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.