My last post was at the beginning of bow season and here we are at the end of gun season and into muzzleloader season now in NYS. This year was a complete bust for me with very few deer sightings and zero shots. The weather was not the best with torrential rains on Saturday's opening day followed by 35-40 MPH winds on Sunday.
Busy business schedule also dictated hunting when I could get away as opposed to the best days to hunt. I tried rattling, estrous doe bleat calls (mouth and "the can"), along with grunt calls, scents etc. all to no avail.
I noticed a big decrease in hunters in the field at least in the area where I traditionally hunt. The only thing I can say for sure, "A bad day hunting still beats a good day at work". I did purchase a ladder stand this year and actually found the courage to climb up in the darn thing a couple of times. I also purchased one of the "Hunter Safety System" vests which I think is probably the best treestand harness on the market.
All that being said, no venison in the freezer or antlers on the wall thus far. I hope to rectify that by going down to Steuben county on a muzzleloader hunt this Friday. It is a three day hunt in one of the top counties of NYS for both total deer density, and specifically buck density per sqare mile. In addition the record books have had a lot of entries since 1941 out of Steuben.
My son-in-law Jared will be joining me and he will be using the TC thumbhole Omega (see Blog post) and will be shooting 110 grains of Pyrodex RS loose powder behind a Hornady 250 grain SST sabot and igniting that charge with Reminton KleenBore 209 primers. It is a combination that works well out past 150 yards. The Omega wears a Bushnell Ledgend scope that hs suprisingly clear optics for the money.
I will be carrying the TC Encore 209/50 with two 50 grain pyrodex pellets, behind a 250 Grain TC shockwave sabot (also made by Hornady) and using Winchester 209 primers. On a good day, this will put 3 shots into 3/4 of an inch at 100 yards and if set 1.5 inches high, is right on the money at 150 yards. The Encore wears a Mueller 2X7X32 red dot scope and that will come in handy both early and late and against a snowy background.
I am hoping my luck will change by trying a new area and God willing, the weather should be a little better in the southern tier. In 1st Chronicles chapter 4:9-10 you will find Jabez prayer concerning "expanding his borders". Hunting in Steuben county will be expanding my borders.
I will be adding a post next week concerning our 3 day hunt in NYS's southern tier and hopefully have some photos to go with it.
God Bless
Dan
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