Kevin in NH Deer hunting log 2015-to Present

[kevin in nh]

11/17/21 Wednesday 28 Degrees almost no wind Farm stand. Getting up 03:30 was getting old and during the long walk in I am arguing with myself about hanging it up for the year. The lack of deer on the property is starting to nag at me but the season is quickly coming to an end. Shut up and keep walking!!! I checked my mock scrape and no action. I got up in the stand and settled in at first light 06:08, a little later than I like. A buddy always texts when hes out or I do so I pull out my phone and text him but he's home burned out from hunting everyday. I start to answer and I looked to my right there is a deer standing 20 yards away! Being a lefty it should be an easy shot until he took one more step. There is a big Oak 5 yards away from me and I can't see him (still didn't know it was a buck) so he can see me but I still can't see him! I lean forward slowly and I can see a spike on one side. As I am moving around like a rookie he's had enough and bolts forward then goes left and goes in a half circle and runs up to the stone wall and stops a foot away from my mock scrape....I settled the scope on him and let a 20 gauge Barns expander fly! Boom he does the mule kick and off he goes!!! I heard him crash really hard!!! I put all my gear away, swap out the 3 sd cards and picked up his blood trail. He went only 20/25 yards and broke his shoulder hitting the tree at Mach 2! His stomach was full of grass, not an acorn or apple. He dressed 132 as a so so 6 pointer. I don't know if its my age, or my medical issues but I am beyond grateful for this little buck. I am having issues with my phone email so pictures will be later. A guy in Epping who has hunted for years and never even shot at a deer shot a 20 pointer 184 lbs!!! Later!

 

[kevin in nh]

11/20/21 Saturday 30 degrees 4 mph W Wind. Farm Stand. As in past years I have said ok I'm done after a long or tough season. Well that never happens and I soldier on. My buddy Rich has not had any luck so I offered the Farm Stand to him. I got him to the stand and I went 70 yards away to a tree seat that I have had on this rocky knob for a few years. I wasn't there 5 minutes and I didn't like this setup at all as I said if a deer picks me up Rich is screwed and sure enough a big spike....really with each spike being at least 12 inches long came down from the rock wall stand and got to within 40 yards of me and the starring contest began. He was facing me head on and no shot with the crossbow and off he went. Today it was about Rich getting his venison and even if I had backtracked the way we came in I would have bumped him. Wednesday we will try it again

 

[kevin in nh]

11/28/21 Sunday 24 Cold Degrees. 5 to 10 mph winds Farm stand. I got in a little late 06:20. At 06:50 I caught movement to my right at 60 yards. It was a basket racked 8 that may have caught me look in his direction as he looked up, then a second or so later nose back to the ground and oblivious to my grunts trailing a Doe. He never lifted his head again just staying on the trail. I heard a noise from behind and it was the landowners other son walking around with his shotgun over his shoulder. I let him get well away and then gave him 30 more minutes but no luck. Rich was supposed to gun hunt this stand, too bad he would have dropped the buck.

 

[kevin in nh]

12/15/21 Wednesday, Farm Stand, last day of Bow. 26 degrees no wind. Cold but so quiet. On stand at 06:15. I sat until 10am and didn't see anything. I swapped out the 3 sd cards and headed out.
This season I hunted when my body allowed me too. I hope to get in better shape at least walking anyway. I believe all the damn meds I am on are whats keeping me from getting any better winded.
I saw a total of 6 deer, 3 were little bucks. I am extremely grateful for the one buck I killed. On the sd cards is a video of a 200 lb beauty on 11/28/21.....walking in the exact trail I killed the 6. If any of you are also on NH Deer Hunting I have a few good videos.

 

[Xbolt]

12/15/21 Wednesday, Farm Stand, last day of Bow. 26 degrees no wind. Cold but so quiet. On stand at 06:15. I sat until 10am and didn't see anything. I swapped out the 3 sd cards and headed out.
This season I hunted when my body allowed me too. I hope to get in better shape at least walking anyway. I believe all the damn meds I am on are whats keeping me from getting any better winded.
I saw a total of 6 deer, 3 were little bucks. I am extremely grateful for the one buck I killed. On the sd cards is a video of a 200 lb beauty on 11/28/21.....walking in the exact trail I killed the 6. If any of you are also on NH Deer Hunting I have a few good videos.

Kevin have you had covid?

 

[kevin in nh]

Kevin have you had covid?

No......it has to be all the damn meds they have me on

 

[kevin in nh]

First sit of 2022 Muzzleloader opener. 10/29/22 Snowmobile stand. 28 degrees 1mph WSW wind First light 07:15 on stand 06:35
I wasn't sure how the walk in would be with all my heart issues but I took my time.
Sat until 09:30 zip!

