Around mid-day, I went to one of my all time favorite platform hunting stands to see if deer had been eating any of the broadcast corn and also wanted to take a pix of corn that was growing from earlier broadcast corn of which we have had several good rains to help it germinate and start growing.  Below is a pix of the feeding area:

BLUE EYED BANDED WATER SNAKE

Before I got to the feeding area, I spotted a non-poisonous banded water snake stretched out not too far from my feet and the snake had enlarged his body and head area with air which makes him look more intimidating and fierce than he actually is.  He really didn't have to do that because if I had taken one more step closer to him without seeing him first, I would have set a new Olympic World record for the 100 yard dash and possibly the High Jump too. 

By the bluish color of his eye caps, this snake is about to "shed" his skin and another tell-tell sign is by the dull color of his skin.  Snakes shed the outer layer of their skin several times each year and the process is known as Ecdysis.

In all probability, he had been doing some hunting himself at the feeding station waiting on field mice and rats that will frequent such food sources.  The banded water snakes main diet consist of things found in the water such as frogs, salamanders, minnows, crayfish and small fish, etc.  He was only a few yards from a watering hole that has about dried up from lack of rain.  The ole boy looked like he has been eating pretty good too.

MR. OWL AND MR. SNAKE

Seeing this snake, reminded me of a joke that one of my Brother-in-Laws Wink Myers told and I will see if I can remember it.  An Owl was perched high in a tree and observed a snake slithering by and was running into about everything in front of him.  The Owl said, "Mr. Snake, why are you running into things in front of you?"  Mr. Snake said, "Mr. Owl, I can't see too good."  Mr. Owl told Mr. Snake "That he needed to get himself a pair of glasses" and the snake said "He would do so."  Sometime later, Mr. Owl saw Mr. Snake coming by again and he was cruising along without hitting anything.  Mr. Owl told Mr. Snake "That he was going real good and the glasses was working very well for him."  Mr. Snake said, "They were and they also helped his sex life too."  Mr. Owl said to Mr. Snake, "How can a pair of glasses help your sex life" and Mr. Snake said "That he had been sleeping with a hose pipe for the past two years"......I dare you not to grin!

It is a good thing that I didn't see the above snake on the day of my recent colonoscopy, otherwise, the Dr. would have had trouble getting that mini-camera equipment inserted in the right place....grin if you must!

The above water hole about dried up on 08-24-16 and a week later was bone dry.  There is a large rock shelf diagonally across the water hole protruding about a foot and started to pan for gold but didn't get around to it.  Anson County in the early to middle 1800s was a hot spot for gold production, mostly placer gold and later went to the hard rock mining technique when the placer gold deposits were no longer productive.  When the California gold rush started after gold was found at Sutter's Mill in 1848, prospectors headed west seeking fortune and fame and were labeled the 49rs.  

FOOD FOR THE DEER

I checked on a white oak tree and the acorns are finally beginning to fill out.  A couple weeks ago, they were mostly a cap with hardly no acorn but looks like they will mature into a good crop of acorns for the deer.

There are also a few Water Oak acorn trees in the area and deer love those small sweet acorns and they usually fall to the ground before the White Oak acorns. 

This area also has several Willow Oak acorn trees close to the small nearby creek which is a magnet for attracting deer but there isn't a clear path for an arrow but the deer eventually meander to the free broadcast corn with a few of them ending up in my freezer destined for some "beautimous" venison recipes.  I noticed that one of the willow oaks adjacent the creek had died this summer from lack of water and/or disease and will need to cut it down after hunting season ends and maybe someone can use the firewood.

In a couple weeks, I plan to get the 2008 model Mathews Drenalin Solo-Cam bow out and start sending some arrows down range to get the muscles back in shape and check the performance of the bow and the shooter. 

Web published by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 08-24-16.

INSTALLED LIFELINE ON PRACTICE PLATFORM STAND

Over the years, my practice tree stand platform that I use solely for shooting practice arrows needed some adjustments.  The large pine tree has grown much in diameter and I have readjusted the telescopic member blade that fits around the back side of the tree that supports the platform stand against the tree only one time since the mid to late 1990s.  However, the past few years the front of the stand was progressively tilted upward from a horizontal position due to the tree girth growth making it uncomfortable to practice from which can also inhibit personal safety. 

