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2004
Deer Hunt - A Bowhunt In Progress
Oct
26: December Tree - A Core Rut Area
Setting
Up December Tree | Today's Hunt | Links
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Before the Bowhunting.net
Deerhunt with Billy Don I wanted to check an area I call the December
Tree, it is historically a great place to hunt during our rut. The core
scrape is under the limbs of the same cedar tree every year. The tree is
is in a long, narrow strip of woods bordered by a coastal field and a grain
field. I drove to the edge of the coastal field, climbed over the field's
fence and checked to see if December Tree had any scrapes yet. I found
bad news.
A bunch of big, stout flowered
weeds were growing under and around the tree exactly where the scrapes
are usually made. A buck couldn't make a scrape under this tree without
a lawnmower.
Then I checked the 4 stands
I have in this area. One had one of the early climbing tie on ladders and
it is simply not as safe as they later came to be. Plus the treestand's
wooden seat had been chewed all up by squirrels. They needed replacing.
Not to worry. This time of
year, my truck I always has limb cutters, treesteps and a treestand or
two, so I got them. First I cut down the weeds from underneath the December
Tree.
 
The December Tree Before
(L) and After (R).
Then I took down the climbing
stick and replaced it with the EZY Climb Rod Treesteps I bought from Cranford
manufacturing.
I promise you that there
are not many bowhunters who have set more treesteps than yours truly. Over
the years I've twisted treesteps of all kinds into hundred of trees. And
more times than not it was a chore getting the steps to start biting into
the tree -- and then it was tough screwing it in tight.
But not since I started using
Cranford's
EZY treesteps!
The hard work is gone.
Actually, the Rod step is
new to my step collection, I bought a similar looking one twenty years
ago and my foot slipped on it's smooth surface coming down. I got roughed
up some so I never used that type again. Frankly I had doubts about this
particular version of Cranford's steps. But when Karen Cranford showed
it to me at the ATA show it looked real good and I agreed to give it a
try.
Good idea! These EZY Climb
Rod steps got started quick and were easy to screw in tight. The step's
self-tapping screw got the job done quick.
 
I zipped up the tree
in no time. When I climbed down to get the treestand replacement I
noticed the solid grip the steps have. It has a wide step area for secure
footing and it is roughed so your foot doesn't slip. Very nice.
 
The EZY Rod Tree Step
step surface. NorthStarr Treestands Big Easy hang on stand.
The treestand I hung was
a Big Easy made by NorthStarr
Treestands. The stand attaches with ratchets and was easy to hang.
The platform was very sturdy. I selected the stand because it has a Pivoting
Seat. I sat on the seat and pivoted right and left, there was no noise
of wobble. I like this stand a lot.
Afternoon
December 26: The Hunt
This afternoon I want to
see if there is any rut action around the December Tree of in the area.
I checked the tree and there were not any scrapes yet.
So I went to the stand I
replaced, climbed up and got ready.
Just after 4:30 I heard a
deer coming fast on the trail a few yards behind my tree. I held down my
camera and clicked the go button as a doe raced by. (It came out a little
blurry but after all the deer was running.)
I pivoted and looked into
the woods where it had came from. Nothing in sight.
A minute later I grunted,
saying "Here I am, where are you."
An answering, high pitched
bleat sounded and in seconds I saw parts of a deer in the trees. It stopped
and bleated again. I grunted again, "I'm here."
Without hesitation the deer
came ... and stopped directly below me. A doe. Looking and bleating into
the woods.
 
The first doe runs by
on a trail 4 yards away. The next doe stops under my stand.
The deer found the trail
of it's boss doe and moved off briskly.
The buck that followed seconds
later came like an express train, full bore, loud, through brush and all,
downhill from me instead of on the doe's trail. Gone as quick as it came.
A young 8-point, in chase phase.
I didn't see anything else
but that's fine. The rut is not here yet, but the chase is coming on.
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