Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

	Lee, agree it has been too quiet in here for much too long.
	The hunters in here seem to go into hibernation during 
	the off season :-)

	I was up in the forest behind my house pretending to be 
	jogging - need it badly! After I had come to my stopping
	point (I have to come down a steep hill to my house, and
	I *don't* like running down steep hills!), there they were,
	just 2-300 yds down the road: one (mother?) fox and three
	cubs playing in the gravel. Great! Wind was good, but
	cover could only be had on the side of the road, and walking
	there would be very noisy due to all the dry leaves. So
	I just walked very slowly forward - 2-3 three steps every 
	time the old fox was looking away. I got to within about
	100 yds and was discovered... The little ones sure are cute!

	Most likely I saw the same fox with her cubs last year,
	hope they make it through this year as well. The J�gers here
	(kanton of Argau, Switzerland) don't want too many foxes
	around - they put a dent in their hare populations. They
	even shoot them while they have young ones - now try to
	explain that to the bunny huggers! (Not that I like it too
	much myself :-( ). The problem is, the hunters are "too" successful
	with their rabies vaccination programs, so they don't loose
	many foxes to rabies and then the population gets too high
	for their taste. Me... I like watching the foxes.. :-)

							- Mike

    I was on vacation last week in the white mtns. of N.H. near Twin Mtn.,
    N.H. and on the first night we spent up there we saw a Bobcat. It has
    only been about the third time I have seen one. We ended up staying
    there that night. About four days later a deer ran across the road in
    front of us. It happened so fast that I didn't see the head but we did
    see the rest of the body and it was quite large. It was also by itself.
    This also happend on the same road as the bobcat. On another night
    camping just outside my trailer were 4 coyotes. Lots of deer, moose and
    bear tracks where we camped. It's great to see things like that in the
    off season. 
    						bret
    

    Coming home from camp in Vermont yesterday, I spotted four in a field
    in Wells. (About five miles from camp.) This was at about 10 AM. 
    Pretty far back, and the damn binocs kept fogging, but they all looked 
    fat and sassy. 

    Glad to someone started this note.
    
    I just got back from the cabin and was impressed with the amount of
    deer I saw just around the place.  I didn't actually go out scouting
    as there was work to be done.  Anyway, 3 does and a forked horn were
    feeding in the front of the cabin as we came up and the next morning
    while driving into town toget the paper, a 4-point and a 5-point were
    feeding along the road.  They were in velvet, but looked to be in great
    shape.  I did get some pictures because 5 points are not that common
    around my place.
    
    There is still a herd of elk, about 60 head, out on the breaks behind
    the cabin, but they should be moving to higher country soon.  All
    animals seem to have wintered well.
    
    
    
    Ken

    I've been seeing 2-3 deer nearly every day on my bike rides through
    Hampton, N. Hampton and Rye, NH.
    
    Mark.

    
    Been seeing a nice fat red fox just down the road from my house for the
    last couple of months. I have also sighted many deer this year. Looks
    like its going to be a good season for deer this year. Now if I can
    only locate ole mossy horns this year....
    
    sjn

    Just returned from NY.  Saw _lots_ of deer.  Went out a coupl of times
    just before dark and got some real nice pictures.  Saw several does
    with twins.
    
    Jeff

    I was at work (LJ02, Littleton, MA) last Thursday, when a co-worker
    called me to the window (~2pm), where a good sized doe was standing about
    10 yds from the window!  She looked at us (probably couldn't see too
    well thru the window) for a minute or 2 then scampered into some brush. 
    
    -donmac
    

    Here at MKO we see a lot of deer running around. I work with the
    security group, and I think it was last week. We got a call from
    someone in the building and they told us that thier is 3 deer crossing
    lot #5. They wanted us to got out and take care of them. By the time I
    drove out thier they were going back into the woods. We have a lot of
    wildlife on the property. It's nice to see at a large building such as
    these.
    
    							dan
    

    
    Checking the firewood supply yesterday afternoon I noticed an animal
    acting funny about 600 yds. in a field.  It sure was a coyote, looked
    to be harrassing something.  A look with my super cheapo (keep them in 
    the car) bino's and it looked like a fawn.  A quick run home for the
    rifle (less than 10 mins.) and the 'yote was gone.  Got permission from
    the farmer - he said the fawn was on his front lawn (looking lost) a
    1/2 before I stopped in.  As soon as I hit the woods I heard a yelp -
    the woods are DRY.  Watched a big doe about 100 yds. from where the 
    'yote was, eating without any hesitation.  A walk into the field and I
    discovered a den, no deer hair - perhaps the adult 'yote was wrestling
    with one of the young or it did take down the fawn...but I couldn't
    find the carcass...didn't look like anything had been dragged in the
    den.  Perhaps it dragged the fawn into the woods (that's where the yelp
    came from) so as to not attract strays to the den.  At any rate it
    seems both species are doing quite well...the 'yotes better perhaps.
    
    By the way the farmer was extremely pleased I stopped in and asked, and 
    invited me to "shoot all the damn 'yotes I want."  As much as I feel
    the 'yote population needs to be kept in check I don't think I could
    take an adult around a den.  Now come fall...
    
    Kevin

    On my way into work I have to drive by the house of a fellow archery
    hunter that has a shooting range set up in front of his house. He has a
    nice McKenze alert deer target to shoot at. Well, yesterday morning I
    noticed he had another grazing deer target. The only thing is that this
    target looked up and walked away. I just love seeing a lot of deer
    around. I think the doe was checking out the target to see if it was
    real..... Nice decoy......
    
    sjn

    
    
    Well I am glad to see some activity around this file, Iknow its tough
    but we alll have to keep good spirits and just remember that in 3.5
    months we will be all geared for hunting season. 
    
        I have been seeing deer almost every day either coming to work or
    going home at night. and last friday I saw a dead Yote along 81 up by 
    watertown NY. I wanted to stop but with the traffic there was no way.
    
    
        a trip to Pa next week should yeild some sightings.
    
    
                                                             Lee
    

    Saw this nice doe today. I was checking a out commucation tower and
    found her at the top. She bounced into the woods and disappeared. I was
    surprised to see her every in the afternoon. I usally see them out in
    the middle of the night. See looked good and healthie. Can't wait til
    hunting season opens....
    
    
    							dan

    I am suprised that Red Newsham has not input a comment on deer
    sightings yet.
    
    Red and myself joined a hunting club down in Hancock county Georgia.
    Hancock county produces some real good deer.  We went down in the
    god forsaken central Georgia hot, humid, muggy, living hell conditions
    on Sunday morning to scout around and place tree stands.
    As we were getting ready to pull into the property, Red was the first
    to spot a small doe feeding across the street.
    
