Gill-T

I remember seeing a documentary a few years ago about the pipeline and how scary it has been constructed under Lake Michigan. Hopefully they are shutting it down to shore it up and not shutting it down for good. The documentary showed how a looming environmental disaster is coming without engineering controls. Fox News doesn’t say anything about why it needs to be shut down. Again half truths. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6120882

Mojo restored

On Thursday I was seconds away from death. Got your attention? I will preface this story by stating I am a fit adult with no underlying medical conditions and I have been using a climbing treestand for 36 years. Hunting a state land tract Thursday afternoon I had an interesting start to my day. As I was hauling up my bow and backpack up the tree I developed a severe cramp in my right pectoral muscle. Unlike most cramps that you can stretch and massage the pain away, I found I was not able to do so. I tried moving my arm and shoulder but the lancing pain continued. I also noticed that in my haste to get up the tree, I had neglected to put the safety rope around the tree and clip in my harness. “Crap”, I thought, “am I having a medical emergency “? My next thought was I need to get clipped in fast! I struggled with the pain while trying to get the rope around the tree. I started to get a little nauseous and tunnel vision started. I told my self not go out as the black shroud started to descend on me. I sucked in air like jet pilots do when pulling heavy g-force turns to prevent passing out and I was just able to stay awake long enough to secure my harness clip, kneel down on the platform, hug the tree, and tell myself “no matter what, just hang on”. I passed out almost the instant I hugged the tree. When I came to, I was squatting at the end of the platform, leaning against the harness tether still hanging on with both hands on the platform wires. I don’t know how I slid all the way down to that position or how long I was out for. I knew where I was and what had happened. My scalp (shaved head) was frozen because I don’t put my hat on initially to reduce sweating, but the rest of my body was super sweaty. Amazingly enough, my $1,000 bow set up and back pack remained leaning up against the tree on the seat. When I hugged the tree before going out I was hugging/pressing the bow and pack between my chest and tree. How I slid off the tree without knocking down my gear is a mystery. Given how cold my scalp felt, I think I was out maybe 10 -15 minutes?? I got lucky!!!! The takeaway should be ALWAYS make sure you are clipped in at all times. Bad things can happen in an instant. Tests were negative for heart attack with the most likely diagnosis of stress/pain induced vaso/vagal syncope or …. I had an ouchy and I fainted. Stay safe out there folks!

This was posted under “Open Lake Discussion “. For Pete’s sake this is the one place where we can go to escape the real world. Both sides are getting played by pundits. Pundits that have never held a day in office or even served in the military. Opinion pieces. Half facts. Start developing an independent mind. Watch more than one news station, and if you view something that will only serve to make you miserable, send a message to those making money off sewing division…… turn off the news. One nation under ONE flag.

Not experienced in the Salmon River

Completely hit or miss as stream levels and temps are conducive to shooting right up the river. If are not marking fish,seeing jumping etc etc don’t spend much time. The estuary may be a better play

On Erie there are a handful of charters that troll for them. Fluorescent red or orange jointed rapalas and small spoons. I would add small hot’n’tots

Deer movement was minimal where I was but the southern tier had a coating of wet snow that made quite a racket when it all started falling off the trees. A giant coyote came by and ran right towards my morning deer movement direction. Then I had a woman walking her German Shepard (WMA illegal) come by at 9 and back at 10:30. This is the fourth hunt she has ruined so I gave it to her good. Personally, I think she lives bordering the state land and conducts deer drives for her husband. She wears an orange hunting vest so she appears to know what she is doing. Hi light of the day was a grouse putting on quite a display on a strutting log. Off to Allegheny County for the next three days. Staying in a hotel that promises a free nights stay if you shoot a ten pointer (true).

