A Deerhunt In Progress - 2005

| Hunt w/Wells Creek Outfitters | Making Water | Last Week Of November 
| Double Kicker Buck Hunt 1-4 | Hunt 5 | Hunt 6 | Hunt 7 | Last Hunt | Pics & After The Hunt | 
| Food & Water | Back Home | Hunt w/ Billy Don | Double G Hunt | Opening Weekend |

Last Week Of November - Part 2

Tuesday morning I went to the Point and got inside my Matrix ground blind (from Double Bull) near my home made watering hole. It was 26 degrees and the water had ice on it. Some days when you hunt you're in "the zone" better than others. This was one of the "deep in the zone" days, I really felt connected to the wilderness around me.

That's the Matrix on the left. And me on the right, waiting quietly inside with my BowTech bow as my right hand man. (BowTech Justice)

Deer traffic today was along the fence behind me, which is odd because in the morning they are usually headed the opposite way. Two does and the solo doe in the picture walked by.

Totally noiseless, a flock of wild turkeys walked into view from the east at 10:37. The blind's netting was up so I left the camera on auto-fucus and caught them coming in.

Normally wild turkeys take their time because they are always on the lookout for something to eat. I figured (correctly) they intended to drink a little water. And I also figured I had a little time.

The flock was about 30 turkeys, about half were jakes and half hens.  Something got their attention across the fence and a hen putted several times.

Part of the group moved to the fence and I took a couple more pics. A jake walked up from the opposite side of the fence and hopped between the wires and joined them.

In a situation like this where the turkeys are constantly on the move the best way I know to check them out quickly is to use binoculars to look them over. I keep my binoculars (Nikon Monarch's) in an elastic binocular holder I got from Cabella's, so they are instantly handy, as well as out of my way. As I scanned a tight group I saw a nice beard ... but when I lowered the binocs I could not tell which one had the long beard.

Right away, I got the BowTech in hand so I'd be ready when I sorted it all out. The rear of the flock were along the fence, several were drinking, and a few had already drank and were leaving by going back across the woods road and walking to the west. I started to pick up my camera and get their pics drinking but I glimpsed the longbeard at the water surrounded by some hens.

The hens and my longbeard left the water all bunched up. I drew so I'd be ready as soon as the longbeard had some space around him. That was about 18 yards away, and he was walking, my pin was right on him ... but it felt like a chancy shot ... I let down. 

We'll get together another time. Who knows, it may be this afternoon. The entire flock walked off to the west.

At noon I changed clothes and went into town to the Red Barn Restaurant to eat. I told my buddy Dickie Wicker about the turkeys and asked him if he wanted to go tomorrow morning. He did and said he'd be at my house bright and early.

Afterward I returned to the Point but I didn't see any turkeys or deer. At dusk I heard coyotes howling in the woods.

A great day in the deer woods by any standards.