2005 WV Hunt
2005 Spring Gobbler Season
This year, 2005, Jerod and I are getting read for the upcoming 2005 Spring Gobbler Season (April 25 - May 21, 2005). We have already went out and purchased some decoys to use this year and are going to try and video tape our hunt. April 09,2005, Jerod and I went and did a little scouting on the Run and Gun Hunting Club. We arrived at about 9 AM on the property and it took us about 15 minutes to get to an area that we wanted to check out. Jerod hit his crow call and we heard a gobbler. We began to close the distance, stopping every 20 or so yards and called with a hen call. He would answer back and we could tell we were closing the distance. Finally we found a spot and setup, I had my Minolta 35 mm camera with a 100mm zoom lens, Jerod setup about 10 yards behind me. We called and the gobbler answered. Then I spotted him, about 75 yards out, he was strutting. We waited and I was ready with the camera, finally I saw him coming towards me. Jerod called again and the bird gave us a double gobble. His head was just glowing, his tail spread wide. He got within 20 yards and I was able to get 4 pictures of him strutting. Finally he must of gotten suspicious about what was there and he turned and walked away. Jerod called again and he gobbled once, but then he was gone. If it would of been opening day instead of a scouting trip I would already have my bird.
Here is a picture of the gobbler we called in on April 9th.
Well the 2005 Spring Gobbler season has come and gone. Jerod and I didn't score a bird for this year. It seemed as though the gobbling stopped the day season opened. Of course the opening day we had 6 inches of snow on the ground, that may of had something to do with the absence of gobbling. While coming out we did jump a hen off of a nest. We saw the nest and there were about 8 eggs in it. We immediately left the area so the hen could return to the nest.
The rest of the Spring Gobbler season we never heard or saw a bird one. There is always next year though.
2005 Archery Season Preparation
The WV Archery Season is fast approaching, October 15th is the opening day of the WV Archery Season. It is now August the 29th and Jerod and I have already placed our Stealth Cams in the area we are planning to hunt on the opening day, that is, if there are pictures of something promising in the area. We placed Jerod's camera at an intersection of several deer trails. These trails lead to and from bedding areas that we found.
Jerod and I have been preparing for several months now. I took his bow, a Golden Eagle Evolution, to the archery shop to have it restrung and to have it tuned. I also purchased a 2003 Martin Jaguar bow from the archery shop and retired my JLJ Mountaineer bow. We also bought new arrows and broadheads for this upcoming season. We have been practicing at 10, 20 and some 30 yard shots at a 3D Delta Buck target.
Here is a picture of Jerod's groupings:
Here is a picture of my groupings:
I believe that we are about ready. We need to do some practicing from a tree stand, just to make sure we still hit the target.
Well here is an aerial map of the area that my son, brother in law and myself are going to hunt. This is the Run and Gun Hunt Club property located in Fayette County, WV. The yellow line is that actual logging road into the area. The map is 10 years old and doesn't show the area that was clear cut about 5 years ago. The green line indicates another logging road that I have not run through the GPS unit yet.
Here are some photos from my Stealth Cam.
Here are what appears to be 3 does and a fawn at my stand location.
Here are two does.
Here is a doe checking out the stump where someone last year must of baited.
Here are some pictures from my brother in laws Moultrie 1.3 pix digital camera he got from Wal-Mart for $98.00.
The only problem is that I programmed the wrong month on the camera. These pictures were taken in September instead of August. The day and time are correct. The next time we go to check out the camera we are going to set it for video. The camera will do 30 second video clips by switching from stills to video.
My sons camera has several pictures but I haven't got them scanned in yet. He has a spike buck on one picture.
October 1st, 2005
Boy, now I am pumped!!! Looky looky...A BUCK!! and a couple does and a raccoon.
And here!!
And here again!!
2005 Archery Season
ARCHERY SEASON 2005 began on October 15th this year. Everyone here had very high hopes that we would be able to get a deer that first day of season. All of our preparation, planning and site location setups were all coming together. We placed cameras in August in areas we wanted to hunt. The cameras were setup 2 weeks before we decided to put out any feeders. After getting the first rolls from my camera and my son Jerod's camera developed we decided to put out he feeders. As you can see from the photos above, we had deer coming in. I signed up with the WV DNR to do the bow hunters survey and had my log sheet ready to start recording things.