Below is a pix of the tree stand platform for reference after the adjustment:

The platform is a good 18 feet above ground and have sent many, many scores of arrows down range into and through 3D targets to keep my bow shooting skills honed and ready for actual hunting.  About 40 feet up the tree, there is a metal cross with lights used as part of our Christmas yard decorations and you can see the power cord coming down the side of the tree terminating into a large coil.  I installed the 10 feet high cross using one of my portable foot climber tree stands positioned above the practice platform tree stand to ascend another 20 feet to install the cross. 

First order of business was to install the lifeline.  I purchased a couple 7/16 inch diameter x 3 inch length large eye screws and drilled a 3/8 inch diameter hole into the tree and installed the eye screws which are heavy duty.  One was for the lifeline and the other to secure the platform while removing the two bolts that keep the telescopic arms in position with the platform frame member.  The lifeline was attached to one of the eye screws that was in line with the left side of the ladder and used an auxiliary safety strap that went around the tree and attached it to the two loops on the safety harness that were designed for an auxiliary safety strap usage.   HSS recommends the usage of an auxiliary safety strap such as their Lineman's Climbing Strap the first time you ascend a tree to install the lifeline and use the Lineman's climbing strap at the end of hunting season when removing the lifeline since you are no longer tethered to the tree on the way down.

Above, a closer view of the platform after dropping the tilt on the platform by extending the telescopic arms outward that attach to the rear blade aka gripper member.  The telescopic arms are held in position by two 1/4 inch x 2 1/2 inch hex headed bolts.  To make the necessary adjustment, I had to safety off to the tree with an auxiliary safety belt and tie a stout rope from the front of the platform safety bar to an eye bolt in the tree to keep the stand platform from dropping downward too fast once the two bolts were removed from the telescopic members.  The tree had grown into the lower platform frame grippers and it was difficult to move the platform downward after removing the two bolts but kept applying pressure to the forward portion of the platform near the upright safety bar while standing on the ladder being tethered to the tree with the auxiliary safety strap.

Once the two bolts were removed from the telescopic members, the gripper and telescopic arms were extended outward by two alignment holes, installed new bolts and the stand platform was able to be a little below horizontal in relationship to the ground which will work perfect since the tree will continue to grow and bringing the front of the platform upward but that will take another decade of growth......grin if you must.

To reiterate, the tree had grown around the front grippers of the platform and had to pull the back gripper member tight against the tree using a couple small lengths of chain, S hooks and a turnbuckle. 

HUNTER SAFETY SYSTEMS Prusik knot, carabiner, lifeline and safety harness images.

Below is pix of the Prusik knot attached to the lifeline with a metal carabiner attached to the safety strap of the safety harness:

When ascending and descending the metal silo type ladder which doesn't have a cage around it, the Prusik knot is slid up or down the lifeline.  Any additional pressure on the Prusik knot from the carabiner will cause it to tighten around the lifeline and friction will not allow it to move.  It is imperative that you do not have your hand around the barrel of the Prusik knot while sliding it up or down the lifeline but have your hand above or below it while moving the Prusik knot, otherwise it will prevent the Prusik knot to properly tighten because there would not be enough pressure exerted from the safety line attached to your safety harness in case of an accidental fall! 

I installed a lifeline to my main hunting stand back in 2014 and the extra safety offered is worth the investment.  I have one senior citizen age hunting buddy in mind that need to be using a lifeline and safety harness, but that is like talking to a sign post.  After the hunting season is over, the lifeline will be removed and brought back inside to fully dry out even though synthetic materials are used to manufacture them, they will slowly deteriorate over time when exposed to the weather and ultraviolet light but that probably will take decades to do so.  Physical damage done by squirrels chewing on the lifeline and some insects will do more damage than the weather and the lifeline must be inspected for any potential damage rendering the lifeline unsafe to use.  When removing the lifeline, an auxiliary safety strap aka lineman's climbing strap should be used for personal safety since you will no longer be tethered to it!  Forty to fifty dollars for a new lifeline is a good investment against injury which could result in loss of life. 

