Wil's Holiday Week

[DoveHunt]

What a week we had. Great time with family and friends. The deer had a reprieve while the waterfowl where in trouble.

The morning of Christmas eve we did a quick goose hunt with one for our effort. Lots of birds around, but big groups kept them from giving us to many looks.

Then on to the deer stand that was a "Wil we are waiting on a buck afternoon" Although he resisted he understood if we shoot it needs to be a big one to be worth the trouble we would get in for being late to Christmas eve dinner that night. Well it was one of Wil's first hunts from a lock on back in the woods which was just a little closer to nature than he was used to since most of his deer hunting has been from box stands and ladders up to this point. Nice bow setup next to a holy with a muzzleloader as his "bow". Well once the parade started it was non-stop for an hour and we must have had 30-40 deer come by anywhere from 5 yds to 75 yds. No shots fired, but really an "awesome hunt dad, never seen that many deer before" says Wil. Normally the first mature Doe gets it when we hunt.

Next few days where spent in Sykesville at my sister's while the snow hit back on the shore.

Next trip had us using a snow blower to open up a hole for the geese with 8 inches around and drifts all around. Had a few lookers, but no real takers.

2 days later with the Wil and his buddies they where a bit more cooperative and put on a good show with one big toll coming right in with 7 making to the ground and around 100 in air within 15 yds. 4 geese down and smiles all around from the boys.[
Deer hunted next few trips with sightings but no takers. New Years Eve was exciting. 1st deer to field where a nice 115-120 inch 8, a small 6 that had already dropped one side, and 4 button bucks all at about 100yds well within range, but not what we where looking for, a big fat doe for Mr. Pino. Next out was another button buck at about 50yds on opposite side. Then the Doe's show up well out of range around 14 of them, no shots taken.



New Years Morning was spent with Rachel, Eric, and Fidget. One of those DAYS! seems like you get one a year. 16 in the bag by 9am and we say "staying till we limit". Well at 12 we where only to 17 and sent Rachel and Wil to house to grab some Grilled Ham and Cheese from mom. Yum that was good sitting next to the creek. Well we did not manage the limit, but had one of our most memorable hunts to date. Rachel and Wil both where shooting great and the dads did ok also with not many birds that came in left the spread. What a week it was!

[scattered_grass]

Nice! That last picture sure makes me hungry.

[Dave Sikorski]

Sounds like one heck of a week. Our water as a little harder than the stuff you have there and the mallards have been tough since we beat the tar out of them for two weeks straight.

Send some back north just a little bit. We'll play nice

-D

[weekender]

another awesome thread. I would be one mighty proud Dad if Wil were my son. Congrats to both for quality times spent together in the field.

[netman9]

Fabulous!!! Great report.