    The land we are going to hunt this year is prime, deer land.  Tracks
    all over the place, etc.
    
    Hey Red, better sell your winter hunting clothes in the notesfile, you
    are not going to need them down here.
    
    Bob
    

    Last thursday on my way home from a softball game I noticed in the
    median strip between Route 93 standing right on the access road that
    the State Police use (mostly for radar) a fawn still with spots
    standing there. My fiance yelled at me for almost driving off the road.
    It's still a great sight to see. For some reason I see alot of fawns
    there. It's the one just north of exit 3 and just before the weigh
    station.
    						bret

I saw a decent herd of elk yesterday.  I counted 26, including a bull
with about 12 inch spikes.  They were still in velvet, and still growing,
though.  There also appeared to be more in the trees behind the clearing.

As you can probably guess, this is in Colorado.  About 3 miles sw
of Westcliff, to be exact.

Jerry

P.S.  If you want to buy any mountain property, Westcliff is the place.
It seems like the whole valley is for sale.

    Re. 1166.14
    
    	Sell my winter hunting cloths.
    
    	You've got a point there Bob. I could probably make enough
    	to buy a new rifle.....
    
    	Hunting down here in Ga. will seem strange this year. I'm use
    	to the Vt. cold and snow...
    
    	Red

    re:13
    
    Wow, seeing a deer on top of a communication tower and then jump into
    the woods. Must of been some drop for the deer.8^) Just couldn't help
    myself. I had to smile when I read it.....
    Reminds me of the story of the duck blind built about 30 feet up in the
    trees. One hunter says to another "Must be easier hitting the ducks
    from here. But must be hell on the dogs......
    
    sjn

    re.17 Don't worry, Red, when I'm up in Vermont in the cold and snow,
    I promise to think about you. And curse your soul!
    
    many ;-) ;-)'s
    
    Dana (whose budget this year is for a new parka)

    About 11:45am today a big doe (bigger than the one I saw a couple weeks
    back at LJO) bounded across the entrance road to TAY, right in front of
    the car in front of me. 
    
    -donmac

    At about 9:00AM this morning there were twin spotted fawns feeding in
    the tall grass behind LTN1 in Littleton.  Mom was nowhere to be seen,
    but certainly close.
    
    Maybe that was Mom you saw in -.1
    
    Also spotted two bucks in velvet and a doe near the Concord rotary a
    couple weeks ago.
    

    
    As an addendum to .10, I just heard from a friend about a situation on
    his neighbors front lawn recently.  It seems a doe and 2 fawns were out
    munching in the wee hours of the morning when a group of 'yotes decides
    to have a meal of their own.  It seems the fawns and 'yotes had the
    doe distracted enough to where they ended up taking the adult down. 
    Bits and pieces were later found.  What happened to the 2 fawns,
    dessert probably.  It's getting bad for the deer out there.  I'm
    starting to disbelieve a lot of wildlife reports about 'yotes not
    having deer in their main staple.  The source of the reports is
    ususally suspect, as it's Universty researchers who've done the reporting. 
    Of course the one report I did read on the VT 'yote was that in the spring
    as much as 80% of the 'yote scat had some sort of deer remains.  The
    conclusion being skeptical, fawns, injured, dead deer, etc.  But the
    overiding theme of the report was that 'yotes are not a significant
    predator of the Whitetail deer.  With the increased 'yote population
    it seems that relationship is probably changing....
    
    Time to think about carrying the rifle in the truck with me.
    
    Kevin

    
    
        Well I left my house at 1:00 am last friday headed for Pa. before I 
    got to the Pa border we had already seen 47 deer! made one doe stand on
    her head, she tried to run out in front of me. we missed her but I bet
    there wasnt more than a foot between us!
    
        While in Pa. I saw an average of 15-20 deer each day, I didnt get
    to go spotting since trying to put 22 square of shingles on in 2 1/2
    days you dont feel like doing much at night.
    
         also saw 2 red fox's, 1 yote, and more coons than you could shake
    a stick at.
    
    
                                                       Lee
    

    Spent Saturday scouting part of the 500 acres we lease in Ga. Saw
    more deer sign than I've seen in Vermont for the past 5 years. Have
    my primary stand area all picked out and can't wait for 10/24.
    
    P.S Now I know why you southerner's like the Deer hunting down here.
    	Compared to up north, their as abundant as woodchucks here.

    
    	I spotted a cow elk tag and an either sex deer tag at
    	my Colorado Springs residence Saturday!  :^)
    
    Clay

    When I was picking peaches for the farmer that lets us hunt his land, I
    saw a bunch of nice sized deer on the edge of the orchard in Gambrills,
    MD... It was sooooo cool!
    
    Christine

    DON'T FORGET RED, you said I can hunt your stand.  You might be looking
    forward to 10/24, but I am looking forward to 9/19.  NA NA NA NA NA!
    
    bob
    

    Went fishing last weekend at my brother's farm.  The pond is located
    back by the woods.  I was going to take my rifle, he lost 2 calves
    earlier (possibly coyotes), but I didn't.  I was out in a 12'
    flatbottom, looked up and 60 yards away a big coyote was standing there
    looking at me.  I thought about casting my plastic worm at him in
    desperation, but he trotted across the field, only to stop and look
    back from the woodline.  
    
    I gave one a crewcut last year while bowhunting (he ducked), maybe I'll
    try this weekend.
    
    Saw 3 deer on the way to work.  Big doe, 2 small ones.
    
    Wess

    Went scouting one of my 3 hunting properties this weekend, and a good
    sized doe crossed the logging road on the way in.  All sorts of deer
    sign.  Dropped off a 50 lb salt block.  Had a deer blowing at us in the
    woods.  God, I just can't wait until opening day.  54 and counting.
    
    bob
    >>>>--------->
    

    I was working in the garden yesterday morning around 8:00, clearing a
    new bed for lettuce.  I went inside for a cup of coffee.  When I
    returned, there was a set of prints right through the middle of the
    garden and the new bed.
    
    Since the grass was still wet, I could see where the deer walked out of
    the woods and then went back in.  About 1/2 later two dogs came tearing
    through the woods on the same trailed the deer used, but they stopped
    in their tracks when they saw me in the garden.
    

    
    Deer seemed to fair really well in my area.  In the last 3 days I've
    seen 25 deer, with 5 being confirmed bucks.  These are different deer,
    seeing they're in different areas, but all within 10 miles of the
    homestead.  I saw a first for me, triplet fawns...one healthy doe.  Two
    spike bucks I saw looked quite large for their antler size...I'm
    starting to get excited.
    
    Kevin

    I went out saturday about daybreak and scouted some.  It had rained the
    night before so everything was clean.  I found 3 fresh sets of coyote
    tracks and about 8 sets of deer tracks.  I couldn't believe I didn't
    see any deer, it was a perfect morning.  
    
