Blast From The Past

Scrolling thru my online photo album at Google Photos I came across a collection of digital images dating from November 2007, a couple of decades and three dogs ago.  It even predates this forum by a couple of years.

Pictured here is my Inky.  A female Labrador retriever and all-around flusher and fetcher of upland game birds including grouse, woodcock and pheasant. We enjoyed a love affair; she was my girlfriend.

She's still a pup in these photos and this was our first trip to South Dakota to chase pheasants twenty years ago.

That last photo is precious as I thought it was lost.  Now it's found and will find its way to our powder room wall. 

 

October Night Skies

In our part of the northern hemisphere the full moon appearance following the Harvest Moon is  generally known as the Hunter’s Moon.  Its appearance is typically in October - although it can also reveal itself in early November.  Last year it appeared on October 6. 

Before European settlement Native Americans knew it as that time of year when people would hunt deer and other animals to lay-up stores of food for the winter. The Anishinaabe people knew it as the Falling Leaves Moon while the fall bird migration led the Cree to refer to it as the Migrating Moon  With the arrival of lower temperatures it has also been called the Ice Moon or Freezing Moon.  

The October full moon will be at its largest overnight on October 25.  Nevertheless, If you are blessed with cold,clear viewing conditions it should appear full both tonight and tomorrow evening.

From October 2022 - Full Hunter Moon on the left, Jupiter right of center. 

Bachelor Party

Yesterday morning the Red Rocket and I ran the trail camera trapline as part of our routine chores.  

 It would seem, on account of the digital evidence, that there might just be some dandy buckaroos roaming about the joint.

For your Sunday morning coffee relaxing viewing there is this...

 

 

 In the last photo can you spot the second whitetail? 

Better yet.

Want to hunt here? 

Getting Ready

Doggo and I have plans to take a road trip.

Yup, we're going west to chase pheasants in South Dakota along with some of our pals.  This will be her third trip and who knows what it is for me.  Three dogs later I've lost track.

Most days our walk now includes a shell vest for me and Mr. Browning accompanies us.  You just might have an opportunity to shoot something for dinner.  

For the dog it's mostly about the routine.  She knows that as soon as I go for my boots the pacing begins. Donning a shell vest the pacing intensifies. Strapping-on the e-collar is further confirmation.  Grabbing Mr. Browning from the bench leads to a rush for the door.  

Wisconsin's pheasant opener is in a couple of weeks.  Between now and then there is a possibility of kicking up a grouse, doodle bird or wing shooting some doves. 

Which is why The Frau calls it hunting.  If it was easy it would be called shopping.   

Meanwhile, from Friday's walk there was this.

I'm not sure if Ruby is laughing or grinning... 
 

 

The Tunnel of Doom

Years ago I got it in my head to cut a trail from east to west (or west to east) to see if the deer would prefer to walk on it.  I wasn't necessarily doing this for their convenience as there were two deer stands positioned within roughly a hundred yards of each end - the new Stand of Death 2.0 on the east, an older (but in really good shape) metal tower to the west and a third wooden guard tower in the middle.

The trail is a quarter mile in length and - yes - the deer prefer it.  I don't know if they're lazy or easily duped; although I think it is the former and not the latter.  

As the trees have grown-up the trail has gotten tighter.  Nevertheless, if I mow it and trim some branches a couple of times each year I haven't had any trouble keeping it open.  As a matter of fact, in some sections it has become more like a tunnel.

The Tunnel of Doom

Some of you may think that this affords the hunter an unfair advantage.  I would disagree.  With their keen sniffer and sharp vision it is the whitetail who generally has the advantage.  Think of this as creating three ambush points.  That is fair chase.  If we put out piles of corn and shot the hapless deer casually feeding on a corn pile that would be an unfair advantage.  While it is perfectly legal (so far) we don't hunt deer over corn as that is mere shooting and requires no patience or skill.  But I digress.

Here's some images recently captured before, during and after.

