My hunting season

My hunting season basically revolves around the use of trail cams.  Not totally, but I use them to my advantage, primarily because I have so little time to hunt.  I frequently note dates and times of activity.  If deer are more routinely hitting my corn pile at first light, then I plan on an early hunt.  However, if I am not seeing any activity within shooting hours, then I will most likely hunt according to how the area has produced activity in the past.  I have a spot I love to hunt in the late afternoon.  It tipically shows deer (mostly doe and young bucks) just prior to dusk.  By using the images from my camera set there, I have determined the best time to enter the blind, and when the deer have been in the area.  This enables me to take advantage of the best opportunity to harvest a deer. 


I do experiment and hunt different times and locations. Especially during the rut and when other seasonal factors such as the weather are a factor.  I hunted Maryland's opening day of muzzleloader season today.  The cameras told me that activity was very low before dusk.  The weather also increased my chances of squirl watching today, with the higher temps.  I did take my son, which was the high point of the hunt.  No, deer today.


Just prior to leaving, I took the card from my Moulrie I60 camera so that I could determine if an early or late hunt was in order.  After reviewing several days photographs I discovered a change in location was the best bet.  We have had warmer weather the past several days, and my photographs have gone from plenty of buck and doe activity to a family of raccoons out for a midnight snack. 


Tomorrow I will take my daughter and a friend hunting, she and I are still discussing who shoots first.  Interestingly enough I don't even have a camera at the location I plan to hunt tomorrow.  A product of too much work I suppose, however, having been out of the area for several days is to my benefit, especially in this warm early season.