PERSONAL ACCIDENT NOT USING A SAFETY HARNESS OR SAFETY STRAP 1990s

When I first put this platform stand up decades ago which has two 10 feet section ladders that telescope together and secured to the tree with lag bolts, I lost my balance securing the upper 10 feet ladder resulting in a 8 to 10 feet drop to the ground and hurt my right ankle which required a trip to the local emergency room the following morning.  Nothing was broken, but it took a long time for the ankle and the tendon to heal.  I did not use any safety belt aka pole strap or safety harness which would have prevented the fall and injury.  I had a functional Full-float lineman's belt or it might be classified as a semi-float and Bashlin 78 series Latigo leather w/nylon web reinforcement pole strap but didn't use them.  Maturity has a way of increasing common sense for some of us!

NOTE:  I used the below Full-float lineman's belt, safety pole strap and Bashlin off-set aluminum pole climbing hooks aka gaffs back in the early 70s to put up amateur radio antennas when I was into amateur radio and later used the climbing equipment for hunting and putting up permanent platform tree stands.  My ham radio operator friend Jack Teal, now deceased was a former power lineman and taught me how to safely use the climbing equipment.  We helped other ham radio operators and CB radio operators install their long wire antennas and other types of antennas until the passing of Jack.  Jack Teal was a multi-talented man who could do about anything he waned to; e.g., electrical, plumbing, carpentry, welding and was definitely, "A Jack of all trades" no pun intended.  We shared much quality time together at Amateur Radio Ham Festivals in King's Mountain, Shelby, NC and do miss him and his wife Myrtle also deceased.

I cleaned the above lineman's belt, pole strap and climbing hooks on 10-04-16 applying a good coat of Ballistol and scrubbed the brass components on the lineman's belt to remove the green oxidation gunk.  Letting the stuff air out in direct sunlight before storing them.  That equipment is probably forty-four (44) years old and still in good condition.  I have kept them cleaned and well oiled with beeswax, saddle soap and Ballistol over the decades.  The lineman's belt is manufactured and/or sold by Western Hardware and Tool Company in San Francisco, CA size D-24 per the stamping on the belt, whereas the 78 Series Latigo leather w/nylon web reinforcement pole strap is manufactured by Bashlin.  The Bashlin Alcoa A2 aluminum off-set adjustable pole climbers are manufactured by Bashlin and they are still "high dollar" today in comparison to other brands such as Klein!.  I spray painted them black for less visibility for hunting.  In fact, all the above items will set you back well over 1K if purchased new today!  I purchased the lineman's belt used from a NC Telephone Company employee; either Bob Couick of Waxhaw or Archie Ipock of Wingate, NC. and the pole strap and climbing gaffs new.  I had a set of longer tree climbing gaffs for the Bashlin pole climbers but they kept your feet to far from the tree in my humble opinion and used regular pole climbing length gaffs aka hooks which worked fine.  You had to be careful on large pine trees that the loose bark didn't get caught in them though.  I don't foresee using the above equipment, especially the climbing hooks aka gaffs anytime soon and think the stuff is retired for good due to the date on my birth certificate but they are safe to use if the need arises.  Bucket trucks have about made the climbing gaffs obsolete in our neck of the woods. 10-04-16.

Prior to using a safety harness, I used a safety belt either store bought or one that I made myself from nylon webbing, modified car seat belts or just braided nylon rope.  I have a friend that owns a heavy duty commercial sewing machine and he has sewn several straps for me including ones for my bow press.  However, I did not use a lifeline for ascending and descending a tree where statistics manifest that is where the majority accidents happen being eighty-six (86) percent of the time.

EARLY TREE STAND USAGE

Anyone that has used the original Baker tree stand US Patent 3,460,649 patented Aug. 12, 1969 which was about the only portable tree stand available that was mass produced before the foot climber type tree stands were invented and safety belts and straps were not common place, will no doubt relate how they have slid down a tree while holding onto the tree leaving you with skinned up arms and stomach area as a result of the Baker tree stand grippers not engaging the tree properly, whereas many have fallen outright resulting in serious injuries and even death.  Baker later was issued  US Patent 3,856,111 Dec. 24, 1974 for a hand climber that could be used as an auxiliary seat to go along with the hunting stand.  You had to hold onto the hand climber and raise your feet and body upward with the tree stand attached to your feet which was energy draining.  Also, the hand climb would slip too.  Product liability lawsuits eventually put Baker Manufacturing Company out of business manufacturing that accident trap waiting to happen.  I used a large platform Baker Pro-Hunter model tree stand in 1983 to harvest a nice young buck using my Fred Bear Custom Kodiak takedown bow.  The stand was chained to a tree similar to a lock-on-limb tree stand, however I added a pair of steel grippers to the plywood platform that had teeth cut into them but the thing was very heavy and still unsteady and unsafe.  I used a pair of Bashlin pole climbers aka gaffs to ascend and descend that hunting stand which was mighty dangerous.  I later invented and patented my own foot climber tree stands US Patent 4,953,662 and US Patent 5,167,298 in the early 1990s which worked the best for bowhunting in my humble opinion.  I still have a couple that I use on rare occasions when deer get locked in on one of my permanent platform stands, especially an ole "herd doe" and have to out fox the ole girl by setting the portable tree stand up on the trail used to come to the feeding area where my platform stand is located. 

Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I had three treated wood permanent tree platform stands on Carolina Power and Light Company right of way on Blewett Falls Lake near Savannah Creek of which the land was owned by the Dr. Davis estate.  Those platform stands did not have steps or ladders going up to the 20 feet high platform to keep other hunters from using them and used a pair of Bashlin climbing hooks to climb the tree.  I did have a large diameter knotted rope on a couple of them that extended from the platform terminating about eight feet off the ground to aid myself in climbing the tree.  That was definitely an accident waiting to happen but thanks to our Lord for watching over me.  When you were younger, taking risks didn't seem risky at all for some of us!

Below is a self-portrait showing the entire set-up.  I need to start cracking a grin, too serious looking:

The safety strap attached to the safety harness has several sewed in place breakaway loops to help reduce the sudden shock of coming to a complete stop if you should accidentally fall from the ladder and/or platform.  With the lower leg safety straps terminating around your thighs, your voice might end with a tenor pitch if you ever did slip and fall from the ladder and/or platform but hopefully with nothing broken or damaged......grin if you must!  I did remove the adjustable accessory straps on the front of each padded shoulder strap of the harness since I did not use them. 

WHITE OAK ACORNS ARE MATURING

Below is pix of how much the white acorns has grown from one of the trees outback since 08-24-16:

My practice sessions with the Mathews Drenalin bow has nearly all the arrows going to my point of aim and hopeful the weather will cooperate with myself getting some bow hunting in next month.

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 09-29-16.

FIRST ARCHERY HUNT OCTOBER 1, 2016

My target goal for hunting this 2016 archery season was October 1, 2016 and hoping the weather conditions would be much cooler and the wind direction would be good for where I planned to hunt.  The temperature high was around 82 degrees F. and the morning low was 52 degrees, however where I hunt this time of the year is basically an evening hunting stand.  When the annual rut kicks in next month, the area is a good anytime of the day for hunting the Whitetail deer.

The past month, I have been shooting practice arrows into and mostly through a well worn 3D Deer target and the 2008 model Mathews Drenalin bow pulls back very smooth now with my shoulder muscles apparently getting acclimated to the sixty pound draw weight.

I started rounding up my usual hunting gear days earlier and there is always something you are about to forget on the first hunt.  I still use a back pack which is loaded with more gear than necessary but just as soon as I put the back pack on a diet, I will need that item i removed form it.  Squirrels had decimated a black naughyde foam cushion that had a plywood back on it that I used for many years on my favorite hunting platform tree stand and removed it last year.  I used a much thicker black naughyde cushion that has a loop sewn into each end for attaching a cord to it and the wood seat with the thick cushion is not too bad. 

In addition to my back pack, I had an eight arrow detachable bow quiver that contained four broadhead tipped Easton 2315, 31.5 inch length arrows tipped with a 125 grain three blade Thunderhead broadhead that has a snap ring on it for attaching to the loop on the back pack.  I also had the black naughyde foam cushion mentioned above, my bow and Scott release aid.  In my pants and or shirt jacket, I also had my full length thin camouflage netting face mask, gloves, floppy style military hat, head band LED light.  On my belt, I had a small LED light and Buck folding knife.  The hyperlinked picture of my back pack was taken in 2007 and some items have been removed and others added; e.g., the Randall #3 hunting knife was sold on EBay and added a small table top tri-pod stand for an auxiliary LED light source to aid in my photography.

