We got baseball threads and sidewalk threads, it's time for a hunting season thread....

It was very warm for the first day of hunting, unusually so. In fact, I hear tell a very popular item spotted in the woods yesterday was a blaze orange speedo (spandex, of course, since the wool variety would have been too cozy for the weather).

A Canadien sport no doubt, with a cheap rate in OOB!

The 63-year old was taken to Maine Medical Center; officials say his injuries were non-life threatening.
WCSH

New Hampshire game officials say a hunter has died of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials say 21-year-old Timothy Letourneau of Rindge was hunting deer Saturday afternoon when the shooting occurred.
Seacoast Online

It has been rough start to hunting season in New Hampshire. Anybody hear if it was quiet weekend here in Maine?

Spent the day in the Maine North Woods near Ross Lake, lots for moose, lots for grouse, but no deer. The temps were in the mid 50's what little snow there was melted.

I spend about 10 days at my camp in Grindstone (unorganized penobscot), and Thankgivings in Rockwood. We've taken (not me, I just show 'em where to hunt, and drag 'em) several 200# plus deer from the camp. Several 160-185# from Rockwood.... Usually have snow in Rockwood, only sometime in Grindstone. Pushed the trip out to the third week this year in hopes of more snow.

The thing I like about opening day is that it gives me the opportunity to get the obligatory, partridge-induced heart attack out of the way.

As well as re-learning how loud those 200# plus squirrels are coming across the leaves....

Mike - what'dya think it does for the partridges?
lol

85 pound spike horn taken with a bow. Need I say more?? Other than VERY good eating :)

KJ Story

This kid in this story looks proud.

Naran said:

"It was very warm for the first day of hunting, unusually so. In fact, I hear tell a very popular item spotted in the woods yesterday was a blaze orange speedo (spandex, of course, since the wool variety would have been too cozy for the weather)."

Uh-oh! Someone's discovered my secret hunting spot!

When I was a youngster those squirrels were at least 200 lbs, big racks too. They've slimmed down considerably in the last twenty years.

Only visible to those imbibing something other than coffee....

I do';t know what the conditions were where the rest of you hunted, but I spent the afternoon recalculating the windage that would have been necessary on a 50 yard shot.

Blowing like all getout in Jackman yesterday.

Saturday a blustery and damp day. Good day to hunt deer in a couple of weeks but alas the woods were quiet and an easy day to hunt the hardwood ridges. There was some pawing in the Beechnuts but mostly of bears. No rubs, no flags but a great day to take pictures and tell big lies.
Anyone seen any monster bucks? The two to beat are the at typical.....The Ronnie Cox buck aka..The Potato Pile Buck at 193 2/8 and the Hill Gould at 259 Non Typical

Slim PIckins?

Yes indeed, a bit breezy Saturday for sure. I reached out and found many saw nothing.....

Ah - so the blaze orange WOOL speedo might actually have been a worthwhile idea, ay?
lol

Did you see any wee Jack-a-Sqirls?

Couldn't make it out Saturday. I may try on Wednesday though. I did have some luck, bird hunting a few weeks ago.

"Sullivan's son, Todd Sullivan, of Manchester, held the record for the heaviest deer Saturday morning, with a 151-pound field-dressed doe. He shot it in West Gardiner."

Looks like one young man got lucky....that's one big doe.

Saw a lot of Partridge in the roads last night and budding in the trees at dusk. Am to think it's going to snow. In a field I saw a big doe....150+.... and a yearling fawn right after I passed a GW going in the other direction. Lots of moose around. I think we need a 3 day hunt for residents only. What are your thoughts about such a thing?

A 3 day residents only hunt would be terrific. I'd rather see Sunday hunting first.

I would typically take off the first week of deer season and try and get my deer, somewhat successful, but now that I have such an ahole boss, myself, who ain't paying for vacation time, I find myself just wishing for some income.

Saturday was a total bust, what with the wind coming from 360 degrees on stand during often enough times, would have been a crap shoot for a buck to come by at anytime.

I was hoping that the cold weather aforetime was to continue but naught, maybe next few days they say, but still have work and that in itself is a god send, you don't go hunting if you can make abuck in this economy.

Missed out on any-deer permits this year which does not make the idea of making meat for effort a better proposition.

Always appreciate when the snow flies because I'm not much of a sitter and the views become better when there is difference between deer hide and autumn leaves.

I expect it's going to be a long season, but as my ole man used to say with deer hunting you can get rich quick.

I hear you on work issue....I am struggling with that as I type. 30 years ago, (I was sitting here thinking, was it 20, 24, no, damn, 30) I shot a deer, a fat fork horn to be exact on the way to work....it was on the back edge of a field in Fairfield....I pulled over, grabbed my hat and vest and snuck up through the far edge of trees....I was quite a sight dragging my deer back, in a 3 piece suit, blaze orange, and loafers and pants bloodied and muddy....several people stopped and gawked.

Saw a big male bobcat working a flock of turkeys on monday I hope he got one and I i hope he get's as many as he can eat.

I'm with ya on the turkey thing. They're budding all the lower branches and leaving no browse for the deer. It's been a bit to warm to be comfortable hunting this week so far, but on Thurs and Fri I guess we're going to get some cooler weather along with a littel snow. Keep in mind that when the snow starts to fly that the deer will move into the cedar and start changing over to their winter diet so they may be a little more scarce then they are now for a few days. If that's possible.
With the lack of hooking and scrapes that amount to anything I'm going to say theat the rut will begin around the 20th and continue into Dec. The theory amongst all the big time horn collectors and Whitetail hunters is that the next world record will come out of the Northeast. Could be a field or the woods near you.

Snowalker et al,
Although I don't hunt myself and have nothing of value to add, I do appreciate this thread (and others about hunting). Above and beyond any formal education, or game wardens, wildlife biologists, animal lovers, etc. that I've met in my life, I'm indebted to those seasoned hunters who took the time to share what they've learned about the animals they pursue. I think back to one bowhunter I knew out west. He was a wealth of knowledge about elk, antelope, mule deer and javelina. I don't know what he enjoyed more; the days spent observing and tracking the animals or the actual challenge of bowhunting.

LMD....you may enjoy reading Randall Probert, a Maine author and former game warden. He weaves outdoor skill into a good read including pursuit and characteristics of the 'poacher'. A Warden's Worry is a good start....

LMD......it's why I like you!! lol Not always nit picking nor the condescending attitude like some others. I like to just wander aimlessly around in the woods at least half the season. Some days I come out with mushrooms that someone can paint on, other times old junk that I might dig up from a long gone cabin where someone once spent time doing the same thing I"m doing now. ie...Home Comfort stove parts, lol I'm sure the deer get quite a kick out of it and I would like to hear the conversation they have...."Here he comes again Margaret with another load of useless treasure" but...I do enjoy the quiet, the smells of fall, and the sights as well as hunting the ever elusive Whitetail. And.. I will break the State record!!