Today is August 23, 2024 and getting ready for the upcoming 2024 archery season.  I have continued to broadcast shelled corn at one of my favorite hunting places throughout the year and getting antsy to say the least.  I have yet to check the POI of my crossbow to ascertain that it is still zeroed in and will do so shortly since our weather has been exceptionally cool for this time of the year and the weather prognosticators have the weather cool the rest of this week with low in the mid 50s .

Using a crossbow makes it easier to harvest deer and requires practically no prior season practice other than checking the zero of the scope point of aim, etc.  I have harvested scores of deer with traditional and compound/cam bows over the decades, but I believe the most thrill was using traditional equipment seeing the flight of your arrow and shooting instinctive watching the arrow disappear where you were looking at a specific place on the deer's vitals.

I pulled the camera SD card yesterday and observed four or five bucks at one of my feeding stations and hopefully they will return during hunting season.

I plan to set up a hunting blind next month, but will not do any serious deer hunting until October when the weather cools down.  I also plan to have our youngest Grandson Xander McKnight Gonzales crossbow hunt with me during November when the annual deer rut is getting in high gear which is usually around the mid of November.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 08-23-2024.

STAINED "SNAKE GUARD" UPPER PLATFORM 08-22-2024

I stained the upper platform "snake guard" that is inside blind to help protect it when the hunting blind is removed.  I had to build the upper platform since the shooting window on the hunting blind was too high to be able to sit down and shoot.  I should have checked the blind specifications more closely; my bad!

A snake could easily get under the outside edge of the hunting blind and get under the upper platform, therefore I sealed the open area underneath it with plywood.  I had a 4 x 4 wood block and a 2 x 4 block under each corner to give me the elevation needed. Prior to putting the plywood to seal the opening, I felt uncomfortable entering the hunting blind especially while dark.

There is a wood track to the rear of the upper platform that allows the castors of a swivel office chair to ride in and helps keep one from rolling to far to the rear.

Since my youngest Grandson wants to deer hunt with me, I have to come up with a means to secure myself a chair and/or stool preferably with a back inside the hunting blind since there is not enough room on the upper platform for such.  I will measure what room I have from the edge of the upper platform to the hunting blind side and go from there.

The portable addition to the upper platform for a chair will have to be stored in the front of the upper platform where there is adequate room.  I will have to put my thinking cap on for this project.  Hopefully I will have enough 3/4 inch plywood and some 4 x 4 material to make it happen.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 08-26-2024.

REMOVABLE PLATFORM EXTENSION

I had scrap aka unallocated wood available to construction the platform extension for myself to sit upon when Xander is in the hunting blind with me hunting deer with the crossbow.  I have two or three nails shortened and holes drilled for the nails to help secure the platform in place and easy to remove them when the platform is not used.

I installed a runner from Eastern Red Cedar onto the side of the platform deck at the proper height to allow the edge of the removable platform to be flush with the deck of the upper platform, whereas the 4 x 4 legs are the appropriate height to have the platform extension level.  I also placed a border on the portable platform extension to keep the chair from moving off the platform for safety reasons.  I will see how the platform performs when I get the hunting blind on the platform deck.

I will take a pix of the platform in place when I get the hunting blind set back up on the platform deck.

I foam brushed a coat of stain on the platform extension.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 09-13-2024.

CHECKING POI CROSSBOW

I am currently caught up on home and yard projects as of 08-26-2024 for the moment and decided to check the POI (point of impact) on the TenPoint Titan DeCock Crossbow.

With this crossbow, I started using the Executioner Black Eagle crossbow bolts and the Rage 100 grain Titanium expandable broadheads.

I had three spare Executioner Black Eagle crossbow bolts and for some reason I placed a 125 grain field point on a couple of them for testing out the crossbow; my bad for sure!  The first couple shots, the bolts were low and to the right and made some adjustments to the scope and the light bulb finally came on that I should be testing with a 100 grain field point.  I changed the field point and re-adjusted the scope for the prior adjustments that I made and shot a few more bolts to get the POI close enough at 20 and 30 yards.

