I got a bit turned around today..

[Joey Herring]

Ok..heres how it started..I just got permission to hunt a 100 acres in Granville county last week. Being that it was so near the end of the season, I decided to do what I call, "BUSHWACKEM HUNT"..that being...no scouting, except looking at the property on google earth and picking a good funnel area and slipping in and hunting. My idea is move in on the deer undesturbed in some virgin territory.
It's late in the season and I'm mainly in an observation/meat hunt mode. I got in the woods yesterday around 1:30. I set up in a draw where three creeks came together in a clear/cut over that was grown up in broom straw. At 2pm it stared snowing its off..and 30 minutes later I saw a total of 12 deer..one of them a decent buck. I couldn"t get a clear shot so I waited.
I went back today and went a bit deeper into the property....the ground is covered with snow. It was one of the most peaceful hunts I've ever had! I'm used to hunting near Raleigh where there's ALWAYS something loud going on, but not here...quite..heck..I think I even heard a rabbit fart.
3:00...saw movement...4 big gobblers with beards dragging the snow(mental note...good turkey spot!).
4:30 crunch!!(it was crunchy snow)...a good sized doe steps out 40 yards away. I wait a couple minutes and decide to take her. Pull the trigger and she does the 'OH CRAP JUMP'...I'm watching and I see a deer run up the next hill..thinking that it was the same doe..I shoot again...AND THATS WHERE THE STORY STARTS>>>

I got down from the tree and started tracking the deer. It didn't take me long to find her. I then realized that the second shot was at another deer. OK..thats good, I'm meat hunting anyway. Cleaned my first doe (if I'm far back in the woods, which most of the time I am, I clean them right where they drop, I bring in a backpac that has all I need). I then worked my way thru the cutover to the other deer. Found blood and bone. Tracked her for a good 200 yards and finally found her. By now its good and dark. Did my thing and cleaned her. OK, pack full of meat(a good 80 or lbs) it's time to head to the truck...AND THATS WHEN THINGS WENT WRONG>>>>
WHERE The F@ck am I? I was lost..in a big cutover....hadn't been lost since I hunted the Gamelands in Bladen county in highschool. My buddy and I didn't get out of the woods till 10:30 that night..the next time he went hunting with me he brought a big ball of twine and tied it to the truck. I started heading to where I thought was out...crossed my own tracks in the snow and knew that I was in trouble. It was 6:45 by then and I was starting to panic a bit. I decided to take a break from walking and fighting briars anad hopefully some one would drive down the road and I could get my bearings straight. I had only seen 4 cars all day, but I had hope. Waited 10 minutes and a car came by..Ok good..now I have somewhat of a direction to take. Crossed my own tracks again and that was enough for me. It was 7:30 and I knew that I was LOST. I gave the ol man a call that owned the place and he was too drunk to even communicate with me(funny now but not at the time!). Called up my hunting buddy and told him my situation and he was on his way to my tuck to blow the horn to give a direction to head to.
I can't stress this enough, ALWAYS have a friend know your spots just in case something like this happens to you. I have three good friends that I trust and all of them know my spots, you never know when something will happen.
As I waited for my buddy to show up I caught a glimps of head lights and got my bearings straight and made my way to the road. I got out of the woods at 8:15. I called by buddy and let him know that I was safe.
I was tired and dehydrated. My legs were cramping when I got to the truck. I learned alot today. ALWAYS have an emergency plan, let some one know where you are hunting. ALWAYS have your cell phone. ALWAYS bring some drinking water. ASK FOR A GPS FOR Christmas!!

[Boneshaker25]

Well Joey I guess I had better get you that compass for Christmas afterall. or you can install a loud alarm on your car.
just keep hitting the remote.

[seapower]

A really good compass is cheap. I never, ever go in without first checking it. Even if you've got a GPS, still carry the compass, no batterie's required. People's pride get's them lost, if you truely like to get back in deep, get a "Silva" and be done with it. Frank

[WAHOONBOX]

PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST HUNTING STORIES I HAVE READ IN A LONG LONG TIME....THANKS FOR SHARING THIS ONE!

[NY Bearhunter]

I KNOW THAT FEELING AND IT'S TERRIBLE, TO SAY THE LEAST.I SPENT A FEW NIGHTS IN TREES IN ALBERTA AFTER TRACKING BEAR WITH THE OUTFITTER WHO ALWAYS SAYS HE KNOWS THE AREA LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND. REAL GOOD ADVICE SEAPOWER OFFERED, GET YOUSELF A COMPASS, DON'T RELY ON THAT GPS, REASON BEING THE FARTHER NORTH YOU GO THE MORE THEY DON'T WORK AT ALL.

[weekender]

anybody who hasn't had the wonderful experience to be dragging a deer the wrong way doesn't know how "good" life can be. I know though.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

anybody who hasn't had the wonderful experience to be dragging a deer the wrong way doesn't know how "good" life can be. I know though.

been thereSpent about 7 hours in a 500 acre clearcut with briars ten feet tall. It was miserable...

Glad you made it back!

Mike

[Tenacious]

Thanks for sharing Joey, glad your safe and congrats on the 2 deer!!!

[Joey Herring]

anybody who hasn't had the wonderful experience to be dragging a deer the wrong way doesn't know how "good" life can be. I know though.

I quit dragging deer out a long time ago..unless they fall less than 200 yards from the truck!

I'm still finding briars in my arms and hands!

[WAHOONBOX]

ONE MORNING A FEW YEARS AGO...SEVERAL TO EXACT...I PARKED MY TRUCK ON A BACK COUNTRY DIRT ROAD IN COASTAL CURRITUCK COUNTY NC...KNOTTS ISLAND...

ENTERED THE MARSHLAND WITH TALL PINES WITH MY CLIMBER....WATER WAS 12 INCHES DEEP.....I ONLY THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT AND WHERE I WAS GOING.....I EVEN TRIED TO DO THIS IN THE DARK WITH NO LIGHT....

AFTER BUSTING MY WAY THROUGH HELL AND BRIARS FOR 15 MINUTES....I "THOUGHT " I HAD FOUND THE TREE I WAS LOOKING FOR.... I THEN INSTALLED THE CLIMBER TO THE TREE AND WENT UP....I HAD A FEW MINUTES BEFORE LIGHT TO WIPE DOWN AND GET MY BREATH....SHORTLY A BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE APPEARED ....AND AS I SQUINTED THE AREA LOOKING FOR MOVEMENT....

SHIT. I WAS TEN YARDS FROM MY TRUCK.