Went out Saturday morning to hang stands, clear some shooting lanes etc.
Got a stand hung in the area of the pics (above), hoping that I didn't run everything off being in there 2 x in the last 3 weeks.
Opening is this Saturday (just a reminder, I just got access to this part of the land only weeks ago).
I had my camera in another area I was hoping would show some life as well, but pics were empty......nothing. I was in need of another location.
There is some
thick thick thick stuff east of my the new stand that was just so filled with underbrush, vines, trees etc I didn't think I could access it or if it was even worth it. But while sitting atop the new stand I looked over that way and saw what appeared to be a small clearing about 50 yards in to the thick stuff.
With John Eberhart's words and approach stuck in my head.......I moved full speed ahead.
I literally was on my knees, and then in ankle deep water cutting, chopping, clippping an access route using what appeared to be a seldom used deer path as a guide.
When I got to the clearing it was like central station. Well used paths in all directions met at this point. grass, oaks, a berm (in FL imagine that; could be an old shell midden) and a small crick. I looked around for a decent tree and I was fortunate to find a straight pine with a great backdrop with excellent cover. It was covered in thick vines that I had to carve off the tree as I climbed up in my climber but once at the top it was perfect. About 18-19' or so. Highl enough I think, since the deer shouldn't be able to peg me from afar (the whole angle thing and the dense cover around) before they get in the clearing. The berm is behind me as well as the cric. All the routes to the cric come from my front or side and the main path to the oaks and the cric is under me.
I of course think its ideal. The only egregious error I feel I made (well other than stinking up the place with my profuse sweatin') was I forgot to cover my climber with brush. I drink 2 liters of water by noon, my hammies and fingers were cramping, I was hungry and beat..........it just slipped my mind
I have no plans to hit this area until the water in the woods dries up, and the crick is the only source. At least 2-3 weeks out, so maybe they'll get used to the new "chair in the living room".
We'll see.
