5 days at Jay's (Dial-up warning,picture heavy)

[saxman]

As most of you know I went to Jay's (flbuckmaster's) place last week to hunt.
I had lots of honey do's before I could go so I got out of here Monday afternoon and to jay's monday night.
It was good to see Jay again.I got straight to hunting the next morning.Here is the blind where I hunt.



And this is the Mule that I ride in on



I didn't see anything the first couple days so we went out to the food plot and pulled the cards on the cameras.Jay has been having Bear problems lately so we thought that might be it but it wasn't,it was just timing.

Here is the food plot.this picture doesn't show how green the plot is.



The feeder is about 90 yards from the blind



Most of the time when deer came out they came from this dim road on the right side of the food plot



On the left side of the plot is Jay's Dad's old ladder stand.This picture gives you some indication of how thick the woods are down here.You would have to crawl to get through and that may not work.



I think it was wednsday evening that I got my first shot with the Muzzleloader ,this is the same gun I shot my 8 point with and subsequently missed a deer twice a few weeks later.
I missed again (hang fire) I did do some tree trimming.I don't charge for that.



Next morning I got another chance,I missed again (hang fire)

This is how I look when I miss....TWICE!!!!!!



I took my ribbing like a man and Jay talked me into using his Remington model 7400 in 30-06
I said,OK.Sweet gun.




Went out the next morning and this fine doe came in at 70 yards.She offered no shot for quite some time,then she quartered away and I squeezed the trigger,after figuring out I didn't have the action properly closed the gun fired and the doe went right down.I shot this doe while in possesion of a doe tag.
Hey,I kinda like this Rifle stuff.

I look like this when I don't miss



This is a self portrait,my hands were so cold I couldn't get the cleat on the camera all the way so it's a bit crooked.



There was a small plant right in front of the blind that I thought made a good picture,you can see how green the plot is in this one



I woke Saturday morning to cold,blowing rain so I went hunting of course.That's what they make rain suits for.
The blind was flooded.



The plot was flooded



My wife called and said play time was over and she would begin selling the kids if I didn't come home.

Jay asked me why I chose to use the ML,well,number 1 I love to shoot muzzy's.Number 2 I had used the same gun to kill one of my best bucks and 3 I like the challange,also I told him I had to sell my centerfire rifles before Christmas.
So Jay tells me to look under the bed in my room and get the remington out.
It's a 1978 model 742 woodsman in (what else?) 30-06.
I now have a centerfire rifle again.Thank's Jay,I will finish out the season with it.




I hope to be able to go back next month for the late season Muzzleloader hunt Feb 18 -28,this is our last hunt of the season.
You can bet my ML WILL be shooting right this time..
I won't apolagize for shooting ML's during general gun,they are LEGAL and very effictive when the bullet is properly placed,just like centerfire.they do require more cleaning and you must stay on the gun longer and I have some issue with that.
I don't believe I do the game a dis service by shooting them.
If it were all about the quickest,cleanest kill then centerfire would be the ONLY season.That's just my opinion.

Thank's again Jay for having me in your home and your woods.
I enjoy your company and always learn alot about hunting and myself when I am with you.
I am proud to call you friend.

Sorry about the brain fart,I didn't finish my chores before I left,I hope you can get some help with the fish tank.

[Grizzly Adam]

I'm glad you went, Sax ... and I'm glad you had a good time ... those were days well spent.

You're right about one thing for sure: Many folks who hunt deer in other places have absolutely no comprehension of how thick southern woods can be. I have to laugh at some of the park-like woods that pro video hunters refer to as "thick stuff" ... what comedians.

What a nice gift Jay gave you! As I've said before, there's nothing wrong with rifling a few to death.

Thanks for posting!

[Pydpiper]

Great story Scott! It's good to see guys out there hunting still.

[lscha]

Sure looks like you had a good time. I loved the pictures.

[vixenmaster]

Enjoyed the pic's & yer story of hunt with Jay. Yup i knowed all about that thick stuff. Being from Ms its thick & knarly & swamps & Bayous a plenty. Spect all the Gulf coast states be like that! Don't ya just love it!

[one shot scott]

Great pics sax. Where is buckmaster hiding out?

[saxman]

Great pics sax. Where is buckmaster hiding out?

He has visits from nurses and all kinds of people everyday.His schedule is more hectic than mine.

[agingcrossbower]

Thanks for the pics Scott. They really told a story. And I really don't know how thick southern woods are, but from the photo's I'd say THICK.

[saxman]

Thanks for the pics Scott. They really told a story. And I really don't know how thick southern woods are, but from the photo's I'd say THICK.

The worst part is the woods can go on for miles and miles like that.No crop fields just woods and booger swamps.It can be straight up noon and you can't see without light in some of these swamps,you can't see through the canopy and I don't want to see some the creatures that make those blood curtling noises either.
You can't see 10 yards in the woods and if you get caught in the "wait a minute briars" you really have trouble,if the rattlers and water moccosans don't get you first.
To try and track an animal without sign is an excersize in futility,which way do you go?which way did HE go? The block may be several square miles of stuff that looks just like that and worse.

[raydaughety]

The area that Grizz calls home (Pocosin Lakes Wildlife Refuge) is some of the nastiest, thickest, snake infested land that I have ever seen. I've been told that you could be dropped from a plane over the refuge and your body would never tough the ground for the thick brush .

[Big John]

Congrats on the Doe Sax!! The pic's are awesome as well!!
Glad you two boy's had a good time. And time well spent.

[FredBear]

Congrats Sax! I also really enjoy using a muzzleloader. Get yours back "inline", and finish your season with a harvest.

[Doe Master]

Thanks Sax for sharing the hunt

[Crispy]

Congratulations! Sounds like you had an awsome time!

[pdislow]

glad to see you had a blast afterall! great pics too, thanks for sharing!