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 The unofficial start of hunting season, for me anyways, has always been the day the year- long wait ends and I find out about the draw results. This year was like a few others I’ve had – I was lucky enough to be a successful antler less deer tag applicant. I was quite happy about it, so I immediately called my friend Paul to tell him the good news. I was surprised to hear that I was number seven out of eight in our group that had received a tag - the most tags ever for our group. We all immediately knew it was going to be a good year – nature and luck permitting, of course. It’s a good bunch of guys in our camp. The founder, Harry, a very distinguished and accomplished man had been good enough to start it all off with his land and a modest but more than adequate camp. He has since, along with his sons and a few dedicated members, maintained the roads and building for more than 10 years now. I can only assume he has done all of this for the love of the hunt – something all of the other members of our gang are extremely grateful for. The camp has been there now, by our best estimate, ten years. The hunt had begun a few years before the building was constructed, and at 17 I was invited for my first deer hunt. Ever since then, 11 years ago, it has always been a priority of mine to get to the camp for the better part of a week to clear my head, spend some time with a great bunch of guys and maybe, if I’m lucky enough, get some shooting in. I’ve spoken to people that for one reason or another, can’t seem to understand just why it is that I would take part in such a thing. My response always goes in this order: 1) To spend time in and enjoy the outdoors. 2) Relax and escape civilization (among other things) for a week. 3) Shoot a deer. Of course, there are plenty of other reasons, but those are the main ones. Good thing reason number 3 is always the last in my explanation because for a very long time, that’s something I had never done. ;void(0)) That all changed in 2004. There were only 3 of us there that first Saturday. Usually the whole gang comes in – but due to a poorly planned wedding date, that had changed. I was had been standing on this particular watch for about 20 minutes when movement from the corner of my eye caught my attention. I was astonished when I realized that the movement was a deer. The adrenaline rush kicked in and before I knew it the small doe was on the bike and we headed for camp. It would seem the proverbial “horseshoe” has been in place ever since. Two days later I had a shot at what quite possibly could be the biggest buck I had seen, and may ever see again. Of course, as so often it is with the “big one”, it got away. Standing on the other side of a fast moving stream of water not 25 yards from a beaver dam, I took my shot. The deer was no more than 20 yards from me. Immediately, the buck jumped what seemed to be 5 feet in the air and moved like a freight train across the water and into the bush to my left. We were able to track it for a short distance, but after realizing that my bullet had only grazed the animal, my excitement immediately subsided and I felt horrible. I moped around the camp for the next day and night, wondering in light of the events of the prior two days of hunting - and given my many initial seasons of bad luck – if I would ever get a chance like that again. The Wednesday was mild and damp. The first run in the afternoon I was placed on a watch that I had perceived up until that day as unproductive. About 40 minutes after the run began I heard intermittent snapping of small branches and rustling in the bush in front of me. After listening to these sounds for the better part of five minutes, I had gone through all of the possibilities of what it could be – the dog, red squirrels…when I saw him coming. “Nice rack”, I thought, as I consciously and quite possibly told myself out loud to wait for the best shot. I has positioned myself in front of the only tree near the watch in an attempt to blend is as best as I could – only to realize later that I was much wider than the tree. The deer saw me just as he was about to step out onto the trail in the open. He froze for about 3 seconds and I realized that this may be it – and the only shot I had was the neck. I pulled my rifle to my shoulder and fired. He seemed to stumble slightly, but turned to run. As he made his first couple of hops he was running directly away from me, unlike the first buck I shot at. I drew my sights on the base of his skull, pulled the trigger and the deer was down. That was my redeeming moment for that season, and much mention was made about my horseshoe. Overall we had a good year and as a group harvested 6 deer. ;void(0)) The first Saturday of 2005 was unsuccessful but very encouraging. There was sign everywhere you looked. It was the first time I had dog punched, and that may have added to the lack of production for the day, however I’d like to think it was due to the absence of Bandit, Paul’s faithful hound. We all ventured home on Saturday afternoon, and Craig and I went back in on Sunday night. After a good night’s sleep we were ready to go on Monday morning. Armed with Bandit and 2 dog punchers that I am convinced are quite possibly the best in the bush, our group of seven headed off to the first watch of the day. After a 40 minute scenic view of the woods from a relatively high vantage point, shots rang out from the west. Harry had downed a fawn – a good and promising start to the day. I headed off to meet the next watcher up the road for