Sika Early On

As much as I like this trip, I really like this trip. The cool breeze off the marsh creek cutting through your hunting clothing and moonlight showing pathway of murky water. Each year the snaking creek has to be navigated for crab pots and sandbars around the bends. The is loaded to the brim with arrows, stands, and support gear for the day. I couldn't fit this much stuff in my cubicle but it's just not the same. That little fan behind my computer screen will never compare to the breeze in my face off the creek. The blinding lights above my counter top produce a heat lamp feeling but where's the lizard at?

Well, if I ever find a lizard in my cube, he can have the high energy tan while I tap away on my keyboard. For now though, the whistle of my Yamaha cuts through that marsh in search of Sika deer. Although these furry creatures are illegal aliens, they produce quite a tasty meal with their tender and flavorful meat. Before we know it, the boat is perched up on the forest edge and crunchy leaves lead the way to our hunting spots. The season is early but the deer activity was on high. My guess is that we are the first hunters to sit the woods this season as the calendar still says September.

First stop is to drop off my partner in crime for a blind location. This is simple, putting him up against some cover and lined up between me the boat. Another 300 yards in, I pick out the same tree as last year where a spiked stag. My behind must have been on fire, because this spot has been producing a deer for past two years and today made three. As anticipated, two sika deer came strolling in from the marsh to the wood-marsh fringe ~40 yards away. With my range finder on the fritz, it meant shooting from the hip and judging my own distance. With pin set to 40 yards, the arrow drawn back, and my eyes set on the body of the deer...smack. A hollow hard hit sound that is like none other.

This would be the first time, I captured my hunt on video. A moment in time that will be able to be replayed for years to come. A defining moment in my hunting career that will be treasured with those family videos. Although the deer wasn't a trophy or even a buck, it would be that turning point to look back on and smile in the success.

Early Season, Slim Pickins II

After the first day in the woods, my dogs were barking. My colleague Josh had graciously provided me to a place to sleep. With the Patuxent River State Park being located near his house, it was a quick trip to a cool bed and warm meal. It made me a bit jealous though, that he had a such as short trip to great huntable land. It wasn' t long before clock struck o'dark thirty and we walking into the woods. Our destination today was pond to the east to sit and wait for deer to come in for an afternoon drink. The temperature today was going to reach above 80 which will certainly make an uncomfortable sit.
As we walked through the intermittent spiderwebs along the trail, my backpack and tree stand reminded me that I had lugged way too much into the woods.
The extra weight became my enemy again, only allowing me to get halfway to the pond. Disappointed with my lack of physical fitness, I choose a trail that branched off the main trail. The woods opened up and some great vantage points to the trail made it an easy sell. This portion of the woods though still lacked the deer sign that I wanted to see. The sit went fast, and before we knew it, we were walking back out of the woods. Without see any deer and still lacking solid proof of deer we would spend the day scouting around the area. As we drove around, it provided the chance to interact with other hunters and check other parking areas to access this long sliver shaped state park. Everyone seemed to be tight lipped, but a local farmer provided some valuable information. He let us know, that he found bedding areas out in the middle of the bean fields.
This helped to conclude on our feelings about the area coupled with early season activity. The deer have yet to endure any hunting pressure, the farm fields are untouched by John Deere green machinery, and the temperatures being so, the deer are still on vacation. We agreed to sit for the evening in other areas as confirmation, but still with a bit of hope to see something worth while in this heat. Since the previous evening had provided some deer activity, I choose to sit there again. On the route in though, the briar war was won with the edge of my Gerber Machete. Now if a small plank was available to cross the ravine, my day would be getting even better.
The walk created a waterfall of sweat on my brow from the heat and humidity. After an hour in the stand, my clothing finally dried out. The view would be dismal and uneventful. This truly solidified my early season expectations. Over the next few weeks, the deer will come out of vacation mode and begin their patterns. If one had to choose, a cool boat ride on the way to hot sit in the woods, would certainly be more enjoyable. A sika deer trip will be in my near future.

Early Season, Slim Pickins'

