Building a 'Six Pack'

This past weekend Cameron, Andrew, their Uncle Peter & I went up to the hunting property to do some spring turkey hunting and build a new deer box blind. We didn't harvest any turkey. We did see some each morning. Saturday a hen came within 20 yards and would have been harvested if it were the fall season. But seeing as only males can be taken in the spring she was allowed to pass. Sunday Pete took a shot at a jake (a juvenile male) that we thought was about 50 yards out. But when we later marched it off the shot was more like 80 yards, too far for a kill shot. Hunting is just that, hunting. Sometimes you get fill your tags, and sometimes you get to keep your tags as souvenirs.

Here are some pics & vids of our weekend...

Mt. Dew kept us alert for the late Friday evening drive up to the property

I didn't get any pictures of the turkey hunting, did I did take this poor quality cell phone video of this hen as she crossed the field right towards us and came within 20 yards before moving into the trees

We got the boys out to get in some shotgun practice.

We use yellow-duct taped plywood for targets.

They twist and flutter a good deal making for a challenging target... 

Andrew with Pete providing instruction

 Cameron

Before we go off to the lumber yard Pete needed to take a quick break

The lumber bought, time to unload & schlep it uphill to the site of the build

The plywood provided the biggest challenge to move, so we let the boys do it

 Yeah, they were thrilled

Building this box on the side of a hill; think thrice, measure twice, cut once.
We name all of out boxes/stands.
This one measures 6 foot wide, a roomy 2-seater, so...
"Six-Pack", is the name for this box blind.

Boys got to use the power tools too, no idle hands allowed.

Screwing down the floor

Securing the walls

Cutting the door

Proof that I was really there

Done, packing up to go home.

Yeah; I forgot to take a picture of the finished product.

Later in the year I'll get that picture taken & posted, promise!

Back at home trying to relax, you'd think I could unwind.

Nope, no respect from the cat.

 Crush stuck his face in my water cup to care for his own thirst

Great time, always is up at the hunting property. Look forward to going back this summer or fall to get in some more turkey hunting, deer box & stand work and of course deer hunting!

Antlerless Hunt Oct. 16-17, 2010

We arrived late Friday, after dark. Shorty (left in pic) harvested a doe earlier that afternoon. Don (right) & Shorty had been here since Thursday morning but this was the only deer they had taken. They had seen a few, including bucks which were off limits this weekend. So we hopeful for the weekend hunt.

Saturday morning we were in position by 6:45 a.m., but the morning hunt produced nothing. Cameron saw a small 4 pt. buck within 10 minutes getting settled into the box on the top 40. Andrew was in the tree stand just 20'ish yards away where Cam had shot his buck the week before. I went all the way around to the tree stand in the far south-west corner of the top 40.

After a couple of hours I moved a 100 yards to the east to an old stand that had been placed in a rock & brush pile in the middle of the south field. The view from this stand was much better, but no deer came to be seen. Around 10:30 a.m. I went for a walk around the top-40 perimeter to check the fence line and scout out other sites for raising stands.

On my way back towards the boys I apparently flushed a pair of doe which bounded through the tall grass in Cameron's view. However he never had a shot so he saved his ammo vs. shooting in their general direction as he had the week before. I never saw or heard these doe, I saw no deer that morning. Neither did Andrew.

Pete & Monica were in a tree stand in the lower-bowl and reported seeing three deer in the west tree line but they never presented themselves for a shot. Don & Shorty did not see anything that morning.

In the afternoon nobody saw anything except Pete & I. Earlier that day Pete & Monica had scouted that field and discovered a self-raising tree stand and an prime place to sit on the ground that faces the western field of our property. They chose that spot for their afternoon hunt while I chose to go up into the semi-safe tower-stand which had been built by Thurmon.

A lone doe fawn is all anyone we saw that afternoon and we harvested it. It came north about 100 yards in front of Pete. Monica was off on a nature walk and missed the opportunity. But the fawn never gave Pete a clear shot as the trees and brush it was feeding along side of provided sufficient cover. It steadily made its way towards me and I kept en eye on her. About 5 minutes later she popped her head & shoulder out far enough for a good broadside shot from just 40-50 years.

Unfortunately I aimed high and hit her inthe upper chest. This put her down, a good thing, but it did not kill her. I made a rookie mistake by not taking a 2nd shot for the kill from the stand. Instead I chose to take the 5 minutes necessary to get down from the tower and walk up to her. By then she had shook off the trauma enough to jump up and bolt back to the south.

Instantly upset at my mistake I took a few steps in pursuit but then stopped as I saw Pete with rifle at aim. Fifteen seconds later he fired. Seeing that he set his rifle down I called him and he directed me towards where he had last seen the fawn. Uncertain if he had hit her we were hopeful either he had or that my shot finally took the wind out of her. After a few minutes I came up on here down and dead behind a large bush. Pete finished her with a running shot, to the gut.

Monica walked down to me and helped me field dress the fawn and Pete showed up with the 4-wheeler about the time we were ready to move her out. Here she is, small indeed, and believe me everyone let me know how small she was...

Sunday morning we went back out, hunted until appx. 10 a.m. and saw nothing. Pete & I herded up the kids and headed home before noon, Don left for home as well. Shorty stayed and hunted the final afternoon of this antlerless season. He was rewarded with a large buck fawn which he harvested.