Opening Day

[Don]

Well, opening day of ML season in NH opens tommorow. Forcast is for showers. After 5 or 6 years in the deer woods I have yet to make meat. I've washed my hunting clothes in sent killer soap,used cover sent on them, said my prayers to the Great Spirit for a successful hunt and read and reread all of the tips offered by the many experienced hunters on this site. All I can do now is ask you guys to rub a rabbits foot or do your deer dance or what ever it is you do to wish a fellow hunter good luck.

Thanks in advance,

Don

 

[roundball]

And remember, there are several ways to measure a successful deer hunt:

1) Don't forget things you need;
2) Don't get lost
3) Don't hurt yourself;
4) Don't hurt somebody else;
5) Get a deer;
6)
7)

(even going home empty handed from a good day in the woods is not a total loss)

:winking:

 

[Stumpkiller]

You've got to be pure of heart and mind. Or at least have a good spot figured out.

Put your hands on the sides of the screen. "Lord, look down on Don and grant him the clarity of vision to see the deer before it sees him, the wisdon to know when to shoot, and the presence of mind to shoot straight and true. Amen"

There. Done what I can. You've got the hard part, now.

Luck favors the well prepared.

Sit still. You've got 95% better of a chance at getting close to a moving deer when you're holding still than the other way around.

Face the wind. Your scent blows downwind - ain't no deer going to walk into your scent (no offense). Look in the 270

 

[swank]

Great advice from Stumpkiller! One other thing came to mind when I saw that you were from NH. I grew up hunting with a couple of outstanding hunters from upstate VT. Something they taught me to be mindful of there that I would assume is still applicable in NH and many other places given the right topography and weather is to remember thermals. If you hunt in hilly areas this can be important. Even if there is little wind, remember that rising (warm) temperature will carry your scent up a ravine or hillside, conversely cool air will carry your scent down into the valley. Pick your stand or the area your hunting to accommodate this if possible.

I also can

 

[CG6018]

You have received some sage advice here, Don, and using it will certainly enhance your ability to make meat tomorrow. I think there is only one more suggestion I would make, and that happens when that first deer offers your first opportunity for a killing shot. You must select that spot behind the front elbow and concentrate your sight alignment there as you s-q-e-e-z-e the trigger. Very few deer are killed by simply aiming in their direction and yanking the trigger, hoping for a hit. If you have confidence in your rifle and your ability to shoot it, nothing will keep you from making meat, other than a poorly selected shot.

I was a graduate student at UNH in 1968-69, probably before you were born, and always wanted to hunt your state, especially up in the area of the Kangamangus Highway. I still have visions of Larry Benoit tracking down a trophy buck in the Green and White Mts. of Vt. and NH.

Good luck tomorrow!

 

[trent/OH]

It was 12 or 13 years between when I started hunting and I shot my first deer. I hope you don't have to wait as long. I started doing well hunting when I sat down as a strategy, instead of moseying around. I've stumbled across a few deer while stumbling around, but those are few and miles between.
I cannot stand to hang out up in a tree. I don't have a bushy tail personally. However, I put a piece of plywood on top of a 6' stepladder, tie it between a couple of trees for stability, put a cushion between my tail and my ladder seat. and SIT THERE. If the underbrush isn't too thick, or if I'm watching a field from the edge, I'll sit on an inverted bucket.
Knowing my attention span is too short, I take an book with me. Read a paragraph, scan the whole woods. My first ML deer was while I was reading "God Is My Co-Pilot".

 

well don lol
i think i did something wrong , hope i didnt do you in .
see i went out as you requested and made smoke , did a little dance , shook my rattle and said "grandfathers here me !!!" well ahhhhhh there was this loud BOOOMM and things where looking promising !
then it started to rain :shocking: :: :redface: i think i got the whole thing wrong mmmmmmmmm :hmm: dont know what to say , boy is my face red mmmmmm actually more brown but lol well that to but thats beside the point lol

Anyway I think the only thing left out from above is pre season scouting. Imo doing a good scout is just as important, maybe even more important then holding still and X-raying the woods in front of you. You have to get out there and do your homework. Look for used trails, scraps, and hair on fences, tree line patters and different types of feeding areas. Where the most amount of these signs cross is where you want to sit

After you get that all done give me a holler and we will do some talking about elk hunting, that

 

[Don]

Well Guys no luck today. Trent, I think I'm going to start using your stratagy, in fact that is what I did today. I parked my behind on a stump overlooking a 50 yard stretch of cut over and listened and watched. Walking only has gotten me a view of a white tail heading away from me at breakneck speed. I admire your persistance Trent. Its been about 7 or 8 years for me. Seen lots of deer running but none that have presented a shot. Thanks for all the support and advise guys. Keep rubbing the rabbits feet for me, there is still plenty of season left.

Don

 

[Huntinfool]

Wow guys, I don't think I could stand going that long without taking a deer. I've had my flintlock going on three years (this will be the 3rd season if it ever gets here). But I took three deer with her the first year plus one with my matching flint pistol. I only took one last year (with ML that is.) the weather was really bad.

The first year I hunted exclusively with "Ole Heartbreaker" even during regular firearms season. Last year I only used her during the ML season, which is after all other seasons in WV (late Dec.)

Good luck to ya, I can hardly wait. I usually stay put if I'm in a good place. And if I do move, I move slower than molasses in the winter. Covering no more than a couple hundred yards in a whole day. Stopping frequently beside a large tree if possible, to break up my outline.

After all if you've scouted you should be where the deer are. It's best to stay put, that's how they see you first they are motionless and it's easy for them to pickup your movement.

Another thing I've watched the moon charts for several years now and I find they are very accurate. Of course local weather and hunting pressure play an important role also. But if the moon guide says peak movement will be at a certain time I make sure I'm in the right place to catch em moving!

Again I say good luck to you. But as Stumpy said, "Luck favors the well prepared" :redthumb:

If the weather is half way decent I'll be flintlocking it again during reg firearms season. :redthumb: Last year was like a monsoon season.


Chuck
The Original Huntin' Fool
&
Kanawha Ranger Scribe