DeanO Does DeerO

Welcome our newest link DeanO. He blogs about life, religion, deer hunting and friends. He thinks he is getting too old to hunt but keeps at it. He has wonderful stories to share, cost-cutting advice, some political mish mash and writes a really good blog. Go over and visit him.

A Very Close Thanksgiving

Paul and Michael eating first of course

Dad with my daughters, Erin and Sarah

Wanda and Denise getting the desserts ready

Erin with your friendly neighborhood blogger

the girls, Michael and Trent almost ready for some pecan pie!

How Was It You Ask? Don't

How was it? Not so good. There were some bright spots of course but overall not our best hunt even though the Thanksgiving meal and fellowship was good right up 'till it started raining. It started well as Austin got a doe and Paul got a hog! Then Spencer got a big doe for his first deer of the season.

Then things started to unravel.
Paul shot at a giant buck at 50 yards and MISSED. Yes, I know he sold his soul to the devil for antlers, so this was the most unusual thing I have ever witnessed. We are going to mount the tree limb he shot so all is not lost. I shot a hog, it got away. Michael shot a hog, it got away. Spencer shot a hog, it got away. Where the hell is Phillip?
The Thanksgiving meal was great and I will post pics tomorrow.
Then it started to rain and we were cooped up in the camphouse listening to it pour. The septic tank backed up. You don't want to know. It kept raining and raining. Trent managed a hog in the drizzle on Sunday morning.

Too bad about Paul, you know how humble he is about his shooting ability.

Thanksgiving At Deer Camp

Each year we celebrate Thanksgiving at camp. It is crowded and there is little privacy but we get 4 days of hunting in and get to be with our family. I am leaving this afternoon (probably too late to hunt) and will be there through the weekend. I think there is a big buck down there with my name on it. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Another Geat Hunt

While Trent was shooting the little deer in the post below, my friend Jeffrey Hollis was doing something important. He managed to blast this big hog over on the River while hunting on the opening weekend. This 200 pounder would make the Mailrider jealous.

One Really Fine Deer

This was the first weekend of gun season and Trent started the year off right when he took this really fine 13 point buck. The big deer weighed in at 210 pounds with an 18 inch spread. Looks like the bar is going to be at an all time high. Congratulations!!!!

Hell Hath Froze Over

For the first time in recorded history, the Bloody Baron (aka Paul Howell), yes that minion of evil, is not expected at camp for opening day. Why? Hell if I know. The excuse he gave was something about going to the ballgame. This is the same guy that moves to the camp in November and stays 'till March. He has never missed a day of deer season, much less opening day. When there is killin' to be done, he's your man. I sent him an email asking him what was up with that and he sent me this picture.

*WHEN YOU ARE IN DEEP SHIT, LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD,
KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT & SAY NOTHING !!!!
(methinks he is in deep do-do)
HEY! That means his stand is open!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where to Hunt???????

I swear I have no idea. Should I go up the lake or just go to one of the fields? Paul and Trent have been scouting and looking for months but some people have to work. I have three days to figure it out. Maybe I will do something totally unexpected. Either way DEER SEASON STARTS SATURDAY!

The 600 Pound Doe

I was hunting the Arrowhead field this past weekend during our muzzle-load doe season. At 7:00 AM three does came out in front of me easing across the field and heading for the edge of the hollow below me. I shot and the doe reared, turned, took two leaps and was gone. I could not believe that it did not fall in its tracks. Then I prayed that it did not make the edge of the hill. I got down and eased over to the edge of the field and followed the blood trail. Twenty feet into the woods I saw where the deer had made the edge of the deep ravine in front of me and I could see the deer at the very bottom. OMG! It was straight down 200 feet. It was in the deepest, steepest canyon on the whole property! I worked my way down and checked the deer. It weighed about 100 lbs. I started taking off gear, grabbed the deer and started pulling. Almost an hour later I got to the top of the hill with the 600 pound monster doe just before I had a heart attack.
Trust me that if you shoot a deer here, the last thing you want is for it to fall into one of our deep canyons.

Early Doe Season Results

Our early muzzle-loader opener went very well this past weekend. Your friendly neighborhood blogger (moi') took one doe an a gray-back hog. My little cousin Katie was with me and we had an exciting hunt. Austin got a deer! (miracle) and a young man named Justin Rose got his first deer. Dean Lammey had his usual results (0) and Oh yeah, Old Blind Jones managed to miss another deer.

Saturday night after a successful hunt

Me and Jonesy with my Porkulus Phillipius

Justin bloodied for his first deer

Old Blind Jones

Mr. Jones is going to deer camp with me today. It has been awhile since he has killed a deer but he has high hopes. I am worried since he is blind as a bat. He says his glasses are broken (he won't get them fixed), says he can see through his scope (???), and says he is a great shot (haha) If I can get a deer within 10 feet of him he might have a chance. PS hope a hog doesn't get him when he is blindly traipsing through the woods and thinks it's a really big squirrel coming toward him.

Someone Knows What to Do

Burney got this nice doe last weekend, it's his 2nd deer already.

A Trap For The Masked Armadillo

Usually at the time of year a mysterious hunter appears while we are working and traips through the middle of us and goes hunting. Not this year.
A clever trap laid by Dad finally caught the Masked Armadillo before he could get to the woods on his 4-wheeler. Minutes later he was shoveling with the rest of us in a project of busy work that dad had decided on. When we finished he tried to get away again but hauling brush was the next priority and Dad threw him right in the middle of it. I guess justice does exist, even with the Masked Armadillo.

The Last Youth Hunt

I hope that it is not the last youth hunt but all my children are past the age of 15 except for Erin. This will be her last youth hunt. She is just about grown now. Here is a pic from her recent prom. Erin is on the left.

On the bright side, we are about to blast the hell out of some deer and hogs!

Off To The Range

This morning Greg, Mark and I are heading out to Greg's property to shoot our rifles. I need to get the dirt dobbers out of my barrel and see if I can hit the side of a barn before deer season starts, and those two guys need all the practice they can get. Will let you know the results later.