11/19/06 Frustrated

I quit. I give up. There are no deer at Cheatham WMA. None. Zero. Zip. Zilch. This is more than frustrating.

Saturday was opening day for rifle season. Howard has been inviting to me to hunt with him on a private farm in Robertson County. I figured opening morning of rifle season would be a good day to stay away from the WMA as bullets would be flying everywhere. So, I took up Howard on his offer. Unfortunately, he didn't know where the deer where on the place. The only deer we saw was one that saw us first... and he was a half mile away across a soybean field. Howard didn't see him. By 8am, Howard was showing me around and we were pretty much done. By 9:30 I was headed home. Since Cheatham WMA was on the way and I was already geared up, I decided to stop and see how crowded it really was.

I got there about 11:30. On my way in, I was walking, someone driving out said he shot a small buck in the morning, but lost it.


I walked to the top side of the pine field on Sidney Bluff road. I saw no one and saw no deer. I scouted around the east side of the pine field, which is very difficult to walk through. When the area was logged, all of the scrub brush was pushed to the edges of the field. The pine trees appear about 10 years old, but the leftover brush from the logging days is still piled high and thick. I hiked through some rough area that I figured the average Joe hunters would not mess with. I have seen deer sign throughout the pine field and was thinking there were likely a few highly traveled entrances to the field. I figured if I could find one on this side of the field, I would have little interference from other hunters. I did find a well traveled path and noted a tree nearby that would make a good stand location.

On the way out, on the logging road, I ran into a hunter...said he had not seen anything all day, but that he and his buddy were planning to hunt near the [Bio Logic] field until dark. It was 1pm and this was my cue to get out of here. I went home frustrated.

Went again today (Sunday). Low 40's, overcast, thought it would be a good day to be out. I headed for the same hard to get to spot I found Saturday. I impressed myself being able to find it again in the dark. Also, there were few hunters out today. So far so good. Except two hours later and still no deer. I did see a bobcat and actually could have likely killed him (it would be legal and is actually encouraged). bobcats, I believe, are considered a nuisance to turkey poults and other game animals. I didn't want to mess up my deer hunt over a Bobcat and I really don't have the desire to kill something I'm not going to use. So I let him go.

Although I had plenty of clothes on, sitting still in breezy 40 degree weather gets cold. At around 10:30 I climbed down. I decided to slow walk the rest of the way in the woods all the way around the pine field. I found some exceptionally quiet woods - lots of acorns. Why wouldn't deer that bed in the pines for warmth, come this way to feed on mast and avoid the hunters? On the last ridge near the north of the field, there was a small rub. This rub is about 100 to 150 yards from several other rubs in the pine trees. There were also several trees which I believe were Persimmon trees. They did not have any fruit on them (too late in the year?) and I think I can tell from the bark, but I am not sure. If they are all persimmon, this will be an excellent late September early October bow hunting location. I explored a bit more until about 1. Called Becki, she said if I come home without a deer I will come home grumpy or something - the phone cut out - she said you might as well stay. She was taking the kids to the YMCA. I decided to find a good tree where I could see some of the pines, some of the rubs, some of the woods. I stayed here until about 4. Again was getting cold and saw nothing. I figured if I at least saw something it would be worth staying until dark, but not since I haven't seen anything. I climbed down and started slow walking northward up Sidney Bluff road.

I had about an hour till darkness. A little ways up, I noted several good rubs on pine trees. I also found a discarded buck. His antlers were cut out of his skull. His shoulders, his hindquarters and his loins were cut out and the rest was tossed off the side of the road. There were not guts here, so I don't think the butchering took place here. Someone likely took what they wanted and then hauled the rest here. It is definately not legal to cut the animal up before it is checked in and I also don't think it is legal to discard leftovers. Perhaps they did check it in. Hopefully. I walked to the end of the road. There is a dead coyote up here that I found last week...not much left of him now. I headed back. I got back to the truck at 5...it was dark.

It was a beautiful day in the woods. Saw blue birds, lots of woodpeckers, blue jays, found persimmon trees, saw a bobcat. Didn't get shot - in fact didn't see many other hunters at all.

However, still saw no deer. Extremely frustrating.

11/12/06 Still No Sightings

I spent all day Friday hunting from a tree stand near Sidney Bluff field. It was a beautiful day, but perhaps the moon was too full at night and the weather was too warm to generate much deer movement during the day. I didn't see anything. My other thought is that there is too much hunting pressure on this field due to Muzzleloader season.

The temp dropped on Saturday and the sky has been cloudy. I thought I would go to the edge of the field and look for deer this morning. Muzzleloader is out, bow is back in. The temp should be upper 30's and cloudy. Should be good conditions for daytime movement. Also the rut should be starting soon.

