Thanks all for the well wishes! Here is the report...
I was hunting with two buddies in an area that we hunted last year, but was not open to scouting before this weekend. We went out in pitch black darkness of 5am and got loaded up and off we went. As we hiked along, I kept a flashlight on the ground for tracks and found NOTHING! I was not feeling the love...
Well, we got to where we were going and split up. I found what appeared to be a good spot and set up for the dawn. The flying leeches (mosquitoes) darned near carried me away! I think I lost a pint of blood this morning.
As dawn arose, I would occasionally hear a non-descript noise, but nothing consistent. One of my partners walked past after about a half hour of daylight. A short while later, I got up to scout for sign. Well, I found abundant amounts of deer tracks, racoon tracks, hog rootings, and gator tracks :shocked2: - those were only about 30 or so feet away, and were fresh after last night's rain. Still, no critters. So I still hunted a bit with no success.
I figured now was as good a time as any to regroup and come up with a plan. Then I heard the hogs! They were rooting and having a good time at the end of a pond nearby. I worked my way over there and got REALLY close - but could not see them for the brush. I could clearly hear them though. Unfortunately, the brush was so thick that when we tried to go in, they heard us and got spooked.
Well, to bring this drawn out story to an end, as we were making our way out there were deer tracks EVERYWHERE across where we walked in. :cursing:. As we walked on, I spotted a squirrel at about 10 paces. The CVA Mountain Rifle spoke, and the roundball being pushed by 80 grains of fffG inflicted injury upon the squirrel. I am concerned though. I didn't get a pass through....
His entire head just disappeared. Should I up my load for squirrels? :haha: Maybe next time I will get something a bit bigger to sweeten the pot...