- Joined
- Oct 31, 2014
- Messages
- 450
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- 592
Ohio Muzzleloader season started out cold with temperatures of 0 degrees first thing in the morning and not to exceed 8 F for the day's high. Not to be deterred because snow was on the ground. I love hunting in snow. It inspired me to don the appropriate apparel and head out to a small patch of woods that holds a goodly number of deer at the end of a rural one lane subdivision. As soon as I walked away from my car and rounded the bend in the path a fat doe was facing me from 25 yard away. Legal light, legal game but not a wise shot to take because it would wake the neighbors too easily. I shooed her off and walked on toward the woods. Deer were jumping everywhere, though. Darn, I was too late. Should have been there 15 minute sooner to catch them coming in from the lower field. The morning constitutional checked me at the door before leaving the house, though. At this age taking care of business and the resultant paperwork in a warm lavatory trumps getting to the woods on time only to have to drop the drawers on a frigid morning when natures calls and screams.
After an hour and a half the toe warmers were no longer working. At the 2 hour mark even getting up and walking wouldn't ease the cold induced pain in the toes. Drove to Dad's farm to warm up and check out his fields. Almost went too long as my toes felt like hammers where hitting them as they slowly warmed up. Finally relief came as those digits did warm back to normal. I need new boots.
On Dad's lower field, which my brother and I planted and harvested the corn this past year, only coyote tracks, and many, were showing up. Would have thought the deer would be grazing the corn stalks more but it was nearly devoid of their hooves until I found one lone deer spoor on the west side. No use wasting my time here.
The next morning was just as cold. Back at the woods, earlier this time, ready for all the action that should be coming. Nothing. Not a hide nor hair. Hour and a half later I left to change. Going to praise God in the heated building where I go to church was more inviting. There was always the afternoon to tromp through hill and dale.
Hot Dog! The lady texted back saying I could hunt their large farm Sunday afternoon and Monday. Tuesday their normal hunter would be there but it was too cold for him these two days. Pays to be stupid enough to hunt when others won't. There deer were out in numbers here, too, but too far for my 50 caliber patched round ball to reach. I'm confident with this Blue Ridge Hunter up to 100 yard now that I found the patch it likes. The old TC patches with bore butter are very tight but this rifle will blow up one gallon water jugs at 100 yards off hand consistently. Before, with thinner patches that were easier to load 50 yard was all I felt comfortable shooting. Anything past that was a pattern, not a grouping. Now I must beat the ball starter with my palm hard to get the projectile started, but it is worth it.
Sunday evening ended with quite the adventure, multiple doe and 3 impressive bucks spotted. The drive home was spent deciding which field I would post myself for the morning's hunt.
Monday morning was a heat wave of 18 degrees. Rather comfortable and easily manageable to spend time in while watching the second to the last field of the farm. Surprisingly nothing showed up. Stay with me, I'll be back.
After an hour and a half the toe warmers were no longer working. At the 2 hour mark even getting up and walking wouldn't ease the cold induced pain in the toes. Drove to Dad's farm to warm up and check out his fields. Almost went too long as my toes felt like hammers where hitting them as they slowly warmed up. Finally relief came as those digits did warm back to normal. I need new boots.
On Dad's lower field, which my brother and I planted and harvested the corn this past year, only coyote tracks, and many, were showing up. Would have thought the deer would be grazing the corn stalks more but it was nearly devoid of their hooves until I found one lone deer spoor on the west side. No use wasting my time here.
The next morning was just as cold. Back at the woods, earlier this time, ready for all the action that should be coming. Nothing. Not a hide nor hair. Hour and a half later I left to change. Going to praise God in the heated building where I go to church was more inviting. There was always the afternoon to tromp through hill and dale.
Hot Dog! The lady texted back saying I could hunt their large farm Sunday afternoon and Monday. Tuesday their normal hunter would be there but it was too cold for him these two days. Pays to be stupid enough to hunt when others won't. There deer were out in numbers here, too, but too far for my 50 caliber patched round ball to reach. I'm confident with this Blue Ridge Hunter up to 100 yard now that I found the patch it likes. The old TC patches with bore butter are very tight but this rifle will blow up one gallon water jugs at 100 yards off hand consistently. Before, with thinner patches that were easier to load 50 yard was all I felt comfortable shooting. Anything past that was a pattern, not a grouping. Now I must beat the ball starter with my palm hard to get the projectile started, but it is worth it.
Sunday evening ended with quite the adventure, multiple doe and 3 impressive bucks spotted. The drive home was spent deciding which field I would post myself for the morning's hunt.
Monday morning was a heat wave of 18 degrees. Rather comfortable and easily manageable to spend time in while watching the second to the last field of the farm. Surprisingly nothing showed up. Stay with me, I'll be back.