BACK PACK CURRENT CONTENTS

Below is a current pix of the things in my back pack of which I removed an extra pair of gloves and face mask since I had two spares in there:

The back pack contains a digital Olympus 7000 model camera, spare battery, remote control, knife for field dressing a deer, spare Scott release aid, spare pair of glasses, fluorescent orange safety vest, two packets of small Kleenex tissue paper, roll of regular toilet paper, snake bit kit which is obsolete, small tripod, desktop tripod for light source, LED light with strobe, rubber gloves, electrical tape, cord and twine, red drag rope, spare batteries, 1 inch wide drag strap and weather proof container of kitchen matches.....don't know where my nylon 2 inch wide deer drag strap is at this time...misplaced it since last hunting season.  At times, I will add a pair of Zeiss armor 7 x 42 binoculars and a Ruger Super Red Hawk .44 magnum revolver when gun hunting season is in.  About everything in there except the kitchen sink!

Since 2014, I started using an HSS Safety Harness with a lifeline attached to my main hunting platform and as of this year, a lifeline attached to my practice platform stand annotated above.

It was very awkward with all the gear mentioned above and got onto my main hunting platform at about 4:52 PM and the wind was swirling about and not the best of hunting conditions.  As mentioned earlier, the temperature was around 82 degrees but had some shade from the direct sunlight.  I have a 3/8 inch diameter camouflage rope that I use to pull up my bow and anything else to the 27 feet high platform and attached my bow and the black naughyde foam cushion.  I attached the safety harness safety strap which has a carabiner on the end and secured it to the Prusik knot on the lifeline and slowly climbed the metal ladder pushing up the Prusik knot as I climbed.  When onto the platform, I pulled up my bow and foam cushion.  I placed the bow on a hook within arms reach and secured the foam cushion to the platform wood seat.  My back pack was removed and I have a large nail on the side of the tree which has a piece of arrow shaft on it for holding my back pack.  My bow quiver was secured within arms reach beside my seat and removed an arrow and placed it on the bow string and arrow rest.  After getting my gloves on, release aid, face mask and cap, it was time to start enjoying the hunt. 

It took a few minutes to get prepared for an evening hunt and settled back and the first thing I normally do will say a prayer thanking our Lord Jesus Christ for another day and a prayer to protect all the hunters from harm and if the opportunity presents itself to make a quick humane kill shot. 

Sometime, around 5:30 PM, I heard a deer snort a few times over the ridge and it sounded pretty far off and hoped the deer had not picked up my scent.  There is a large track of club hunting land adjacent to where I hunt and there are several that do crossbow hunt on the land and the deer snorting was coming from that direction but it could have picked me up since the wind was swirling from different directions prior to the deer snorting.

Nothing eventful happened but the routine squirrels and bird activity which consisted of the Cardinals taking possession and ownership of the broadcast corn trying to keep new comers from getting their fair share of the corn.  I heard the ever present sounds of crows squawking and a couple Red-Tailed Hawks giving their high pitched cries.  A couple buzzards aka vultures were also in the immediate area and had no doubt found a much needed meal close by.

The sun slowly made its descent behind the tree lined ridge at about 6:20 PM and the temperature began to drop and felt very pleasant.  There was a slight breeze about the entire time and that kept the mosquitoes from doing any damage to yours truly.  It would be wonderful if some of the RNs and LPNs could draw blood as easily as those pesky mosquitoes do....grin if you must!

I stayed on stand until dusk dark and did not see any deer activity and hopefully the afternoon temperature will start dropping off into the low 70s which will be ideal for an evening hunt.

It was great to be back on the hunting stand again and I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior for the opportunity to be able to enjoy what he has created.  Each year gets a little harder climbing to those elevated hunting stands along with the task of dragging deer from the woods and no doubt within the next few years, I will be forced to use ground blinds which work very well too and much safer to access.  

This year, I have seen the least amount of deer activity in this hunting area in a couple decades and attribute that to the increase coyote predation of which I hear them fairly regular during the early and late hours of the day when I am out and about scouting, etc.!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 10-02-16. 

SHOOTING PRACTICE BROADHEADS

I planned to morning bow hunt today 10-03-16, however a dog was loudly barking at something under our rear deck at around 0534 hours and got up to investigate.  I saw one small dog run off and believe there was a larger dog but it was too dark to get a visual on him.

I went back and immediately got under the sheet and cat napped until around 0630 and decided it was too late to get on my hunting stand before daylight but got up anyway.