Well the day came and we were out in the woods at least 30 to 45 minutes before the first signs of light appeared in the woods. I was in my climbing stand, Jerod was in his and my brother-in-law Alvin was in his ladder stand. We hunted about 11 and half hours and didn't see the first deer. From first light to the fading of the last bit of light, the only thing I saw was some squirrels and little birds.
Since that opening day and as of November 5th I have spent a total of 52 hours in the stand. I have not seen the first deer, turkey, bear or raccoon in my stand location. I know that the deer are coming into my stand, the apples are gone, the corn is gone and the ground is kicked up where I had the apple flavored block located in a stump. During our scouting and camera placement we noticed that the deer were coming in during the day, but as October came along the deer's hours of visiting the sites changed. They started coming in later in the evening, just before it got dark and were coming in way before light in the mornings. I finally set my camera to record the times my stand was being visited. As I figured there routine had changed to very late evening and very early morning, well before any light was available to see them.
Now on November 4th, my son's luck changed. We arrived around 5:30 AM to 5:45 AM (the time had changed to EST instead of DST), that sounds early, but it got light about 6 AM. We all, Jerod, my brother-in-law and I, got to our stands. Around 8 AM Jerod called on his radio and said, "I dropped her in her tracks!". I called back and said what and he replied, "I dropped her in her tracks, I had a doe come in at 19 yards and I shot her in the shoulder and she dropped!". I told him I would be right there. When I got there he realized that he had shot a button buck, but meat is meat...you can't eat the antlers!
Here is a picture of me and him with his button buck taken with a bow.
Here is the info on his archery harvest of this year:
BOW: Golden Eagle Evolution set at 70 lbs
ARROWS: Easton XX75 2213 Aluminum shaft 26inches
BROADHEADS: 75 grain Wasp Bullets
RELEASE: Cobra trigger release
DEER WEIGHT: 68 lbs field dressed
SHOT PLACEMENT: Right Shoulder
We brought the deer home at around noon and weighed it with my Moultrie 400 lb scales. We proceeded to skin it and quarter it out. After that we placed the meat in the refrigerator to cool. On Sunday we processed the meat, made some deer burger, cut up some steaks (after de-boning) and cut up the back straps.
We all went back on Saturday to continue our hunt, Jerod had his extra bow stamp. Hunted all day without seeing anything, except of Alvin who saw a spike buck, but just out of bow range. And Jerod who while walking around found a rub on a large tree. While looking at the rub he heard a snort from up on the hill and 40 yards away stood the eight pointer that I have photos of. He took off without Jerod being able to get a shot. We only have one more good weekend to hunt because the weekend of November 19th we will be heading to our camp in Greenbrier County for the opener of our 2 week Buck Only season.
2005 BUCKS Only Season
WV 2 weeks Bucks Only Season 2005 began on November 21st this year. Everyone here had very high hopes that we would be able to get a deer that first day of season.
Fri. Nov 18th - Was planning on leaving for camp at around 1 PM. Had to wait for my father-in-law and
brother-in-law (Alvin) to get back from the bank. Found out that my father-in-law had Alvin to also
take him to Little General, a gas station, to play the quarter machine. Finally they arrived back at
the house. Alvin then went to get his brother, Dink, who was going with us to camp. We pulled out and
I stopped at the gas station to top off my tank at Little General. The price of gas was $2.21 a gallon.
Got to Rainelle and gas was $2.13 a gallon. Stopped at Park Center Sporting Goods to look around and take
a break from driving. Alvin bought his extra buck tag. We went to McDonald's and had something to eat before
we began our trip again.
Got to White Sulpher Springs at about 3:30 PM and stopped to top off the tank again. It only took 4 gallons of
gas. The price was 2.09 a gallon, gets cheaper the closer we get to camp. We stopped at Food Lion, a grocery store,
so Dink could get some groceries. He had to buy groceries for my father-in-law, his brother and himself for
their camper. My father-in-law and other brother-in-law are suppose to arrive on Tuesday.