I parked the truck a little farther from the desination. I would walk a little farther today. The longer walk who ward off chills - 40 in the morning when still hunting is cold. I also thought this would further decrease disturbances in the field, which was about a quarter mile from the truck.

I got to the field in perfect silence. There was a northwest wind keeping my scent off of the field. I crept up into some briars on the edge of the field. I could get off a decent bow shot from this spot and I could see a reasonable portion of the field. My goal today was sightings as much as anything. I need motivation to hunt this area even if I don't get a bow shot today. I made sure I could raise the bow to shooting level amongst the brush. I nocked an arrow. I stood perfectly still - did'nt even clear the leaves from under my feet - I stood perfectly still until 7:30. By 5:30, I could see enough to shoot, by 6 it was light. Sunrise should have been at about 6:19. I saw no deer, heard no deer. Also, saw no other humans or trucks.

I decided to take a walk and scout around a bit. To the north of this field, is a pine forest - planted pines. I walked the path through these pines. I saw bedding areas. At the end of the pine area I found 3 or 4 rubs including one really deep rub on a tree about 4 inches in diameter. I made note of a good stand location. I suspect even during the busy gun season, I could find a spot in this area that would get little attention.

I headed back to the truck, veering off into the woods in a couple of places. I found another small rub near where I saw the 8-pointer last Sunday. There are definately more rubs in this area than I have ever found anywhere else and despite the lack of sightings on the last two outings, I have seen more deer here than in other areas of the WMA I have hunted. However, I have got to believe the deer per acre is very low on this place. Compared to Mousetail Landing, were we camped a few weeks ago, this WMA must have relatively low deer per acre. All of the walking, driving and still hunting I have done in Cheatham would have produced many more sightings at Mousetail Landing or along the banks of Dale Hollow...or Percy Warner Park...or along the road in general.

11/10/06 All Day

According to Field and Stream's November 2006 edition, November 14 is one of the best days to hunt all day. Since today was the last day of Muzzleloader season and the 14th is just 4 days away, today ought to be a good day to hunt all day.

I have seen deer in the Bio-logic field on Sidney Bluff road enough times to have built up motivation for a long sit. Sunday night I jumped a good size buck. Also, Sunday night I picked out an ideal Hickory tree for using my tree stand.

I woke up at 3:30 dreaming that Willy (who was asleep on the foot of our bed) was doing number 2 in his sleep, on my leg. I was very happy to wake and realize it was only a bad dream. Sunrise was at 6:19, I wanted to be there in the stand at least 30 minutes early, I decided to stay up and be well prepped. I had not packed anything the night before as I was too tired from work and fell asleep early.

Got to the parking place, it was 53 degrees. No other trucks on the logging road. I was able to get back to the selected Hickory tree in perfect silence. I got the tree stand bolted on amazingly quietly. This task is much easier on the hands when the temp is warm. The moonlight was very bright, I didn't need much help from the flashlight. Like always, I used a temporary safety belt to climb the tree. This one is a slip knot around the tree trunk and a loop for my shoulder. It is easy to shimmy up the tree with and enough for me to grab on to if the tree stand were to come loose. When I get up the tree I have a harness and a tree belt that is more permanent - good for long sits.

On the walk to the stand I noted how glaring the big dipper was - I was obviously walking due North. I also noticed Orion's belt. It seems like this may be the first time I have seen Orion's belt this Fall.

I was set in the tree at about 5:19 - exactly one hour before sunrise. The wind was coming out of the east. It was a light breeze.

I was alert throughout the hour following sunrise. This is supposed to be a peak movement time for whitetail. I saw nothing. By 10, the wind was picking up and I noticed was coming out of the South. The wind felt warmer. I thought about changing strategies, but the spot I was in was perfect. I have seen deer here, I got in perfectly quiet, I had a good angle and good shooting range, and the wind was picking up. Deer alledgedly move into fields during windy days because the noise and swirling scents in the woods is confusing - they move to fields were they can rely more on their eyesight - supposedly. I had a bag of peanuts, four carrots and a bottle of water. I figured I was good for the whole day. I decided to stay.

I heard a few other shots, but not many.

I stayed in the stand until after dark. Honestly, the seat isn't any more uncomfortable the my office chair, and the view here was a hell of a lot better. The temp was perfect for a long sit. The discouraging thing is I never saw a deer. I did see a mama Turkey with eight youngsters in tow. The youngsters were half to three quarters of her size. The walked very near the stand. None had beards. I suppose they were too young for beards. The heads were sky blue.

