2014 Hunting

2014 Season

2014 season came and went very fast. I was able to spend a lot of time in the woods but did not produce like I have in years past.

Bird season saw a lot of woodcock action. Between VT, the Berkshires, and a WMA in Norton, MA, Piper was able to hone her craft this year on woodcock. It was also my first season with my new 20 gauge over under. Waterfowl was slow. I used the Nucanoe with blind for the first year, and would have loved it if the duck action was better. 

Deer season was a struggle. I did not see a single buck during bow season. I had a chance at three different does but only harvested one small yearling. During shotgun season I used my father's red dot scope to jump shoot a 4 point on my buddy's land but missed all five shots. I guess I should have used my own gun for that one. Later on in the season I took a long shot at 70 yards and missed again. That was the extent of my deer season. I am hoping that next year will be more productive, I hope I can gain some patience and have a little better luck.

27th Birthday present, love having an October BDAY

Proud Piper

Early season trail cam pic got my excited 

Small baby doe, tasted great!

Maine fishing

In June of 2014, I took a trip to the lakes region in Maine with my roommate Sully. His family has a camp on Keoka Lake. We fished Bear Lake and a few other nearby waters. Usually a fishing trip with Sully comes with historic bad luck, (capsized canoes, boats springing leaks, and scratched trucks.) Although I did fall into the water on one occasion while on this trip... I was testing my new kayak, the Nucanoe. I was standing on the kayak and while casting I stepped backwards, losing my balance and the rest is history, adding to Sully's entertainment. However this trip actually turned into a successful venture, landing several bass and a topping it off with a nice pickerel on the last day.

Spring Turkey 2014

Turkey hunt 2014, Rehoboth, MA

woodcock training 2014

Here's a little video of Piper and I doing some training during the spring woodcock migration in March of 2014. Piper was on point and I took my phone out to capture what a woodcock flush looks like up close.

Fall 2013

Fall 2013

Deer: During bow season had several encounters. Opening night I had what I believe was a doe followed a drag trail I had walked earlier that afternoon. It was at last light with minutes left of shooting time I rushed a 20 yard show with the deer quartering towards me. I found a blood trail but decided to back out and wait until morning, however was unable to locate it. The next night a large 8 pointer skirted me at 50 yards. I was unable to get a shot off and later spooked it as I was getting out of my tree, not a good feeling. After a few unsuccessful weeks I changed up my spot. One Saturday morning I sprayed my boots with buck bomb and walked to my stand. A decently sized five pointer walked in. He noticed me in the tree at approximately 10 yards away and started back the way he came. He stood broadside for just enough time, at 20 yards for me to get a shot off. He ran another 50-60 yards and then bedded down. He never left that spot. During shotgun I did not see much. On a drive my father shot a button buck.

Birds: Piper was in her second season and is fine tuning her skills and training. Shot a few pheasants and a couple woodcock. Did a trip up to Vermont in search of grouse. Saw a few flushes but was unable to hit one. For duck season I tried a spot on a river near my house using a boat a camo'd up. I spent a lot of time and a little money getting it ready. On the second day out the motor shit the bed and for the rest of the season I used an electric motor. Shot a female blue winged teal with Tyler Trott and a green head with Louie Dibacco.

Blue winged teal

After VT hunting trip (2 woodcock)

Piper and her pheasant

5 pointer

Dad and his bambi button buck

Monster rub

Made venison minced meat pie for Thanksgiving!

Coyotes became a bit of a problem this year

A look at the duck boat setup

Trail cam pic from the summer

Bored in a tree stand

Bow Hunting 2013

Bow Hunt 2013

Shaky video of me taking a 2.5 year old 5 pointer.

Spring Turkey 2013

Spring Turkey 2013

Spring '13 was successful to say the least. Opening day myself and first time turkey hunters the Trott brothers took three birds 10 minutes after sunrise. Birds were gobbling in the roost at dark. We snuck in on the tree line and planted two hens and my new fan decoy. Made a few soft yelps and then did a fly down cackle at sunrise. Birds flew right down after the cackle and when they saw the decoys they literally started running towards us. We had planned for a 1,2,3 BANG! but in all the excitement I left my safety on. Luckily the sight of his two wounded friends actually made him come back and I was able to take a shot. Three real nice birds. I shot the runt of the group at only 14 lbs, but the other two, (who had the same size spurs and beard, inch spurs, 9" beards) weighed in at 18 and 19 lbs respectively.

The second time I went out I pulled into my spot late. The sun was already up and as I exited my truck I heard gobbling from the next field over. I hurriedly gathered my things and made my way to the edge of the next field, crossed the brook to plant my decoys and jumped back across to sit at a tree. It was a little foggy out and the birds flew down towards the opposite side of the field. I made some calls and they responded but they sounded disinterested and started getting farther and farther away. I had the same decoy set up with the two hens and the fanned tom. I waited for 15 minutes or so not making any calls. When I started calling again I got them hammering back at me, so I shut up and waited. I saw two black bodies in the fog making their way through the brush. When they spotted the decoys one fanned out and the other followed. At full fan the front bird looked much bigger and I figured it was the dominant of the two so I aimed my bead for his head. At 20 yards away I took my shot and dropped him. I was 2 for 2 and was now out of tags.

I took one more venture out to the woods to try and help fill a tag for my buddy Lee Trott. We tried one spot unsuccessfully and decided to try a new spot I had never even scouted, but had just received permission from the landowner that week. As we pulled into the driveway there were a group of turkeys in the backyard. One large tom and three jakes. We tried to go around them but spooked them into the woods. I was able to call in the jakes but the tom stayed to the outside of view. Lee took a shot at one of the jakes but missed. We relocated and called another jake in but Lee was never able to get a shot off. So almost 3 for 3.

Not a bad opening day

Bird #2

19 lbs, 10 inch beard, small spurs

Bird #1, Overall a successful season