    I hear ya' on the "starting to get excited", I watched 3 hours of
    hunting tapes this weekend and I am fired up!
    
    How many days until season, Harris?
    
    Wess

    47 DAYS FOR BOW SEASON!
    
    Bouncing off the wall already.
    bob
    

    Saw 6 deer, including 4 bucks in velvet, over the weekend. Mass.
    looks like it'll be interesting. Also, the big rack my buddy
    spotted last year wasn't taken, so...

      Went out for a ride yesterday evening around 7:30 or so.  Saw
    11 deer total, 2 of which I confirmed were buck.  A couple of others
    could have been bucks, but I could quite see the head good enough.
    Saw a doe and her fawn together, a group of six deer (two were bucks),
    2 that I'm quite sure were both doe, then a single one that might 
    have been buck.  All of them, btw, were within a mile of where I 
    will be bow hunting this year.  Time to start some serious scouting.
    BTW, all the deer I saw yesterday were grazing in the fields in the
    pouring rain.
    
    -Ron-

    Took my 2 1/2 year old son out yesterday evening, we saw a small buck
    and 6 does.  I found a set of tracks that I actually fell down into.
    Well, maybe not that big, but they got me excited.  I'll let him fatten
    up until Oct 1 and give him a try.
    
    Wess

    
    	While in the Madison area of Wisconsin a couple of weeks ago, I 
    spent two evenings driving some back roads in the rolling hills about
    an hour north and west of Madison.  From 7:30 to 8:30 each evening I 
    saw deer, including some impressive bucks.  The most I saw at one time
    was twenty in two fields across the road from each other.  I counted at
    least a hunderd + deer in all.  No binoculars....  Speaking of
    triplets,  in the fields where I saw the twenty deer, there were 3 sets
    of triplets!!  Off to the side was a bachelor group of three medium 
    size bucks (small racks), and down the road a couple of hundred more
    yards there was a beauty of a buck with an 18"-20" high rack...  
    Geez...  I've never seen anything like it!  They were everywhere.
    
    - Rob

    So, exactly now, where was that?
    
    bob
    

    I sure am glad to hear about all of these deer, especially the bucks. 
    My wife is 8 months pregnant and if it wasn't for hunting season
    getting ready to open, I think I would go crazy.  
    
    I took my son out again over the weekend.  We saw an 8 pointer, about
    a 13" spread(140 lbs), and 5 does.  I haven't seen MR. BIG yet, but
    sooner or later, hopefully, I will.  
    
    Wess

    I forgot to add this:
    
    I was helping a friend of mine move saturday when his Dad came over and
    borrowed his .223. 
     
    He was milking cows when he heard a calf screaming his head off.  He
    looked out the window of the milking parlor and saw a big coyote clamped
    on the base of his tail.  He ran out the door and within 10 feet of the
    coyote before it let go and ran off.  He then went back inside and resumed
    milking.  About 1/2 hour later, same scream.  He looked out and that damn 
    coyote had the calf again.  He ran back out and chased the coyote off.  
    
    Squirell season opens this weekend, hopefully I can get a shot at one
    of those yotes' too.
    
    Wess 

    
    	Bob, I think if you threw a dart at just about any area of
    Wisconsin that has mixed crop fields and woodland, you'd find deer.
    I can't imagine hunting an area with the amount of deer that I saw.
    And just to add to it, this was *before* dark.  I wonder how many
    buster bucks hang back until pitch black before arriving at the
    fields...  As an aside, I was just looking at an old issue of Sports
    affield and Wisconsin holds the U.S. record for B&C bucks killed.
    Now I know firsthand why -
    
    Rob
    

    Rob,
    
    	Isn't Wisconsin a little to far to go hunting from 
    	Hanksville ? Explain that to the wife....
    
    	P.S How's the new one doing ?
    
    	Red - Waiting for October 24th. 12 weeks of Rifle season in Ga.

    Red,
    
    Why is it that after seeing your picture in the photo album, and 
    knowing the conditions your used to hunting in, i get the feeling your
    going to melt down there... ;^)  I'm going to bet you won't go out and
    enjoy it till at least late november... nawwww... being out in any 
    weather is is a great day for hunting!!!
    
    looking forward to some detailed descriptions of your first few days
    out!! ;^)
    
    Fra 

    Red will be hunting in his cammo bathing suit, lying on his stand 
    "deck" overlooking the world famous deer eatery known as "Salt block
    and sweet feed."
    
    Red, how could you!
    

    Went back out yesterday evening and saw a small 6 point, a pitiful
    looking 5 point and about 8 does.  I got within 40 yards of the bucks
    without spooking them, tell me they don't know it's not hunting season.
    
    Wess

    
    Just got back from a walk around the Sheraton Tara pond
    (Nashua NH). I hope the ducks and geese keep this up. They started
    following and chasing me. Seems that a little girl and mother
    were feeding them (must have been about 20 geese and 50 ducks).
    When I walked by they figured I had food and chased me.
    
    Somehow I don't think it will work like that come October :-)
    
    --Bob
    

    They weren't bobbing their heads and winking at you were they?
    
    Wess

    My wife and I went out and checked our bear baits last night and we are
    three for three so far. We will put out three more this weekend so
    there will be a have a least a half dozen active baits out by the first
    day of bear season. One bait was left untouched but the old apple tree
    that I poured grease on was all chewed and clawed up. Looking at the
    tracks, it looks like this is a good one. My wife will be hunting this
    bait. It's her first time hunting and she's going to have a ten yard
    shot with bow and arrow. The second bait has a small one hitting it, 
    but there are a lot of berries and beeches in this area and it was a 
    real good stand as the season progressed last year (my stand). The last 
    bait we checked last night was about 5:30 and we caught a bear with his
    head in the barrel. He never heard us coming as this one is on another
    beech ridge and has a stream right beside it. We were within 50 yards
    of it on the four wheeler before it noticed us. Stood up on its hind
    feet and gave us a quick look before it ran off. About a hundred and
    fifty to two hundred pound range. It would have been a keeper if it had
    been 11 days later.
    					bow's are tuned and we are ready
    						t minus 11 days 
    						     gary c
     

    There aren't any bears here in northern KY(I wish there were!), but I
    went out scouting for deer evening before last and this is what I saw.
    
    I was waiting at the edge of a 40 acre clover field for a coyote to
    come strolling along when I looked up and saw a small racked 6 pointer.
    I watched him for about 3 minutes when I heard the farmer coming up the
    dirt road in his truck.  The deer looked up and started to get nervous.
    As the farmer came right by me I pointed at the deer and the farmer
    stopped to look.  Just then a whole freakin' heard of deer ran out from
    behind a patch of woods, joined the 6 point and ran across the field.
    I grabbed my binoculars and scoped them out.  5 bucks(1 nice 8 or 10
    pointer) and about 8 does.  I couldn't get a really good look at the
    big one because my heart was beating so hard I couldn't hold still.
    Man, do I wish bow season was here!  
    
