The Bug House

Posted in video forum

My stand is about 20 yards to the right, and behind, the large pine in the video. It begins just as I shoot.

Posted the story in the Deer Hunting forum .... got it on the camera

Its a 10 second video, I find its the best option with this camera. Its not very exciting but I can try and post. He looks like a cub on the vid, but he's about ~135lbs .. I promise! Giving me "invalid file" error message .... I'll try to get it up

Turns out, I caught the whole Bear fiasco on the trail cam!

I had 3 does within 20 FEET of the stand, and I had no idea they were there. The path that they came down cuts through a break in a rock wall (they're all over the forests here) and is pine needle covered up until the rock wall. They took me by surprise as I was looking to my right, they snuck up on the left. It was about 1030 and I let my guard down and moved enough to spook them and they bolted. Snorting like crazy again, boy I've heard that noise a lot! I feel that I've kept my scent controlled, been using scent killer diligently. I also captured 2 bucks on the camera, one is a 4 pointer that I got a pic of in full velvet, and the other ......well, I haven't seen him before. He's big by VT standards, I only got him bounding away from the camera and doesn't turn until our of IR range. (Smart fella). His rack was wider than his butt and quite tall. Couldn't tell how many points, an 8 I think. I'm going to change tactics for Nov and Dec, I'm going to get a ground blind and put it uphill from where yet another rock wall funnels them through. Planning on setting it up and brushing it in later this week, and let it soak until rifle opener. We can take a buck with an arrow during rifle here then we open back up 2nd week of dec for ML and archery. I figure a blind will be much easier to sit all day in late season. In the meantime ill hunt the stand a few more times. I can't believe with all the action I've seen I haven't killed anything! Either was its been exciting!

It was a great experience Dawg!! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't the least bit upset, think I may have pulled a few hairs on my head, mostly the grey ones!! Lol! My buddy, who's been a bit of a mentor, put it to me thus way "There will be guys who don't see as much action all season as you saw on you first day!"

Very true, and I felt I was diligent about that, but it seems the most likely explanation. The owners manual mentioned several times he importance of that. I suppose it was just a hair off ....? But I can tell you this, that scenario will not occur again!!! I do feel lucky to have not been injured and to not have damaged the Xbow.

Well, I said it in my OP, ..... "To be honest I don't expect to kill anything but would be grateful to have an opportunity." , .....and I meant it. I had the most memorable hunt on Sun, my first from a treestand, and my first with a crossbow. Opening day it rained all day, I was chomping at the bit all day! I was out well before light the next day and settled in just as a hint of dawn appeared. Just after legal shooting time, 2 medium sized Coyotes came through, one doubled back and stopped right in the middle of the, now leaf litter covered, food plot .... giving me a great shot to my off side. I did manage to get him in the cross hairs, but just as I lined him up he took off. I sat until 11, then quietly backed out to get lunch, I also pulled the card from the camera. There were plenty of deer and huge groups of Turkeys still showing up, all does it seems. Until the last few days ... guess the Yotes explain that! So I was back in the stand by 2, it was a warm afternoon compared to the morning ... In the high 50's by this time, the wind was calm all morning and was gusty in the afternoon. I hadn't seen much since the dogs, lots of squirrels and chipmunks. I had been hearing one behind me all afternoon, then I heard a different noise behind me. I ever so painstakingly turned my head all the way to the right and see a Bear! Small guy, 150lbs or so. Just as I spot him he puts his head down behind a tree. I immediately stand up and sight him in the scope. I was leaning against the tree, and in a very comfortable position. I watched this guy for almost 15minutes I figure. He put his nose to the wind a couple of times, but had no idea I was there. After talking myself down a few times (my heart was pounding ... Kept telling myself "wait!!! Breathe!!! Wait!!! Breathe!!") I let one fly, AND ....... the arrow breaks when I shoot. It did fly but went under him I guess because it looked like a good shot for a second. I knew right away I missed by his reaction ... Never really got spooked, just jumped, then stopped looked around and walked off. I waited for a half hour, just to be safe, and climbed down, first thing I noticed was the nock was missing I suspect the arrow wasn't nocked against the string tightly, it just splintered right where the fletches are glued. I feel like I was diligent about that, but I don't think the arrow was faulty as I had flexed all of them the day before. As frustrating as that was, it was an incredible experience. I haven't been back since, hunted a friends land on Mon. I'm planning on getting back out before light Fri!