Above is the set-up and target is at 20 yards.  I used a surveyors tape to measure the distance since my normal stride now is shorter than it use to be and didn't have to use a tape measure or electronic range finder.

This is the first bolt shot at 20 yards and probably should have left everything alone, grin if you must!

The above is the bolt at thirty (30) yards and close enough.  The 20 yard bolt was very close after changing the field point and re-adjusting the scope for the POI (point of impact.)   I didn't take a pix of the re-adjusted scope for the 20 yard shot.

Target at 30 yards.

The crossbow should be ready to go for deer hunting and now it is a waiting game.  Plan to put a blind up next month, but will not be hunting until October and only then when it cools down and ascertain from the StealthCam that deer are feeding some in the early morning daylight hours and before dusk dark.

I believe I crossbow hunted 14 (fourteen) times last season during October and never saw a deer during daylight hours.

I will check out the Bowtech backup crossbow point of aim and let Xander shoot it since it has a light trigger pull, whereas the TenPoint Titan has a heavy horrible trigger pull.  The Bowtech is much faster than the TenPoint Titan with a heavier 50 +- grain bolt.  You have to manually cock the Bowtech which isn't that bad, however the black shims keep working their way out of the limb pockets, but should not effect accuracy that much.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 08-26-2024.

GOT HUNTING BLIND ON THE PLATFORM

Xander and myself got the hunting blind positioned on the platform on 10-19-2024 and also checked out the upper platform extension and it worked out fine.

Xander got some trigger time in on the crossbow and should be able to place a bolt in the deer's vital area.

Now it is a waiting game and plan to hunt when muzzleloader season comes in on November 2, 2024.  The weather got much colder last week with lows in the mid to upper 30s and deer activity increased at the area I broadcast shelled corn for the deer, raccoons, squirrels and crows; grin if you must!

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 10-21-2024.

STEALTHCAM IMAGE

I need to re-set the time on the camera.

The deer crossed the small branch and came out behind a large pine tree which is twenty-three (23) yards from our blind and slowly working their way to the broadcast corn which is approximately twenty (20) yards from our hunting blind.  Xander already had the crossbow in position and the next thing I remember was hearing the sound of the crossbow string released and a heavy thud/plop sound when the crossbow bolt smacked the deer.  I looked at the time and it was 8:37 AM.  I didn't see the actual flight of the crossbow bolt, but saw the deer exiting the area.

Xander and myself exited the hunting blind and I put my back pack on which has my field dressing knife, deer drag strap and other accessories and proceeded to where he deer were standing. There was a good amount of blood; bright pink with air bubbles in it indicating a lung hit.  We continued about 10 yards and found the crossbow bolt, whereas the lighted knock was broken off and the two blades of the expandable Rage 100 grain titanium hypodermic broadhead were fully opened which is a very good sign.

Below is a pix of some of what we observed:

We followed the blood trail for approximately seventy-two (72) yards (later stepped off) and the doe crossed a very steep ditch and the blood trail was so heavy at times, a blind man might be able to follow it (figuratively speaking that is) .

I am guesstimating that the doe went 125 yards plus before she was located and the blood trail definitely went right to where she was at. 

I saw the doe first and told Xander, "yonder is your deer" and he had a big grin that Colgate toothpaste would be proud of.

I estimated the live weight of the doe around eighty pounds and she weighs more than she looks because of the position of her head being a frontal pix.  The doe was quickly field dressed after getting a pix with the ole Obamaphone ( I call all cell phones Obamaphones.)

After getting the doe back to my handing tree nicknamed Tom Dooley, I took a couple pixs to show the entry and exit hole made by the broadhead.  Afterwards, the deer harvest was registered on line under Xander's own big game tags.

