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GhostBusted

864 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Vaxbower
I had a PM message with several folks about my recent scouting approach in new areas I'm hunting. HunterThompson summed up my experience in one word about Deer, especially in pines. They are like ghosts.

I've been doing my map and scouting homework now that the acorns have dropped in my area pre rut. My rut is real close.

This time of year I focus in Pine wood areas. Seems the deer/bucks migrate in these places. Well, I did some topography work and a bit of luck I went to a ridge top and found so many rubs and scrapes I deemed it rub alley. :D So I went an adjacent ridge 500 yards away on a similar firebreak line covered in pine straw and again rubs everywhere but with more scrapes on the top of that ridge.

I picked out my shooting position to hunt on the ground, went to town for a quick lunch was back in my position at 2pm siting and waiting. down the break line, 25 yards from the last sign or first sign that was a monster scrape. I built a homemade blind what I thought shielded me. Well 58 minutes later, I decided to look down at the ground out of boredom for less then two minutes raised my head and Mr. 8 Point was on that firebreak starring right at me. I mean out of no where when I raised my head I was a bit startled, I made eye contact I knew I was busted. He bolted. It was like a 5 second stare off. It was my biggest buck to date on public land. Prancing away he went.

Hunting brings so many experiences in a rush at times. I felt great that I found a pattern, I felt like crap I was caught off guard at the one moment I dropped my head. The animal was beautiful with a huge rack outside his ears. I just did not have time or an ethical shot. :eek:

That's okay, I'll be back in the area over the weekend but I'll be up in a tree.

Hunting pines provides a different nuance. It's so quiet. It does give the deer a major advantage because you cannot hear them move like in hardwood. Like HunterThompson. said to me, "they are like ghost".

In the end I was GhostBusted! With reflection what a great hunt experience. Now I adapt but I can't promise I won't nod my head downward again. ;):)
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My rut is real close.
TMI, man. Just say'n! o_O LOL

Great story though! I feel yo pain! Bin there...
Been there also Tom they will bust you quick.
And if you hear a limb snap then get your crossbow in your hands. I used to love hunting the pines. I hated the oaks as it was WAY too noisy for me. Now from hard-of-hearing ears it's right the opposite for me. I still like hunting where the pines joins the oaks though but nowadays I face the pines and listen for noise in the oaks.
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Been there also Tom they will bust you quick.
For a guy like me relatively new to hunting with only three years under my belt each new experience is a blessing. Hope to have many more years doing this at 63.

There are two dimensions to this sport. Recreational shooting (relatively straightforward). then there is the hard part, hunting!!!! If it was easy I wouldn’t do it. :cool:
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That's the fun part about crossbow hunting trying to outsmart them which is hard. I have been hunting since I was 12 the past 6 years crossbow hunting I been busted so many times i can't keep count. I just love this sport very challenging.
Ive been very fortunate about being busted by deer over the past several years. Ive learned over my 40+ years of hunting which trees to pick for stand locations and how far off the trails to stay. I think most importantly is my routes to and from the stands. Enjoy your hunts Tom. After all, the enjoyment is what it's about...not the kill. Pick your tree carefully. In pines there's usually a lot of scattered populars mixed in that can provide a bit of cover. Pay attention to north easterly winds and pick your routes to and from the stand so you aint crossing deer paths if at all possible. And above all have fun.;):)
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Been there Tom. I hunt just out of pines on outside edge of swamp and they are ghosts.
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Tom, I get busted pretty regularly! Usually when I’ve been sitting for hours w/o seeing anything and lose concentration. But, whether we’re busted or not it’s magical the way the woods you’ve been watching for hours and seem empty come alive with appearance of a deer. Your antennas go up, your heart beats faster, and your mind starts working on what you must do to accomplish this. It keeps us coming back!
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Tom, I get busted pretty regularly! Usually when I’ve been sitting for hours w/o seeing anything and lose concentration. But, whether we’re busted or not it’s magical the way the woods you’ve been watching for hours and seem empty come alive with appearance of a deer. Your antennas go up, your heart beats faster, and your mind starts working on what you must do to accomplish this. It keeps us coming back!
Exactly!
Tom, I get busted pretty regularly! Usually when I’ve been sitting for hours w/o seeing anything and lose concentration. But, whether we’re busted or not it’s magical the way the woods you’ve been watching for hours and seem empty come alive with appearance of a deer. Your antennas go up, your heart beats faster, and your mind starts working on what you must do to accomplish this. It keeps us coming back!
Yes. Early in the season it was very slow in one of my spots. Would get bored and start texting. Well it was very thick and a nice Doe snuck right up to 20 yds and was staring at me. It took her about 30 seconds to realize something wasn't right.
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Yes. Early in the season it was very slow in one of my spots. Would get bored and start texting. Well it was very thick and a nice Doe snuck right up to 20 yds and was staring at me. It took her about 30 seconds to realize something wasn't right.
Sorry, but I'm LMAO right now!!! :D That'll teach ya!!! Too funny, Dude!
At least it wasn't the buck of a lifetime, EH?!
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For a guy like me relatively new to hunting with only three years under my belt each new experience is a blessing. Hope to have many more years doing this at 63.

There are two dimensions to this sport. Recreational shooting (relatively straightforward). then there is the hard part, hunting!!!! If it was easy I wouldn’t do it. :cool:
If it was easy it wouldnt be fun.
Well, 3 girls busted me this evening while setting in my blind they came within 60 yards. They started getting nervous i knew i was done. The nanny doe begins to alert her little ones and away they went. It's amazing how good their noses are.
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Tom, I hope you see him again!
TK, I went back to rub alley this afternoon. This time I climbed a tree.

In Alabama I hunt the Cahaba WMA and it's buck only weekend. Well at 2pm I was ready and up in a tree. At 2:30pm one of his girlfriends came walking down the firebreak within 7 yards below me. If it would have been any other weekend or weekday I could have had this very nice mature doe. She didn't even know I was there so that was cool. I watched her go down into the ravine into the thickets and just enjoyed the afternoon till dark. I was hoping her boyfriend would show up. He's in the area. :D
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It sure is all part of the fun.. and learning.
If i had a dollar for every time i got busted i could buy a really nice crossbow!!
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With all the cover sent you would thank they wouldn't bust you. But that's part of
nature. It's fun when you try to outsmart them but in the long run, they outsmart you.
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