I needed to shoot a few practice broadhead arrows at my deer 3D target and climbed my shooting platform stand some time before 8ish.  The bow pulled back with ease and my shooting form felt good with the fiber optic bow sight single pin being fairly steady on the shot out vital area of the 3D deer target.  All seven arrows went through the center of the vital area with only one slightly higher than the other six.  All arrows released would definitely bring a deer down quickly.

Pix of the arrows on the other side of the 3D deer target.

You can see the arrows through the small hole in the center of the 3D target vital area.  This target is 17 yards from my shooting platform and the average deer kill yardage at my favorite platform hunting stand.

I am going to wait a few more days until the temperature gets into the 70s for an afternoon hunt and continue to shoot practice arrows every other day.

Web published updates by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 10-03-16, 10-04-16 and 10-06-16.

BOWHUNTING UPDATE

Today is October 10, 2016 and have hunted with the Mathews Drenalin One cam bow a total of seven times without seeing any deer activity.  It has been many moons hunting that long without seeing a single Whitetail deer in early October.  With the annual Whitetail Deer rut about one month away, there should be some activity and signs of the deer but I believe the coyotes have done some serious damage to the deer population near my favorite bowhunting platform stand.  The rut usually brings in deer from other adjacent areas with a 5 mile radius per the Biologists and hopefully will start seeing and harvesting a few deer for the freezer. 

UPDATE:  Today is 10-22-16 and have been on my favorite platform hunting stand a total of twelve (12) times and have yet to see the first deer.....saw a gray fox yesterday before dark and that has been about it.  Yesterday evening, the acorns were falling like balls of hail in a thunder storm with the wind coming out of the North with a good chill to it.  It is currently forty-nine (49) degrees and should drop down into the low 40s by daybreak.  I believe once the acorns are depleted, the deer will be visiting my feeding area again, especially since the annual Whitetail deer rut is about three weeks away.  

Regardless of harvesting a deer yet, I am thankful to be able to get out into the woods and enjoy Mother Nature and enjoy God's wonderful creations.  View this hyperlink.  

OUTBACK VIEWS NOVEMBER 2000

After our Blizzard 2000 which did some serious damage to property, I found a couple pixs that I took on November 19, 2000 documenting an early snow we had.  The property adjacent to our property at that time belonged to the B. C. Moore & Sons estate, whereas the property manager had the damaged and saleable timber cut and removed.  Below are two pixs taken of the snow:

The area in the pix above is where I harvested two good bucks; one on November 16 and another on November 17, 2000 while recuperating from a kidney stone removal.  See this page.

Another view of which the area opened up a good bit by the damaged timber removable.  I see broadcast corn on the hillside about 15 yards from a tree stand about 30 feet up a large poplar tree which was taken down in 2001 if memory is correct.  

DAVID TREXLER LOGGING OPERATION - SEPTEMBER 2004

Lately, I have been going through some archived CDs and DVDs and found a few pixs of David Trexler and his logging operation on 09-16-04.  Back in 2004, when the property behind our home being the B. C. Moore & Sons 134 acre +- estate land was transferred to Cliff Martin, Jr. upon the death of his Mother, all the marketable timber on this track was cut.  However, the area directly behind our home wasn't clear cut as much as the hillside to the right of our home and the property extending all the way to the Anson High School Road.

In the above pix, the area to the top right was eventually clear cut.  David or one of his crew is cutting one of the trees on our property that I gave him since I planned to remove it later myself the hard way with a chainsaw.

Another view behind my shooting platform stand while the logging operation was going on.  I harvested a good buck about where the skidder is located in the pix in the year 2000 after loggers came in and removed the damaged timber brought about by the Blizzard 2000.

AERIAL VIEW AFTER LOGGING 2004 OPERATION

I had one of my friends Bill Escott or Greg Benner fly me over the area outback and took a few pixs.  Our home is the last house on the dead end street and is viewed in between the wing strut and the wheel.  A couple years ago, we purchased the lots with the trees in the pix on both sides of our home.  The cut-over has grown back very thick again and definitely not as pretty with all the large saw timber size pine trees and the large oaks that were there, but we live in a very dynamic and ever changing world.

In the view above, you cannot get a true perspective of the elevation change from our home to the far side of the adjacent property and I am guessing far more that 100 feet.  I might try and find a topo map with some info on it.

Those high dollar logging machines make quick work for timber removal; a far cry from the ole pulpwood and logging days using axes, crosscut saws, oxen and later, chainsaws and trucks with winches on them.  Paul Bunyan and his Blue ox Babe would be proud......grin if you must!

