Cold feet, high in tree

I spent the morning through the noon hour high in a tree. It was cold this morning and the deer were on the move. I had a two-point and a four-point spike buck walk right under my stand at about 10 yards but I let them pass. In a few years...different story. Both bucks stopped and smelled my "scent bombs" where I hung them in front of my stand. I guess that stinky stuff works. There is nothing better than starting your day with the smell of doe-in-estrus (for you non-hunters...that is the smell of a lady deer who is hot in the pants...or "in season / ready to play / looking to score / singing the love song).

I also saw 5 does, but the bucks were chasing them around and I never had a shot. Here are some pictures from the tree.



This particular spot is a 20 foot ladder stand. It's at the top of a ridge along an old logging road at Barbara Habig's property. Barbara's land is wonderful because she has 360 acres right on the east side of Bloomington two miles from my house. Deer are everywhere as they've been pushed from all the fields and farmland that has been developed over the years.



It's hard to make out in the picture above, but there is a deer trail that runs from the lower left of the photo forward into the woods ahead.




This is typically what I look like after I see a deer.


Since Danza and Harrison are in Chicago this weekend (8 weeks old and he is already well-traveled), I'm going to scout Warren's farm this afternoon, have dinner with Dad (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!) and then get to bed early to rest up for a full day of hunting tomorrow. I wonder if I can get venison baby food for Hank? I'll have to e-mail Gerber.