ENTRY HOLE

That is about as good as you can get, whereas the exit hole indicated it was a slight quartering away shot.  The Rage expandable broadhead took out one lung and that is no doubt the reason the doe traveled as far as she did!

EXIT HOLE

That exit hole looks like it was hit with a bush axe for sure!

Xander helped skin the doe and she was quartered up and placed in several garbage bags and placed in our basement game refrigerator for aging a few days, however I use the frig for other things too.

AFTER THE DEER IS DOWN

I let the quartered up deer age until Monday morning and proceeded to de-bone the neck, hind quarters, shoulders and sliced the loin aka back strap and the tenderloins.  I vacuum sealed the sliced loin and tenderloins first.  After the deer was de-boned, I placed the meat in one of our basement chest freezers to partly freeze before grinding.

The above grinder LEM-10 made in Poland was purchased from the Sausage Maker, Inc. on 04-21-1998 and the last couple times of usage, sounds like it is about to die out on me.  I am in the process of getting a back-up one going from a geared reduction motor and Chop-Rite # 22 grinder, however the feed auger was broken and had to order a replacement and will have it turned down to fit a sprocket that has a .750 inch diameter bore.

The above grinder aka meat mincer has ground many, many deer for sure the past twenty-six (26) years!

Getting ready to place the ground venison balls into vacuum sealing bags. 

I sealed twenty-two (22) bags that had a total weight of seventeen (17) pounds.  

Xander's doe ground venison ready for the freezer.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-05-2024.

I have several short stories showing the processing process from Field Dressing Deer 101, Deer Skinning and Quartering and  Venison Chop Shop, of which are hyperlinked.

I usually take additional pixs, but failed to do so this time, whereas I guess being so trilled and exited for Xander.

Xander is the only East Coast grandson that has showed any interest in hunting and so happy that he has and that he got a deer on his first deer hunt!

I reminded Xander that deer hunting doesn't always go as it did this morning and this was truly an exceptional hunt.  For example: I hunted fourteen (14) times last year during the month of October and never saw a single deer.

In conclusion, this was a great hunt and thanks to God for his many blessings in this life and the opportunity to enjoy a small part of His creation and give Him the Praise, Honor and Glory in all things, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  It is great to be able to spend quality time with Xander and his family and look forward to the next time we can hunt together.

As I say so many times on this website at every opportunity, "Two of the Greatest Ships that ever Sailed, Friendship and Fellowship" and Xander and myself sure did sail today!

NOTE:  I picked up Xander's sister Miss Lily around 2 PM and stopped by McDonalds and got her a Happy Meal and later prepared honey baked chicken wings and rice for us.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-02-2024.

DOE WITH SMOKE POLE

On 11-09-2024, I harvested the below doe with the antiquated Knight .50 caliber muzzleloader at around 5:18 PM.  This doe and two yearlings were no doubt part of the four does that we saw earlier on 11-02-2024, of which Xander harvested one of them.

Our only grand daughter Miss Lily who is seven (7) years old wanted to go with me to retrieve the deer and I tried to persuade her not to go because I planned to field dress the doe in the woods, but she had to go, nevertheless.  I told her when I went about to field dress the deer to look the other way, of which she did.  A serious shadow from the ole Obamaphone.

She helped to winch the deer out of a deep wet weather branch.

The deer was brought back to Tom Dooley aka Dula, the deer hanging tree and she was skinned and quartered up and placed in the basement game refrigerator to process on Monday; e.g., de-bone, slice and grind, etc.

One shoulder was partly damaged by the muzzleloader bullet.  I will weight the ground venison from this doe on Monday when I process the deer.

I vacuum sealed twenty (20) pounds of ground venison.  The loin aka back strap and tenderloins were sliced and vacuum sealed.

The deer was registered on line to seal the deal!

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-11-2024.  

CROSSBOW BUCK

Today is November 16, 2024 and I have crossbow hunted a total of seven (7) times including the hunt with Xander on 11-02-2024.  Xander was not able to hunt with me this morning due to an injury to his right knee and according to one of the best times to hunt calendars, today was a very good day and the rut should be in full swing according to our State Biologists.

