BEAVER DAM ON CULPEPPER CREEK

Getting a little side tracked which is my normal MO (Modus Operandi), back on March 18, 2018 while doing a little pre-season scouting, I noticed that Culpepper Creek was backed up more than normal and decided to check it out.  I didn't have to go too far to ascertain that a beaver had been cutting small trees on both side of the creek and came back home and retrieved my camera to document what I observed.

It appeared that a beaver had made a small dam and the recent heavy rains washed part of his/her dam away, of which he apparently abandoned his new home.  Beavers can be very destructive to the habitat by cutting trees down, damning the creeks and streams up backing up water creating small lakes which further destroys trees, etc.  They do create habitat for other wildlife and guess it all balances out.

Above pix of the dam, of which a good percentage of it has been washed downstream as stated by the recent heavy rains we had.

Click on the below thumbnail pixs for a larger screen view:

I recently checked the creek again and there is no evidence that the beaver(s) came back, of which I am glad.

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 08-09-18.

PRE-SEASON HUNTING PREPARATIONS

I checked my current favorite hunting stand and the deer and rain had melted away the 50 pound block of mineral salt that was placed there last hunting season. The deer had eaten a couple inches of the soil which was saturated from the mineral salt compounds and time to get another one in place.  I made a trip to our local Tractor Supply and purchased another 50 pound mineral block and it seems like every year that 50 pounds gets heavier and heavier.  Also, the price was $ 10.76 which is a little steep in my humble opinion, but they have to keep the stock holders happy.

On June 20, 2018, I placed the mineral salt block on the ground where the deer had been eating the salt tasty dirt.  I also carried a five gallon bucket of last years shelled corn and broadcast it within my shooting access area to get the deer coming back for a regular snack of the shelled corn.  I have noticed that deer will approach the area with caution and when they get near the broadcast shelled corn, they will inevitably look up toward the platform stand to see if they can spot any danger.  I am sure in the past, I have educated a few wise herd does at this hunting location.

Below is a pix of the feeding area archived from 2016:

LIFE LINE INSTALLED ON PRACTICE PLATFORM STAND

Again, with the product of maturity and my common sense factor increasing, I install life lines on my practice platform shooting stand and my regular hunting stand. 

Safety has to be paramount when ascending and descending tree stands/platforms and Murphy's Law never sleeps, therefore one has to be tethered safely at all times from the time you exit the ground until you step back onto the ground again.  No exceptions!

I have used all types of safety devices in the past of which is documented in my hunting stories and many times, didn't use proper safety precautions, but the grace, mercy and protection provided by our Lord Jesus Christ, no accidents happened.

I have used the safety products of Hunter Safety Systems since 2014 and very pleased with their safety products.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 06-22-18.

UPDATE:  As of August 05, 2018, I have yet to install my life line on the practice platform shooting stand.  The weather for the most part has been rain, rain, rain and more rain with high temperatures to go along with all that humidity as well. 

I have been broadcasting shelled corn at my favorite hunting platform stand and have seen some sign of deer activity, but not much yet due to plenty of greenery for the deer to eat.  I need to get in gear and get the life line installed and get to shooting some practice broadheads into the 3D deer targets.

UPDATE:  I installed my life line on the practice stand this afternoon and placed a 3D deer target in preparation for getting about a month of practice in before I start bowhunting in October.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 08-24-18.

DEATH BRINGS FORTH LIFE

The past week, I observed a cluster of mushrooms growing from the remnants of a dead tree stump, whereas the stump was barely visible from the ground.

God's creation is amazing and awesome and there definitely is a spiritual parallel about death bringing forth life when one has been saved by the precious blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross for the remission of our sins, if we will only believe.  John 3:16 KJV Bible.

Above mushrooms are Chicken-of-the-woods.  View this link for additional mushroom info.  These mushrooms are editable, but have to be harvested early on and as the name implies, treated as chicken. 

There are several varieties of the chicken of the woods mushrooms and this one is the Laetiporus Cincinnatus as noted by the underside being white pored.