I sat in the tree until after dark. Headed back to the truck in blackness. Clouds were blocking out the moon. I didn't fire off the round in the muzzleloader. I prefer to approach my truck in the dark with a loaded gun. Its not likely, but a redneck could pick a nice truck and wait until the solitary hunter returns after dark - then demand his keys. Alright, maybe I'm paranoid, but why not? I do remove the percussion cap when I climb out of the tree. I then put the cap back on to fire off the powder and ball load. Once at home, Becki's concoction does a quick job cleaning up the residue. I usually clean and oil the gun before I change out of my hunting clothes.

It is disappointing to not see deer. However, it is still an excellent way to spend the day. Although others do and I have tried, I can't read, write or listen to music - I have to just sit, watch and listen. It was a perfect day.

11/4/06

Left for Sidney Bluff field at 2pm. It was 50 degrees - Sunday night of opening weekend for Muzzleloader. I like Sunday night as the opening day rush has passed.

There was one truck along Sidney Bluff road as I drove in, but none near the field I intended to hunt. Sunset was at 4:48, I would have about two goods hunting hours.

While standing next to my truck with the doors open, loading powder in the muzzleloader, an 8-pointer ran through the woods within about 50 yards. He was heading in the same direction I was - that was the good thing. I felt sure tonight was the night I would get a shot.

I found a great spot to stand - in a thicket full of briars, at the edge of the field. I was well concealed, but still had a good view of the field. I have seen does and bucks within shooting range of where I was standing - I felt like tonight was the night.

Stood in the same spot until about 5:20, but no more sightings.

I walked back to the truck in near blackness and did not discharge until I was at the truck.

I cleaned the muzzleloader quickly tonight by experimenting with some of Becki's homemade Windex - some combination of ammonia, peroxide and alcohol - I think. Anyway, whatever it was, it cut through the black powder residue and had the barrel clean very quickly. I will use it again.

Fishing First Weekend of November 11/4/06

Dad and Charlie got to Starpoint on Wednesday as usual and got started. I got there Thursday night and spent about an hour fishing before we called it a day. It was in the 50's and felt warm until I got on the boat. It seemed about 20 degrees colder in the boat/on the water. We fished near Barnes road in the Obey river. I hooked one fish, but did not get him in the boat.

Thursday we fished all day. There was frost on the dock when we left. I think the temp was low 30's. The entire day was cold. Only when the wind stopped blowing and the sun was not blocked did it feel warm.

Wednesday through Saturday, 15 fish were caught. Unfortunately, I can't tell you who caught what. I caught four fish - none of which were what one fishes at Dale Hollow for and therefore there are no photos. They were all under a pound and a half. I caught Largemouth, Smallmouth and Kentucky bass.

I'm not sure in total how many fish Charlie caught, but this picture shows one of 3 Smallmouth bass. Two of these he caught along a wall he and Dad have dubbed as "Charlie's wall". My map doesn't officially name this wall. It is on the north side of an island. When looking at the map, find Troopers, go south to the twin islands, then directly south again to a large island, that almost looks like a penninsula, but for the small passageway detaching it on it's eastern most side. Charlie caught two fish in the 2 to 3 pound range using a pumkin seed grub. To beat the wind and keep the grubs on the bottom he simply dragged the grubs behind the boat. Most of the time he was dragging in 20 feet of water. The third of this size he caught using the same technique at the spot near Barnes road.
Dad got the biggest of the fish - exactly the reasons one fishes at Dale Hollow. Two Smallmouth bass between 4 and 5 pounds. These were caught in 4 to 12 feet of water using smoke grubs. Most catches during this trip were caught near weeds and near rocky bottoms. Interestingly, these were caught in relatively shallow water. I wonder if it had anything to do with the suddenly colder weather. I also wonder if it was coincidence that the larger fish were caught on minnow-like bait in shallow water while the 2 to 3 pounders were caught on crayfish-like bait in deeper water. Only one of these is pictured.
This is a picture of a Largemouth caught on Wednesday.This is what happens to a man that spends three days out in the cold wind dragging rubber worms on the bottom of lakes. He hooks rocks! Is proud of it! And, we encouraged it! I think all of our brains were bordering on hypothermia! Anyway...for the integrity of the record keeping, Charlie has now successfully hooked and landed two rocks in his Dale Hollow fishing days. Maybe we could check the Boone and Crockette (or is it Boone and Rockette) record books to see if it has ever been done before. For anyone that doubts someone would be so proud as to keep and display such a catch, it is alledged that this rock now resides on his mantle. I guess in terms of taxidermy it is much cheaper to stuff a rock than to mount a bass. Never thought I'd be writing about rock catching, but there is a first for everything.