Year  2001  PA  Hunting  Season  Log

11/21/01 – 11/30/01

 

Finally another season has arrived. This year we were able to extend our stay at Camp to include Thanksgiving. Pam J. went to VA Beach for turkey day and RMJ met Mom and Dad up at the cabin (inbound from West VA). This season should prove to be a great one since RMJ is armed with one buck and two doe permits…

 

Weds, Nov 21st

After a hectic morning on the phone with work, was able to push off around 12pm. Beat the traffic and made a 2 hour 20 minute drive for the house – an all time record. Thanks to Pam’s shopping and organizational efforts, was able to pack the truck in about 30 minutes and be on the round by noon.

 

Arrived within minutes of M&D arrival. Camp was colder than outside, got the fire started, water on and proceeded to un-pack too much stuff. Mom’s fighting a bad cold…

 

After setting in – off to Cuckoo’s nest for dinner. We did try the Bridge (was closed) and Lackawaxen house (saw Sue – prepping for a large crowd for Turkey day)

 

Thurs, Nov 22nd

Turkey Day at Chateau Rudee. The bird went in the oven at 9am. Was an interesting feat trying to regulate the heat which ranged anywhere from 325 to 400. Seemed to have a mind of its own. Opening and closing the door helped – but in any case we cooked the bird!

 

Took some time to scout around the mountain on the ATV. Saw several horns and deer all over the place. I’m sure it will change on Monday…

 

Friday, Nov 23rd

After breakfast, M&D relaxed and I decided to place my stand and setup the blinds. Setup Dad’s favorite spot on the woodpile and my climber on the rock-oak knoll overlooking the entire upper section of the mountain. Sat in the climber for some time - Looks like a great spot.

Finalized placing another natural blind just above dads spot on the same run.

 

Meanwhile – back at camp Mom makes up some turkey stock from the drippings and bones and we settle down to a campfire that evening…

 

Sat, Nov 24th

Another lazy day – stating to unwind a bit... Unfortunately Mom’s cold is getting no better – so Dad takes her to Wayne Mem Hosp in Honesdale to see a doc for some drugs. In the meantime, I proceeded to the hardware store to pick up some parts for an old bow stand that a friend gave me. Afterwards, went up the mountain to setup just above the swamp and Hooper’s “property line”. If something squirts out of the swamp this year – I’ll be ready.

 

After setting the stand did some further perusing. Entered the lower section of the swamp for a quick look, turned the bike around about a minute after and a four pointer was walking towards me on the path. This deer had to be stupid to care less about the bike or me. I nearly ran him over later on while heading down the hill. I don’t think he will last long on opening day…

Pam arrives around 4pm – we settle with a drink, dinner and a campfire afterwards. Pretty warm out so a nice night (even Mom sat with us for a spell).

 

Wayne and Tina arrive back from the Lackawaxen house and commenced the Tomahawk throwing festivities for the evening. Dave and Renee arrive as well as Demitry.  The girls (Tina, Renee and Pam) watch on as the men do manly things (drinking an throwing weapons). What a party… Stick four “Hawks” and one knife – get a shot of Yeager. The comments, insults and name calling during the entire event were very comical.  We were laughing so hard sometimes it was hard to throw the damn things. I got the knife throwing down to a science – but the damn Hawks I cant seem to master. That’s okay – I bought two of my own and we will try and master it on my own time. Last shot of the evening – Dimitry missies the entire tree – three times. After two bottles of YM I guess its time to stagger back to the cabin.

 

Sun, Nov 25th

 

Ouch.. Yager… It herts you…

After s low moving morning, Pam & Mom finally get underway for NJ. Dad and I can settle in to the normal hunting camp routines now.

 

First and only order of business for the day was sighting in…  Down to the range beyond Don’s house – setup the picnic table at 100 yards and started with the Manliecher-308. (Note to self – it shoots high and can’t adjust sites any longer) You need to line top of cross hare (not the post) just below center of target at 100 yards – windage is fine).

 

The new Howa 30-06 is next. Just a few clicks off - then dead on.  Dad’s Remington-308 is high – but got it in after a few rounds. Now lets see how we do off the bench.

 

Standing from tree shot 100 yards – perfect shot…

Dad paces off 250 yards into the field as I line up some targets. 250 yards shot with new Howa off the back of the truck – practically dead on target!  Same shot from field – Kneeling – just about bull! This gun shoots straight – no lies now…

 

Its starts to rain in the PM as we leave the field. Off to Tina’s for the traditional Hunters Dinner.  Old man Bob Holbert, Bob Jr., Matt, Ronnie (works for Dave), Bill (Edith’s brother), Don, Wayne, Dad and myself.  New hunting laws were the primary topic, although there were a few others going on. Tina’s dinner is consistent and well prepared. 

 

Mon, 26th

 

Opening day up at 5am. Had rained overnight its very foggy 40-50 degrees, It

A big breakfast and into woods buy 6am prior to dawn – the way I like it.

Into climber after placing some scent buckets around, 30ft in air, gives a great overlook entire top of mountain (Rock Oak Knoll). Dad in a bit later into his wood pile stand.