Hopefully, this week I will get the ole Mathews Drenalin one-cam bow out and get some practice arrows into a Deer 3D target in preparation for bow hunting next month.  The weather has been too hot and humid for me and have had others things to do.

I cooked at least one pound of the above mushrooms.  Here is a pix of them which resembles chicken for sure:

The Chicken of the woods Mushroom recipe is hyperlinked here.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 09-10-18.

SHOT A FEW PRACTICE BROADHEAD ARROWS

I finally got around to shooting ten practice broadhead arrows and all were excellent kill shot placement except one arrow that was low, but I believe would have clipped his lung and/or heart.

Here is a video clip from one of our home security cameras that tagged myself walking toward my practice platform stand.  Notice that I have on my HSS safety harness.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 09-20-18.

MORE PRACTICE ARROWS RELEASED

I shot a few more "practising" arrows into and through the 3D Deer target and a few arrows further out into the dirt on the afternoon of September 24, 2018.

I was real stiff and the bow pulled back like it was a 100 lbs instead of 60 lbs.  I attribute that to the usage of the fertilizer spreader on Saturday leaving my muscles very sore.  I need to get a spreader that will attach to my lawn tractor and work smarter not harder.

Several of the arrows released would be a marginal kill shot, but most of them were right in the center of the kill zone.  The 3D deer target vitals are shot out and I am basically shooting through the hole in the target already shot out.

The main group of the arrows shot through the 3D target is clustered up pretty good except for one that was high, but still in the kill zone.  I hope to be locked in pretty good with the next week since I plan to start hunting the first of October if the weather is cooled down some and the Lord willing of course.

I definitely would not win any tournaments with the above grouping, but I will improve.  This is only the second time I have shot my Drenalin Solo Cam since last hunting season.  Been too hot and too many irons in the fire to get any serious practice in and time is running out fast.

HARVESTED MUSHROOMS

Early this morning, I harvested several chicken of the woods mushrooms off a dead Willow Oak Tree that I cut up last year that had died near a small branch aka Culpepper Creek on our lower property.  I washed and brushed the dirt off them and let them air dry before placing in a freezer bag and then into the freezer.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 09-24-18.

PRACTICE ARROWS RELEASED 09-27-18

I had today slated for installing my life line on my hunting platform stand and getting some practice broadhead arrows released through my Deer 3D target.  Notice I said through because the vital area is shot completely out and arrows simply go through a hole in the target into the dirt bank behind the target. 

I released a broadhead arrow at a white mushroom and shot the lower edge of it.  You can see my practice shooting platform in the background with the metal tubing silo type ladder going to it and a pvc piece of sewer pipe used to hold my broadhead arrows and the pull up let down rope.  The platform is around 20 feet off the ground, however my main hunting platform is 27 feet off the ground which was required due to the steep slope of the hillside which is about 7 feet or more above the base of the metal silo type ladder.

Below is an archived pix of the view from my hunting platform stand taken in 2009:

I no longer use the EOTech Holographic archery model scope on my Drenalin bow due to an eye dominance problem and now have to close my right eye since I shoot left handed.  I have shot with both eyes open most of my hunting life and had to make the change to keep from seeing double sighting images through the scope.  That scope would allow you to shoot about 5 to 10 minutes longer in the late evening hours.  It is to my understanding EOTech doesn't manufacture the archery model holographic scope anymore due to the military demand for their regular gun models, however they do offer a model for a crossbow which is different from the above scope.  I am a big fan of the high visibility arrows since you can see the arrow placement for a split second upon impact.  I harvested many deer using the above EOTech Holographic scope on my PSE Mach6 cam bow before sawing it into pieces and several deer with the Drenalin.  I will reserve the EOTech holographic scope for a crossbow, if I ever have to resort to using one and can remember to keep one eye closed!

