mudmarlin70
02-07-2009, 05:23 AM
First off, this was not a typical night up here. We've got lots of reds, but a good night would be seeing a couple and my best night ever was taking two and seeing three.
Tonight was gonna be perfect conditions for me (still snow pack/no wind and plenty of moon), so when I got the call to work some overtime overnight, I was bummed. I committed to be at work by 9, so I grabbed some zzzs and headed out by around 4.
First set was where I had seen atleast three separate reds on a little deer push two weeks ago. Right before reaching where I wanted to be, a congo line of deer started stampeding out to my east. I was a little disappointed and it got alot worse when I saw a red tagging along with the procession. Determined to try it anyway, I set up and within a couple minutes, another red was coming my way from my north. Unfortunately, it hung up around sixty yards out and circled halfway around me and never came in range I wanted. Another line of deer headed toward me from the opposite direction despite the calling and made it to within 15 yards:huh: . Ol' red didnt like the deer breaking the ice and took off. Beautiful dog though.
Second set was with my back to a drainage ditch facing some darker timber. After about wenty minutes with only a large hawk swooping in, I caught movement behind my right shoulder. Craned my neck around to see another red standing on the elevated bank of the drainage. He went back and forth on the drainage about forty to fifty yards behind. I could never get shuffled around to take a shot. Another gunner would have made a big difference tonight. But two for two on the sets. Both on squealing bird.
Third stand was near a large clearcut with downed timber that has had a ton of sign. In less than a minute I had another red at full charge! He wasnt as lucky as the first two. Distressed rodent on him. Three for three on sets and one for three on doggies.
One more set in that area was uneventful as night fell. A short hump in the truck to another spot. This fifth set I had an owl set up camp right on top of me. No other sightings, but I'm pretty sure I heard one behind me again.
One last hump about a quarter mile away. Nothing for the first twenty minutes. Then I heard a couple coming hard to my left on the opposite side of the caller. Looked to be two much bigger than the previous reds. These guys were breaking snow rather than skittering across the top. I think they may have been yotes. I only saw movement as they passed about fifty yards out with some dark stuff behind them which didnt allow me to get a good look. Definitely canine though, not deer. About two minutes later, I clearly saw a lone red cross in front of me about seventy yards out in the orchard. I lost sight of him. Pleading chicken in this spot due to ALOT of fowl beng killed here. It was time to call it a night, but managed to go four for six on sets and saw no less than six dogs, maybe seven if it was actually a pair and made it to work by 9!
Going for a rematch in the am. at the last spot! My setup was a little off. Where I should have been would have given me a shot at the pair, but not the red..;) Farmer has been seeing them in the mornings, so we'll see!
Tonight was gonna be perfect conditions for me (still snow pack/no wind and plenty of moon), so when I got the call to work some overtime overnight, I was bummed. I committed to be at work by 9, so I grabbed some zzzs and headed out by around 4.
First set was where I had seen atleast three separate reds on a little deer push two weeks ago. Right before reaching where I wanted to be, a congo line of deer started stampeding out to my east. I was a little disappointed and it got alot worse when I saw a red tagging along with the procession. Determined to try it anyway, I set up and within a couple minutes, another red was coming my way from my north. Unfortunately, it hung up around sixty yards out and circled halfway around me and never came in range I wanted. Another line of deer headed toward me from the opposite direction despite the calling and made it to within 15 yards:huh: . Ol' red didnt like the deer breaking the ice and took off. Beautiful dog though.
Second set was with my back to a drainage ditch facing some darker timber. After about wenty minutes with only a large hawk swooping in, I caught movement behind my right shoulder. Craned my neck around to see another red standing on the elevated bank of the drainage. He went back and forth on the drainage about forty to fifty yards behind. I could never get shuffled around to take a shot. Another gunner would have made a big difference tonight. But two for two on the sets. Both on squealing bird.
Third stand was near a large clearcut with downed timber that has had a ton of sign. In less than a minute I had another red at full charge! He wasnt as lucky as the first two. Distressed rodent on him. Three for three on sets and one for three on doggies.
One more set in that area was uneventful as night fell. A short hump in the truck to another spot. This fifth set I had an owl set up camp right on top of me. No other sightings, but I'm pretty sure I heard one behind me again.
One last hump about a quarter mile away. Nothing for the first twenty minutes. Then I heard a couple coming hard to my left on the opposite side of the caller. Looked to be two much bigger than the previous reds. These guys were breaking snow rather than skittering across the top. I think they may have been yotes. I only saw movement as they passed about fifty yards out with some dark stuff behind them which didnt allow me to get a good look. Definitely canine though, not deer. About two minutes later, I clearly saw a lone red cross in front of me about seventy yards out in the orchard. I lost sight of him. Pleading chicken in this spot due to ALOT of fowl beng killed here. It was time to call it a night, but managed to go four for six on sets and saw no less than six dogs, maybe seven if it was actually a pair and made it to work by 9!
Going for a rematch in the am. at the last spot! My setup was a little off. Where I should have been would have given me a shot at the pair, but not the red..;) Farmer has been seeing them in the mornings, so we'll see!