Forum | Last night's hunt

Was actually pretty good.  I was in my stand by 2:00 and at 2:30 had the first doe walk past the stand, well within shooting range.  But I didn't want to shoot another doe this early in the season.  I've got some meat in the freezer, and I hope I'll be able to shoot another couple later on in the year.  Now is the time for BUCK Hunting.

A little after three, I had another doe in sight, and at 4:00, I heard a crashing in the woods behind me.  I eased to my feet and slowly turned around, expecting to see a deer.  What I did find was a fox squirrel coming through the trees.  I considered shooting the squirrel, but based on the size of the monster, didn't think my .50 caliber would get the job done!  That thing looked like it weighed at least 10 pounds!!!  I didn't want a maddened, wounded squirrel charging me, only armed with a muzzleloader!    He continued to jump from tree to tree until he was IN the SAME tree as me!  He crawled down the tree until we were less than five feet apart, studying each other.

Then he lurched away like a drunken sailor on shore leave, jumping from tree to tree and twice had to scramble like hell when the branch he jumped to broke…

Shortly after the squirrel was out of sight, I heard more noise in the woods.  Thinking it was the crazed squirrel returning, I watched and waited.  This time, I saw movement on the ground and spotted another doe coming my way.  Then another, and another, and another, and ANOTHER!  At one point, I had three does within 16 yards of my tree (I laser ranged them), feeding away.  But because I didn't want to shoot another doe this soon, I passed on them as well.

Then, just before dark, I heard more noise and located the source.  There was somewhere between nine and 13 turkeys feeding toward me.  Then they roosted in the trees all around me.  You can't imagine the amount of noise a turkey makes flying up into a tree!!

So I slipped from the tree at dark and sneaked out of the woods.  All in all, a pretty good day.