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 10-10-16, 10-17-16 and 10-22-16.

TRESPASSER AND SQUATTER

Above pix taken on 10-24-16, twelve (12) yards off our property on land that I have written permission to hunt.  No wonder, the deer haven't been seen in the immediate area.  Check out this link for additional information.

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 10-25-16.

TRESPASSER AND SQUATTER GONE

I checked on the trespasser and squatter camp site and the dome tent and contents were gone.  Hopefully, they will not come back into this area again.  I am currently doing the Intel to install remote wireless video cameras running off my wireless network to further extend our home security system.

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-03-16.

MUZZLELOADER HUNTING

Today is November 8, 2016, being the second week of our black powder hunting season and have only seen a couple deer so far.  This is the week of peak Whitetail deer rutting activity according to our State Biologists, but I have not seen signs that a rut is underway in this area; e.g., no scrapes, rubs and/or bucks chasing and following does.  I still believe the coyotes have decimated a good percentage of our local deer population.  I will continue to hunt with the muzzleloader and/or climb my hunting platform with the Matthews Drenalin One Cam bow, if I start seeing deer in the area again.  There are plenty of acorns currently on the ground for the deer to gorge out on and not having to wander too far to have a full stomach!

SQUIRREL HUNTING

With so little Whitetail deer activity, I started harvesting some squirrels for a fried squirrel n gravy meal and have 9 or 10 of them ready to prepare.  I only harvest them one at a time when the opportunity presents itself and don't go out and spend any time hunting them.  I let them come to the area where I broadcast corn for the deer and squirrels help themselves to the "free" corn.  I use a suppressed CZ USA American left-hand .22 cal. rimfire rifle with Wolf Match Target ammo that is hollow pointed using a Neal Waltz die which is a challenge to nail them in the head at 50 yards, but the CZ will do it almost every shot.

The above pix shows the shot placement that I prefer.  A plus, since there is no meat loss!

I tell folks I shoot squirrels through the eye at 50 yards and for some reason they don't want to believe it.  With the CZ USA American, it allows you the accuracy to accomplish such shots, if you do your part!

Web published updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-08-16.

SQUIRRELS VISITING DEER FEEDING AREA 11-09-16

Below a few pixs of a couple unlucky squirrels that ventured into my deer feeding area while I had the little rimfire rifle close by just for the squirrels:

Both squirrels taken at 50 yards.  The CZ USA 452 American is definitely some serious medicine for harvesting those bushy tails!  The Wolf Match Target 40 grain bullets modified to a hollow point using the Neal Waltz die is awesome.

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-09-16.

SEXUAL ASSAULT ON DOE 3D TARGET

While looking outback this morning, I noticed that my practice 3D doe deer target was lying on the ground with the front legs bent over at an acute angle with the front steel stake still in the ground.

I got the camera out and went out to survey the scene, of which the ground was torn up pretty good by the hoof marks of a deer which looked like a Troy Bilt tiller got stuck in one place.  I am assuming it was a buck, unless it was from Charlotte, NC or the State of California.  I guarantee you, if I did a DNA swab on the 3D target rear end, it would test positive for deer DNA for sure.  I don't think there is a regulation in the Wildlife Resources Commission for the sexual assault of a doe 3D archery target by a horny NC Whitetail deer buck.....grin if you must!

Can you imagine what that buck thought when he mounted that doe 3D target thinking this was going to be an easy euphoric courtship, whereas he eventually broke the ole girl down as evidenced by the position of the 3D doe target and the torn up ground.  Wonder what kind of tale he related to his other buck buddies as to that sexual encounter with his penis in a sling...."boys you want believe what I did to one of these city does; I literally knocked her off her feet and tore that thing up so bad she wasn't able to get back on her feet and left her lying on her side trying to get her wind back, who is the man now?"

Deer have showed me no respect this season and to further the no respect theme, there were four does in the back yard looking at the downed 3D doe target at 0819 hours.....just call me Rodney Dangerfield........grin if you must!

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-17-16.

HUNTING UPDATE 12-01-16

I have yet to see any sign of deer feeding at my favorite platform hunting tree stand.  I might go this season without tagging a deer which is very unusual, but it happens once in a blue moon.  Nevertheless, I have enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of Mother Nature and just maybe, a good buck or doe will wander in and be bound for my freezer.