Mama and the twins...

 

Me on the New Holland Boomer going...

And returning....

Me and Ruby servicing the trail cameras on this particular day...

And the tunnel.....

 

How To Build A Deer Stand

I've built a lot of deer stands over the decades; all most too many to count.  In the early years it was a simple matter to pick-out an appropriate tree that could accommodate a home-built platform with a railing or a manufactured stand you could hang from the tree trunk.  If you chose to construct something out of lumber that was harder and required near constant attention to repairs as trees move with the wind and those platforms eventually become unstable or dangerous without inspection and repair.

All of that ended with the arrival of the ash borer.  Because mature ash trees, with their straight, strong and tall trunks are near ideal for mounting a deer stand; everything around here is dead or dying and not longer suitable for use.

So about ten years ago I commenced-upon a plan to gradually construct free-standing towers fashioned from pressure-treated lumber to replace those that had been in trees and to supplement four additional metal factory-built stands.   

At last count, and including this stand, there have been added eight wooden towers supplementing three metal stands.  The oldest metal stand was replaced by the newest wooden tower a couple weeks ago. 

This location is a really hot spot as the existing stand enjoys views south and west of several hundred yards in length.  So effective is the deer hunting here that this stand is named The Stand of Death.  Lately, dark humor extends that term to anyone bold enough to hunt from a slowly deteriorating stand.  Hunt from it at your own peril. 

I purchased that metal tower 30 + years ago from Fleet Farm.  It's rusty, corroded and pretty rickety.  It is basically unsafe.  Furthermore when you look at it you can see that it's difficult to enter and egress, especially in cold weather when you have to wear bulkier outerwear and heavy boots.  And there's no space to stand-up (safely) and stretch.  The replacement is gonna be luxurious.

 

Having performed most of the preassembly work myself there is a certain amount of muscle memory and record-keeping to guide the purchase of hardware and lumber for the project.  Nevertheless, every time we embark on this there is always a return trip to town for something that we missed or additional needed hardware.  If you've ever constructed a deck you would understand the process.  With the exception of concrete footings it's similar.

Most of the work begins under the lean-to on the barn; a handy place as it's protected from the elements, has power, storage space and a deck that allows sawdust and debris to disappear.

The latest iteration of tower stands features a 4X4 foot footprint fitted with rails bolted to the perimeter joists and the attachment of manufactured brackets that allow fitting the platform to four legs.

Most everything is preassembled along with additional parts cut, numbered and lettered for final assembly in the field.  Ladder, legs and additional lumber in the pick-up truck.  Base and tools in the mule.

 

That's Nick installing lag screws while everyone else is chatting about the recent release of another season of Ted Lasso.  Don’t get the impression that this is one guy doing all the work while the other four pick their noses. This was sweaty labor and a real group effort.

The tower is then slowly winched into an upright position, positioned and leveled by hand by means of human muscle.

And then further braced, blocked, a ladder and additional guards against fall added to the upper deck.

This stand presently is furnished with a camo-painted cafeteria chair; however, a swiveling pedestal boat seat will eventually be permanently installed. 

The following video starts at the eastern portal of what we call the quarter mile long ‘Tunnel of Doom’.  At the opener you can see a couple of flag tapes on the left and right side of the frame. 

 

As I shared at the top, the new Stand of Death (SOD 2.0) enjoys a magnificent view of two shooting lanes. 

 

 

The Middle Guard Tower is similarly endowed to include a new 100 yard-plus shooting lane to the east; further enhancing the original north-south lane. 

 

Thanks to those that were able to join-in on short notice to help assemble this and clear offending branches and other obstacles. I cannot express my gratitude enough.

 

There’s still work to be to be completed before the bow opener so check-in with me about your availability.

 

The food around here is pretty good. 

 

Cheers people; and eat more deer!

Wassup With The Fellas

If the weather holds the fellas and I plan to deploy a replacement deer stand today to replace the oldest of the factory-built steel tower stands dating-back to the early years.  If all goes according to plan I'll post photos and the backstory when I have time.