I currently use an IMPACT ARCHERY scope on my Drenalin, pix below:

The aiming pin on the above scope is a green fiber optic and works great!  Impact Archery no longer manufacturers the 2.5 inch outside diameter clear poly housing scope.  I am glad I have one on my backup Matthews Conquest target bow turned into a hunting bow.  It seems like about every time I find a product that I really like, they will no longer make it or modify it to go in the opposite direction.

We had a gulley wash aka frog strangler rain last evening with the temperature 76 degrees and the humidity at 86 percent per the weather prognosticators.  I was soaking wet with perspiration within a few minutes and the mosquitoes were apparently working for the Red Cross by the amount of blood they were attempting to collect. 

As evidenced by the above pix, my arrow grouping is getting much tighter with only three practice sessions.

After shooting the practice arrows, I installed my life line on my hunting platform stand and waiting for the weather to cool down to get some bow hunting in and hopefully fresh venison in the freezer.

GETTING ANTSY

I am getting real antsy ready to get some bow hunting in and checking out my hunting accessories to ascertain everything I need is in my hunting back pack safety harness.

Tomorrow, I will wash and air dry my hunting clothes in hopes of hunting starting Monday afternoon.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 09-27-18.

FIRST ARCHERY HUNT 2018

I got caught up on my yard projects and the weather is still too hot in my humble opinion for an evening archery hunt, however the morning on October 1, 2018 was around 59 degrees if my memory is correct and would be ideal for a morning hunt.  This particular hunting stand is mainly for an evening hunt until the annual rut kicks in and morning hunts are good also.

I got all my hunting gear together, back pack, bow, auxiliary 4 arrow quiver, and enough accessories and stuff in my back pack to go on a recon mission for special forces.....grin if you must!  I got on stand around 4:30 P.M. and it was at least 83 degrees and the mosquitoes were out and about locking in the blood source, but the camouflage head net kept them at bay.  They did get a few quick DNA extractions from my hands even with the thin net type gloves on.

Most first days of archery hunting is very awkward getting in the routine and habit of not making any sudden movements which can spook deer and staying focused on the various sounds that small game and birds make which can emulate an approaching deer. 

I stayed on stand until around 7:30 P.M. without seeing or hearing any deer.  My back side was telling me it was also time to get down because the comfort zone of the 4 inch thick naughyde black cushion was wearing out.....grin if you must!

It looks like hot weather is going to stay for a couple more weeks, therefore I might as well "bit the bullet" so to speak and get some hunting time in at my favorite hunting location.  Just maybe, a freezer buck or doe will give me a chance to make a good humane kill shot with fresh venison in the freezer.

It is always great to be outside enjoying the fruits of Mother Nature that God our Heavenly Father has created for us all to enjoy and give God, the Praise, Glory and Honor in all things through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 10-01-18.

BOWHUNTING UPDATE

I have bow hunted a total of nine (9) times this month and yet to hear or see a deer.  There are plenty of acorns on the ground left by Hurricane Matthew and Michael, therefore deer do not have forage for food much at all.

Coyotes are back into this area again and young deer do not stand a chance with these predators. 

The weather has been some cooler, but still hot for this time of the year.  Nevertheless, I have enjoyed being out in the woods enjoying what God has created for us and give him the Praise, Honor and Glory in all things.

Deer are not feeding on any of my broadcast shelled corn and will stay out of the area until the deer start feeding again on my offerings.  By then, the early season rut should kick in about the last week in October and hit full throttle sometime between November the 7th through the 12th per our State Biologists for our county.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 10-26-18. 

MUZZLELOADING

Our annual black powder aka muzzleloading season comes in on October 27, 2018 for the Central zone of North Carolina and looking forward to seeing that thick cloud of whitish smoke exiting the end of the muzzle of the ole antique Knight MK85 in line smoke pole which spells out fresh venison in the freezer if I do my part!

I plan to be on stand location before daybreak and hopefully the deer will be moving.  Last Saturday morning, the area sounded like a Revolutionary War battle ground with hunters testing out there muzzleloader guns.  Some sounded like a flint lock or side ignition system, however I doubt that for a fact.  Several of those muzzle reports sounded like a delayed action between the primer and the ignition of the powder.

