DEER HUNTING REPORTS 2001 pg 3

Nov. 5-7 2001 Went down to Scioto Co. with 'Piff' Ward Monday afternoon to hunt some new property that we just received permission to hunt.  The land is basically 100 acres or more of cattle pasture with a few wooded hillsides toward the north end.  Most of the neighboring land at this north end is wooded.  There is a small pond, about 20 yards in diameter, at the very end of the pasture.  This pond is surrounded on three sides by the neighbor's woods. This was Piff's first time at bow hunting and he was using my crossbow.  After taking a few practice shots, and missing low and to the right, we figured out that he was dropping the bow when he fired.  After shooting a few more shots and hitting the bullseye at 20 yards he went and set up by the pond for the evening hunt.  I went up on the hillside to the east and positioned my treestand near the property line.  After an uneventful afternoon I met Piff back at the gate at dark.  Piff came back holding a muddy arrow and exclaimed that he had shot at a buck and missed as it drank from across the pond.  When I asked him where did the shot go, he said, "Low and to the Right"! After a nights ribbing Piff went back to the pond the next morning.  He said that there was a lot of action the evening before and he thought that there might me some more in the morning.  I went up to my stand on the hillside.  As soon as I got settled in I saw a few deer run down the opposite hill and head for the pond area.  A few mintues later I heard the crossbow fire and then heard a wack and saw deer scatter.  I stayed in my stand until around 10:30 then I went down to find Piff. As I approched the pond Piff greated me by shouting that he had shot a buck.  He said that he compensated for his trendency of shooting low by aiming high and that the arrow stuck the dear behind the shoulder.  I asked him if he found a blood trail and he replied that he is colored blind and that he was waiting on me to help him track!  He had a fix on where the buck ran and we eventually found him about 75 yards from the pond in the woods. It was an 8 pointer.  It was the smaller one of two bucks that were chasing a doe.  The bigger one was out of range. That evening I took Piff's position next to the pond while he watched from about 15 yards behind me.  I coaxed a wishbone rack 8 pointer down off of the hill by grunting.  I guessed the yardage at 30 yards and put my 30 yard pin on him and released the arrow.  It went right under him, about six inches below his vitals!  He scampered off about 15 yards and soon went on up the hill. About a half hour later we hear another deer up on the hill above the pond.  I grunted and rattled a little.  A few minutes later a big buck with a very nice rack steps out in the meadow about 150 yards away.  It stares across the field, scanning the opposite hillside.  I grunted and he looked my way.  When he turned his head I grunted again.  He then stared me down off and on for about 20 minutes.  He never committed.  He finally stomped and snorted a few times and turn around and headed up the hill. The next morning we again went to the pond.  A doe came down off of the hill behind us and crossed the meadow and disappeared into the wooded hillside in front of us.  A short time later a small buck came down the same way and eventually walked along the edge of the woods and came to the pond.  It was a small buck and I tried to get a picture of him but he never presented himself for a shot.   Later I heard comotion behind us and turned to see a buck chasing a big doe and three yearlings.  They ran the length of the pasture and eventally came back.  The big boy stood about 400-500 yards away and finally lost interest and jumped the fence and headed up to a far off woods.  The spot where he crossed the fence might be a good place for a future set up. That was it for our hunt in Scioto Co.  We might go down for gun season if we have not taggged out by then.  It looks like we could set up at the pond and the fence crossing and  let the hunters on the other properties chase the deer our way.

Nov.8, 2001 I went out to the place in Beavercreek Twp. and hunted out of my treestand that I had place in the back of the property a few weeks ago.  I had a little 4 point buck stop in front of me a stood broadside about 12 yards away.  I did not take the shot.  He was just too small.  Why do I have all the small bucks in range the past week or so?  Where are the big boys? A little later I heard some grunting and footsteps to my right.  Soon two little yearlings show up.  Then the doe appears.  I could bearly make her out through all the honeysuckle.  A few minutes late I again heard grunting.  I was hoping that it was a big buck coming to check out the doe.  Soon it shows up, it was the little 4 pointer!  I could not get a shot at the doe before she moved off.  About mid-day the machines arrived to pick the corn.  I hoped that they might move deer my way as they were picking but I didn't see any movement.  That evening the 2 yearlings and the doe show up in front of me.  The yearlings would give me a shot but the doe was obstructed my a few small branches.  Too risky of a shot.  All she had to do was take another step and she would be in the clear.  But nooooo!  They eventually went on their way. Nov. 10, 2001 This morning I again went out to Beavercreek Twp.  I had the small 4 pointer come up to my scent wick and sniff it.  He offered a perfect, but I didn't take it.  I saw another small buck in the distance earlier, but could not tell if it was the same little buck. Later that afternoon I checked out a place in Clark Co..  The owner showed me his property then I sat up on a hillside overlooking some bottomland.   About 5 o'clock a BIG buck came out of the neighbor's cornfield and ran in front of me.  He was about 175 yards away and I could tell that he was a monster!  The biggest buck I have seen all year!  I will be checking this property off and on this coming week.