Haha! Never saw any of that stuff!

Nonsense.

No kidding, thought for sure you'd be in the 20's up there! We had 29*F here and widespread frost. Definitely jump started the foliage!

Good luck Shaun!

Tonight makes the second frost advisory so far. I'm usually out the door at 5AM ... It has been nippy!

Same here, tonight looks like it though. Mid 20's forecasted in many areas.

I hear each one of his posts coincides with a Sasquatch sighting.

Congrats to you guys!

Ugh .... That's not what I wanted to hear! Lol! I can see how that would be an effective strategy. initially i located 3 decent sites to put a stand .. but I only own one. My friend who helped me hang my stand was interested in putting one of his up on the property but at this point it's to late. I'm just gonna try my hardest and hope for the best. Talking with a couple coworkers who are experienced hunters and I was able to explain the situation in detail .. The deer were snorting like crazy, and they never bolted .. they just meandered away. These guys seem to think I'll still have a good shot after a month of no human activity. I hope they're right!

Wut up DAWG? Was just thinking about you last time I was on!

Thanks for the responses guys! This whole experience has been a source of pride for me, it's been a great season so far! I'm so tempted to sit again for that Bear, but I got busted when I climbed down last time. A group of does and a spike were about 60 yds to my 5 O'clock .... I never knew they were there! So the advice I've gotten is to stay out until the opener.

Last saw a buck 2 weeks ago, still in full velvet.

I never really maxed out my profile or kept photos here, just posted them, so perhaps I'm impacted less so than others. I do get consistent error messages when posting or just lurking. Many times I get error messages even when everything is working fine ... weird. Both on the mobile app and main site. I'm most frustrated by the mobile app, hasn't worked correctly in a LONG time!

Well, I've come to the point in my season where all I can do now is hope that my effort pays off. I was given a decent tree stand last year and then got permission to hunt on private land back in Feb. (60 acres mostly wooded with a year round creek and TONS of berries) I decided to buckle down this year and really try to earn a deer. I started scouting back in April and May during Turkey season and found the entire property to be well traveled by game. I came across an intersection where two main game paths crossed. I put a camera up in mid June, and so far have captured many Turkeys, a Bear, lots of Does and a couple Fawns, Spikes and one 4 pointer ~2.5 yrs. Thanks to this forum, I knew how to approximate his age! Then I raked about a 50X50 area and planted a couple pounds of a local seed blend I got from the Feed store. I even hauled, by hand, about 40 gallons of water about 4/10 of a mile from the creek. I figured it would give the seed a fighting chance...lol we got a bunch of rain after that and it came in great! I took bowhunter safety this Summer as well, I got a crossbow (Posted in the Xbow forum about that) and have put my time in and feel confident out to 40+ yds. And since I never hunted from a tree stand before, I practiced in the yard quite a bit. A friend offered to help me hang the stand last week and we did. To be honest I don't expect to kill anything but would be grateful to have an opportunity. It's been a very rewarding experience already! Another thing I learned here is different techniques for scent control. I've been diligent in making sure I suppress my scent imprint as much as possible. I sat this morning Hoping Mr. Bear would show himself but no luck. I did hang some paracord to lift gear and finished cutting a trail in. Think I'm all buttoned up. Now I'm just going to let it soak for the next 30 days and then plan to be perched in the dark opening morning!

I knew there were some changes, but I haven't kept up since moving to VT. I was surprised to see the non resident season fishing license drop $20 this past Winter however.