    Hey Harris, how many days until season?
    
    Wess

    
    I been meaning to put this in for awhile and haven't but better
    late than never. Anyway a friend of mine was driving through Oakham
    MA and had a black bear run across the road in front of him. A week or
    so later a friend of his who lives nearby there had a goat and another
    animal killed and dragged off by a bear. I believe this was in Barre.
    A couple years ago Hubbardston which is close to those two towns was
    having a problem with bears eating the honey from bee hives. Looks
    like the bear pop. in MA is going up.
    
    Walt

    metro Atlanta has a bear problem.  There is currently a black bear
    roaming in the general vicinity of Alpharetta.  Per a buddy of mine,
    they have captured 35 bears in the metro area year to date, and
    released them back into the mountains.
    
    Wess, 29 days for bow season, and 64 days for firearm.  Now I know
    another reason why I bowhunt.
    
    bob
    

    Went back out yesterday evening in the rain and waited by the clover
    until dark.  3 bucks and 10 does(some of them fawns) came out to feed.
    Nothing impressive though, the largest buck a perfect 6 point about 145
    pounds.  The sad thing is that they were within 15 yards of my evening
    treestand(from last year).  
    
    MMWWAAAHHH    MWHAA-HA-HA-HAAA(evil laugh)!
    
    Wess
    38 days till zip time!

    The only deer I have seen alive ,do to lack of scouting, was on the way to
    work today. Nice size doe stuck in the median strip looking back and
    forth with it's neck stretched out. As I drove past it I looked in my
    rear view mirror and saw it hop back into the brush. I hope she makes it.

    Gus  17 More days until Archery Season!

    
    Good thing she was quick, either that or your aim was off again. 8')
    
    Your pal and tormentor
    Walt

    Aug 22: In last year's kill zone.   Armed with deadly vhs 56mm corder
    and two batteries.  Got into the stand early.....just had that feeling. 
    For the third consecutive scout trip......visitors.  This time I had
    dropped a fifty pound bag of carrots.  Not a good move, these guys
    nearly kept me there all night.  Next time fivelbs of carrots and the
    rest when I leave.  
    
    I now have 50minutes on tape of a 130-140lb spike that was a real
    clown.  I experimented a lot.  You can whistle, but not cluck.  The
    buck grunt gets attention but not alarm and not much effect atthis
    time of year.  A fairly load whisper gets no reaction at all.  Clearing 
    your throat also had no effect.  The fawn that came right up to the tree
    could hear my whispers and was looking all around.  It was clear that
    it had no idea what up was yet.
    
    The spike looked everywhere, but I was upsun and he could not make me
    out.  Velvet still on both bucks.  The second and smaller spike kept
    getting chased away by the first.  Would stay away about 20 min.
    
    When it was really getting dark, they left for bedding.  Came from the
    wrong direction because of road work in the morning kept them in
    feeding area all day.  Still haven't got a line on the big boy, eight
    pointer.  One more try....before 10/1/92
    

    Isn't filming "whitetails" in action against the law, or is that
    "White tails"?   Sorry, my wife is 8 months pregnant and I can't hardly
    stand it.
    
    
    I was pulling into my driveway yesterday evening after work, looked 
    My bow target was about 20 yards from where she was standing.  Maybe
    I'll get some carrots too?                                      
    
    

    Let see now, on the way down to hunting land this weekend I spotted a 
    deer feeding in the woods.  It's hair was a reddish tint.
    
    On the way back from hunting land, Red spotted a dead doe on the side
    of the road, and it's hair was tan.  It was also bloated.  
    
    What causes the hair to change color?
    
    bob to many days until bow season (19)
    

	Summer coats are usually red is color, but winter coats are 
generally gray.  This is the time of year they change coats.
	Jim

       I spotted a good size doe around dusk on sunday.  The strange thing
    is that it was in a small clearing next to the Lynnfield "99's".  Thats
    Lynnfield MA !!!  The "99's" is only 2000yds from the Saugus line.  I
    drive all the way to Nova Scotia to hunt and the deer are eating at my
    local watering hole.  Go figure.
    
    Jim
    

    	I got out bear hunting over the weekend and even though I didn't
    see a bear or any other large game I did get to watch a couple of
    Golden Eagles for awhile. It was neat to watch them ride up a thermal
    without beating a wing and then they soared right over my head, approx.
    30 feet overhead. Just goes to show that a bad day hunting is still
    better than a great day at work.
    							Bret

 Golden eagles?!! Out west, were ya?

    out east

 You sure they were golden eagles? I don't think they venture east of 
the rockies.

    It's possible that they could have been Immature Bald Eagles as they
    look like Goldens. They weren't hawks. Definately Eagles. I'll look in
    a bird book but I think they do come around here.
    							Bret

    I had an osprey fly over my car last week while at Barren River.  The
    state has stocked several pairs and I was lucky enough to see one.  It
    is the first one that I had ever seen.
    
    Wess

           Did some more pre-season scouting yesterday at a new
    area.  Jumped two deer!  They were bedded about 25 yards from
    the edge of a field I've been watching.  They didn't bolt with
    tails flagging, just sort of skampered off because they weren't 
    sure what I was.  I know where I'll be come sun up tommorrow!
    I've seen up to four doe munching on grass in this field, gotta
    believe that Mr. Buck will be around!  
    	   
               Psyched!
    
                     Bob  

    Bob,
    
    Saturday?  You scumbag.  Bow season is still 21 days off for me.  I
    have read 2 bow hunting magazines in the last 2 days and I can't stand
    it!  Good luck and keep us posted.
    
    Wess

     Bob
                      Those steaks were great last year I
                      hope+pray I can return the favor this
                      year. The stands are all set up.
    Good luck To All
    Mike G. ###------>   

      
      Only 23 more days till Bullwinkle gets tipped over (3 of them!).
    
