Post by bsutravis on Oct 1, 2008 11:14:58 GMT -5
I arrive at this new property that I got permission on last week, bright and early about 545am. I get loaded up and start the short 550 yard walk back to my stand. As I'm walking the edge of a feeder creek with an alfalfa field to my right, I keep looking into the darkness and something isn't quite right. I start walking away from the creek edge, and more toward the pasture.....and after covering 15 yards of alfalfa I discover that the rest of the field has been turned over! CRAPOLA! On one hand, I've still got a 15 yard ring around the 40 acre field that's still in alfalfa and clover....but on the other hand I hate the change in that area that soon before opening day.
Anyway, I get within 100 yards of my stand tree, and across the creek I hear yelping and whinning..... coyotes! As I get closer I finally hear them take off through the woods....so yet another strike against me. I go up the tree, and settle in for the wait. I was fully entertained all morning as I watched wood ducks dive bomb through the trees into the creeks that surround me. I've got woodies swimming right under me the entire time I'm up the tree. It actually was distracting me from watching for deer as I enjoyed watching the ducks swim around. A few of the drakes are full blown with color, but I saw several drakes that were very washed out with no color at all....possibly juvenile drakes? Anyway.....the ducks were the best part of the day. I did see one doe on the opposite side of the field....feeding on the edge of the freshly plowed alfalfa. Other than that, zero deer. I'm gonna let the spot sit and try it again Friday evening.
Still.....it was opening day and that has a magic all to it's own. The wind was in my face, the temps were cool, and the sky was full of stars. All in all, it doesn't get much better than that.
Some pics.....
This is the view of the field last Friday:
And today:
Anyway, I get within 100 yards of my stand tree, and across the creek I hear yelping and whinning..... coyotes! As I get closer I finally hear them take off through the woods....so yet another strike against me. I go up the tree, and settle in for the wait. I was fully entertained all morning as I watched wood ducks dive bomb through the trees into the creeks that surround me. I've got woodies swimming right under me the entire time I'm up the tree. It actually was distracting me from watching for deer as I enjoyed watching the ducks swim around. A few of the drakes are full blown with color, but I saw several drakes that were very washed out with no color at all....possibly juvenile drakes? Anyway.....the ducks were the best part of the day. I did see one doe on the opposite side of the field....feeding on the edge of the freshly plowed alfalfa. Other than that, zero deer. I'm gonna let the spot sit and try it again Friday evening.
Still.....it was opening day and that has a magic all to it's own. The wind was in my face, the temps were cool, and the sky was full of stars. All in all, it doesn't get much better than that.
Some pics.....
This is the view of the field last Friday:
And today:
