Bowhunting - 2010 Opener

Dates: Saturday 9/18/10
Location:  The Land, ECO
Morning, afternoon, evening or all day: Morning

Time: 5:15 - 9:00

Wind:  Moderate from W/SW
Temp: 64-67 degrees
Weather: Scattered t-storms to the north. Experienced heavy rain which tapered off to drizzle by 6:30 am
Who: Danny and myself

Game: Whitetail, opening day of 2010 bow season
 
Sightings: Two smaller bucks on the way to our stands, got within 10 yards.  We spooked another deer out of the beans.  Danny had three deer in the "Sand Box" before shooting light, more than likely the two deer we saw on the way to our stands.

Comments:
While the weather wasn't ideal, there's something about Opening Morning that is special.  Danny and I met in the Quarry nice and early (4:45) accompanied by thunderstorms, a pretty steady rain and occasional lightning.  We decided to push forward for the first "sit" of the season.  We both had planned to sit on the north side of the property.  Danny in the "Sand Box" and me in a new ladder stand by the wood pile.  A few days earlier, Danny and James had set the stand as well as planted a small food plot around it.  I was pretty excited to try it out.  I was thinking that the deer were going to wait for the storm to pass and then start moving. However, when Danny and I saw two sets of eyes staring at us from just inside the wood line on our way to our stands it was evident the deer were on their feet.  We literally got within 10 yards of the deer, which was close enough to see they were two smaller bucks.  The nice thing is, we didn't completely spook them, however our presence was enough for them to turn and trot deeper into the woods.  Then a few moments later, as we rounded the second finger, we spooked a third deer out of the beans.  Danny and I went our separate ways as he followed the field road into the woods, towards the Sand Box, I stayed along the woods and made it to the Wood Pile stand.  As soon as we split, the skies opened up and we were greeted with a good old fashioned downpour.  Luckily for us, it only lasted a few minutes.  Danny had early action, as the deer that we had spooked earlier (we think) were hiding out in the sandy area in front of him.  A third deer joined and they kept Danny awake for the waning minutes of darkness.  Of course, they were gone by the time it was light enough to shoot.  I never saw another deer, however I did have a larger animal move behind me in the early morning darkness.  Since we were deer hunting, I'll say it was a deer ;)  The rain stopped, but the skies remained overcast for the rest of the morning.