     
    
     Mike_who_wishes_he_was_one_of_the_lucky_three_but_who_is_still_going_for_a
    good_time_not_a_long_time!
                                                           

    	Last Saturday (and according to some of you great guys my last
    weekend in freedom) a nice 8 point buck steps out of the woods right
    behind me, no more than 30 feet away. What really puts a damper on this
    is I forgot to pick up my bow license. AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!
    Then about 20 minutes later a big bull moose comes out of the woods
    about 75 yds. in front of me with a nice big palm on each side. He trys
    and stares me down but I won that contest. This one didn't bother me
    too much as I didn't get lucky in the moose lottery. But if I did I
    know where I would have gone if I hit that area. 
    			Bret_who_wishes_he_picked_up_his_archery_license
    

    I saw a dead doe on the side of the road, coming into work this
    morning.  She still had the white spots on her.  Poor thing.  It's
    sad to see a dead deer on the side of the road, yet I can't wait until
    opening day, 3 days. 60 more hours.  3600 more minutes.
    
    bob
    

    Bob,
    
    Well, it's hard to believe, but I think you are even "ate up" with deer
    more than I am.  Isn't it great!!
    
    I went out scouting evening before last and saw 6 does and 2 bucks. 
    Both bucks were about 140-150lbs.  One looked to be a 6 point and the
    other a small 8.  The are entering a 40acre clover field about 15 yards
    from my tree stand.  We can take two deer(only 1 buck), so I am going
    to try to hold out for a decent one.  
    
    Good luck this weekend
    Wess
    

    Wess,
    
    You know what happens don't you?  You see all the deer just before the
    opener, and then opening day all you see is squirrels!
    
    Looking for mr. goodbuck!
    
    bob
    

    Bob,
    
    	> Looking for mr. goodbuck!
    
    	Don't look too hard if your using my stand........
    
    	If you get a deer with one of your " STICKS " give me
    	a call.
    
    	Red

    Red,
    GOD HATES THE WORKING MAN!  Have you heard the weather for opening
    day?  It's going to be pissing on me all day.  Oh well, better in a
    stand in the rain, then in bed with the wife!
    
    Bob 
    TIME HAS COME AND I AM GOING APE#$%^!
    

    Re: Rain
    
    	Bob, Rain has it's advantages. A good time to hunt is early
    	to late afternoon after an all morning rain. Buck's tend to
    	go out early and re-establish the scrape lines etc as the heavy
    	rains tend to wash some senting away.
    
    	Good luck Saturday
    
    	P.S Remember, that 8 pointer by my stand has my name on it....
    
    	Red

>Oh well, better in a
>    stand in the rain, then in bed with the wife!
 
 Been married for awhile, I see... :-)

    Doctor, you beat me to it...
    
    although as I recall mr harris just got married... whats that tell
    ya...  ;^)  fooo hooo
    
    Fra

    I hear you on "Better off in the rain", my wife is due with our second
    child right at opening day!  I think she planned it that way so she
    could keep me at home.  I picked up an extra pager, she's out of luck!
    
    I went back out yesterday eve to scout a little more and about lost my
    mind.  They bulldozed the bedding area yesterday morning to "make it
    look better"!  I didn't see a single deer.  Hopefully by Oct.1 they 
    will be settled down again, I think I'll read the "Hunting Clearcuts"
    note again.
    
    Stick one for me!
    Wess

    
    Wess,
    
    	I can see it now.  You're on your stand, deer moves into
    	shooting lane, you pull down, and then:
    
        BEEP BEEP BEEP!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Clay   :*)

    Have no fear, it will be set to buzz!!!!!
    
    Although the batteries may just die before I get to the woods?
    
    Wess

    Your beeper might go into a "dead zone" so to speak.
    
    bob 14 hours until I am in my tree stand.
    
    

    You guys have me so fired up on bowhunting I think I will take my bow
    out (without any arrows) and sit in my treestand in the morning and
    just smile!  I have to leave the arrows at home because I am a week
    man and don't want to go to jail.
    
    Wess

    Wess,
    
    		I've noticed that if you store the beeper in the
    	fridge the batteries last longer and it never bothers you.
    
    	Red

    I went to the adirondacks in New York yesterday to do some scouting in
    the area i was hunting last year. I wanted to circle the whole mountain
    to see if i could find where the big buck lived that was making eight
    inch rubs last year. I was looking for a concentration of last years
    rubs, but what i found was about fifteen rubs that had been made
    already this year. They were all in two concentrations about two
    hundred yards apart. Almost all the trees were moose maple about one
    to two inch thick. Most of them had been broken and one was ripped
    right out of the ground roots and all. I have never found this much 
    sign this early in the fall. This looks like the spot on the mountain
    that i was looking for. Come October 24th i know were i will be now.
    Bruce
    

    Red,
    Very good idea!  I don't think she will last though, she had 8
    contractions last night.  How did Harris do?
    
    
    Bruce,
    I was talking to a friend of mine this morning and he said that he
    actually found 4 scrapes on a logging road last weekend.  Of course
    they were for "just practice", but I think they might rut a little
    earlier this year.  I found a few rubs this weekend myself.  There were
    probably about 10 or 12 in a small area(maybe he was scraping the
    velvet off).  Good luck
    
    Wess

    For lack of a better place to put this, I thought I would share my
    opening day bowhunt with all hunters who care.
    
    I was in my stand at 6 a.m.  I was out of my stand at 11 a.m.  didn't
    see a thing, except massive tracks by my stand.  But tracks don't taste
    to good.  Per Earl, they don't even stink the gravy!  I spent as much
    time on the road getting to and from deer land, as I did in the stand.
    
    sunday,  Got my ass ate up by mosquitos and some damn thing called a
    chigger.  Earl dudn't even know wat a chiggr are?  But they will eat
    you up.  
    
    Monday, did chores.  Hot as hell.  Trying to let the bites heal.
    
    Tuesday:  Scouted second property that I hunt.  don't know why I call
    it second, it is PRIMARY!  Killer big kahuna tracks all over the place.
    Dropped my stands off.
    
    Wednesday:  going hunting, that is why I took this vacation.
    Thursday:   ditto (per Earl)
    Friday:     The same
    Saturday:    again
    Sunday:"   Why not
    Monday: going to court because my wife is divorcing me!
    
    Hey Red, I got your firewood, you just have to split it.  Are you
    ready?
    
    Well, gotta go, gonna be in my stand in about 9 hours.
    ciao,
    bob
    

    <For lack of a better place to put this....
    
    I started note #615 in the ARCHERY notesfile for just this type of
    outing.  Put all of your hunts in there if you want.
    
    Hopefully I can put some in there too.  They are going to induce labor
    on my wife friday, so I might be screwed up for opening day.
    
    I saw a decent buck on the way home last night and two does on the way
    in this morning.  Who knows, I may have to put my bow in the car and
    hunt on the way to work if all else fails.
    
    Wess_who_knows_how_much_fun_108_chigger_bites_can_be!

    
    	Bob,
    
    		Here I sit saying, wow, Bob finnaly learned to
    	use his $ 2,000.00 PC, and low and behold a little bird
    	comes and tells me the truth. Wanna sell the PC ? I'll
    	give you $ 200.00 seeing as you don't know how to  use
    	it yet ?????
    