There is a set of Leupold scope mounts, base and a Leupold 3.5 x 10 x 50mm Vari-X III scope on the ole smoke pole and it holds its point of aim.  Therefore, I rarely shoot any practice rounds through it unless I change the point of aim for the gun.  Currently the point of aim (POA) is set for 50 yards, not hunting areas where shots are much longer.

Years ago, I purchased 100 rounds of Knight 260 grain lead hollow point bullets in .50 caliber using a black sabot, whereas the bullet diameter is a .45 caliber.  However, I do not use the high compression sabots that came with the bullets because they do not group that well and are a pain to push the sabot/bullet down the barrel.  Instead, I use the MMP black sabot which give me an overall bullet sabot diameter of .508 inches.  The high compression sabots have a thicker wall and the combination with the .451 to .452 inch diameter lead doesn't group that well in this Knight MK-85 rifle.  I still have 55 of those lead bullets left.  I located one supplier that still had the bullets in stock at $ 15.99 per 20 rounds which included the black sabot, however within a week or two they were out of stock.

Thompson Center has a 240 grain lead hollow point bullet with a black sabot, of which my #1 Brother-in-Law, Douglas Pettigrew of Reidsville, NC has excellent success with that bullet sabot combination.

I am still using the original breech plug with a hot shot nipple 1/4 x 28 tpi for CCI # 11 magnum caps.  I thought one time about changing the bolt and breech plug for usage of a 209 primer, but never had any ignition problems with the Pyrodex powder or the Triple Seven, therefore shelved that thought!  I need to listen to my own self more often, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" or try to reinvent the wheel.

Muzzleloading current technology is akin to archery with speed the main objective and manufacturers keep trying to reinvent the wheel so to speak.  Bullet placement and bullet expansion is what puts venison in the freezer, not bullet speed in my humble opinion! 

Above is an archived pix of the exit hole of one of those Knight 260 grain lead bullets.  The bullet centered a rib entering and also exiting the rib cage.  You could put a hen egg through the exit hole!  There is another deer in the background hanging from the White Oak tree I nicknamed Tom Dooley!

Nothing too scientific here; soft lead expands!

Above upper pix of a Knight 260 grain lead hollow core or hollow point lead bullet that was recovered from the neck of a deer shot through the head looking more or less straight down.......excellent bullet expansion!  I used 100 grains of Triple Seven powder.  The above is an internet stock photo of the Knight bullet in .45 caliber with a sabot for .50 caliber muzzleloader.

I snapped a couple pixs of getting several quick loads ready for tomorrow.

I looked at the price of those Knight lead bullets and they were $ 9.95 for 20 rounds. 

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 10-26-18.

DOE HARVEST 10-29-18

I had a chance to hunt on 10-29-18 at one of my favorite stands.  At around 6:25 P.M., I observed a small deer enter into the feeding area and after checking close with the scope, it was a little button buck.  About 5 minutes or more later, a doe entered the area from the same direction the button buck came from.  She was very nervous and went into cover a time or two before committing to eating some of the broadcast shelled corn.  I decided to take her when I had a clear shot and the best shot was a slight quartering to me and placed the crosshairs behind her right front shoulder.  At the muzzle report, all I could see was whitish smoke and listened to see if I could hear the deer fall and/or kick, but I didn't hear a thing. 

It took a few minutes for me to gather my gear and upon arriving where the doe was standing, I noticed some pieces of lung meat scattered indicating a solid lung hit.  I tracked the deer for a good 100 yards, of which she left a fairly decent blood trail.  She was quickly field dressed and dragged out of the area.

Upon getting her back home at my skinning tree nicknamed Tom Dooley, I took a few pixs with the Canon 30D DSLR camera on a tripod.  I attempted to take some pixs at the harvest site with my ole Olympus Stylus 400 camera, but the batteries were too weak to do any picture taking.  

