cooperjd
Well-known member
Here in Virginia we have an early doe season for some areas, and Ft. Belvoir is one of them. Season opened 5 Sep, but i haven't had a chance to go until this past Saturday. (no hunting on sundays).
slept late, and was getting daylight when i ran out of the house. not to worry, I was mainly scouting anyway. On the drive in i saw a doe browsing near the old dirt road i was on, so this is a good sign, the deer are up and moving. I was basically just out scouting, but since its a military base I'm not allowed to just walk around, so i was really spot and stalk hunting
the area i hunted last year has changed somewhat, few more trees being cut, some more open areas, so i was out exploring. i found a spot taht looked pretty good and sat down. i hadn't even gotten settled in yet, and was still looking behind me to make myself more comfortable, when a big doe and fawn came out of the woods and into the corner of the field not 20 yards from me. of course i was busted, and off they went.
As the sun came up and turned into a beautiful cloudless blue sky morning, i decided to continue walking and scouting. found a few good areas taht i may hang a stand later on in the year during buck season, but they are up a steep hill and a loooongggg way from the truck. would make for a heck of a drag... but no more deer spotted that morning.
came back taht afternoon and a truck was parked where i wanted to go, so i went exploring again to a completely new area, and one that had been recently bushogged and opened up. i found a nice vantage point to sit down after walking around and checking things out, and waited. I didnt' wait too long and 3 little bucks came out in the little field i was watching. now i'm sitting on the ground again, in some tall grass and hidden a little by some small trees... the bucks are in full velvet, a spike, a 3 point spike, and a button buck with about 1/2" nubs. they walk around and get to about 35 yards from me there is this big tree / bush thing in the middle of the field. one of them gets in and under it, like he's scratching his back or something, and the other 2 just browse around the outside. i'm watching and ranging them, seeing how close they'll get, when one of them spots me and gets curious.
so here he comes, in to me on a string. there's no wind, so he can't wind me, but he starts to circle around to get a clearer view of me, as one side wasn't shielded by trees and branches. so here he comes, bringing his buddies with him, just peering at me, trying to smell me. the first one gets about 12 yards away, the farthest 15 yards. and they are just staring holes thru me. throwing their noses up, i can hear them sniffing for me. good thing these dumb lil guys are in a quality deer management area, they'd be in trouble next weekend, acting like that. but they finally had enough of me and hit the road. i caught glimpses of them messing around different parts of the field, but that was it for the afternoon.
i'm heading out today after work to try to hang my stand, i'm getting tired of getting eaten alive by chiggers every time i sit on the ground. i can't wait for a good frost!
get to the woods, good luck to everyone.
slept late, and was getting daylight when i ran out of the house. not to worry, I was mainly scouting anyway. On the drive in i saw a doe browsing near the old dirt road i was on, so this is a good sign, the deer are up and moving. I was basically just out scouting, but since its a military base I'm not allowed to just walk around, so i was really spot and stalk hunting
the area i hunted last year has changed somewhat, few more trees being cut, some more open areas, so i was out exploring. i found a spot taht looked pretty good and sat down. i hadn't even gotten settled in yet, and was still looking behind me to make myself more comfortable, when a big doe and fawn came out of the woods and into the corner of the field not 20 yards from me. of course i was busted, and off they went.
As the sun came up and turned into a beautiful cloudless blue sky morning, i decided to continue walking and scouting. found a few good areas taht i may hang a stand later on in the year during buck season, but they are up a steep hill and a loooongggg way from the truck. would make for a heck of a drag... but no more deer spotted that morning.
came back taht afternoon and a truck was parked where i wanted to go, so i went exploring again to a completely new area, and one that had been recently bushogged and opened up. i found a nice vantage point to sit down after walking around and checking things out, and waited. I didnt' wait too long and 3 little bucks came out in the little field i was watching. now i'm sitting on the ground again, in some tall grass and hidden a little by some small trees... the bucks are in full velvet, a spike, a 3 point spike, and a button buck with about 1/2" nubs. they walk around and get to about 35 yards from me there is this big tree / bush thing in the middle of the field. one of them gets in and under it, like he's scratching his back or something, and the other 2 just browse around the outside. i'm watching and ranging them, seeing how close they'll get, when one of them spots me and gets curious.
so here he comes, in to me on a string. there's no wind, so he can't wind me, but he starts to circle around to get a clearer view of me, as one side wasn't shielded by trees and branches. so here he comes, bringing his buddies with him, just peering at me, trying to smell me. the first one gets about 12 yards away, the farthest 15 yards. and they are just staring holes thru me. throwing their noses up, i can hear them sniffing for me. good thing these dumb lil guys are in a quality deer management area, they'd be in trouble next weekend, acting like that. but they finally had enough of me and hit the road. i caught glimpses of them messing around different parts of the field, but that was it for the afternoon.
i'm heading out today after work to try to hang my stand, i'm getting tired of getting eaten alive by chiggers every time i sit on the ground. i can't wait for a good frost!
get to the woods, good luck to everyone.