    		Did you see the Deer that snorted at you today ?
    
    	Red
    	

    Choke on your $200 Red.  I finally  figured out how to log into the
    system.  Man, 2400 baud is slllloooowwwww!  Well, I went out this
    morning to Monticello, and it rained all morning.  Wet to the bone.
    it rained so much that not only would it have put out the fires of
    hell, the devil would be looking to buy a boat from Noah.  Oh well, I        
    still have Friday and Saturday to hunt.  Man, this system is freaking
    out on me.  Anyway, Red, Id did not see the deer blowing at me.  I am
    thinking of going back to Hancock County on Friday.  Monticello sssure
    has some big tracks though.
    
    Talk to you later.  BTW Earl, look, I can log in from home.
    
    I still have Friday and St         cHOKE       c              cHOK

Well, I finally made time to enter this....

I had to go to Pittsburg last weekend and I spotted a Moose on I-81
in Pennsalvania.  Normally, I road sighting is insignificant but this
was very interesting (at least to me).

I was cruising along and I saw this blue Toyota mini pick-m-up behind me.
I thought I saw antlers or something on top of the bed.  I thought, "all
right - someone had a successful hunt".  I slowed to let him pass so
that I could beep and give him a thumbs up sign.  I also wanted to take
a closer look at this huge rack.  Well, when he went by I saw that it was
Moose.  The antlers were tied onto the top of coffin or chest type freezer.
Obviously, the moose was in the freezer!  Of interest, he had a gas powered
generator tied down on the tailgate and it was running.  He also strung a
drop light so that he could see the bulb from the inside the cab and it was
turned on.  When the light bulb went out he would know that the generator was
out of gas and he needed to fill the tank.  What a way to pack a moose home!
In a running freezer plugged into a generator with an "out-of-gas" idiot
light!

Mike

    beepbebebebbeebebebeepp*****news flash***
    
    Bob's schedule has been changed.  His court date for Monday has been
    canceled cause he's not going hunting Sunday.  Keeping the wife happy I
    guess, uh Bob?
    
    Earl
    
                  

    OOPS
    
    Forgot to mention Bob saw deer today.  I'll let him tell you about
    them.   
    
    Bob.  Don't forget to tell who's stand you say deer by.
    
    Earl (Southern Sportsman)
    
                 

    I don't correspond here much.  Until recently, I lived in
    Massachusetts, a land I now consider cursed... compared to where I now
    live, North Carolina.  Unless I was actively out scouting in Mass., it
    was YEARS between road-side, casual deer sightings.  Here in NC, I see
    deer nearly EVERY DAY, IN BUNCHES, while I'm just driving around!!!
    
    But alas, virtually ALL the land is posted.  I've asked several
    farmers, but small hunting clubs (the kind with 3-5 members) have
    leased the hunting rights everywhere, and I have two strikes aginst me:
    1) I'm not from "'roun' hyar" and 2) I'm from north of the Mason-Dixon
    line.  Yes, folks, some people are still fighting the War b'tween the
    States.
    
    So although I'd LOVE to go hunting, and all the local folks complain
    that the deer are destroying there crops and gardens, I'll be sitting
    on the sidelines.  B^(
    
    One interesting comment made by a local farmer:  "I just don't
    understand these hunters.  Even if they're not hunting a piece of land,
    they're so greedy, they can't stand the thought that someone else could
    be getting a deer that they might get." 
                                 

    yeh yeh, I jumped 9 deer by Earl's stand.  Not AT Earl's Stand, just
    by it.  I guess I know where I am moving my stand to!
    
    bob
    going out again Saturday
    

    1166.95
    
    Look in the paper under land for lease and hunting clubs.  You may be
    able to find an opening there.
    
    Earl

    
    Deer hunters dream,
    
    Camped at Choke Canyon Lake this past weekend to do a little fishing.
    Deer were everywhere!!!! We have had such a rainy spring and summer 
    that browse is great and so are deer numbers. I would walk about 1/2
    mile from my camp to the lake to fish. Made that trip 5 times over the
    weekend. The area is all south Texas brush country and the deer love
    it. I saw so many I had to start keeping a running tabulation on them.
    Sometimes I would just sit down wherever I was and watch them.
    
    number	type
    
    17		spotted fawns
    25		yearlings
    40		doe	
    6		spikes
    9		fork horns
    12		6 points
    13		8 points
    10		10 points
    3		12 points
    
    Besides the sheer numbers of deer I was surprised to see several of the
    12 points and 10 points still in velvet. Seems a little late for bucks
    to still be in velvet to me. All in all it was a great fishing trip and
    I didn't catch a single fish. The weather probably helped as it was
    cool in the mornings and evenings and around 80 in the daytime.
    I can only hope the deer are this good in 2 days when I go back to
    Aransas management area. Hopefully I'll be putting in another success
    story when I return.
    Harvey
    
    

    
    I was in Michigan this past July and I've never seen so many Deer in my
    life.  My Uncle owns several acres which he uses purely as hunting
    grounds.  Every night after supper we'd grap lawn chairs and sit
    quietly on the edge of the woods by one of the hay fields and wait
    ..... the worst night out we only saw 27 deer come into the field.  One
    of the nights we saw 8 bucks all together at one time .... the smallest
    was a 4 pointer.
    
    Last weekend we went up to our camp in Searsburg, VT to do some bear
    hunting.  It was rainy all weekend and too wet to walk around in the
    woods this early in the season .... so we went trout fishing in the
    Deerfield River .... my Dad and I are standing there in waders in the
    middle of the river hoping for a hit when all of a sudden a big black
    bear comes out of the woods about 60 ft. away and crosses the river. 
    My Dad starts going nuts .... especially since it's the second time
    he's seen a bear in the woods in his life and both times he's been
    holding a fishing rod instead of a rifle!  I said to him, "Dad, I bet
    about now you'd like to trade that 8lb test for a 30.06?"
    
    What little scouting we did off one of the logging roads near a clear
    cut showed a lot of fresh buck scrapes on the perimeter and lots of
    droppings within.  Most were deer too, not many moose droppings.
    
    Mike
    

    
    	Two more days and the clock is ticking..  A couple of us went in to
    set up stands last evening.  One is overlooking a lone oak that's
    heavily loaded with nuts that's been pretty much trampled - another is
    overlooking one of the few producing wild apple trees I've seen in the
    woods this year, again, enough fresh tracks and droppings to keep me
    interested.
    
    	Anyone else notice the lack of wild apples in the northeast (Or is
    it just the places I've been hunting??).  I scouted two new areas this
    year here in Vt. and have still found the same - zilch for apples.  An
    interesting thing seems to be happening, though, and that's where I'm 
    finding an apple tree with even just a few apples on it (like maybe a 
    half dozen with a couple on the ground - no kidding!), the deer are 
    hitting them pretty hard.  It's as if the deer know they are not
    abundant  and they are getting them while they can.  Who knows...
    
