Estes Park

Long overdue, but just now getting around to downloading pictures from our family trip to Estes Park this past September.  Had a lot of fun, did a little bit of everything from hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, rafting, golfing, and lots of wildlife.  The highlight of the trip, for everyone I'm sure, was my absolute domination over Jason on the golf course (sorry Jason).

Live from the Stand (10/29/2011)

My first time trying this, so bear with me...
Only my second hunt of the season, first one was rather uneventful. Just got set up in my climber on the outskirts of a doe bedding area. Temps are hovering right around freezing with a light southwest wind.
Jason hunted yesterday morning and saw upwards of a dozen deer...he's hunting the other side of the property this morning also. Hopefully between the two of us we can put one of the bucks we've been watching on the ground.
Between yesterday's action, the low temps, the beans that were harvested yesterday near my stand, and the fact that the chasing phase should really be kicking in, I have so high hopes for today. Updates to follow!

8:12 -  been surrounded by bucks for the past thirty minutes. Mostly youngins, and one decent 8 that needs at least a year. He fought off a smaller buck in a quick 5 second battle. Grunted a spike to my tree and got the bigger of the bucks to make three scrapes after snort-wheezing at him.

8:20 - just had a doe come by at 8 yds. She got a pass for now but the next one may not if I have time to make sure there aren't any bucks on her tail.

8:55 - just had another young 7 pt pass by at 35 yds. Been an exciting morning so far!

10:30 - calling it a day...no more action since the last update.  Ended up being a great day to sit in the stand though!


Summary - even though it was mostly younger bucks, that one hour of hunting was one of the more exciting hours that I've experienced.  I was absolutely surrounded by deer to the point where I couldn't even keep track of them.  There were at least 6 different bucks within 50 yards of my stand, and possibly one or two more.  The leaf cover on the ground was thick and I could hear every footstep.  I kept hoping I would turn to see a massive rack when I heard a new set of footsteps, but it wasn't happening today.  Shortly after they all meandered off, I spotted another young buck about 80 yds behind me.  When I turned to look back a minute later, there was now a doe there and the buck was nowhere to be seen?  Not sure where he went, but the doe spent a good 5 minutes <10 yds from my tree before she crossed my path where I walked in.  She eventually picked me off but couldn't make out what I was, doing the ever-so-comical head bob for a solid minute before walking off.

Managed to take a few pictures of a spike that followed my grunt call to the base of my tree...