Gun season is over and I got nothing.  There are two bonus days later in December, but I’m not optimistic.  Deer get smarter as the season progresses. 

My second time out, I saw two does, but didn’t have a shot.  My hunting associate that day took a shot at a buck after I’d left.  He hasn’t confirmed this, but it was probably a desperation shot because he wasn’t able to recover the deer.

My third time out wasn’t a serious effort on my part.  I went primarily to hangout with my friend who owns the property.  He is a teacher, so we don’t often get a chance to do a morning hunt.

After gun season last year, I invented this hunting hat from items I had laying around.  The Walmart trapper hat hasn’t been worn for years.  I have a few extra headlamps, and the foam had deteriorated from these headphones.

 

I made it because I had parts laying around, but it was actually handy when I used it this year. 

Sound is important when hunting, but with the leaves down, if I am alert, the deer can be spotted on approach.  Especially if I’m in a tree stand.  Listening to audio books or a podcast helps me remain alert for the hours of sitting still.

When it’s raining, like it was on the third hunt, I put my hood up over the hat.  That holds the hat in place, so when I turn my head to scan, the hat remains in place as my head pivots inside.  This is helps reduce the motion observable by a deer.