I got on stand around 6:31 AM and said my usual hunting prayer to keep myself safe from harm and all the hunters that are out and about and if the opportunity presents itself, to make a humane quick kill shot and be able to recover the animal.  I then settled down for a morning hunt and planned to stay until around 10ish.  Prior to getting on stand, I placed a few scent vents out that had some doe in estrus urine and one with a combination of buck and doe urine that I had collected last year or two and keep it in my basement game refrigerator with some table salt added to help preserve it.

I believe the temperature was around 39 degrees and had enough hunting clothes on to keep me comfortable.

I spotted a basket rack buck come off the hillside at 8:51 AM and I could tell by his actions that he was trying to zoom in on where the deer scent was coming from.  I slowly positioned my crossbow to where he would come out and had the safety in the off position and the buck quickly crossed the branch and came out somewhere around 25 yards and heading in my direction. 

I took a fast shot on him as he was quartered to me not knowing which direction he would take and the lighted red knock of the crossbow bolt was observed on the other side of him as he quickly exited the area.  I saw him about seventy (70) yards out as he entered into heavier cover, however I did not hear him crash and thrash.

I removed my heavier Scent Shield hunting coat, face mask, floppy hat and gloves and  put my back pack on and went to the crossbow bolt and saw good blood the full length of the bolt and the expandable Rage Hypodermic titanium broadhead was fully deployed.  I turned the red lighted knock off and proceeded to follow a very sparse blood trail, however once I got into the heavier cover, the blood trail was much heavier and located the down 5 point buck.  I looked at the time on the ole Obamaphone and it was 9:00 AM.

The crossbow bolt exited on the opposite side around the last rib and the exit hole was plugged, therefore the sparse blood trail to start with.  The buck was quickly field dressed and attached the web nylon drag strap around his neck and started the drag back to my hunting stand.  It was around 9:40 AM before I got him back home to the ole hanging tree, whereas he was skinned, quartered and placed in the basement refrigerator.

A humongous entry hole from the Rage expandable broadhead.  This buck was in full rut and smelled of buck urine for sure.

This buck will be donated to one of our Wadesboro Church of God members Bruce High who wanted some venison and glad to be able to share.  As our only Grand Daughter Miss Lily who is now seven (7) years old likes to say, "Sharing is Caring" and that is so true!

The harvest was later reported on line.

Web paged updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-16-2024.

ANOTHER CROSSBOW DEER

Today is 11-19-2024 and this will be my third (3) crossbow hunt since the harvest of the 5 point buck harvested on 11-16-2024.

Around mid-day, I put some fresh corn out at one of my favorite hunting sites and got on stand around 3:16 PM and according to one of the best times to hunt charts, 3 to 5 PM was one of the major times for today.

Some time around 5 PM or earlier, I spotted a button buck which came in and started grazing on the fresh shelled corn that was broadcast earlier.  I waited which seemed like a long time to see if anything bigger would come out, but it didn't happen.  I decided to take a broadside shot at twenty (20) yards and the red lighted LED nock went right behind his shoulder and stuck in the ground/leaves behind him.  The deer went maybe twenty yards uphill and "kicked the bucket."  I heard him crash and trash and didn't wait around but proceeded to get him out and back home as soon as possible.

He was field dressed, skinned, quartered and placed in my basement game refrigerator to age a day or two.  I doubt I will age him much at all since a young deer is some of the best eating there is; only problem, not a whole lot of meat to enjoy!

Those Rage titanium hypodermic 100 grain expandable broadheads does extensive damage as evidenced by the pixs.

The button buck harvest was registered on line.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-19-2024.

LEAVING ON A SPIRITUAL NOTE

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please take this moment to accept him by Faith into your Life, whereby Salvation will be attained.   

Ephesians 2:8 - 2:9 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Open this link about faith in the King James Bible.