I am thankful for each everyday that our Lord Jesus Christ allows and the opportunity to enjoy what he has created for us!

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 12-01-16. 

PREACHER MAN MUZZLELOADER DOE 12-18-16

I have not been doing much hunting this month due to a Sinus cold and my bride and myself had a his and hers Drs. appointment on December 5, 2016, whereas I got a steroid shot in the buttocks....grin if you must!  I still had the Sinus drainage until a few days ago and it is much better now.

Pastor Sam Abee of the Wadesboro Church of God welcomes good processed venison for himself and his family, whereas I promised him a deer if hunting was favorable.  I finally got a chance to harvest a doe this afternoon around 4:45ish.  I don't hunt on Sunday, but I happened to see a couple does feeding out back on the ole B. C. Moore and Sons Estate Land which I have written permission to hunt.  My smokepole aka muzzleloader was still loaded since October 28, 2016, being ready to fire and touched a round off.  It was very damp, misting rain off and on and as soon as the muzzleloader gave its loud report, all I could see was a thick smoke screen which our troops in Iraq would be proud to have laid down such a smoke screen.

I was confident I made a good shot and went to where the last place I saw the doe standing and didn't see any immediate blood sign.  I made a few circles and picked up the blood trail which was pinkish in color and had air bubbles in it which normally indicates a lung hit deer.  I tracked the deer about 50 yards and saw the doe laying down but wasn't dead.  My first rookie mistake was not having a weapon with me to finish off the deer.  I backed off and to make a long story, the deer got up and traveled another 150 to 200 yards before expiring.  There was a profuse blood trail at times and I could hardly believe the doe traveled that far before going down for the ten (10) count.  The deer wasn't too far from the White Store Road adjacent the ole B. C. Moore & Sons, Estate land which was not annexed in the Wadesboro City limits.  She was immediately field dressed, dragged out to my hanging tree, skinned, quartered up and placed in my basement game refrigerator to later process by yours truly.  The doe was registered on line to seal the deal!  The reason the doe traveled so far before expiring, the 260 grain solid lead hollow pointed Knight .45 caliber bullet entered very low in the brisket clipping part of one lung and/or puncturing the esophagus the best I could tell.

I am guesstimating the doe was around 100 pounds, maybe more.  She had layers and layers of fat indicating there is still plenty of available food such as acorns, etc.  Old timers would probably tell you, this winter was going to be very cold since animals have that natural instinct to store up extra fat when the food supply is good.

I will grind everything except the tenderloins and the back straps shown between the front and hind quarters in the above pix.  The pix shows the size relationship between the back straps aka loin straps and the true tenderloins, of which many hunters get their nomenclature aka terminology confused.  That recycled archery rag target butt is doing well on its second life!

I currently have a project going on and will not get a chance to hunt until after Christmas and maybe by then, the abundant acorn crop will be depleted and deer will start feeding on my broadcast corn again.

I did a shake and bake clean on the muzzleloader and will do a final, more thorough cleaning the following day and put the ole smoke pole back in the gun cabinet until the next muzzleloading hunting season.

Pastor Sam Abee, pix below, came over on 12-23-16 and picked the processed deer up; an early Christmas gift:

Genesis 9:3  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 12-18-16 and updated on 12-23-16.

HUNTING 2016 SEASON COMES TO AN END

I only tagged one deer this hunting season and saw the least amount of deer at my favorite hunting location during the past 27 years.  However, it is not all about the harvest or kill, but the enjoyment one receives from being outdoors partaking of what God has created for all of us to enjoy.  The harvesting of game is an added bonus of which the Porter family does enjoy Wild Game properly prepared.

I am looking forward to the 2017 hunting season and hope to be in the woods again, the Lord willing of course.

As soon as the weather clears up, I need to remove my two Lifelines from my main hunting platform and practice tree stand platform to fully dry out.  I also have a quiver full of broadhead arrows at my hunting platform stand that is protected by the platform roof and a seat cushion to bring back inside also.

I give God through Jesus Christ or Lord and Savior, the Praise, Honor and Glory in all things!

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 01-07-17.

UPDATE 02-23-17

Since deer season closed, I observed 6 does feeding in the back yard one evening before dark and the next day observed 5 does and one small buck feeding.  They certainly do seem to know when hunting season is over.....grin if you must!