2009 Journal

[DeanoZ]

Saturdays WMA hunt was a bust, saw two doe, one which bedded in some thick cover just out of range and another 40 yards out, also out of my comfort zone.  Lost of distractions, ATV's, Bird Hunters, dog walkers came through my immediate area and essentially ruined the hunt.

This morning I hunted a new stand at the county park based on some information I've been hearing from several different hunters.  No sightings, but fresh sign they had passed through earlier.  Will try again in the morning.

[DeanoZ]

Sat in the same stand this morning, again zero sightings...however when i got off stand I walked the trail 50 yardds furthedown and found a well worn trail baited with corn and HUGE hoof print.  Not sure if they are moving through during legal shooting hours but I plan to reposition to that area on next hunt.

[MassMan20]

whats up guy..i hunt in holmdel, NJ...i had a pretty good year so far..took an ok 5pt at the end of October..grunted him in off a doe and took him at about 25 yards...rut was good saw 2 or 3 bucks a day..saw the same 10pt 3 or 4 times and 4 different 8pts..mixed in with some smaller bucks..bucks would not really respond to my grunt at all in November...and saw very few doe during the rut...just wanted to let you guys know...hope ever is having a good season

[MassMan20]

This is the 5pt...
 
 

[MassMan20]

[MassMan20]

OK dont no how to add a pic lol and i give up

[DeanoZ]

Hey MassMan, welcome to the Jersey forum and congrats on the nice 5 point.  I've been hunting Holmdel as well...Rammanessin section to be specific...which part are you hunting?  Gotta be honest I have not seen nearly as many bucks or much of a rut in Holmdel..cept for the ones on the side of the road on the way to the park, lol.  Curious as to where your hunting and when you saw the rut action...just trying to piece together my confusing and weird season!  Thanks and I posted your pic for ya!

[DeanoZ]

Hunted the WMA on Sunday...no movement through my immediate area but saw a couple does on a ridge about 300 yards east of my stand.  Then hunted the county park in Holmdel yesterday morning, placing my stand on that well worn trail...no sigtings until i got off stand and crossed the field...busted two does on the opposite side bedded near the woods edge closer to the residential areas...figures![8|]   All told I've spent 150 hrs on stand this season, had 50 encounters, 1 shot and miss...I can't believe I'm still motivated to keep heading out, lol!  Be back on stand Friday, but I think a timeout is in order soon to do some post rut scouting and find out where they are hiding...because it sure as hell ain't where I'm hunting!

[DeanoZ]

Friday's hunt was ina  new stand location I had scouted previously...good sign and someone had put out a pile of corn that day so i set myself up a little further away but along the same trail.  Had high hopes of seeing some does walk through but nothing appeared.  I've decided to take the next week off from hunting and dedicate it to scouting out the area to see if I can locate the herd and their food source.

[MassMan20]

Took off from work on fri to hunt the whole day...hunted from 8:30am(got up late lol) to 5pm...saw a lot of deer but no deer came closer then 80 yards...at 10 1030...a herd of about 8 doe came out on a field that i hunt they were followed by 4 bucks(1 big eigth,a six or better, and 2 spikes)...from 11 to 1:30 didnt see anything..1:30 to 5 saw 4 or 5 more doe...hope to get out the weekend