 

[kevin in nh]

11/08/22 Tuesday the last day of muzzleloader. Farm stand on stand 06.00am. 39 degrees zero wind. Not one scrape or rub on the way in or on the way out.
Wind began to pick up around 9am which picked up considerably. Got down at 10am to swap sd cards one of the cams was sideways on the tree! It turned out to be one of the two bears on the property. Pretty decent sized one too! The videos show a lot of Doe activity midday and the last two hours before dark. Very little morning deer movement except at the rock wall stand which has been dead for the last two years. Mostly Doe with one small buck in one group of 7 and another group of 4. I just found out I have an paraesophageal hernia which cause chest pain and uncontrolled burping. I don't think any Buck will think I'm calling! The clock is ticking on the season and now this! I can't catch a break...........

 

[kevin in nh]

11/11/22 Friday Veterans Day! Snowmobile Stand on stand at 06:10 46 Degrees no wind. I sat until 09:30. There was a fresh rub 10 yards from the stand but only one nice buck on 11/1/22 at 0930 am. Thee sd cards not much other than the two bears.

 

[kevin in nh]

11/14/22 Monday Farm Stand. 34 Degrees w/10 to 20 mph winds. My buddy Rich filled his gun tag and came out to spush the property. On stand late at 06:20 and got settled in. Turkeys were gobbling with little wind until around 9 and it picked up quick.
After Rich scoured the property for 3 hours he pushed 2 lambs and nothing for sign.
This may be the last hunt on Ed's for the season as with no acorns two years in a row there was pretty much nothing to eat, and nothing to hold the Deer on the property during the winter, and nothing to bring and keep them on the property.
This is pretty sad as I have had the privilege of hunting this beautiful piece of woods for 26 years after becoming friends who treat me like family. I will try an old spot or two in town that haven't become house lots.

 

[Manch]

11/14/22 Monday Farm Stand. 34 Degrees w/10 to 20 mph winds. My buddy Rich filled his gun tag and came out to spush the property. On stand late at 06:20 and got settled in. Turkeys were gobbling with little wind until around 9 and it picked up quick.
After Rich scoured the property for 3 hours he pushed 2 lambs and nothing for sign.
This may be the last hunt on Ed's for the season as with no acorns two years in a row there was pretty much nothing to eat, and nothing to hold the Deer on the property during the winter, and nothing to bring and keep them on the property.
This is pretty sad as I have had the privilege of hunting this beautiful piece of woods for 26 years after becoming friends who treat me like family. I will try an old spot or two in town that haven't become house lots.

I am surprised at the lack of acorns - the trees in my front yard dropped buckets of them this year. I'm over near Nashua, though. Not sure what it's been like state wide. I don't recall an outbreak of gypsy moth caterpillars eating up the oak leaves or odd weather though. Any reason why there are so few year you?

 

[kevin in nh]

12/1/22 Tuesday. I decided to give it one last shot pun intended. I went in around 09:30 and still hunted for 4 hours and never saw a flag. Conditions were perfect with the leaves wet it was quiet. Well this is it for 2022 and heres praying for acorns. After 6 months I think the Docs are close to figuring out the meds. I have a little more energy after cutting out 4vmeds. Now its cataracts!

 

[kevin in nh]

The day I have dreaded for over a year took my best friend who was like a father to me. God called Ed Kelley home after 85 years. I met Ed in 1997 when I was a Lee cop after he had a heart attack. I checked in on him and we became friends going to gun shows and horse trading old .22s. I had the extreme privilage of being the only other person to hunt his property other than his son. Ed called me his other son which made me grin ear to ear. In the 26 years we were friends I would call or stop in 3 to 4 times a week. I never had to knock and would walk in and " hello in the house" and the reply was MR. KELLEY! I would reply MR. KELLEY back and head to my chair for our long talks about critters and life in general........I sure do miss those talks.........

 

[mowbizz]

The day I have dreaded for over a year took my best friend who was like a father to me. God called Ed Kelley home after 85 years. I met Ed in 1997 when I was a Lee cop after he had a heart attack. I checked in on him and we became friends going to gun shows and horse trading old .22s. I had the extreme privilage of being the only other person to hunt his property other than his son. Ed called me his other son which made me grin ear to ear. In the 26 years we were friends I would call or stop in 3 to 4 times a week. I never had to knock and would walk in and " hello in the house" and the reply was MR. KELLEY! I would reply MR. KELLEY back and head to my chair for our long talks about critters and life in general........I sure do miss those talks.........

Very sorry for your loss, Kevin.

 

[longbow]

Sorry for your loss. R.I.P. Mr. Kelley.

 

[RememberBaker]

I’m very sorry Kevin, it sounds like he was a dear friend.

 

[kevin in nh]

Thank you for the kind words.......