Great story! On the other hand my mojo is not working. Yesterday on the way an evening sit, I stopped into a Home Depot to pick up a bow hanger. In the parking lot I find a wallet. I turn the wallet in to service and leave believing I surely will bag a big buck with my newly gained mojo! However, no such luck as I was greeted with a visit from a small six pointer. Today was similar. I am driving down my street on the way to an evening sit and I come across a car blocking the road. The owner of the car was in a bad state of mind claiming his car ran out of gas. I could tell he wasn’t from the neighborhood which he confirmed he was looking for scrap metal before garbage day. I drove back down the street and grabbed my lawn mower gas can to give him the boost he needed to get to the gas station. With my mojo cup overflowing, I am confident tonight is the night. In my stand, it feels right. About 3:30 I see a buck moving my way. He was doing the typical bird dogging by mouthing seedlings to taste for does in heat. He is on a path to my zone of death at 25 yards then inexplicably he turns 180 degrees and heads back the way he came. At 50 yards I tried to reroute him with my grunt call. The reaction was not what I had hoped for. There must be a bigger buck around because upon hearing the grunt, the buck went from tasting seedlings into trot off alarmed mode. I have never seen a buck act that way to a grunt this time of year. So much for mojo! Tomorrow I am going to look for some old ladies that need to cross the road.

WTF?? You railed him!

Skunked tonight. I have to remind myself there is a swirling low and 55 degrees but man I was hoping to see something. Zero wind. Tomorrow I am going to put some miles on the legs to do some scouting

This swirling low of rain is not conducive to blood trails. I used the last two days to get the chores done with next week off of work and hunting on the agenda. Friends in the southern tier are seeing bucks crossing roads with noses down. Mr itchy has been surprising quiet. This evening will get it started for me. Good luck all!

it is called a hindsight. You can order direct from the company. It is 100xs more precise than a peep with no problems in low light. It allows you to shoot your bow like a gun. Three points of alignment- kisser button- hindsight-front pin. Once set, you can pick up the bow at any time and shoot what you are aiming at. They are VERY reasonably priced. If you look at the picture of my setup, you will notice the upper two arms on the hindsight I removed with a razor blade. You sight in and align with the top pin. My bow is zeroed at 20 yards but good out 30 yards. I have a 40 yard and a 50 yard pin. To shoot at 40 or 50, I still align with the top pin while at the same time place the lower pin on the target where you want it. https://www.hindsightco.com

Giant!!!!

first off, wow that is a large ticket item! Second, what do you do when a deer is in cover and the range finder is reading bushes and branches in the foreground?

An interesting observation occurred to me this weekend. It started Friday after work with a little target practice with my bow. All was good, nailing tight groups at a silver dollar sized target. Come Saturday and as per usual on state land, a mile back and 40’ up. First light came and I was greeted with a doe group in range. They got a pass. Then a fisher came by with something in its mouth. Then boredom set in so I decided to practice drawing my bow to get a feel for things. When I drew back I became alerted to a problem. I found I could not line up my hindsight with the front pin. I checked all connections to see if anything loosened up but everything was tight and in the normal position. I was scratching my head. What changed? The only thing I could think of was I was wearing a glove on my left hand. I took the glove off and voila, the sight picture was normal. Wearing a glove was causing severe bow torque as I was holding the bow handle differently. The beauty of a hindsight is it shows you instantly if you are out of alignment. I would not have been able to shoot at a deer with a glove on if given a chance with my set up. If I didn’t have the hindsight and just a front pin, I could have thought everything was fine upon drawing my bow which could have resulted in a miss or worse…. a wounded animal. Anyway, something to consider when practicing with your bow.

Cool story with a happy ending. This is a good year to pass on little ones. Another mild winter and lots of soybeans planted this year should have antler growth maxed out.

Sorry to hear Gary. Condolences to you and your family.

Beauty!

Giant! Which county ? That deer looks like a Kansas deer.

Good adventures with you buddy. My shorthair hunted her last hunt Saturday. She finished on top with success but arthritis has found the hips and she was bed bound for two days. Like a running back, when it goes, it goes downhill quick.

Anyone see any daytime buck movement this weekend? Chores kept me away.