Bambistew
Well-known member
Wyodeerhunter and I made a trip down south to chase some blacktails last month. Quite a fun trip and one I hope to work into the mix every fall.
The planning started about a month before. Surprisingly (or not), the planning was pretty easy and the whole trip went off with out a hitch, minus leaving my trekker poles at one camp site.
We only had 4 days to hunt and travel would cost us a day on both sides. We maximized our exploration by changing locations at night. We also spent a lot of time exploring the area and getting to know the habits of the deer, what they liked, what to look for etc. The one thing I wasn't really prepared for was to hunt in the rain/snow all day long, every day and night. It pretty much rained 22 of 24 hours a day. Quality rain gear was a must, as well as boots... next time I think I'll look into either waist high waders and good boots, or a quality pair of knee high rubber boots. The quintessential "Extra Tough" boots suck to hike in and I've never found how people get around in them in the hills. We both wore our standard leathers. they were soaked through by the end of the first day.
We camped out in the back of a rental truck, which was ok... at bit damp, but we managed. We always pack light, and this trip was no exception. I think we had 40lbs of beer, for a total weight of 50lbs in one cooler, a backpack full of gear each and a spare cooler for meat. We had to pick up another one for the ride home. Met a few locals along the way, and learned a lot.
The creeks are DEEP, the woods are thick, and do NOT try to walk through a clear cut.
I took two small bucks the second morning. The came into the call. Shot distance was about 40 yards. Shot one and a second one popped out.
The third day Wyo shot a small buck in the morning. We called him and another one in, the small one came into about 5 yards, the other never showed himself. Later that after noon, we called in another buck. I spotted him at about 200 yards, he circled down wind came into about about 40 yards before I sent a warning shot, and then a followup into his neck. He crumpled on the spot.
We got back to the truck about an hour past dark. Navigating in the dark with a GPS sucked especially hard due to the heavy forest, swamps and rain.
As always I wish I would have taken more pictures. Its hard to when it was raining so much.
The planning started about a month before. Surprisingly (or not), the planning was pretty easy and the whole trip went off with out a hitch, minus leaving my trekker poles at one camp site.
We only had 4 days to hunt and travel would cost us a day on both sides. We maximized our exploration by changing locations at night. We also spent a lot of time exploring the area and getting to know the habits of the deer, what they liked, what to look for etc. The one thing I wasn't really prepared for was to hunt in the rain/snow all day long, every day and night. It pretty much rained 22 of 24 hours a day. Quality rain gear was a must, as well as boots... next time I think I'll look into either waist high waders and good boots, or a quality pair of knee high rubber boots. The quintessential "Extra Tough" boots suck to hike in and I've never found how people get around in them in the hills. We both wore our standard leathers. they were soaked through by the end of the first day.
We camped out in the back of a rental truck, which was ok... at bit damp, but we managed. We always pack light, and this trip was no exception. I think we had 40lbs of beer, for a total weight of 50lbs in one cooler, a backpack full of gear each and a spare cooler for meat. We had to pick up another one for the ride home. Met a few locals along the way, and learned a lot.
The creeks are DEEP, the woods are thick, and do NOT try to walk through a clear cut.
I took two small bucks the second morning. The came into the call. Shot distance was about 40 yards. Shot one and a second one popped out.
The third day Wyo shot a small buck in the morning. We called him and another one in, the small one came into about 5 yards, the other never showed himself. Later that after noon, we called in another buck. I spotted him at about 200 yards, he circled down wind came into about about 40 yards before I sent a warning shot, and then a followup into his neck. He crumpled on the spot.
We got back to the truck about an hour past dark. Navigating in the dark with a GPS sucked especially hard due to the heavy forest, swamps and rain.
As always I wish I would have taken more pictures. Its hard to when it was raining so much.
Last edited:
