Vermont Hike - Bear In The Woods

In 1983 I was introduced to a group of guys that liked hunting and fishing. We called our group "Sportsman's Fellowship". We started out hunting, fishing, and having Bible studies together. Over the years we have become the best of friends. Some of our group have come and gone because of jobs, moving, etc. but our core group hasn't changed. Our siblings were also included at a very young age and some are now adults carrying on the hunting and fishing traditions. Years ago we thought we would have a wild game dinner with bear, venison, caribou, salmon, trout, etc. Great idea but a bit unprepared when 95 guys showed up. Needless to say we ran out of everything.

We have loads of stories about our experiences in camp, in the woods, on the water, and on the ice.

Here is a true Doug story.

A few years ago there were several of us staying in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. We were scouting for deer season.

Doug decided he was going to hike to the top of Gore Mountain just north of Island Pond. I do believe there is a trail to the top that is 4 miles or so but Doug wasn't going to take the trail.

Gore Mountain is one of the highest mountains in the Northeast Kingdom at 3,330 feet. Coming from Rt. 114 (around 1350 feet) it's a steep climb. If you hike to the back side it is a bit easier but much longer.  Doug is pretty strong and in good shape.  I remember Doug helped Pam and I move to a condo. I was in the condo and heard a loud bang. It was Doug. He had taken our queen size pull out couch, mattress and all, off of the truck and proceeded to carry it on his back to the second floor by himself. He got hung up in the stairwell going through the door hence the bang.

Anyway, anyone who knows Doug will tell you he can cover more distance, rough terrain, and hills than most men in a very short amount of time. (i.e. South Rim of the Grand Canyon to Phantom Ranch and back in 6 hours.)

It was raining on the Saturday he asked me to hike Gore with him. With bad memories of past hikes and having good common sense I declined. Rain + a steep climb + a long distance + a very fast pace + average conditioning on my part + DOUG = A BAD EXPERIENCE. I dropped him off on Rt. 114 for his climb.

Doug said he hiked for a long time and stopped at one point as the rain let up. He said "I was tired!" This meant I would have been hobbling a half mile back most likely trying to get back to Rt. 114 and probably lost (pre GPS).

Because of the rain, walking was very quiet in the woods. As he stood there he heard a noise Shhhhhh ... Shhhhhhhhh ... Shhhhhh ... Shhhhhhh ... He looked around and thought "What in the world is that noise" ... Just then he caught a quick glimpse of black in the corner of his eye. He turned and saw a black bear run straight away from him crashing through the brush.

It was black bear season but it happened so fast Doug said his .44 pistol (named Bertha) never cleared his holster.

It turned out Doug stopped in the middle of a beechnut grove. Doug didn't realize it but there was a black bear up in a beechnut tree eating beechnuts.  The bear didn't see Doug, and because of the rain, the bear didn't smell Doug or hear him walking. As Doug took a break, the bear must have spotted or smelled him and became nervous. The Shhhhhhhhh ... Shhhhhhhh ... noise was the sound of the bear sliding down the tree to escape. 

I took a picture of this beechnut tree with bear claw marks on it when I was hunting.  It's one of my favorite trees in the woods.

Doug continued to the top then down again to Rt. 114. I got a call to pick him up. He was so hungry we headed straight to the store for some food.

A black bears senses are so good they typically smell or hear a person coming and move off. The odds of seeing a bear in the woods is rare. The odds of keeping up with Doug on a hike is also rare.

Hunting Adventures - 2022 - Black Bear

For the opening weekend of rifle season, we were deer hunting in Enfield at Mike's house.   For the second weekend, we headed to Moultonborough.  Mike arrived Thursday afternoon so he could take an evening stand.  I drove to Moultonborough Thursday night as I took Friday off.  I was about 10 minutes from David’s house when I realized I forgot my hunting boots. NUTS.  Rick was coming up Friday morning, so he grabbed them as he headed north. 
 
I missed the Friday morning stand with no boots.  Since I was up early, I took a couple sunrise pictures from David’s house.  One is from the bedroom window and the other is on the deck.  I took a couple drone pictures a few weeks earlier. 

Rick showed up late morning, so we ate lunch and headed out.  We decided to hunt Red Hill (aka the Sahara).  I was dropped off a half mile from Mike and started into the woods.  There was snow on the ground, and it was crunchy.  I walked a bit and found a good spot and a rock to sit on.  I was in the hardwoods and kicked out the leaves and snow so I could take a few steps without making any noise.  The sun felt good as it was cold with some wind.  I was sitting on a hill so to my left was uphill and to my right was downhill.  I felt I had several good shooting lanes.
 
Behind me, the terrain dropped down to a ravine with a stream and then up a large hill.  I sat facing southwest and would occasionally stand and turn around to face the ravine and hill northeast.  There were shooting lanes looking across to the hill if I saw or heard a deer.  I circled the rock I was sitting on from where I shot the bear.

At one point I stood, turned around, looking at that hill to the north when I saw what looked like a bear.  I raised my rifle so I could look through the scope.  It was a bear.  I put my scope on 9 power and looked again. The bear was looking right at me but was not moving.  Now, bears have an excellent sense of smell and excellent hearing.  Their eyesight is not so good.  As I faced the bear the wind was blowing at around 10 o’clock so it could not directly smell me.
 
The bear was 100 yards out.  I had a 4-inch diameter tree next to the rock so I slowly moved so I could lean up against the tree for support. 

I had a bear tag, so I aimed for the center chest, and bang … the bear went down.  It got up and started walking slowly downhill and bang … another hit.  Come to find out the bear had a den at that spot.  The first shot was 10 feet higher up and away from the den.  The bear turned and started walking parallel to the stream away from the den.  It let out 3 death moans and stopped behind a tree.  I watched for a few minutes with the only movement being the bear's head occasionally moving from one side of the tree to the other.
 
I didn’t want it to suffer so I walked down toward the ravine maybe 40 yards closer.  I used the crotch of a tree to line up another shot and bang … the bear was put down.  I circled the bear behind the tree.

I sent Mike and Rick a text.  Mike was hunting a half mile away, so I waited for him to arrive before approaching the bear.  Mike took the following short videos of the event.  Rick was a couple miles away and dropped down the get his truck and head over.

Now, field-dressing a bear is the same as a deer.  FYI … I have timed Mike field-dressing a deer in 5 minutes.  His back was sore, so he said I was on my own.  He said, “Don’t make me take off my jacket Bri!” 
 
I filled out my tag, attached it, and started to field dress the bear.  Mike poked fun at me when the only knife I had was my ESEE 6.  Yes, it has a 6-inch blade.  Very sharp but BIG.  Mike did help a bit by holding the leg of the bear but he kept saying “Don’t you cut me … Don’t you cut me with that thing!”  Hmm … Maybe I should have given him a little nick to keep him quiet!  HeHe.  Rick arrived and had a smaller buck knife I used to finish the job.
 
We used a rope and a thick branch for the drag out of the woods.  We were ¾ mile from Rick’s truck. Once we went down the ravine and up the other side it was mainly downhill.  The snow on the ground made the drag a bit easier to maneuver around the blow-downs, etc. It was 17 degrees Friday night so thankfully that kept the bear cold so the meat wouldn't go bad.

FYI … In NH you don’t go to a check station with a bear as you do with a deer.  There is a number to call on the Fish & Game website and a digital form to fill out for a bear.  A conservation officer called me and we planned a time and place to meet.
 
Saturday morning, the Conservation Officer that showed up is one that I have seen on Northwoods Law - NH.  We chatted and filled out the paperwork.  I was all set once he checked and tagged the bear.  He said it looked to be 130 pounds and said it was a nice average bear.  It would have been a bit heavier if there was more food in the woods. (No acorns or nuts in the woods this year)
 
I hunted for a few hours after the bear was checked then headed out of the woods to go to the butcher that afternoon.  On my way out, Sevey arrived and was heading into the woods.  As we talked we saw 2 bald eagles fly over us.  They were flying together a couple hundred feet up and going pretty fast.  I wished I had my camera.  

I called the butcher before I arrived.  He said he would skin the bear when I showed up so I could take the bear hyde to a taxidermist.  The Butcher told me the net weight for bear meat is around 30% of the total once field dressed, skinned, and with the fat all trimmed off.  You don’t eat bear fat and there's a lot of it!

More deer hunting Sunday morning then headed home in the afternoon.
 
Monday night I brought the bear hyde to the taxidermist to have a head and shoulder mount made.  I also got a text from the butcher saying the meat was ready. 
 
Tuesday night I headed for the butcher.  I had ordered Bear Tenderloin, sausage, and backstrap. 
 
Thursday was Thanksgiving.  Pam cooked up the turkey with all the fixings.  We had bear sausage and kielbasa in the crock pot.  I took care of the bear tenderloin on the grill.

We had Pam, Courtney, Anthony, Sophie, Megan, Matt, Jack, Kevin, Sabrina, and me for dinner.  Kate, Alex, Evie, and Ethan were in Tennessee.  We had a great family time.  I had the bear tenderloin and sausage.  Even my 10-month-old granddaughter had bear.  I went back for seconds to find it was all gone.

 
We all have so much to be thankful for …
 
Now, my hunting buddies say as we all get older, the memories will start to fade, embellishment will start, and the story will change.
 
Hmm … Lets see …

- No … No!  Fish & Game did not say it was 130lbs … they said it was 310lbs! See ...

- The bear was not 100 yards away … it was 1000 yards away!
- Because of my keen eyesight, I did not need a rifle scope. I was using iron sights.  
- Doug was on one of his crazy speed hikes up a mountain when he noticed this bear stalking him.  He panicked as the bear closed in on him.  I ran down the bear, made a Dick Butkus-like tackle, and took the bear out.
- The bear was coming at me … We pounced at the same time.  I used 3 or 4 MMA moves causing the bear to tap out.  Unfortunately, the skirmish tore up my hunting jacket thereby exposing my washboard-like stomach and my barrel-like chest.
- This bear was ready to attack a group of girl scouts on a nature hike in the mountains when I jumped in and saved the day.
- I was up in a tree with my ESEE6 knife.  As this bear came by, I dropped from the tree like JOHN RAMBO ... and had bear tenderloin for dinner.

- I was hunting with Max Michel and Jerry Miculek. (They called us the Three Amigos)  We saw the bear at the same time.  I was able to draw my pistol (Ruger Redhawk) and shoot the bear before their pistols cleared their holsters.
- I spotted the bear and slowly moved toward it.  Once close enough, I yelled, “GO AHEAD … MAKE MY DAY!”  The startled bear turned to look at me and bang.  I came up with that phrase years ago ... I think it was even used in a movie!! 

Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Hunting Adventures - 2011

Hunting season has started so I need to start writing my blog post for our 2011 Hunting Adventures.  Brian, David, Derek, Doug, Frank, James, John, Kevin, Mike, Paul, Ray, Rick, Ryan, Stephen, and Steven are all in.

Some of the guys have trail cameras.  Here are a couple trail camera pictures that are encouraging.  These are before pictures.  I would like to add the after pictures of these also ... go get em guys ...

From Ray ...

From Ryan ... 

From Stephen ...

From Doug ... "Who needs a trail camera?"

From Mike:  “I’m gonna have to get a camera so I can show you guys pics of my does and fawns.” 

From Brian: I may have to get out in the woods for the first time this year … Where’s My Spinner? 

Ray has been spending lots of time in his tree stand waiting to take a shot at the drop tine buck from his trail camera.  While he was up in his stand he had this bear come up on him.  The bear never knew he was there.  Ray doesn't hunt bears.  I was thinking Ray ... Your moose, this bear, and the drop tine all in the same year would get you in some kind of record book here in NH.  How come I don't see Doug behind the rock anymore?

Special note ... Ray and his brother were drawn for the 2011 NH Moose Lottery.  They took a moose opening weekend.  Great job Ray!

Rick and Steve to Dave's for opening weekend of muzzle loader in NH .... hunted Red Hill Saturday. Rick saw 5 coyotes, 4 at one time within 10 yards. He said he was trying to line up a one shot, two down, kill but thought it better to hold off. He was where he wanted to be and a blast from my 50 cal would have woken up the neighborhood. He said in hind sight he should have taken a least 1 out. 

Steve saw nothing but a few earlier feeding spots. Not much sign. The next morning they headed back to Red Hill and tried to cut track in the new snow.... again just a few tracks and coyotes in hot pursuit.  They said they could see where the coyote’s got the deer running, some even up hill.  About 10:15 they headed to the “L”... lot of fresh sign. Steve busted one that ran past Rick (75 yards) doing a 100 mph. Rick said he didn't see horns but at that range and speed it would have to be a record breaker for him to pick up.  Rick dogged the track ... large with dew claw visible on every stride. It ran in the opposite direction than all other sign into the wet stuff and eventually circled back.... Rick said he lost him in a wet area next to a stream where other tracks mixed.

Steve saw plenty of sign but it was obvious that they missed them.... should have gone there first thing!

On their way back to Dave's (2 o'clock) they decided to check out the top of the “L”.   Rick said as they saw 3 deer coming off the clear cut and crossing the road.  Both got out and eventually caught up with them...  4 does, no bucks. With lots of sign Rick said they would be back to that area.

On 11/2, Ray ran this moose out of his yard before she destroyed all of the grafting he had done on his trees.  He said he was about ten yards from her when she took issue with the dog barking at her.  “The hair on her back and neck went up, her ears went down, and she charged us trying to stomp the dog into the ground.  We escaped untouched”.

On11/5, Derek was in his tree stand waiting for one of his large bucks to come by and noticed off in the distance a coyote. He stood up and grab his bow off the tree, got his release locked in on his loop and watch this thing keep coming right up toward his tree. The coyote got about 15 yards from his tree in a clearing facing toward him.  Derek started squeaking so the coyote stopped and looked up at him.  It was a good shot.  Several minutes later 3 more coyotes came in.  He took 3 more shots, one hit two misses.  With no more arrows he decided to race down the tree to fetch his arrows.  He grabbed 3 arrows quickly and started back to the tree with one coyote still barking at him from about 40 yards.  The last coyote wouldn’t come any closer.  This is the first one he took at 15 yards.  Great bow shot Derek …

11/9 Stephen finished his 36 hour hunt for this 8 point (DH boys would say 7 point) old guy the wildlife biologist said was 7+ years old.  Stephen had several bow shots connect early morning on 11/7.  He and Ryan tracked the deer that day.  Continued tracking again on 11/8 and spotted it near very populated area.  They decided to back out and wait another day.  11/9 they found a couple deer beds with dried blood and there he was.  He weighed 225 lbs dressed so a heavy deer.  And to think this wasn't one of the ones you took trail camera pics of. 

Ryan said "Stephen has taken a commanding lead in the hunt for this years DH cup with this 225 lb MA Swamp Donkey."

Kevin had no school on Friday so Rick and I headed north in NH for the day.  I dropped Rick off on Red Hill.  Kevin and I went to the “L”.    We sat for an hour.  I left Kevin and headed to the cliff in the field.  I continued near the edge of the field toward the Squiggle then looped around on an ATV trail.  I made a large rectangle hoping I would see something or push something toward Kevin.  The wind was in his face so he was in a good spot.  I saw a huge rub on a run with a porcupine up in a tree.  We headed back to that area.  Kevin wanted to see the porcupine.  Wayne in Vermont eats porcupine.  Mike says it’s like Corned Beef.  With no Wayne we left the critter alone.  We sat in that area with no deer sightings.

Mid afternoon Pam headed north to pick up Kevin.  Kevin and I went to an area we call “The Landing” to hunt the swamp trail before she arrived.  Kevin took a shot at a deer and I saw 2 deer on the same trail last year.  We walked about 70 yards from the truck when Kevin said he saw an ear.  I looked and it ended up being 2 deer that someone had taken.  It looked like they were dressed, hides removed and very fresh, and a head with antlers.  We headed back to the truck and called the game warden.  The game warden told me if someone pulls in before he arrives take a plate number, drive off, call him, but do not confront.  20 minutes later 2 game wardens arrived and checked it out.  They wrote down some information at the scene including a tag number that was on one of the deer.  It was very out of the ordinary and they appreciated the call.  We ran out of time and never did make it down the swamp trail.  Pam arrived for Kevin so Rick and I headed to Vermont for opening day.

I finished the skull cap from the deer Kevin found.  I put it on our Christmas tree.  Looks good.  I do realize it is small enough, so much so, that the tree doesn’t fall over by the weight or size of the rack.  HA … Bet Derek or Ryan can’t do that …

You see … another reason why I am so selective about the deer I choose to shoot or pass up … or in this case scavenge from my son … who also scavenged … OH NO … are my hunting habits rubbing off on my son !!!  This is why I need you guys to help Kevin, and help me help Kevin, and help me, develop better hunting techniques. 

James took a 4 point with a bow in Vermont.  I took a pic of this milkweed pod as I walked the trail.  Shouldn't I be scouting or something!!

11/12 – 13 There were 7 of us at Mike’s for opening rifle.  Stephen took 2 shots at a 6 point and missed.  Stephen saw a black bear running across a ridge and took a shot.  Lost the blood trail.  Sunday he and Mike went back to continue searching but didn’t find more blood.  I had a different 6 point in my sights, gun up, safety off, looking at the stomach and back legs (front of the deer behind 2 big trees).  It turned and for a brief second I had a shot behind the right shoulder as it moved away from me.  I hesitated looking for the perfect shot.  10 feet in front of it a clean opening through the whips.  I was ready but the buck turned just before the opening and disappeared.  I never fired … NUTS … If I get skunked this year I will regret not taking that shot and will think about that til next year.  I kept hearing “It is better to shoot and miss than not shoot at all.”  We had several misses from the group and a NO SHOT on my part.  I took another stand and thought Stephen was going to push a field for me.  As I sat a very big coyote came from that direction.  Had him in my sights but didn’t shoot thinking Stephen could have pushed a deer right behind it.  30 minutes later Stephen calls on the radio back at camp.  Turns out he said he was tired and didn’t push the field so I should have shot the coyote. 

Mike saw the perfect spike close up but no 3^rd point and more doe sightings for everyone else.  Ray brought a moose roast from his New Hampshire moose for our big Saturday night dinner.

Mid week Mike spotted a 10 point on the run, took 2 shots, missed.  I would like to say I held off from shooting that 6 point last weekend for the 10 point buck but I didn’t know there was a 10 point buck in the area. 

11/16 Rick asked me about hunting with Steven and Mike in Vermont this coming weekend.  I told him I had family to pick up at the airport Friday night then off to be with family in CT for the weekend. 

Rick said “This is hunting season..... kids, wife, home, can wait! Don't you realize that this is but a moment in our busy lives... a moment to replenish our soul. To readjust, to again center and make straight the path that life so easily bends. Do you wish to walk as a blind man? If not tomorrow, then when will you answer the call and hunt. Is it next week or possibly next year? You, my friend are on a slippery slope. Make the time, follow that inner calling.... go hunting....go hunting...go.

This is our time! 

ps .... I still have to clear it with Paula.”

Steven and I headed back to hunt on 11/25.  There was 8 inches of snow on the ground from a storm.  I saw some good tracks and deer beds but I no deer.  I came out on one trail and saw boot tracks going the opposite direction from the morning.  This deer track is inside the boot track.  Right place, Wrong time ...

Steven stayed over and on 11/26 took a 5 point dressed at 92 lbs … yes 92 lbs … Mike and Lauren called it a fawn with antlers.  He ran out of bullets and was contemplating hand to hand combat to finish it off until Mike came from his stand to give him another round to finish things.

I was not there but I hope Mike closely examined the antlers.  Could they have been yet another set of screw on antlers purchased from the "DH" website?  We had a similar incident during last years’ hunting adventures.  Did you notice SMURF GLOVES Mike?

Steven’s 2012 hunting list: Carry FULL box of ammo. 

I poke fun at Steve, yet, HE GOT A BUCK.

12/1 was a big day for the group.  As I sit in my home office working I get several calls.  Ryan took a nice looking 3 point.  Derek took a big doe (112 lbs dressed) with one of his doe tags.  Stephen took 2 bucks. One was a button buck and not sure of the other.  4 deer on the same day is a record for the group.  Great job guys ... 

I hunted the following day in Moultonborough.  I jumped 3 deer but never saw them as they were in the hemlocks.  One turned and came back to me when I used a grunt call.  Still couldn't see through the trees but crashed off when I finally moved again.

Derek took this nice 7 point dressed at 145lbs.  He said it had a belly full of corn so someone in the area must have be feeding the deer.
  

Ryan has been waiting on a monster buck in one of his areas.  He said he was up early in his tree stand.  The deer were in the high grass.  When it got light all he could see was the deers breath in the cold air.  As they started to move around he counted 12 does but no bucks.  Sounds like a good spot to return to.

Ray emailed this trail camera picture of the drop tine buck taken on 12/8.  It made it through another rifle season.  Another nice buck, showed up on 12/9.  He can't believe it showed up during shooting hours.  The NH season ends on 12/15 so Ray is running out of time. 

The bucks are playing head games with Ray.  On 12/13 Ray left his morning stand to go to work.  An hour later this was taken. 

Ray didn't see either buck before the season ended.  Still a bit more time for MA hunting. 

12/14 Steven took two quick shots at a buck in MA.  Rick said "From the maestro and off we go....".  They follow what appeared to be a good blood trail and then nothing. The buck had crossed the road and what was a hunt became a typical day in the life of a DH hunter. Nothing like walking a neighborhood with a loaded weapon; kids playing, dogs barking and traffic.... a true urban experience.

Rick: Between the many arrows slung and the countless shots that have rang out, I've come to the conclusion that Steve is a terrible shot.

Brian: I didn’t see many deer in the woods so I have a possible solution.  Steve will spot them for ME and I will shoot them …

Rick: Well Brian, you and Steve would make the perfect killing machine if only braille was an option. Steve's shot so many times he now suffers permanent hearing loss and you can't see. The perfect hunting storm! 

Mike: Seriously, he’s got a problem…the acuity of this syndrome began to express itself last year, if you recall.  He needs to go to a shrink that specializes in “Buck AND Doe Fever”.

Brian: Not to sound the alarm but could he be the first human case recorded of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

Stevens reply to all of our banter: “It is better to shoot and miss than not shoot at all.”  I have one in the freezer … Do you?

12/24 I decided to take my camera and try to take some deer pics in the woods.  I had a hill in mind in MA.  I was about 200 yards down the trail going to the hill when I spotted a hunter coming toward me. He said he had 2 buddies on the hill coming toward me.  I had an orange hat.  He had a muzzle loader and was in full camo.  Hmm … I don’t hunt in MA so correct me if I’m wrong but I thought you had to wear several hundred square inches of hunter orange when hunting in MA.  I told him I may loop around on the other side which might push something to them or I may see something coming from them.  He said I was good because I had an orange hat.  I continued in another direction and ended up by a swamp with deep water around me.  I didn’t want to continue and potentially get my camera wet so I headed for the truck then to a different area.  Only a couple more days of MA hunting left then I can try again.

Ray in NH sent me another pic of the drop tine deer.  He named it “9 Ball”.  He sent more pics of the 8 point he named "Arnold".  Check out the rippling muscles.   The steroid additives in the apples are working.  Ryan’s thought it was an unbelievable deer that looks to be about 250 lbs.

We may all have some good hunting to look forward to next year if these big guys make it through the winter. 

Our group had a good year hunting even though most of these big bucks disappeared on us during hunting season. I made a collage from some of this years trail cam pics.

I didn't get a deer this year because of my "NO SHOT".  I've decided to change my strategy for attracting bucks next year by carrying apples in my pockets, using more buck lure, and wearing this hat.

Go to: "Search This Blog" at the top of my page and type in "Hunting" to see other hunting posts.

Hunting Adventures - 2009

2009 total for the group:
NH: 4
MA: 4
VT: 3

Bow: Mike took a doe in NH and a doe in VT. Ryan took a doe in MA. Ray took a 8 point in NH. Derek took a 10 point in MA. Derek took a 13 point in MA. Stephen K took a 7 point in MA.
Muzzleloader: Rick took a buck in NH. Rick took a doe in VT.
Rifle: Steven M took a 5 point in VT. Ray took a 6 point in NH.
I don't have pictures of all the deer at this point.

I am going to try to do these deer chronologically as best I can.

For opening bow, Mike took a doe in NH and a doe in VT (no pictures). Ryan took a doe in MA (no Picture).

Ray took this 8 point 128lb dressed in NH opening morning for Bow.



Rick said a deer was hit by a car up the street from him in MA. He and Steven M. went back with their bows but it hobbled off. It was a 4 point. Ryan is in a good area. Incident: Ryan decided to move his tree stand. He was in the process of taking it down when he saw a buck (10 point) staring at him. He left his bow in the car so could do nothing but throw rocks. He saw the 4 point the next morning from his tree stand but passed on it as he hopes to see that 10 point again.

Oh my word ... Derek took this bruiser 10 point with his bow. The weight was 210lbs dressed. However, the deer was so long it didn't get completely off the ground when it was weighed. The drag out of the woods took several hours. Question for Derek and Ryan ... How come it took you young bucks so long to drag that out of the woods?

Rick said: Derek's deer looks just like the buck he shot ... except his was 110 pounds lighter and only had 2 points and one antler. Other than that, virtually identical.
Mike said: "He would much rather have shot Rick's deer….. Just think of all the problems Derek has to face with a monster deer like that……
1. The tough drag out of the woods
2. People calling you all hours of the night to congratulate you while you're trying to watch Family Guy.
3. The taxidermy bills.
4. Redecorating the living room to find a place to hang it.
Us old guys could shoot deer like that but with age comes wisdom….. we know the problems big deer bring … alas one day Derek will smart’n up!!! Let’s keep pull’n the trigger on skippers!!!!!"
Rick added: "You forgot... the meat would taste like shoe leather. Not worth eating, so why kill an old guy.... to bad we can't hunt spikes in VT anymore. They're forcing us to cull these poor old bucks."

WAIT A MINUTE ... THAT'S KEVIN'S HEAD ON DEREK'S BODY ... OH NO, THAT'S DOUG'S HEAD ON DEREK'S BODY. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?


All kidding aside, congratulations Derek. That's a buck to be proud of. Derek said there is another big buck in the same area. Yea right ...

Rick took a nice buck on Red Hill during muzzleloader in NH (no picture). Hey Rick! Tell us again how your deer had spots and antlers!! Just kiddin ...

Other than youth weekend with Kevin, I have yet to get out in the woods. To much going on with visiting colleges, etc. As you can see I am living vicariously through my hunting buddies.

David and Stephen K. hunted Red Hill on opening day rifle (Wednesday) in NH. I was up at 4:00AM Thursday morning to drive to Moultonborough to join them. I arrived to find David wasn't feeling well. Stephen and I went to the "L" to hunt. I went up to Kevin's rock figuring it was a good area after seeing doe's on youth weekend. Stephen went to the landing. They left early afternoon for home while I continued to hunt. It was warm and the leaves were very crunchy. Like walking on corn flakes.

I moved around a while but didn't see much in the way of scrapes or rubs. I decided to try to find a spot and sit quietly figuring anything moving would make lots of noise.

About 1:30PM I decided to go to Red Hill and explore the area where Rick shot his buck the week before. It was a beautiful area. Several runs. There were 2 squirrels and 6 chipmunks near where I was sitting. They sure make lots of noise in crunchy leaves. I must have invaded this chipmunks rock. He decided to sit next to me for awhile. Maybe the extra set of eyes would help. At one point he sat on my boot. I'm glad he didn't try to go up my pant leg ... That could be painful. No deer ... I headed for the truck at 4:45PM.

Friday I did more walking on the "L". I saw my first rub on top with a couple scrapes. I jumped 2 deer but couldn't make out antlers. Mid afternoon I packed up and headed to Vermont for opening rifle. There should be 10 of us hunting this weekend.

When I arrived in VT late afternoon Friday there was more "Derek Talk." During the 2007 Bow season in MA he shot a big buck but didn't bring it down. He has seen the same buck on his trail camera since 2007 but hasn't had the opportunity to try again. That was until several days ago. Derek was bow hunting ... saw the buck ... and took a 20 yard shot from his tree stand. The deer ran several hundred yards through a swamp before it dropped. It's a 13 point buck. Bigger rack than the 10 point with the main beam 4 inches around but lighter at 164lbs dressed. It was his 2007 deer as it still had a broadhead in it's shoulder bone.

We were all wondering if the heavier 10 point was the father of the 13 point, or were they brothers, or cousins. We guessed they may be 5 - 7 years old. What a gene pool in that area. Derek will have both heads mounted and measured. We are thinking they wouldn't make Boone & Crocket but may make Pope & Young. Rather amazing ...

We were up early Saturday morning 11/14 and headed out. It was raining which finally made things quiet. Ryan and Derek went to the boulders. Rick and Stephen went to Sargent. Mike and I went to Gurassic Ridge. I took the east side and Mike went up top. As we drove in there were several trucks parked on the west side. Our thought was the deer would go up top where Mike was and down the east side where I was toward the swamp. No luck seeing bucks except Stephen. Stephen shot a 5 point 155lb dressed on Sargent.


We returned at dark to start our traditional big dinner on Saturday night. Rick had nice steaks going on the grill. There were 13 of us for dinner.


Ray came over from NH for dinner. He wasn't hunting this year in VT. It was great to see him and hear about his bear experience in Montana. After dinner we watched some videos of Mike and Ray from their Montana Elk hunt in October. Sounded like they had a great time. Lots of good stories.


On Monday morning, 11/16 Ray took a 6 point 170 lb dressed in NH. It was from one of his many tree stands near his house. Was it the tree stand you built with the roof on it? We should think about bear hunting in your area next year.





Steven K. was bow hunting in MA early Tuesday 11/17. A doe came down the trail and stopped near him. He took a shot and missed because of a tree obstruction. He said it was the 3rd miss with a bow this season. 30 minutes later a buck came down the same trail following the doe's scent. It actually stopped and smelled the arrow stuck in the ground from his missed shot. It took a couple steps forward and Steven took his shot. The buck ran a short distance back down the trail and stopped. He said it was looking all around trying to figure out what happened. Standing there it wobbled, then wobbled again, and fell over. This buck was 7 point 154lb dressed. He donated the deer to a local needy family. Someone came by to pick it up at 5:30PM.

Saturday, 11/21, I was up at 4:10AM to drive to Red Hill in Moultonborough. My plan was to still hunt at first light. By late morning I came across 2 large rubs on an old skidder trail. (I thought it would make a good picture with my Weatherby.) They were impressive. About 100 yards away I saw run with 4 very fresh scrapes going up the middle of this knoll. It was a good spot so I decided to sit for several hours. Behind me was a stream with another knoll. I saw a deer come down the knoll toward the stream. I couldn't see the head. I was hoping it would jump the stream and come up the run I was sitting on. No such luck. There were quite a few beechnut trees around. When black bears climb beechnut trees they often leave claw marks. Here is an example.

My GPS indicated I was almost a mile north and 250 feet higher from where I parked my truck. At 3PM I decided to find a closer place to park and an easier way back to this spot for the morning so I followed the run down hill toward the road. I hit 3 fields with houses which basically pushed me back toward the truck. Nuts.

Sunday morning, 11/22, I slept in until 4:25AM. I headed straight to the scraps through the woods and sat until late morning. Then I started up the run to see where it took me. I ended up jumping several deer but no visuals for antlers so no shot. I followed an old skidder trail which took me back toward my truck but up hill. I had to head home mid afternoon so headed down hill.

I took the road around Red Hill on my way home. I passed a boat house on Squam Lake with a nice reflection so I turned around. (The movie "On Golden Pond" was filmed on Squam Lake) I also saw a barn that looked interesting. The owner told me it was the oldest barn in Moultonborough registered with the historical society. Lower level for horses, main level, and upper level was a chicken coop.

I went back to Red Hill in NH on Friday, 12/4. My plan was to hunt my way to the top. I got to the top alright with no luck seeing deer. It was quite the little adventure. Read my "A Hunt or a Hike?" post. Rifle season in NH ended Sunday. I don't have time to go to VT muzzleloader so my season is officially over.

Rick and Stephen went to Mike's in VT for opening muzzleloader this weekend. It snowed a bit on Saturday night. Rick took a doe on 12/6.

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