    	And after going up to see Bruce Moultroup's three-state whitetail
    Museum, I'll be pumped forever more.  It's probably good that he can't 
    hit a thing with his bow - there'll still be a deer out there for me 
    to try for :') .
    
    	Good luck to all those VT. hunters headed out this weekend  
    
    - Rob

    Ah, the crisp fall morning's in the Vermont woods....Heaven.. Down
    here in Ga. it's still in the 70's during the days and 50's at
    night. And people think it's cold. Nothig finner than waking up
    to 3 - 4" of fresh tracking powder. I miss that already.
    
    Rob, good luck and may your arrows fly straight. If you bump into
    Brian and his Dad at the Hanksville Hilton tell 'em I'll have some Ga.
    venison for	them at Myrtle Beach this winter.
    
    
    	Red in Alpharetta

    
    	Got it Red, and good luck to you as well -
    
    BTW, how come you're letting Bob Get the jump on you with his bow from
    YOUR treestand??  Sounds like it might be time for you to start
    flinging some arrows !
    
    - Rob

    Rob,
    
    	Too late this year. I'll probably get into stick tossing
    	next year.
    
    	As for Bob, as long as he pays the rent on time he can use
    	my stand for tossing his sticks.
    
    	Red

    Listen to Red talk smack!  Hey Red, your firewood price just went up.
    Now that I have my video camera operational, I can video   whatever I 
    see.
    
    bob
    

RE:                     <<< Note 1166.100 by BTOVT::WENER_R >>>
                    -< Vermont bowhunting starts Saturday >-

    
Hi Rob,

Good luck with your season and thanks alot for those secret trout lures.
My wife landed a 6 pound salmon on one of them.

Gordon

    
    	And Good luck to you as well Gordon, I'm happy for your wife, nice
    fish!  You definately got the "secret" part correct.  :')  
    
    Where are all the Elk reports Gordon?  I see there's about 2 tons of
    meat in the success file (Moose and Elk), but I didn't see your name
    on it.  Giving them a break this year ? 
    
    - Rob

    Rob,
    
    was up last weekend as well, setting up treestands and doing a little
    posting, saw 5 deer, and apples everywhere... must be by area's...
    
    and oh ya Gordon, whats the good word??? nut'n yet?!?!?
    
    Fra

    Rob and Fra,

	I don't go till the 17th.  Deer and elk at the same time.  Got an
	either sex deer tag and bull elk tag.  Going up to the Flat Tops
	where I got one two years ago.  Hoping for some snow and alot of luck.
	Going goose hunting this weekend.

   Gordon
    

    ya, but is your neck swollen from the rut or from pumping iron... ;^)
    
    Good Luck,  Fra

    Went to our deer lease in South GA this past weekend and scouted in
    preparation for gun season.(19 more days)  Saw alot of tracks.  Walked
    within 25 yds of a doe feeding in peanut field.  Jumped five deer on
    backside of property (good stand location).  My brother-in-law, Lamar,
    saw 2 doe in same peanut field I was walking and also ran up on a 4
    pt at dusk Saturday.  Everytime the 4 pt would put his head down to
    eat, Lamar would run towards deer.  Got within 25 yds before deer saw
    him.  Lamar was at full draw when he realized it was a young buck and
    let him go.  We are a trophy club only!  Found good buck sign on corn
    field Saturday.  Persemmon trees all around the field.  Lamar saw 3
    bucks Sunday morning (I was sacked out) good 8 pt with alot of mass and
    very high rack, good 6 pt and a 4 pt.  Talked to the land owner (fields
    only) and he said there is a fourth buck working the corn field.  Also
    said there is a very good 10 or 12 pt buck working front of property
    (peanut fields).
    
    Dont know yet where I will put my primary stand.  There are so many
    good locations on property.  We have 3100 acreas with 9 deer hunters
    and 2 bird hunters (plenty of dove and quail).  Guarantee I will have
    an entry in 270 this year.  Didnt score last year.
    
    I will update on the 12th.  Scouting Monticello lease on Saturday with
    Bob Harris.
    
    Earl 

    Ahh, but alas Mr. shaddix enters a reply.  Mr. Shaddix, do not say
    that you will guarantee into note .270 this year.  I wish you the
    best of luck, and we know there ARE NO GUARANTEES IN DEER HUNTING!
        I am looking forweard to this deer season with rifle to.
    MY DAMN BACKSPACE KEY DOES NOT WORK WHEN USING A MODEM!  How the
    hell can I correct mistakes.  Piece of crap.
    Any waay, Red, did you see the Z man on the chief, or was it
    \a line of crap so you would mind your p's and q's.              
    how many days now Earl?  I can't believe it's already time to put
    away the bow.  That really stinks.  Oh well, time to make sure
    they deer slayer is still sighted in.  
    
    Hey leonaard, you out there?  Red, Earl, and myself want to pop
    off a few rounds.  Can you make it?  IF not, gie me directions
    to where we went, and I can take the guys there.
    
    bob
     I am looi

    
    	Sitting in my treestand last evening, about an hour before dark,
    I hear some rustling in the leaves on the crest of the ridge behind me.
    I slowly turn to catch a Coyote sneaking through the rocks looking
    for chipmunks and squirrels...   Too bad there was no shot.  I've seen
    loads of coyote tracks in this area in the last couple of years.
    no deer tho
    
    - Rob

    Well, it looks like I am going to beat Earl to this note this morning.
    Earl and I went out to our hunting property in Monticello, for Earl to
    scout around some, and fix up deer camp.  I already knew where the deer
    were, and it's always fun to get into the woods.
    
    We jumped 15 deer.  Deer sign ALL OVER THE PLACE.  You know how it
    looks Red.  My winter rye that I planted about 2 weeks ago is already
    about 5 inches high.  It's coming up pretty good.  The logging roads
    that go throughout the property were like a mud bog.  They were SLICK!
    I was looking for the female mud wrestlers.  All I got to say is, if
    anybody harvests a deer on the back side of the property after a rain
    storm, ONE HELL OF A DRAG!
    
    how many daze Earl?
    
    bob
    

    
    Both saturday and sunday i was treated to a spectacular sight. Early
    a.m. on both days and late afternoon on both I had over 200 geese fly
    over my house at once. There were at least 5 flocks with an estimated
    30-50 birds in each, and they were flying low enough that they were in
    shotgun range. Their honking woke me up on both days. It was something
    to see, even my wife thought it was great. I think they are feeding
    during the day at the Bolton flats or one of the neihboring farms then
    flying to Wachusett resevoir for the night. One good thing, where ever
    they are feeding during the day that field isn't going to need any
    fertiliser in the spring 8')
    
    Walt 

    Bob,
    
    One of the reasons I like hunting with you is so you can drag my deer
    when I shoot one on the back side of the property.  If you will read
    the fine print on the contract you signed with me for Deer Hunting
    Training, you will see the drag clause.
    