We arrived at camp around 4:45 PM. We saw 4 deer in the fields on our way up from Food Lion to Neola.
Jerod and Alvin took the truck and drove up to Sherwood Lake to get water.
Sat. Nov 19th - Got up and fixed a good breakfast of sausage gravy, eggs and potatoe cakes with big biscuits.
After breakfast Dink and I jacked up the bux to get the tires off the ground. My father-in-law has a old 1969
Dodge School bus that we fixed up as a camper about 18 years ago. It has been the best camper we have ever had.
We got all the tires off the ground and then we proceeded to get the generator up and running. We also brought with
us an 8 foot landscape timber to nail between two oak trees for a meat pole to hang our deer. I put up tarps around
my 1971 Lee camper so we could have some cover from the elements.
After that we didn't do much for the rest of the day. For dinner I fixed cooked up some cabbage, onions, green peppers
and little smoke sauages. I even added some diced up potatoes to the stew. Everybody enjoyed the meal, we even opened up a
jar of hot peppers and wiennies. Boy what a meal.
Sun. Nov 20th - Got up and fixed breakfast. The usual stuff like eggs, sausage gravy, biscuits and
potato cakes.
After breakfast we drove up to Ruckers Gap so Dink and Alvins could shoot their guns. After getting their Dink forgot to
bring his shells, so he didn't get to shoot his gun. Alvin took two shots with his gun. At 25 yards he was hitting about 1 inch
high from the center of the bulls eye.
After shooting the gun we drove up to the lake and got more water to have at camp.
Later we drove down to Food Lion to buy some raffle tickets from the Lions Club. The Lions Club is raffling off a Model
700 BDL 270 caliber rifle with a scope. I bought 7 tickets, but really didn't think I would win, I just wanted to help out the
Lions Club. They had the drawing at 5 PM and as I said I didn't win. Been buying tickets for about 24 years and have never won.
But the money goes to a good cause.
Mon. Nov 21st - Got up at 4:30 AM and fixed eggs, sausage, biscuits and potato cakes for breakfast. After breakfast and getting
dressed we left around 6 AM to head for Ruckers Gap.
Jerod and I got to our spot on Ruckers Gap at around 7 AM. Didn't see any sign what so ever on our way up the mountain. At around
9 AM it began to drizzle. Around 10:30 AM Alvin radioed and said he was headed back to the truck. He told Jerod and I that Dink
had went back around 9:30 AM. Jerod and I stuck it out until around 1 PM, then we pulled out. Got back to the truck around
2 PM and Dink and Alvin had already left.
Got back to camp and Alvin and Dink were there and told us that they had not see anything. Neither did we, but Jerod had found
two scrapes and a rub out the end of the point where he was hunting. I did see about a dozen turkeys before the rain started.
For dinner I fixed roast beef for dinner. Around 9 PM we all decided to hit the bed.
Tue. Nov 22nd - Got up at 4:30 again and fixed breakfast. Left camp around 6 AM and headed back to Ruckers Gap. Got to our spot
around 7:15 AM. We had some cooler weather with some snow showers and the wind was bad. Gust up to around 30 to 35 mph. Hunted all
day, didn't see anything but did have a deer blow when we were walking up the
mountain. I did see something about 80 yards out on the opposite hillside, but I don't think it was a deer. I do
believe it was a bobcat.
Jerod found 2 more scrapes, but didn't see anything.
We went back to camp at around 4 PM and I fixed chili for dinner. We had a visitor from one of the other camps and we didn't get
to bed until around 10 PM. My father-in-law and my other brother-in-law didn't make it to camp. Alvin had called home and
found out that they will be here on Wednesday.
Wed. Nov 23rd - Got up at 5 AM and fixed breakfast. Over the night we had about 2 inches of snow fall. Alvin and Dink going to try
and hunt below us from the main road. Alvin didn't stay out no time until he radioed and said he was going back to the truck.
Don't know when Dink went back to the truck.
Jerod and I found two sets of deer tracks while we were walking up the mountain. But, with thoughs tracks we also saw a set of bobcat tracks.
Jerod and I got up to the top of the mountain and found another set of tracks. So far this is all we have seen of any sign.
