fly Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 This year camp consists of a Kodiak canvas tent instead of my travel trailer. It's not bad, but have to figure out a safe way to stay warm when the temps drop below 30. A space heater powered by a generator isn't enough. This year I introduced my son to tree stand hunting while my dad hunted in the cafe most of the time. It was hard hunting with zero deer seen on the first two days of the three day season. Day two saw 40 degrees, rain, and 30mph winds. As I drove through the hills on the forest road a branch fell on my car denting the roof. Below is one of two stands I had set up. While the weather conditions for day two were terrible, the conditions for day three were perfect. Twenty-five degrees, sunny, and calm. I planned to be in the stand before daylight but instead I got to put my spare tire on. I felt like the dad from Christmas Story - it was race against the morning sun. I got it changed and we were only 30 minutes behind schedule. I got my son settled in his stand then hiked to mine. I got set up at 6:40am. Right at 7am I heard then saw a deer walking up the hill towards me. It was a mature doe with a fawn in tow. I watched as they slowly walked towards me. There wasn't a buck in sight so I decided to take out the doe once she got to the 50 yard mark and turned broadside. After the shot the deer jumped straight up - I knew it was a good hit - she didn't go far. This was my first hunt with my new Savage 20 gauge bolt action shot gun. This gun is very accurate for a shot gun, but extremely particular with ammo. After trying Winchester and several other sabot slugs I was ready to take it back. Then I researched it and found that Remington 3 inch accutips were the slug of choice. Well, they sure are. After a long drag out we finally got back to the car. Another deer season is in the books along with some great memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 Congrats on the doe Frank! Even with a few obstacles it sounds like it was still a fun deer camp. I don't know about that tent business lol. We did it a few times not long ago, and it made for some long miserable nights. Second gun season can be especially brutal in a tent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 Congrats on the doe Frank. Sounds like you had a run of the kind of luck that seems to follow me most the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 Thanks Tim and William. It was a tough year, but hunting in a state forest that used to belong to your ancestors is pretty cool. The trails are actually marked the Lyerla farm trails. I only use the tent for first season. I may try the Mr Heater for next year. Any one used one before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted November 25, 2015 Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 We actually use the big buddy heater pretty regularly. We have the hook ups to use a big gas grill lp bottle instead of the little bitty bottles. It keeps a room about 15X10 at deer camp (we call it the poker room) fairly warm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 Thanks for the info Tim - I just ordered a Big Buddy (with the quick connect hose for a 20 lb. propane bottle). On sale at Cabela's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 That outta keep er warm enough to be comphy with a good bag....not sure I wanna do that anytime soon....congrats on the doe Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 very nice doe, frank. i hope your new heater keeps you warm. i prefer a wall tent and a wood stove. we could sit around in a tee shirt, with below zero outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Always a good story from Fly. Congrats on the doe. Did your son see any? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Yep Steve - thought of that but I'll probably have another truck and small travel trailer within a few years. Right now I have that small Honda CRV and it's crammed getting everything in it. Wall tent and stove wouldn't fit and wouldn't be a wise economic decision. We are not in camp much anyway. We hunt before sunrise and hunt till after dark. We usually take a lunch break and drive 15 minutes into town - my cousin is the cook at the local cafe and has been for a long time. The hunting was tough this year smha. We hunted hard (my dad not so much - LOL) for three days and the only deer seen by my son, my dad, or myself was on the last morning. I saw the doe pictured above and what I assume to be her fawn. That was it! Generally I get one maybe two opportunities at a deer during the three day season. If I'm picky and let the little bucks walk I often don't get a deer at deer camp that year. The hunting is never that great but what public ground place is? We go here year after year because it's tradition. My father introduced me to deer hunting here, my dad started hunting here way back when IL first opened up the deer season. My cousins, deceased grandparents, and other relatives have or still do hunt in this area. The county we hunt has about 15,000 acres of public ground to hunt. Some of the land used to belong to my great grandfather - he sold it during the depression. The trails we hunt are marked with our family name - which is pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 28, 2015 Report Share Posted November 28, 2015 very nice doe' date=' frank. i hope your new heater keeps you warm. i prefer a wall tent and a wood stove. we could sit around in a tee shirt, with below zero outside.[/quote'] Thats what I'd want to do that too Steve, the older I get the more comfort I want...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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