Hi everyone.
Finally got out for my first hunt of at LS this year. As it was my first time this season, I had to go a little later in the morning than normal in order to sort out all of the new permitting and registration. I have to say, I think this is a very good system Joel and the other rangers have devised. And they could not have been more helpful and friendly. So thanks, if any of you up there are checking in.
My original intent was to go up yesterday, hunt the whole day, spend the night at the campground, and then get up before dawn and hunt the whole next day. However, the rain sort of changed my plans. Given the success rates up there, and not finding enough encouraging sign to convince me to stick out the rain, I called it a hunt last night. I stayed out a little too long and got a little too deep and ended up hiking out in the dark and the rain from the lake shore up to Liberty Glen.
Around 4 PM, as the rain was starting to come down, I got pinned down behind 2 does who I kept bumping about 50 yards ahead of me. I went slow because I didn't want them tearing out and scaring everything out in front of me as I worked my way back to the truck, just in case there were some of the phantom pigs around. The does kept themselves directly in my path for an hour, but never really spooked. I guess the rain helped keep my scent and noise down. Next thing I know, it's 5 PM and just about completely dark and the rain is really picking up. So I made an uphill beeline to the parking area and was back by 5:30. That last 500 feet of elevation is a killer. I was literally on all fours clawing my way to the top.
I was so worked when I finally got back to the truck and changed into my street clothes while hopping around in the rain, that I absent-mindedly left my bow swinging off my rook rack as I started the drive out. I was thinking "what the heck is that noise!?!!" when I finally snapped out of my haze and realized what I had done and quickly pulled off the road. Luckily it didn't fly off the rack and no damage was done. Sadly, this isn't the first time I've done this. I lost a really nice pair of binoculars the exact same way about a year ago
Anyway, no pigs seen, much less put down, and about 8.5 miles logged. Also, I've never seen more civilians as I did yesterday either. Trail runners, horseback riders, hikers, mountain bikers etc. In fact, this was the first time in 5 outings up there I'd even seen another non-hunter. I'm sure that didn't help the hunting, but hey, guess we have to share. My fault for choosing to hunt near the popular trails I guess.
So that's it. I chalked it up to a good conditioning hike and just enjoying being out of doors for a day.
Finally got out for my first hunt of at LS this year. As it was my first time this season, I had to go a little later in the morning than normal in order to sort out all of the new permitting and registration. I have to say, I think this is a very good system Joel and the other rangers have devised. And they could not have been more helpful and friendly. So thanks, if any of you up there are checking in.
My original intent was to go up yesterday, hunt the whole day, spend the night at the campground, and then get up before dawn and hunt the whole next day. However, the rain sort of changed my plans. Given the success rates up there, and not finding enough encouraging sign to convince me to stick out the rain, I called it a hunt last night. I stayed out a little too long and got a little too deep and ended up hiking out in the dark and the rain from the lake shore up to Liberty Glen.
Around 4 PM, as the rain was starting to come down, I got pinned down behind 2 does who I kept bumping about 50 yards ahead of me. I went slow because I didn't want them tearing out and scaring everything out in front of me as I worked my way back to the truck, just in case there were some of the phantom pigs around. The does kept themselves directly in my path for an hour, but never really spooked. I guess the rain helped keep my scent and noise down. Next thing I know, it's 5 PM and just about completely dark and the rain is really picking up. So I made an uphill beeline to the parking area and was back by 5:30. That last 500 feet of elevation is a killer. I was literally on all fours clawing my way to the top.
I was so worked when I finally got back to the truck and changed into my street clothes while hopping around in the rain, that I absent-mindedly left my bow swinging off my rook rack as I started the drive out. I was thinking "what the heck is that noise!?!!" when I finally snapped out of my haze and realized what I had done and quickly pulled off the road. Luckily it didn't fly off the rack and no damage was done. Sadly, this isn't the first time I've done this. I lost a really nice pair of binoculars the exact same way about a year ago
Anyway, no pigs seen, much less put down, and about 8.5 miles logged. Also, I've never seen more civilians as I did yesterday either. Trail runners, horseback riders, hikers, mountain bikers etc. In fact, this was the first time in 5 outings up there I'd even seen another non-hunter. I'm sure that didn't help the hunting, but hey, guess we have to share. My fault for choosing to hunt near the popular trails I guess.
So that's it. I chalked it up to a good conditioning hike and just enjoying being out of doors for a day.
