Not this year!

My last hunt of the season....The deer won! Old Hunter lost! To put the success rate into perspective, I went out hunting approximately 40 times. This year alone I was 0 for 40. The previous 9 years I was 5 for approx. 375 hunts. Those 5 were all does; no mature bucks walked past my stand. Anyone that tells you hunting is easy, they are lying to you!

Since it is the new year, I have a few hunting resolutions:
1. Clear shooting lanes by end of June
2. Create a small food plot in the woods...early May
3. Mow lanes in the woods so the deer have an easier time walking...deer travel paths of least resistance...they are just as lazy as humans are
4. Move a treestand to another tree
5. Remove autumn olive shrubs from my dad's property i hunt...these are very invasive and not a native species.
6. Rake a path to every hunting stand to remove any fallen limbs or sticks by end of June and cracking of branches alerts the deer to my presence
7. Practice at the local archery range...taking my daughter and son along
8. Help my buddy Dreamer clear the north side of a ditch with chainsaw
9. Keep in shape..eating healthier..more fruits and veggies
10. Buying a chainsaw to make a lot of my resolutions possible

Have a great new year everyone!

My last hunt

Tomorrow in the morning will be my last hunt of the 2009 season. I might not have shot anything to put in a starving persons stomach which I feel bad about because I had a few opportunities that I passed on...if you remember I usually donate my deer to the FHFH..Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, but I did feel I learned from all of my failures and will move on to next season.

Even though without a doubt I always felt I was set up properly, I never did see the monster buck walk under my stand, go by my setup blind, or ambush point. I felt that any given moment a deer would step out and I would get my chance. However, a meatless freezer is my proof that nothing of measurable antler size deer came by. How many others did the same thing? I bet a lot.

Hunters in the NW Indiana area will definitely be anticipating next years season. Hopefully the weather cooperates and the corn will be taken out before the deer rutting season.

Tomorrow, my philosophy is ...."if it's brown, it's down." Any doe or buck that walks within 30 yards will be taken.

Happy Birthday GRANDMA G

Enjoy your day!

Here are some pictures of today's outdoor adventures:





Dancer's wet gloves...funny!









Since it snowed over the night, we decided to play in the snow....The snow was alittle dry, but we did manage to make a decent snowball...just not large snow ball types for a huge snowman. Hunter and Dancer became cold very fast so we were only out there for 20 minutes tops...which was okay by me because I forgot to bring a hat and gloves.

No skill

I'm finding that when I believe I might have the perfect setup...good wind direction..so on and so forth...I just don't have any luck or maybe it's just that I don't have the skills to be a good whitetail hunter. But it is very depressing..all these years...no trophy, alot of good memories and peaceful times, but nothing hanging on my wall.

another try...

Going later today...fresh snow on the ground...deer hungry...I must sit by corn field or beans...I'm going to try corn this evening. I'll keep you posted....this has to be the day!!!!!

Okay the craziness..

People obviously know the passion of deer hunters because I just woke up to my alarm 15 minutes ago...while most are sleeping, hunters are sitting in the woods waiting for daybreak....but they have to get out there early so as to not alarm the deer. I usually get out there 1 hour before "shooting" time. THIS is IT!