the time is right". But a big buck showing up in the daylight in early season is a very killable deer. I have a stand that is proving to be one of those spots. I have had 8 daylight camera visits (5 in the am and 3 in the pm). My plan is sit in this set every time the wind is right until the camera shows me otherwise. The other way to look at this is... Time has a huge influence on success and putting time on stand is going to help your chances. Think of two charter captains with equal skill set. Captain "a" puts in twice the amount of time as captain "b". At the end of the season, chance are, captain "a" catches more fish. I know it is not quite that simple but as long as we adapt our approach to the time of year. It may create opportunity. Once again dont "ruin" your best sets. Hang an observation stand and do some scouting. Adjust accordingly. Food is plentiful and the deer are taking advantage. It is a great time to sit on food sources. No excuses. go hunt!

A few more big boys... Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

October 3 PM Plenty of deer on their feet this evening. All in the last hour or so before dusk. 5 Does/ fawns and 4-6 small bucks. All with one thing on their mind... Food!

An 8 pointer, 4 pointer and a button buck are standing by a field browsing on acorns. The 8 pointer says, 'I'm happy with my 10 does, we're really getting along.' The 4 pointer says, 'I'm happy as heck with my 5, they really take care of me!' The Button buck says, 'My two are all right, better than nothing I guess.' Then all of a sudden a GIANT 14 pointer walks out into the field. The three bucks had never seen anything like him before, they were in awe. The big buck made a huge scrape and pissed in it, rubbed a tree the size of a telephone pole and snapped it off at the ground! The three bucks looked on in amazement. The 8 pointer says, 'I could probably get by with 4 does........... Who really needs 10 anyway?' The 4 pointer says, 'You know.............. come to think of it, I only really use one or two of mine!' The button buck was silent, as the other two bucks look over to him in confusion. Suddenly the Button buck runs out into the middle of the field! He rips and tears up some grass........ pisses all over the place, snorts & wheezes, rubs his head raw on a tree, and chews a lickin branch clean off! Then he runs back over to his buddies. His friends immediately ask him, 'What the heck are you doing!?' I'm just makin' sure that big son of a gun knows I'm a buck!' Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Small buck just emerged from the corn... Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Out of work and in a tree in time for an evening sit! Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Pretty slow evening hunt. A couple deer in the field but nothing by the stand. Pulled a card tonight that had zero deer pictures on it. Craziness.

Holy poison ivy Batman! New set tonight. Dry edge of the swamp. Mosquitoes and poison ivy every where. Deer already on their feet. A doe with two fawns making their way out of the hardwoods and a yearling buck in the middle of the field. Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Test test test

Rain has me sidelined this morning! Here's some more deer please no to pass the time... Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

First Blood award!!!

October 1 pm 57 degrees NE wind 5-10 mph Overcast becoming rain at dusk Highlight of the night was putting eyes on two shooters that I have on camera. "Curley" and "Damage" as they have been named we're on their feet at 545 this evening. They made their way around me about 70 yards out until they disappeared into the neighboring woods. 6-8 does around also. Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

After some trail trimming, tree trimming, and pulling a card I'm finally on stand for the pm. Wind doesn't seem consistent and I can see anything with all these damn leaves. Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I guess I can't complain. I got three years out of this pair of rubber boots but this mornings weather showed me it was time for a new pair. Thank you Amazon prime. Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

October 1 50 degrees NE wind 5-15 mph Cloudy Misty rainy Opening day. A lot of deer on their feet this morning including a buck standing in my parking spot and i bumped two groups of deer on the walk in. Had something moving behind me this morning but never got a look at it with all the leaves on the trees. A bachelor group of five bucks kept me busy for an hour as they ate and sparred. Last deer of the day was a doe cutting through the corn headed to a know bedding spot. Rain started to get heavy just after 9 so I snuck out. Great to be back! Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Single doe cutting through the corn... Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

First deer sighting from the stand.. bachelor group of five bucks. Biggest amongst them is a 2.5 yo 8pt. Sparring, chasing each other. Great to see. Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

I am! It's not bad. Rain quit at daybreak. Light NE wind now. Sent from my XT1585 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

Good luck boys! Be safe and shoot straight.