 

As the sun rises – the Turkey’s are all over the place making a hell of eh racket. One would gobble – then the entire thirty of them would answer – It was a riot to watch and listen too. Saw some Tom’s strutting their stuff – very neat stuff to watch. Fog lifted around 8:30.

 

Dad likes his blind – forgets the radio’s…

 

I see Bob Jr’s white pickup in the distance stop at the swamp and fires off a round. Come to find later he fire at a 4 pointer – that made its way over to Hooper’s and was downed by one of them. (I told you that deer wasn’t gonna last…)

 

Finally a “doe” pops out in the distance between my stand and in the direction of the woodpile. I tracked it till I finally had a shot and took it. A 225-yard shot from the tree stand broke the back this small button buck (aka Puppy) at 8:50AM. Boy it looks bigger through the scope – I swear! In any case it was a great shot for that distance – even though I did screwed up one of the hams.

 

First deer down for the season, only a spike taken by Matt with the “Howitzer” (7mm Supermag) after several shots.  “It was the load,” he claims…. The Holbert's drive the mountain like crazy

 

Decided that due to the size of the deer – now is as good of time as any to attempt my hand at Field processing/Quartering a deer.  With a borrowed hacksaw from Tina, my buck knife and a fillet knife we started the process. Good thing I brought my Steel to keep these things sharp. All in all, surpassed at the results and decide from that point forward that we would process our own deer from now on. This will save us a bundle in butchering fees..

 

Liver and grilled tenderloins for dinner – As planned…

 

Tuesday, Nov 27th

 

Very foggy 40 to 60 degrees today.  Everyone in woods again except “Howitzer” Matt.  No shots (except down by road).  Dad – starts doing some upgrades to the blind. Water and heat would be nice. Next year a tarp to cover it - geez….

 

I’m on Turkey ledge in the AM. A Doe and button buck come under tree seat. They don’t smell me – but do spot me after some time and nervously walk off.

 

Down at noon for lunch. 60 Degrees out – Saw a deer swim across river – and ran like hell to cross the road and up into the NY mountains. Something scared hell out of em…

 

In tree stand in afternoon – same doe and button buck right under my stand – could have pee’d on em.. Stayed till dark (4:30)

 

Weds, Nov 28th

 

Very foggy – 50 degrees. At 8:40 am to the right side of the climber a doe walks out. One blast and down she goes Nice size deer, climbed  down and as I approached – spooked another deer still hanging around – couldn’t see what it was. Moral of the story – be patient….  A dead deer isn’t going anywhere…

 

 After field dressing the deer – load it up on the ATV and park near the field and swamp. Two Does pushed out by Holbert drive – they circle down to Dad’s stand but they don’t show…

 

Back to camp to process deer. Getting better at this – but we need a bone saw. The Hacksaw from Tina is getting clogged up. Straps and Lions came out great; shoulder was hit hard, chop meat/stew.  Rocky (Tina’s dog) guards the deer and gets a bone (cooked by Tina) for his effort.

 

Thurs, Nov 29th

 

Drizzle/Mist and light fog – back to climber – Dad on the way to his stand. 7am shot from stand –same location as last deer (25 yards from paunch – so much for that myth…). This must have been the one traveling with the Doe I took the other day. 70-yard shot – dropped like a rock.  After calling to Dad and letting him know the results of the first shot heard today - I take my time getting down. It’s a six pointer – 4 on one side – two on the other. Technically – this should have been an 8 – but I’ll take it – that’s for sure… Probably the largest deer I have ever got.

 

Back to camp early – hung deer – Dad down by 9am for a shot, a beer and a cigar. Started a campfire as we skinned the deer.

 

Wayne comes by to take a look… Old Man Bob Holbert comes by sits by campfire – telling stories of making hamburger with a hand grinder and lawn mower! Looking for a boning saw – recommends place in Honesdale.

 

Don and Bill stop in for a quick look…

 

Finished skinning the deer – then off to Honesdale. The Knife shop off of 191 (on left up hill before center of town). Great place!  We get a skinning/boning knife, bone saw and case. Down to Settler’s Inn for shot and beer. Back to cabin to knock the head and hooves off deer then down to Lackawaxen House for dinner and to make a call home.

 

Back to camp and ready for bed. However we stick it out a bit and clean the guns and pack them away. Probably the saddest part of the trip. To bed around 8:30pm

 

Fri, Dec 1st

 

Foggy 45 in AM. Kicked back, log entry and breakfast.

 

Finish processing deer, organized and repacked the coolers. Too much meat (a good problem to have).

 

Collected Tree Stands in the afternoon off of the mountain. Began clean-up and packing…

 

Off to home around 5pm

 

Sat/Sun, Dec 2nd & 3rd

Wow… Talk about work. Finish processing meat for the remainder of the weekend. Pam got a great video on how to do it. About 80 or so steaks, plus chops, stew, straps and much much more. Great to have a full freezer. And the best part of it is having the bones to make a terrific stock out of…

 

Another Great season! Lookout Georgia – Here we come…

 

RMJ