It gets harder and harder each year to drag deer out of the woods, but I guess that is a product of maturity taking its toll.  I am glad I can do what I can and thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for his many blessings!  I look forward to meeting Jesus in the air at the rapture, whether I am in the grave or still alive.

The boat winch and steel cable works great for hoisting up deer for a manual operation!

This doe had layers of fat as evidenced by the pix of the hind quarters above.  She is aging out in my basement game refrigerator for processing later.  I plan to grind everything except the loin aka back straps and tenderloins, vacuum seal and freeze.

The deer harvest was reported via the web.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 10-29-18.

FIRST LITTLE BUCK OF THE SEASON

I have not seen a deer at my favorite hunting platform stand since the doe deer harvest of 10-29-18 until today at about 12:45 P.M.  The small 6 point buck was observed feeding on corn and I didn't hear his silent approach......grin if you must!

I still had my muzzleloader loaded as of 10-29-18 and was hoping to get a shot at another deer and not have to waste a bullet and/or pull the bullet, of which I don't like to pull a bullet because it can deform the hollow point area of the bullet.  At 50 yards, the bullet deformation would probably not make much variation from the point of aim.

I was skeptical about using the muzzleloader since I knocked it over from a standing rest position onto the basement concrete floor (Nestea plunge), however I sighted along side of the barrel and the scope crosshairs looked ok as far as the point of aim.  This is definitely something I would never recommend, but most of my shots are around 50 yards and have some room for a good margin of error.

The heavy duplex scope crosshairs was quickly aligned on the little buck and the muzzleloader did not hesitate to fire when the light trigger was engaged, whereas the small buck dropped in his tracks.  He was slightly quartering to me and aimed a little forward on his shoulder and I believe the gun is shooting high and to the left, but will address that issue before next muzzleloading hunting season, the Lord willing of course.  Crimson colored blood was spewed about six feet from the little buck in a straight line since there was not an exit hole, only an entry hole.

I field dressed him in the woods and checked his stomach contents and he was full of shelled corn, other forage and small willow and/or water oak acorns, with the acorns being consumed whole.  

After getting the buck back home, I found the .45 caliber 260 grain hollow core lead bullet right under the skin on the opposite side behind his right shoulder when removing the hide.  The bullet cleaned his clock for sure.

I used my custom made knife for the field dressing and it worked flawless again and able to open the entire brisket which is not really necessary.

Once I got the little buck back home and hoisted him up on our White Oak tree nicknamed Tom Dooley, it was short order to get him skinned, quartered up and ready to age out in my basement game refrigerator.

Given enough time, he might have developed a decent rack, but when meat hunting, "If it is brown, it is down."  This deer will be processed by yours truly and given to our Pastor Sam Abee who enjoys consuming properly prepared venison as much as I do.  The little buck was smelling pretty strong indicating the rut must still be on.

I doubt the little antlers will make a decent knife handle, but I have been meat hunting!

I placed the quarters into plastic trash can bags and didn't close them tightly to allow some air in and placed the quartered deer in our basement game refrigerator for aging and processing later.

The soft lead Knight .45 caliber 260 grain hollow core bullet mushroomed pretty good.  I have seen them expand much more on larger deer or where the bullet contacted a rib and/or shoulder bone going in.  The ole smoke pole will be thoroughly cleaned tomorrow and stored until next hunting season; the Lord willing of course.

The deer harvest was reported via the web.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-29-18.

SMOKE POLE READY FOR NEXT SEASON

I cleaned the antiquated Knight MK-85 muzzleloader on 11-30-18 and will definitely do a sight in at 50 yards to check the point of aim (POA) before next muzzleloading season.

The inexpensive Tipton gun vise has worked out very well over the years.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-30-18.

DEBONE, SLICE AND GRIND

I deboned the little buck harvested on 10-29-18, sliced the loin aka back strap and ground the balance of the deer on 12-04-18.  The venison was placed in the basement freezer and will call Pastor Sam Abee that his early Christmas present is ready as soon as it freezes solid!

The table saw table is multi-functional for sure.  There is twenty (20) pounds plus of ground venison and should be for some good vittles.  I vacuum sealed the ground venison into 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. per package and had 14 packages.