Meanwhile, there have been some other fellas showing-up on the trail cameras from time to time; those with the velvet antlers..... 

 

 

Leap of Faith

There is nothing more graceful than a running deer.  Actually, they leap more than run and are capable of vaulting over obstacles up to 8 feet from a standing position.  With a running start, they are capable of soaring over fences as high as 10 to 12 feet; although 8-foot fences are generally an effective deterrence.  They are also capable of horizontal leaps (forward motion) spanning up to 30 feet.  Which is quite remarkable.  

When I uploaded this photo from a trail camera recently a couple of things occurred to me.  If a hunter was in the stand pictured would the deer run towards the hunter?  And would the hunter be able to get-off a shot and knock one down?  The animal furthest away is roughly 40 yards distant and hauling ass.

I have personally been witness to the unpredictability of the direction startled deer will move and as a general rule they do not run towards hunters; unless, the wind in in the hunter's favor.  If upwind it is possible a hunter will remain undetected; the deer will not smell or 'wind' him. 

Although in the image here a deer running head-on at the hunter (likely caught unaware) and and closing the distance rapidly it is a leap of faith and the deer has the advantage. 

For the hunter this is a low probability shot situation and also would be a leap of faith to take a shot with a high probability of wounding.

I would pass; and await for a broadside shot at an unsuspecting whitetail standing or strolling.    

You? 

Winter Hunter Returns

Beginning last month and through February this constellation can be found traversing the southern night sky.  

Orion - a familiar image situated on the celestial equator - is one of the most recognizable constellations in the night sky.  Finding Orion's Belt is the easiest way to locate the Orion Constellation. Orion's Belt is formed by three bright stars; Alnilam, Mintaka and Alnitak. 

Named for Orion 'The Hunter' of Greek mythology the constellation's brightest stars are blue-white Rigel and red Betelgeuse. The most noticeable part of Orion is Orion’s Belt – with the alignment of three stars sure to catch your eye.  Hanging from The Hunter’s belt is a sword identified as three fainter stars. The central star of the sword is actually not a star at all – it is the Great Orion Nebula.

In the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere this time of year Orion appears to be lying on his side – with the Belt stars pointing upward – when he rises in the eastern sky.

click on the image for a closer look

This photo was taken a couple weeks ago with my iPhone 14 Pro at midnight, from the porch, looking south.  The unusual brightness is the timing of the photo with the December Cold Full Moon.  A larger and brighter Super Moon.

As the story goes - Orion hunted along the river Eridanus along with his ever-present dogs – Canis Major and Canis Minor.  With his dogs Orion stalked various celestial animals including Lepus the rabbit, and Taurus the bull. In the mythology of the ancient Greeks Orion was in love with Merope - one of the Seven Sisters forming the constellation Pleiades.  Alas, Merope spurned Orion’s advances. Tragically, the heartbroken Orion met his end when he was stung by Scorpious the scorpion.

Nevertheless, the gods were kind and they consequently fixed Orion permanently in the heavens with his two dogs. The creatures he hunted were placed in the sky as constellations as well. With foresight the gods exiled Scorpius to the opposite side of the heavens so that Orion would forever be safe from harm. 

Visibility peaks this month and January.  Raising a toast to cold, clear skies and star gazing.   

Cheers!

Deer Camp

Including myself we hosted six hunters here for the gun deer opener and successfully added eight whitetails (four of each sex) to the camp meat poles.  For various reasons the number of  hunters has skinnied-down recently yet the kill count stays about the same.

 

Anyway, the trail cameras continued through the entirety of the ruckus and I thought it would be fun to share some photos of their comings and goings.

 

 

Including these of one of the guys heading out to his stand before sunrise who was tailed by a fox.

 

This weekend we're hosting my business partner, some of her family and anyone else that wants to join the fun for the December antlerless hunt.