Two years ago our doe population was so low I decided on taking only a buck and that never happened. Last year my son was a "poolee" in the US Marines (enlisted, but not active duty yet) and had to go to physical training two or three times a week, and somehow between the weather and his using my truck for travel I never made it out hunting.
This season I decided to put more effort into hunting, but season opened with temperatures in the high 90s and even going over 100°F some afternoons.
Friday the weather was finally cooler so I took the old Phoenix to the farm I hunt and made sure it was still shooting as it should.
Set a target at 25 yards and after a couple shots to get the feel of the trigger pull again I was happy with the results.
Didn't hunt Friday, but took time to look at the possibility of setting up near the landowner's former garden, which he planted as a food plot this year.
Deer have been hitting it, but the location doesn't offer much possibility of a good tree stand location overlooking the food plot. I decided to go yesterday evening and just set and watch from the edge of the woods.
Wasn't really hunting, I only took a chain-on tree seat and my Phoenix to get a feel for what I really need for actual hunting. Put the seat on a tree just inside the woods and sat for an hour. Two does came in through the woods about sunset, but one saw me move and they held up at about 40 yards. Saw plenty of squirrels, too.
Finally getting some rain today (and probably tomorrow), but when the rain stops I plan to check the woods on the other side of the food plot.
Will probably take a chain-on stand and my climbing sticks and set up a few yards deep in whichever approach seem most promising. I also have a climbing stand I could use at a second location.
