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Post by harmonist34 on Nov 2, 2020 20:28:42 GMT -5
One other thought. If you're hunting alone, that can be tough. Through the years, I've been amazed at how many times a party of 2-3 hunters can go out together and sit as close as 100-200 yards apart. And at the end of the hunt, one guy has seen many deer and the rest have seen little or none. Good point. I’m almost always hunting alone, and as you said...being in the right area but the wrong tree can make all the difference.
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Post by harmonist34 on Nov 2, 2020 20:27:59 GMT -5
Ended up doing an evening hunt at Brookville instead. Had two good-sized does at 60 yds but they moved away from me. Good hunt though!
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Post by harmonist34 on Nov 1, 2020 14:33:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the encouragement! I've put a number of miles/hours in at Brookville already, but I think I'm going to hunt there again tomorrow morning. Going to try to prioritize being in the right place for the critical first light hours, then head out by lunch if I haven't had any luck. I know a few spots where there are deer, but they're grueling to get to, so I'm worried about how I'll get the deer back to the car if I get one. Cross that bridge when I come to it, I guess!
I think the "don't make hunting a job" line hits close to home. The pressure I feel in deer season is tremendous. All the money and time I spend preparing, and the fact that we can only do it for 1/4 of the year...
I tend to have chances in gun season, so I'm hopeful I'll end up with a deer before all is said and done. I was just really hoping to connect in archery season this year, and other than a small 5 pt I passed on, I've not had a shot. Would happily take a doe, but they must know that because they've not come wandering by!
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Post by harmonist34 on Oct 31, 2020 23:49:36 GMT -5
I'm getting a little discouraged. Hunted several times in multiple locations and haven't seen much. Today was an 11.5 hr sit with no action whatsoever. And while I love the forum and social media and all that most of the time, seeing the parade of big bucks and people with multiple doe tags filled already has me feeling pretty incompetent.
Surely I'm not the only one with a slow start to the season?
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Post by harmonist34 on Oct 24, 2020 19:17:28 GMT -5
Had a fun hunt today - watched a 5 pt work a scrape for a while about 13 yards away from my tree (https://youtu.be/dtqwLZ4mrbs ). Pulled the card from the cam I've had on that scrape and got *three (found one more) pictures of this monster. By far the best deer I've ever had on camera.
How crazy is this spread?!
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Post by harmonist34 on Oct 10, 2020 15:44:04 GMT -5
Thats how alot of the areas are there anymore. The bigger more open hardwoods are gonna be up north or along waterways. I’m amazed how much good cover habitat and food sources there are here. It’s overwhelming- great bedding everywhere, white oaks everywhere...
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Post by harmonist34 on Oct 10, 2020 10:06:18 GMT -5
Out at Big Oaks today. Was not prepared for how thick the woods are in this unit. Big swaths of saplings 18 inches apart. Finally found an open area big enough to have some 20 yds shot opportunities and have some trails nearby but haven’t seen any good sign thus far.
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Post by harmonist34 on Oct 8, 2020 19:34:59 GMT -5
Called - didn't get a clear answer, but it seems that strap on sticks are fine.
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Post by harmonist34 on Oct 6, 2020 18:38:56 GMT -5
I see in the Big Oaks hunt regulations that "Portable deer stands are allowed...Tree steps or screw-in steps are prohibited."
Anybody gotten clarification on what they mean by the (non screw-in) "tree steps" phrase? Are climbing sticks not allowed? Or is that specifically about Wild Edge style steps?
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Post by harmonist34 on Oct 6, 2020 18:36:38 GMT -5
I am fairly new to the game. I bought Lone Wolf steps for last year, then this year bought the shikars. I love the shikars.
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Post by harmonist34 on Oct 1, 2020 9:15:08 GMT -5
I’m scout/hunting a new area of Brookville for me. No deer, minimal sign, so I definitely haven’t found the spot(s) yet. Many hours to go...embarrassing how tired I already am after walking these hills for a few hours.
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Post by harmonist34 on Sept 22, 2020 21:16:46 GMT -5
Thanks, guys!
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Post by harmonist34 on Sept 21, 2020 21:27:44 GMT -5
I'd like to plan for an elk hunt in the next few years. I've watched some Youtube videos, had an initial conversation or two with a friend that's done some elk hunting, spent some time on a couple state's websites reviewing regulations and it's pretty overwhelming.
I know it's just going to take a bunch of hours invested to make sense of it all, but I'm curious - anybody found a Youtuber/blogger/website that does a good job of simplifying the options?
Bottom line is that it's going to take a LOT of money - that much is clear. But which state to target, deciding whether to buy points for years vs. choosing a less desirable unit or OTC...so overwhelming.
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Post by harmonist34 on Sept 21, 2020 15:19:00 GMT -5
Nice bucks!
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Post by harmonist34 on Sept 15, 2020 7:21:30 GMT -5
I’m hunting Big Oaks for the first time this year with the goal of helping a young friend get his first deer. We got area 57 for the Oct 10-11 hunt - sounds like only one other pair of hunters in there and an area that’s produced well in the past, so I’m excited. If anyone has experience there or wants to contribute any Big Oaks wisdom I would love to hear it. As I said, my goal is to get this young man his first deer, and I’m hopeful this is a good way to accomplish it!
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Post by harmonist34 on Sept 3, 2020 11:33:44 GMT -5
I've scouted Brookville a few times but need to hit some of the sections that I haven't yet. Also would like to learn Mississinewa. I'm in for a trip with somebody! Or Modoc, Randolph County, Salamonie, or JE Roush?
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Post by harmonist34 on Sept 2, 2020 11:44:39 GMT -5
I like my Reveal cam.
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Post by harmonist34 on Sept 1, 2020 22:11:21 GMT -5
Thanks, all - this is very helpful!
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Post by harmonist34 on Sept 1, 2020 7:26:58 GMT -5
That's great intel, Onebentarrow - thanks! Always comes back to access and permission, doesn't it?
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Post by harmonist34 on Aug 31, 2020 21:25:05 GMT -5
I'm reading through the annual report (http://www.state.in.us/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-DeerSummaryReport_2019.pdf). I'm in Indy, and I guess I've always thought you have to go south for good hunting. But looking at the numbers of deer harvested and deer collisions, Noble and some of the other northern counties have really high numbers.
Anybody hunt in Noble or surrounding counties? Is it mostly agriculture land with small wood lots? Assume pretty dead flat?
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