A late would have to ensue in order to have a work free Friday for the first day of Maryland Deer season. Now if I could just ignore those emails on my phone and stay focused on the hunt. Easier said than of course, but simply turning that little sucker off can solve the problem quickly. This trip will take me south of Philadelphia, over the Mason-Dixon line, past Lord Baltimore and turning to the west. The landscape changes abruptly from the concrete jungles into quaint farm lands and sprawling patches of forests.
The destination is Patuxent River State Park, which provides ~3000 acres of huntable land. As most of the land is heavily wooded, its surrounded by agricultural fields of beans and corn by local farmers. As food isn't an issue, will it keep them out in the open with little to no pressure thus far? As this is the first time hunting this early and a new area, the immense workload was piling up fast. Arriving at the local WalMart to obtain my tags and few necessities for the trip the hunt was about to begin.
The first course of action was to scout the area. My co-worker would be joining me the next day and was already familiar with the area. My task was to pin point some deer activity and get in close. The plan for tomorrow was to sit on a pond about mile into the woods. As the heat is still lingering from summer, we figured water would be a deer's best friend right now. Although I would learn that the Patuxent River was decent in size, and the maps gave it little credit. The hunting area runs in a west to east orientation. Approximately 10 miles long and in some spots only a few hundred feet wide.
With the truck in park, my gear quickly assembled and my boots were on the trail. Heavy vegetation was expected as we are merely a couple days into September. So choosing an area with a small opening or a heavily traveled corridor was on watch list.
The first leg of scouting didn't turn up very much. One or two good areas to sit with some decent vantage points were identified. To my dismay though, deer sign was scarce. This just wouldn't be a high probability spot....yet. As I mentioned before, its early season, deer have hardly been pressured and are out in the open enjoying the farmland buffet. Returning to my truck to hydrate and regroup because another area would have to be scouted in a timely manner. This time my tree stand and bow would be coming with me
The gear on my back instance stirred up memories from Sika deer season. I was already carrying too much from what was actually needed. This would hinder my distance traveled significantly. Taking an open area that was off limits to hunting, it would give me easier access to getting further in the woods. As it was all state park land, it wasn't trespassing. Quickly my path is met with heavy vegetation and a steep ravine to cross that split the two open areas. Wearing not much more than my gilly suit and under armor, the briars would win this battle. The second open area led me further west before it dropped me into the woods. Following a foot path down, the elevation dropped into a thick overgrown forest.
Crossing over a small creek would allow me to view fresh deer tracks in the mud. This was all I needed to stop and hang my stand. As sweat was pouring out of me and hints that I am surely not in shape yet, the hunt was on. The briar battle would begin again at the base of the tree that overlooked the trail, the creek crossing and small opening for deer to step out. Shortly after a few more pricks, I was overlooking the forest floor from above. The first thing was too cool off, hydrate, and stop sweating. Luckily a light breeze out of the NE would assist me. My attention focused on the creek crossing and small open area.
After an hour or so, the signature crunching of leaves came to my left. Slowly would I have to turn in order to catch a glimpse. Deer! It felt great to see deer on first day of the season. The winter, spring, and summer are merely a waiting game until deer season starts again. The two deer that had appeared we slowly grazing on leaves that overhung on the foot path. As they believed to be the only ones around, they would rip and tear leaves from small bushes and trees vigorously. The first one in view was a small doe, with a burnt red coat that shimmered with twitches to ward off the flies. The other was her brother, his coat almost a dull gray with two small buttons emerging from his head. Collectively they might weigh over 100 pounds soaking wet, but the fact of the matter is that it wouldn't be worth harvesting a bag of bones.
Simply relaxing back in my stand, the show of the duo would give me a cheerful smile. There isn't a TV show in the world that can provide this level of enjoyment. This was real high definition, surround sound and 3D all in one. As the sister approached directly under my stand, the sweat droplets from earlier caught here attention. With a quick stare at her brother, they would just veer off the trail and continue to graze. It wasn't a few feet off the trail that the two disappeared into the vegetation.
Sitting a while longer, movement in the form of crunching leaves would turn my attention back to the open area. To my dismay, it was the flash of white tails popping in and out of the brush moving away quickly. The deer had moved in so quietly had been under my nose without knowing. That is a testament as to how thick it was in the forest. To their advantage, they would arrive directly down wind of me and their noses told them danger ahead. The walk back was much cooler, as temperatures were falling fast. It would be a tease as tomorrow was set to hit above 80. The ravine crossing was slightly more dangerous as the slope coupled with entangling briars pushed to take a leap of faith to the other side. All in all, it was good day though.

To be continued...

2 Orders of Hunting, Hold the Heat

The smell of the maple trees and sight of acorns is almost tangible. 4 three days stand between me and the woods. Maryland, like some other grateful states, opens a bit earlier than the Keystone State. Pennsylvania hunters will have to wait one more month before arrows can fly. South Carolina allows you a chance at a velvet buck as their season opens in August. That will be one for the bucket list, as any of states around me would never consider that as a possibility.
As I spend these last few days waiting for the green light, its provides the chance to double check gear, shoot those final perfect practice shots, and taking one a gaze at the hunting areas from my desktop. Of course, taking those hunting maps and transferring them into field plans, laminated, highlighted, and noted with specific information from my scouting.
My hunting pack is set with scouting gear still, as the first day, I am going to give the area one more glance. As the heat is still turned up, the focus for the hunt is water. The area of woods has two small ponds separated by about a mile with small creek beds snaking through. With hopes to find some serious deer signs around these ponds, it will be my best chance in the early season. The woods have agricultural fields to the south, so hopefully it will put in the deer's pathway of daily habits. Eat, drink, sleep.
The original forecast had a the heat breaking in the mid week, but now it seems that it will linger on a bit longer. This will be a first time hunt to this area anyway, but at least having some odds in my favor would help. Not only will heat hinder deer movement but it will surely beat me down sitting on stand all day. The outfit I have chosen will literally be the least amount of clothing to be worn. Keeping cool, means less sweating, and in turn less scent. During the sit on the water hole, wind management will be high on the list as not blow my chances.
All of my clothing that will be used is going through the scent control cycle: washing with baking soda, dried with no dryer sheets, and than directly back into zip lock bags. All my clothing bins are separated by seasonal requirements (lightweight to heavy). There are the hunters though that hope their tag will get filled early on and those heavy warm clothes get to stay packed away. Not me though, you have to drag me out of the woods at the end of the season. The colder weather brings out warming technique rituals: layered clothing, hand warmers, tea in the thermos, and day dreaming of the first hot meal upon arrival back at camp.
With state of the arm technologies available to hunters these days, its on hunters as to how far they want to take scent control. From skin tight carbon impregnated garments to expensive Ozone generating equipment. My philosophy is if you just follow a solid regime of scent management, it will allow that buck to come in close enough and hang out just long enough for that shot. With the heat being a factor on this hunt, having a few extra tricks up my sleeve may be the winning combination. A mid day shower to rid the sweat and grime and fresh pair of clothes to back it up is one way.
During my time in Maryland, there are a few farms to the south of the hunting area. If permission could be gained with the resident, it could allow a better stalk into the area I hope to hunt. Any time you interact with landowners, be polite and don't beat around the bushes. That means be completely honest, but the more upfront information that's provided can subside doubts that they may have. And as always, offer to lend a hand if means getting access to a hot spot. Private land access is a huge hurdle these days and there isn't anymore land being made.
Until next time, hunt hard and make the hunt happen.