Thursday, December 4, 2008 p.m.

Thursday, December 4, 2008 p.m., 14 degrees, mostly sunny, wind NW 15-20 mph, sunset 4:21 p.m. (Hunting closes 4:51 p.m). It was a cold one today, but I felt like I just had to get out. I knew that I was not going to be able to sit very long, so I didn't get out until 3:30 p.m. Tonight I decided to give the fish bowl a try. There were several fairly fresh track near the stand when I climbed in, so I was optimistic. At 4:45 p.m., I heard a deer snorting down in the valley, but that was it. Totals: Bob - 0 deer.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 p.m.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 p.m., 17 degrees, mostly sunny, wind NW 0-2 mph, sunset 4:22 p.m. (Hunting closes 4:52 p.m). After 5-6" of snow over the last few days (3" last night), I figured it was time to get back out. I went down in the valley with the intention of going to the Fish Bowl, but there were just too many fresh tracks by the Apple Tree stand, so I went there. I was all settled in by 3:20 p.m. At 4:00 p.m., I saw two does about 150 yards to the north of me on Arlie' heading up the hill to the east. About 1 minute later one of them turn around and sprinted back across the pasture to the west. I am not sure why she was running? At 4:35 p.m., I had 3 does come from the west and cross the creek going east up the hill about 75 yards to the north of me. They must have gone right past the fish bowl stand. Oh well. That was it from the stand. It sure stays light out with all the snow. On my way in, 3 does were walking across my soy bean field to the north. Nice evening for this late in the season. I am already excited to get back out there. Totals: Bob - 5 deer, 5 does, 3 more does on way in.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 p.m.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 p.m., 41 degrees, mostly sunny, wind NW 0-2 mph, sunset 4:30 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:00 p.m). Now back in Minnesota after an unsuccessful gun season thus far, I decided to try my luck at the Fish bowl. Taylor was getting out late, and decided to go back to the Ridgeback. I was in position by 3:05 p.m. Nothing for either one of us. Totals: Bob - 0 deer, Taylor - 0 deer.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 a.m.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 a.m., 26 degrees, mostly sunny, clear and cold wind SW 5-10 mph, sunrise 6:47 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:17 a.m.). I decided to go back to Rock out and Lon went to his gun stand fort. I didn't see anything and got down at 9:30 a.m. very dejected. I must say it has been a very disappointing bow season thus far. Lon on the other had a good morning as far as hinting, but a little bad luck. At 7:15 a.m., he herd something to the SE. Just then he saw a doe flying off the hill with a nice "shooter" buck chasing her. As he got ready and got his cross bow up, the buck paused in his shooting lane. The only problem is Lon was unable to get his safety off because he was wearing a glove. I later asked him if he ever practiced while wearing a glove and he said "No.". I then asked him why then he was wearing a glove and he responded that because "his hand was cold.". Only Lon! The buck paused again in the second shooting lane at 10 yards and he still couldn't get the safety off. By the time he actually got the safety off, the buck was long gone. A valuable lesson for all hunters...you need to practice the same way you plan on hunting. That was it. Totals: Bob: 0 deer, Lon: 2 deer, 1 buck and 1 doe.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 p.m.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 p.m., 36 degrees, mostly sunny, wind NW 10-15 mph, sunset 4:35 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:05 p.m). The futility continues. This. afternoon I decided to change things up a bit. I wanted to give Acorn Alley a try. As I was walking in at 12:40 p.m., about 50 yards from my stand, I kicked 7 deer off of the south slope. They took off to the south and ran over the top of the hill. Just then, I turned to my left and saw a single deer on the south facing slope. It took off to the NW. I am pretty sure it was a small buck. Story of my season. While in the stand, it was more of the same...0. I did have something walk in to about 10 yards right at dark, but even with binoculars it was too tough to see what it was. My guess, it was a raccoon. Lon was out in the Twin Towers and had a doe and fawn feed out into the field near dark. Totals: Bob - 0 deer, Lon - 2 deer, 1 doe and 1 fawn

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 a.m.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008 a.m., 26 degrees, mostly sunny, clear and cold wind SW 0-2 mph, sunrise 6:46 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:16 a.m.). With the corn still standing on the north side of the road, I decided to try and change my luck by hunting the big gun stand on the north side of the road. This is the same stand where I shot two does on the same morning earlier this season. Lon decided to go to the ladder stand at the top of birch point. I was all settled in by 5:55 a.m. At 7:05 a.m., I had a small spike buck come down the trail from the south. He got to about 40 yards away and decided to turn around and head back to where he came from. I should have gotten some video, but until I was able to get the binoculars on him I thought he was a doe. Lon saw 0. I guess he did kick one up in the way in. Totals: Bob - 1 deer, 1 buck; Lon - 0 deer

Monday, November 17, 2008 p.m.

Monday, November 17, 2008 p.m.., 34 degrees, partly cloudy, some sun, wind NW 10-15 mph, sunset 4:36 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:06 p.m). After the morning hunt, Lon picked me up in the Ranger and we decided to run up to birch point and clean out my newly hung portable stand and check the camera. There were pictures of a couple of bucks and some does, but nothing big. Wind was still out of the W-NW. I decided to try my luck again at the twin towers. I was all set up a ready to go by 12:50 p.m. At 3:35 p.m., I did some raking with my arrows on the cedar tree to the north with some light grunting. About 5 minutes later, I got all excited when I heard something coming from the valley to the NW of me. Could this finally be my opportunity? Nope... My luck was not going to change as about 20 turkey appeared in the valley. At 4:15 p.m., I heard all whole mess of turkeys making all kinds of noise across the street to the north of me. At 4:35 p.m., I had a deer sneak in behind me (down wind) and it took off. All I saw was a tail. At 4:55 p.m., a doe came into the field from the east. That was it. Lon went to the north permanent stand and didn't see anything. Totals: Bob - 2 deer, 1 doe and 1? Lon - 0 deer

Monday, November 17, 2008 a.m.

Monday, November 17, 2008 a.m., 28 degrees, partly cloudy, wind NW 10-15 mph, sunrise 6:44 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:14 a.m.). We stayed at Romance last night and Lon an I drove down to Copper Creek this morning. We checked the field over by the Twin Towers and there were 4 does and fawns out feeding in the soy beans. Nevertheless, I decided to try my luck at Rock Out and Lon went to his gun stand fort. As I was setting up Stubby, and I had a deer follow me in from the creek bottom and ran right by the base of my tree. After I got in I had another deer sneak behind me to the east going south. It was way too dark to tell what either of them were. At 9:40 a.m., I had two does sneak in behind me to the SE. They got to 30 yards (they were down wind - of course) and went back to the SE. I am just shocked that there were no bucks chasing then. Lon got down at 10:00 a.m. He saw a group of 4 does and another single doe by herself. I stayed until 11:00 a.m. Totals: Bob - 4 deer, 2 does, an 2 ?'s. Lon - 5 deer, 5 does.