My friend Scott Wilson invited me to go goose hunting Saturday near the Grafton Ferry in the St. Charles bottoms. We didn’t shoot anything but I sure had a great time with him. He is a standup guy.

Later that day I went to my friend Bob’s place near Shelbina. He has 80 acres up there filled with deer and turkey. I got to the stand at about 5:30.

At 5:45 I had a doe and 2 fawns pass behind me and to the right. I had a shot but couldn’t manuever my crossbow for the shot. That was the only shot I had. I got wicked drunk on a bottle of cheap smirnoff and crashed at 11. I downed it with no chaser while Bob and I met with the neighbors.

I was up at 5 and in the deer stand at 6. I felt like Shit! Obvious reasons. I didnt take my morning dump and went back to the cabin at 8:30 to poop and then go back to bed. No action whatsoever in the woods.

Great time though. I learned I should always be prepared for a shot at any angle once I get in a stand. I also learned NOT to get drunk before deer hunting either.

There is an abundance of raccoon and fox on my hunting grounds. I cannot wait for November 15th to get here. I am very interested in trapping. I want to get a couple mounts and sell some fur too. I have seen foxes every time I go out and deer hunt. I hope to learn from this guy named Chuck in Columbia. I should probably pick up some DVDs on the subject, too. In any case I am looking forward to my hunting and trapping seasons.

1) Went to Little Lost Creek with SNA Nicholas from MissouriWhitetails.com on Saturday the 27th. I sat in my popup blind underneath a persimmon tree which was at the top of a food plot. I had persimmons falling on my roof and it scared the heck out of me. We didn’t see or shoot anything but it was a lot of fun gettin out there. This place was off of HWY 70 near Warrenton. I would definitely go back there.

2) Sat in my deer stand last week in the morning. Didn’t see any action so before 9 I went out to see what was around. Jumped 5 does but didn’t pull the trigger. I had to be at work and didn’t wanna mess with guttin and processin a deer. Nothin really to brag about except I found a turkey feather.

I spent $40 on some broadheads I didn’t even get to use. I’ll sparfe you the details. The Montecs I bought were either lost or broken. I emailed customer service expressing my disappointment. They promptly emailed me back and are going to send me some more out. That was WAY cool. I gotta say I will be shootin the G5s this year and not the Muzzy. I can’t wait to tear into a deer with one of these badboys. Just goes to show folks that good customer service is still out there.

Was in the woods closeby.

6:45 they started to creep out.

One doe passes. Then a nice 6-8 rack. I’m watching them. I don’t even notice the goliath standing there watching me.

I see him. He’s maybe 30 yards away. I take aim. Direct facng shot. I take aim. He doesn’t move. I squeeze the trigger. Arrow flies. Did it connect?!

Deer ran off. No blood trail or hair found. UGH! I will go back in the morning to look once it is light. SO FRUSTERATING! He was so huge. AT LEAST a 10. Massive deer. UGH I’m kicking myself.

I picked up some new 125 broadheads while at lunch yesterday. They are all fixed piece. $40 for 3 of them.

I raced home and changed my clothes then hit up the same spot I was in the morning - hoping the 8 pointer would come back.

I sat there from 5-7. I had 2 red foxes pass me on their trail about 50 yards out. I had the scope on one and could have taken a shot when he stopped for 10 seconds to look around. I let them go though. I sat for another hour and regretted not taking the shot. So I said if he comes back and I have a good shot I’ll take it.

Sure enough as it was getting dark the red fox came back. I didn’t see his companion. He came racing in trying to catch a squirrel who was at the base of a walnut tree. He sat there looking around and I had him pegged. I let it fly!

The crossbow shot FAST and I heard a loud THUNNGGGG as the arrow stuck into the tree. I thought I had missed.

As I walked up the fox was still there, maybe 20 feet from where I had shot. He saw me and took off. N00b error on my part.

I inspected teh arrow and found it at least 4 inches stuck into the tree. Luckily I was able to spin it and remove the shaft while leaving the $10+ broadhead Deeply embedded.

While I pulled it out I noticed some red. It was blood! but not a lot. I thought I had missed. There was no blood on the arrow.

I went over to where I saw the fox run away and found a small pool. I started to look for him and after 30 minutes I gave up. I feel awful I wounded him and couldn’t recover him.

I watched the 4 does in the field 300 yards away for a while. They knew I was there so I need to find another spot. If I get a chance to kill the deer with the broken leg I will. It needs to go down.

After I shot and looked for my fox I gave up. I drove around to the secret masonic deer spot and saw too many people around. Same with the power plot. I headed over to the big field and saw 4 does bedded down right in the middle! I was able to drive up to 20 yards from them. I sat in my call bustin my grunt at them call for 15 mins until it was dark. Then they skampered off into the woods - and I saw their entrance.

It’s Tuesday now and I didn’t get a chance to go out this morning because I had to take Elizabeth to school.

I’m itchin for a deer though…..

Where should I go this weekend: Potosi, Festus, Van Buren, or Weldon Springs?

I got to the setup at 6am. I camped out on the top of the hill where I saw the 8 pointer yesterday. I didn’t use my seated blind, I just sat on a cusion somewhat concealed at the edge of the woods.

I didn’t have anything closeby. I saw 4 deer about 150 yards away grazing in the field and entering the woods.

I saw a Fat raccoon and his trail by the creek. I also saw a fox run the same route.

As I left at 8am I circled back and saw a fox standing within shooting distance of where I was sitting. If only I had spent a little more time in there!

We’ll see if I get the time to get out tonight again…

Sunday Sept 14, 2008

I had the time to run to Weldon Springs where I drew a managed hunt tag. The #42 bow or crossbow hunt allows for the harvest of 2 deer which do not count against your tags. Time spent at Weldon was OK - I found one spot.

I didn’t see a deer there. There was lots of flooding. I saw several other hunters who were scouting too.

On my way home I stopped by some of the secret spots. I jumped 2 bucks in one spot. Saw 2 does and 2 fawns in another. Jumped one more in the woods, and then to crown it off I saw a magnificent 8 pointer standing in the field staring me down.

I decided to set up opening day in the last spot I saw that big buck.

just got back from pulling my card. i need a different cable to hook my trail cam up to my telephone. it is possible though, i think.

saw a doe with 2 fawns and a 4 point buck as i was taking the cam down. we’ll see whats on this card…

Today I went out and actually did some scouting. I jumped a total of 4 deer.

I set up my deer camera, a Moultry i60 which shoots infrared in the dark, in a absolutely beuaitful small field tucked away in some hardwoods. It was absolutely beautiful. While I was setting it up I had a mature doe come within 15 yards of me to check me out. She wasn’t afraid. I will pull the video I shot of me and the deer tomorrow.

I went to another location. Once I got snuck into the woods 15 feet I jumped 3 deer. I made a clearing for my blind and then went to pick my daughter up from daycare.

I am so excited to get my deer camera pictures tomorrow. I feel like a kid waiting for Santa to come!