Now, the clean up of the equipment used is about to start and be ready for another deer, hopefully that is.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 12-04-18.

TAG OUT 8 POINT BUCK 12-10-18

I got a chance to watch my favorite hunting area were I broadcast shelled corn for the deer and around 12:06 P.M. a ghost buck (unobserved approach) was observed feeding on the corn.

He was broadside at about 50 yards and as soon as the crosshairs of the Leupold 3.5 x 10 x 50mm VariX III scope settled on his shoulder, the light trigger pull on the Remington BDL .270 Win. caliber rifle was depressed without a conscience effort and the 8 point buck was down for the ten count.  I purposely held on the buck's shoulder since it has rained for the past two days and didn't want to have a long slippery drag out of the woods.

I have never owned a four wheeler and this area would require building a bridge or two to cross the creek since there are no close by suitable terrain to allow a four wheeler easy access.

I dragged the buck from the immediate feeding area and field dressed him.  I also opened his stomach and he was feeding on shelled corn and greenery, but didn't see any acorns.  I had to really exert some pressure on the little 4 inch blade knife I recently customized the handle on in order to open up the entire breastbone/brisket due to the size of the buck.  Opening up the breastbone/brisket is not necessary, but I more or less do it as a creature of habit.  You can can cut around the diaphragm, reach into the cavity toward the neck and remove the windpipe, heart, lungs, liver and all the viscera without going any further than the breastbone aka sternum.  Nevertheless, the little knife worked great!  Open this link which details my method of field dressing a deer.

The shelled corn is about depleted and time to broadcast more corn.  I am guesstimating the weight of the buck at least 150 pounds and probably more.  He apparently had been doing some serious rutting as evidenced by his backbone showing some.

After getting the buck back home and dragged to the White Oak tree nicknamed Tom Dooley, it was time to get a self portrait with the antiquated Canon 30D DSLR camera using the self timer and a small tripod.

I took a close-up pix showing the buck and the home made tiger strip camouflage pattern on the Remington BDL .270 caliber Win. rifle from the early 1980s before guns were readily available with factory camouflage patterns on them.  I camouflaged a Browning Belgium made 12 gauge auto loader the same way too......that raised some eye brows for sure along with a few comments too!

I was definitely winded by the time I got the buck dragged out.  The final leg of the drag, I could only go about 20 feet or less without stopping and getting my wind back again.  As I have stated many times of late, it gets harder and harder to do things that was once done with great ease; a product of maturity for sure.

GIVE GOD THE PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY IN ALL THINGS

I am glad for each and every day that our God allows and the opportunity to serve Him and give him the Praise, Honor and Glory in all things through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

The buck was quickly skinned, quartered up and placed in our basement game refrigerator for several days of aging and then further processing into some "beautimous" ground venison and sliced loin aka back strap and sliced tenderloins.

I found the 130 grain Sierra boattail bullet copper jacket embedded in the left shoulder and the soft point bullet did some serious damage and trauma to both shoulders, but still will render some excellent table fare after soaking in some salt water to remove excess blood.  I am still using hand loaded bullets that I loaded on August 2, 1999 and still have enough to probably last the rest of my life, the Lord willing of course!

The deer harvest was reported via the web.  I planned to pull a tape between the width of his antlers, but forgot and sawed the horns off to add to my deer horn stew pot and/or making a custom knife handle or two.  I am guessing the inside antler spread about 16 inches +-.

The above antlers will be added to my deer horn stew pot below:

DEER HORN STEW POT- PIX CIRCA 2014

We have consumed a lot of venison over the decades as evidenced by the pile of deer horns.  There are no sheds in the deer horn stew pot and I have six deer horn plaques and one mounted 11 point buck.  It is easy to ascertain that I am definitely not a trophy hunter, but belong to the "meat man hunters club", if it is brown, it is down.  However, in recent years I will let yearling deer walk...........grin if you must! 

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 12-11-18.