Hunter’s patience rewarded
Joining a deer lease late last summer, I enjoyed a productive season despite little time to prepare. Much credit goes to friend Billy Amos for showing me several areas that he was confident deer would be plentiful, helping me fill my tags with time to spare.
It would be ludicrous to abandon two productive spots, although I have had ample time to pinpoint exactly where I should put my stands. Although hardly moving my stands, I situated them to provide better sight lines. I suspect that my odds of success perhaps tripled upon extending my original shooting lanes. Cutting new lanes will allow me to see in directions bordered in undergrowth last winter.
Two new box stands would certainly prove welcome on rainy days. And that the deer could see or wind me as easily likely would prove advantageous.
Finishing months before the season started, I left matters up to Father Time. The change of scenery would alarm the deer, but with luck they would grow accustomed to the structures and clearings, eventually returning to familiar patterns before the season was declared under way.
Waiting a few weeks before returning to my new stands, I loaded fresh batteries in my game cameras and struck out into the chigger-infested forest, anxiously hanging the devices on the sides of trees along the edge of the new clearing.
Returning a week later, I wasn’t overly surprised to see that a few photos were of squirrels. But upon checking them again, I grew a little concerned. I expected a few shots of a doe and her fawns and possibly a couple of yearlings, but to no avail. Tossing and turning that night, I knew that I wouldn’t rest until devising a plausible game plan.
Then it hit me. Although a wet summer had left the forest bountiful with natural food, I would simply entice any nearby whitetails to step in front of my cameras with a little corn.
Arriving at the lease bright and early the next morning, I slung a bag of feed over my shoulder and marched directly to my stands, spreading golden nuggets on the ground. Though disappointed upon experiencing a dry run the first time, I noticed a glimmer of hope on my second visit. As the season nears, whitetail photos are becoming more consistent.
As I see it, this could be another bumper season. But regardless of how much success lies ahead, I’ll always look back and laugh at how I could have avoided several sleepless nights by being a little more patient.