    11 days.
    
    Earl s

    drag this!
    
    
    bob
    

Walt,

	I know what you mean about the geese flying low. I live on
Fort Meadow, and the geese are always flying over my house in shotgun
range. They stay in the lake for quite a while during the fall. We feed
them bread and once they get use to you they pratically take it out of
your hand. It's nice seeing 20 - 30 birds witin 20 yrds of you, to bad
I'm not allowed to shoot the gun directly behind my house.

/Ron

    Saw 2 coyotes standing on the edge of the highway on the way to work
    this morning.  They were just watching traffic go by.  
    
    I went out scouting yesterday eve and found 2 scrapes with licking 
    branches.  The scrapes weren't tore up very much at all, maybe in
    a couple of weeks.  I did find a set of nice tracks in the scrape,
    how does deer track soup taste?
    
    Harris, check out the input on your poet note.
    
    Good luck
    Wess

    Drove like a madman from Minneapolis this morning to get here in time. 
    Here is "Buck Heaven", a 10 mile by 15 mile tract of the Ottawa
    National Forest in western Michigan's U.P.  So named as this April, in
    a random fast paced scouting effort, we found rubs everwhere (from the
    previous rut season) and three complete and one partial sets of
    discards (all eight pointers).  In four hours?...this implies
    incredible density.  We spent from 11:00am to 3:pm then moved on to
    Copper Country state forest  north of Norway Mich.
    
    Anyway "buck heaven deserved another look"  so this was to be
    reconnisance in force. (armed).   Went directly to the truck
    trail and down it to the fork I remembered.  It is 7:15am and the
    eastern horizon is pearly pink.  It takes me 1/2 hour to get 1/4mile
    down the road.  Then......"Clack,...click"  What was that!  Waiting
    about 15 min gets about 3 or 4 repeats of this with various intensity
    and number of clicks and clacks.  Fianlly I get a clue.  That's antler
    rattling.  but by human or the real thing?  Well let's find out.  It is
    coming from the opposite side of a grown up clear cut about 100yds
    away.  I started from the truck trail into the clearcut by slowly
    lipping under the brush at the edge of the trail.
    
    Here I am all bent over, my bow facing the ground, branches across my
    shoulders, when my peripheral vision catches movement to my right. 
    Turn head and the owner of four points is looking right back at me.  He
    isn't sure what I am but loses interest in the bout across the field
    and leaves, not in a hurry and without alarm.  I back out slowly.  The
    trail is lined with spruce about ten feet tall and dense as a wall. 
    I'm now downwind of the buck and he is still near.
    
    I moved to the west again looking for an opening in the spruce wall. 
    After about 5 more minutes he gives a warning grunt and I can hear
    multiple hoof strikes as all leave the scene.    Sun is now poking over
    the treetops.  So let's check it out.  The clearing is well used, lots
    of traffic but it would be difficult to hunt due to limited visibility. 
    Better to find some access trails.
    
    Found a typical rub and then total destruction of a small beech tree. 
    Now here is a buck with an attitude.  he broke the tree apart about
    three feet off the ground and then totallly trashed one half of it. 
    There are tine marks all over the place and many of the branches are
    missing.  The damage looks to be about 2-3 weeks old.  Makes me glad
    I'm not a beech tree.  April trails are barren, no recent activity.  
    Guess habits change in summer/fall and its time to figure this place
    out.  I've only got today then on to Detroit.
    
    Heard what sounded just like a human whistle and then a largish black
    bird with white markings on its head flew out of tree, not sure what
    that was.  Higher up comes a call that sounds like a cross between a
    turkey and a goose. (a hoarse goose?) then a large vulture flies
    directly overhead.  Man this is like being on a different planet!
    Near the end of the day and encounter with a very large doe
    (unsuccessful hunt report) and the fattest grouse I have ever seen. In
    fact when it took off I wasn't sure it was going to leave the ground.
    
    /bob  

    
    O.K. so I'm bored and feel like writing some more but don't know
    where to put this so it's going here 8')
    
    Going out friday and saturday to check out 2 spots for the last time.
    monday is opening day and I have all next week off. Except for Wed.
    I'm *supposed* to come in for a meeting but if it snows I may not
    make it in. Of course I'll have no problem getting to the hunting area.
    Plus i get to hunt the Quab next fri/sat, I think the hunt on the
    Prescot P ended last saturday so maybe the deer will calm down somewhat.
    Hopefully the anti's will stay the heck away. I got a doe permit for
    zone 8 and another for the Quab, I can use one or the other but not
    both so I have a good chance at getting a doe. The 2 areas in zone 8
    look pretty good, one's a swamp with lots of conifer trees and the
    other is on the far side of a good sized hill where most people don't
    go cause they don't want to drag a deer up and over that baby. Me, I'm
    crazy anyway so it won't bother me. Plus I can always call my good pal
    Gus Rinella and ask him to come and drag it for me. Right Gus!
    Oh well enough rambling, Happy Turkey day to all. I'll hopefully see
    you in the Successful note a week from Monday.
    
    Walt 

    re:120
    
    
       Ya forgot to mention you'll be using my shotgun bud. Remember, last
    time I let someone borrow it he shot his first deer, so maybe it's only
    lucky when someone else uses it:')... As fer helping ya drag it out, just 
    call and I'll be there! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone....
    
    Gus_whos_gonna_hunt_with_a_bow_this_weekend.

    Jeff Amberson comes by my office (AKO2) yesterday afternoon to tell me
    that 2 does and a mature buck were behind the building about 30 yards
    from the parking lot.
    
    Mark.

    Mature buck sighted 3 miles from Alf facility standing on a power line. 
    I had seen 3 does a week ago in the same spot.  This was the largest
    buck I've ever seen in the wild.  
    Stats:(estimated)
    18-20 inch spread
    20-24 inches high (total rack)
    Tines went straight up with little inward curve.
    This thing was huge.  

    **Mature buck sighted 3 miles from Alf facility standing on a power line.
    
    Boy, that has to be one mighty buck to jump up on a power line and
    stand on that thin wire. ;<)  ;<)
    
    Carl
    
    

    
    
    I was wondering if anyone has found any racks out scouting this year?
    Is is too late to find any shed antlers or do ya think the squirrels
    got to them already??? Just wondering.
    
    Gus                                   

    depends on exactly when they fell and whether the snow has
    covered them