The Lonely Hunter

[JimH]

Well I spent 2.5 hours hiking in the pine grove today. The first time ever attempting to officially "go hunting." I've plinked a few varmints in my youth but now I actually have a license and a decent airgun. I probably should have worn my snowshoes but it was mostly hard crust. 2.5 hours and I didn't see a single animal. Not a bird, no squirrel nor hare - lots of tracks though. What's the best time to be out? These are the same woods I snow shoe for fun and I always see critters. I'm staring at 3 -4 squirrels in my backyard right now. But is was still good to get out for a hike. I bring my GPS and make a big loop - same sort of hike I do all the time, just now I have a mission, yet today I failed. Next time.....

[longislandhunter]

I've been having that kind of experience regularly for the past couple of weeks.  I enter the woods and see squirrel and rabbit sign all over the place but the critters that made em are nowhere to be found....   This is a common experience during the cold of winter, but hang in there and keep hitting those woods.... sooner or later you'll have a close encounter with those nutters  

The important thing is that you were out enjoying and communing with mother nature..... that's the true experience  

Jeff

[dk1677]

Yup, that's the way it goes some times, many's the time I went out when I was young and walked the woods with out a creature in sight but its good to get out in nature. Better luck next time!

[shadow]

I like to get out before sunrise if the temp's are above the teen's more critters will move about then. Nutters usually will do a early morning run for food then back to the den then back out in the afternoon till dusk to get the late snack. I've found that getting out there before their up work's best for me. I'll decide on a area to hold up in around some downed timber or brush then wait for them to rise and shine. It can be a chilly wait when your not moving so bundle up and there are times when I'm held up in one spot and see em moving off in the distance with to many obstructions in the way. I've had Chipper's, chickadee's come in real close when I'm hid in a natural hide and I've seen more critter's when laying low, the sound of someone moving through the crunchy snow just makes the nutters lay low. :0 Ed

[Bogey]

Shadow is right on the money.   Go out real early.  Before the critters wake up.   Hide.  Freeze half to death.  Then go home.  And maybe during your time in the woods you will have seen/heard some critters.

Like the man said," If is was easy it would be called shopping".

And depending the time of year add to freezing,  being roasted, or rained on.

[jake]

that stinks you didnt see anything, the squirrels and critters around me like to come out at dawn, then they go back into there dens and sleep. so i would say around 7:00 AM you should go out there

[1377x]

you win some you lose some
around here 8am-11am seem to be pime activity hours

[atchman2]

I had that same experience the other day.  My mistake was going in the middle of the day during lunch.  Saw plenty of hickory nut trees and shells everywhere.  There just has to be squirrels around these.  

What I was stunned to find were Deer tracks!  Were I was hunting was a new subdivision that is being built.  Wish I had known this a month ago; I might have gotten to bow hunt.

[gamo2hammerli]

A few years back I was into backpacking.....went out solo for a little over 6 times.  Great scenery and saw some birds flying in the distance....never saw a single critter near me heh heh.  Did hear one, one time I was getting out of my tent....I think it was a groundhog.  Better luck with your hunting next time....maybe it's better to get into the woods and sit and wait.....like Longislandhunter and Shadow (They're the pros in airgun hunting).

[atchman2]

Dang I"m getting old!  I went out again today as the "Lonely Hunter".  It proved to me two things a) I need to get up earlier and just go. b) I need to do a little more walking to keep in shape!  The hills of TN are kicking my rear.

[JimH]

OK, after two days in a row of spending a few hours each in the woods late in the day and seeing lots of tracks but no critters, I decided to take a bit of advice and try going out in the morning. My wife was surprised to see me up before 9AM - she still thinks I've lost a screw with this hunting fling. Anyway, I know 9AM is not early but for me being a night shift guy, it's pretty early...lol. But not early enough I guess.

Still no critters but I did come across an interesting kill zone. Within 20 feet of an area with lots of coyote prints (at least that's my guess) I found two relatively fresh carcasses. Not sure if these sort of images are of interest here - let me know if I'm violating any forum protocol.  

Not sure what these guys are. From the paws it looks a bit raccoon like in color.

Food supply must be pretty good because I see a lot of meat left on these bones.

In the center of the mayhem was a small den looking hole and there peeking out at me was this sorry little guy.

Looks maybe like a pup that didn't make it? or perhaps just another kill that they drug down this hole?

Any thoughts?

[Bogey]

Well Jim,  just hoping you ain't hunting in the "Pet Sematary".      Yikes.

[longislandhunter]

I'd go with a raccoon as my guess also.  

Even though you didn't find any critters looks like you had a great time in the woods.  Finds that den and the carcass are cool    I enjoyed the post very much  

Jeff

[JimH]

While I don't own any great tract of land (yet) I'm blessed with with the Three Rivers state wildlife management area adjacent to my development:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27383.html

I can just walk right in. I heard some guys taking shots in the distance so either they were getting bored or they found what I was looking for.

[longislandhunter]

That's great that you have that tract of land available, a virtual public gold mine  

Jeff