November 9 (Snow Day)Hunters: Myself
The day started of around freezing with a steady snow fall that lasted until around 9AM
Waterfowl Activity: Almost non-existent.
I've been hunting deer in the mornings, but have been seeing geese flying by our one goose field. So after a few days of seeing no deer in person. Getting a decent number on the cameras. I decided to give the geese a go.
Ever start out the day and the way things start, you just have the feeling it was going to be one of those days.
The snow was supposed to have stopped by shooting time. Instead we had a wet sticky snow. My goose decoys were white before I had them all set out. The snow did not brush off
I did hear geese in the area on the water. So that was good. I started trying to chat them. I think that works better if you get their attention before they get off the water.
About the time I expected them to start getting up I ran around and did the best I could to clear the snow. Hook my rain jacket pocket on the blind and rip it.
The decoys still looked like crap. Anything inside 40 yards, I'm not going to hesitate to shoot because I think I have near zero chance of decoying birds into this mess. Especially these well educated local birds.
Just as I get back to the blind, I hear some geese. Three geese come over about 70 yards up. But they are giving me a good look. That ain't going to work. And as expected, they just kept on going.
The sun peaks through the cloud a little bit finally. Snowing has stopped. I go out and clear the decoys. With the slight increase in temp, they clean up nice. But I forgot my hand warmers and didn't think to bring gloves. So now my hands are freezing.
Everything looks great, but I don't see another goose and only ducks I saw were two woodies that zip by at about 150 yards.
I pack up, go home. Each lunch, get warmed up and head back out to archery hunt.
With about 5 minutes of shooting light left, a beautiful buck comes out broadside at 25 yards. And I have no fucking clue how I missed it
Running through my mind over and over and over and over and over. I don't get it. I took my time. I was careful with technique, ... And I just fucking missed. It was pretty windy. Maybe the wind caught my arrow, but I don't know. This was about as easy as it gets.
It was definitely one of those days. So I guess that was it.
Oh and I moved my camera. The deer was standing right next to that pine tree, but because I moved the camera it did trip the camera after it ran away after I missed it so the camera just got a picture of nothing. Although, not getting a picture may be the one good thing that happened. Not sure I want a reminder of the deer I should have shot. It was a beauty.