the next run. From the back of Edwards’s Suzuki, I was discussing with him the positioning of our watches and due to the fact that we were dispatched to the last two, it was decided that he would go the furthest and I would remain on the closer side of the knoll that separated us. I learned later that Eddie was unhappy with that decision. Shortly after arriving I found a nice clump of roots and moss to sit on close to the trail. About 20 minutes after the announcement that the run had started, I saw a rocket of a deer bounding to my left – and coming from the wrong direction. I turned, aimed for the heart and lungs and the eight-pointer was down. We realized afterward that my shot was very close to a missed one. Again I gave credit to my horseshoe. Last run of the day Paul exhibited some impressive marksmanship with an amazing 100+ yard shot across a large swamp and through some tall beaver grass to down a good sized doe. My horseshoe ached as I helped drag the animal back to the trail.  Monday night proved to be a wicked one, with high winds and serious snow squalls that made the trek to the camp in the morning more difficult than it had to be for some of the guys.Tuesday morning was relatively quiet until the wind returned, and visibility was reduced to less than when the leaves were on. In the afternoon I had the opportunity to harvest 2 deer that Craig had skillfully pushed to me. Somehow I managed to miss a small doe that I could have hit by throwing my mitt. As I hung my head and walked to where it was standing when I shot, I noticed that the fawn, which came flying by initially, was still standing about 40 yards away, between me and some light brush. I made good on that chance, but it was a bittersweet kill. After that run the weather took another turn for the worst and there wasn’t a whole lot of motivation to go back out. Craig convinced us that there was enough light left and we suited back up. About 40 minutes in, Harry was shooting again. A very skillful shot had hit its mark, and after a short track, Roger finished the job. I left the camp on Tuesday evening and stayed out until Thursday night. Wednesday there were no deer, and once again, Bandit, the hound, was absent. On the last run of the day on Thursday, Paul shot a nice big 8 pointer – the biggest deer of the hunt. Craig pushed that one out as well. Saturday – the last day of our hunt – is historically a short day. Hunt the morning, clean up the camp and head out. Roger and Craig were almost through the run when a shot rang out. The dog was barking slightly to my left so I readied myself. I spotted a doe bounding about 200 yards away – an almost impossible shot through the hardwoods with no scope – but I thought it may have been the deer we had already shot at. I fired 2 shots in an attempt to find out, and to no avail. A short time later Roger announced on the radio that he had taken a nice buck – an accomplishment he had been waiting many seasons to duplicate. The animal could have been in several easier accessible areas, but we were happy none-the-less to heave the deer out. It was a great way to end one of the most successful seasons on record for our group, and for me, only raises the anticipation level for next season. So until next years’ draw, I’ll wait. Brian Ellas  ;void(0)) After a week full of high winds and trees falling,I figured opening week of the hunt, was going to be a rough one.When I headed out at 4 am opening morning,I was worried the wind was going to make it a long day,but my wife says to me,you just never know.I think to myself,she doesn't know what she is talking about. So with her wise words of wisdom I jump into the truck and head to my hunting grounds.Upon arriving,I can feel the wind in my face and it is to my advantage. I decide to hit my stand in the greens.I figured if their going to travel this is where I felt they would go.I lay my doe scent along a trail that leads to a bedding area,an get myself up the stand. The tree was swaying alittle, I thought it was going to rock me to sleep.LOL At times the wind would die right down,and it gave that eary feeling,like something was going to move in.Well it did.The wind had been blowing right into my face,and thats where everything we hear and learn went amiss.The deer came from behind me.At first I thought is was a trespasser.I had one walk in right from the same spot last year.But thats another story.Guess between my scent cover and the doe scent,he didn't pick me up.Buddy,he walked right to my stand and stood there for about 3-4 minutes.I was as still as a manican.I click the safety off,and ready for anything to happen. He must of had the doe scent,because he walked right to the path and started sniffing it.Instead of turning to where I had hung it,he turned to head out to where I came in.That was it.He turned facing away,giving me a great quarting shot.My questions regarding the 00buck,was about to pay off.Monday opener , 8:10am to be exact,I shot my first deer with a shot gun. He jumped and just trotted off about 30 or so yards and dropped.I gave him 5 minutes to expire, before I got down to retrieve and tag my prize. I had nailed him with 4 of the pellets,all in the heart/ lung area. This deer was a young 7 point.I had not yet seen this deer all bow season.Guess he was just passing through.It was somebody's lucky day. Stay tuned for more successful hunts. Coming Soon... | Deer Hunt 2006 the report | | Return Home | Fishing | Area Lakes | The Great Outdoors | Successful Hunts | Gallery | About Us | Contact Info | |
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