Jerod and I made it to our ridge and stayed there all day. Again NOTHING! We came out about 3 PM, Dink and Alvin had come up and
parked behind my truck. Alvin walked back to his truck and told us that he had went out and called home to see if the others were
coming. Alvin told Jerod and I that they had left at around noon and should be there.
Jerod and I told Alvin and Dink, when he got to the truck, about finding some old rubs and scrapes out the ridge where Alvin
had hunted last year.
We got back to camp around 4 PM and my father-in-law and other brother-in-law were there. Alvin had decided that he was going
to pack up and go home. One reason, other than seeing no deer, was that Alvin had forgotten to bring enough of his medicine.
So Jerod and I decided that we would head back as well.
We took camp down and packed the truck. While doing this it started snowing. We left about 5:15 to 5:30 from camp and it
took us 3 hours to get home due to the storm. It usually takes only about 2 hours.
Thur. Nov 24th - Thanksgiving Day - Didn't hunt.
Fri. Nov 25th - Jerod and I the only ones hunting. Alvin chose not to go today. We started in to the area we were going to hunt and
at the 4 wheeler intersection, Jerod went to the right and I continued straight ahead. Jerod jumped 4 deer, two came over on the
backside of the hill that I was walking behind, the other two went opposite directions. I spotted the two that came over the hill, they
had crossed the trail I was on and were in the holler to my left. I eased down and brought up my rifle to see if they were does or what.
While doing this I heard one deer blow behind me on the opposite hill. I finally got the two in my scope and saw they were does. I waited
before moving to let them walk out of site.
I got to my spot about 7 AM and found all kinds of deer tracks in the snow. These were fresh since it didn't snow until after midnight.
At around 7:50 to 7:55 I heard something behind me. I got up and turned and saw a fork of a beam as it raised its head behind a tree. While
turning around my bi-pod on my Model 700 bummed the tree I was setting beside, but the noise it made didn't startle the deer.
I found the deer's body in my scope and placed the crosshairs on its shoulder and squeezed. All I heard was a click instead of a BOOM!
I worked the bolt and ejected the shell and put in another. I found the body of the deer again and got the shoulder in my crosshairs again.
This time the gun went BOOM and the deer went down.
I walked up the hill...the deer was only about 40 yards away...and there he laid. It was a 6 point!!. I put my rifle up against a tree
and radioed Jerod and told him that I had gotten a 6 pointer. I walked down to where I was setting and got my backpack and the empty case and
the shell that didn't go off. The only conclusion I could come up with was that my firing pin was frozen. The temperature that morning was just
about 10 degrees.
I filled out my tag and I proceeded to work the deer and discovered the inner core of my Nosler 150 grain ballistic tip. I started dragging the
deer out and when I reached a high point I got my cell phone out and called home and told my wife Brenda. I also told her to call Alvin and tell him
that I had gotten one. I got to the to the truck at about 9 AM.
Taken on: November 25th at 7:55 AM
Taken with: Remington Model 700 30-06 with 6-24x50 Tasco Scope
Bullet: Reloads - Nosler 150 gn Ballistic Tip, 48 gns IMR 4064 Powder, Remington
Brass and CCI Primers
Place Taken: Run and Gun Hunting Club, Fayette County, WV
Points: 6
Measurements: Inside Spread 11.5 inches, Outside Spread 12.75 inches, G1's both
2.25 inches, G2's: left side 4 inches, right side 3.5 inches, Beam length: both
beams 14 inches
Weight: 110 lbs
Shot Placement: left shoulder
Jerod came out at around 11:30 to eat some lunch. He told me that he had
seen at least 9 deer and 1 was an 8 point, but it was running for all it could and he couldn't get a shot at it. Apparently, just before he saw
it he heard two shots from the area the buck came running from.
Jerod went back in around 1 PM and stayed until around 5 PM. He didn't see anything else.
Sat. Nov 26th - Jerod, Alvin and I went back to the area we were hunting on Friday. I didn't have a extra buck tag, but I did have a bear stamp.
Bear season is in the same week our buck season opens, so I figured I would try my hand at bear hunting some.
I did see one deer, and Jerod saw a button buck and a doe and Alvin didn't see anything.
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