Opening Day!
Contributors to this thread:Connecticut
From: steve
31-Aug-23
So who is going opening day this year? I am , my spot is being sold so I don’t have much time. Looking to get one opening afternoon , see what happens.
From: Woodsnut
31-Aug-23
I gotta work opening day. - should be going Sunday or following weekends. Generally I only hunt the Am this time of year. Gives me time to haul out of woods etc
From: CTBobcat
31-Aug-23
I'll be hunting 9/15 weather permitting.
From: Notme
31-Aug-23
Work
From: Swamp_Donkey
31-Aug-23
I'll be out on opening day. Just not CT's. Can't wait.
From: Big Dog
31-Aug-23
Swamp, good luck. Must be some nice country up there.
From: Bwhnt
31-Aug-23
I'll be out opening day tomorrow. Fried squirrels yummmm
From: Blood
31-Aug-23
I’ll be out. Afternoon only the first week.
From: Hangnhunt
31-Aug-23
Same here afternoon sits for the week for me
From: soapdish
31-Aug-23
Not sure yet. Depends on work schedule.... which fortunately can be optional. I have this guy that keeps coming by
From: soapdish
31-Aug-23
Although this one is on my hit list.... tasty....lol
From: Brian M.
31-Aug-23
Don't know yet. Does and fawns have been in the yard daily scoffing up acorns. I love a good acorn crop.
From: CTBobcat
01-Sep-23
Hope this 10pt sticks around. next week 90 degrees plus 4 days in a row. Closest water is 300-400 yards away down a steep hill. Hope he comes back up top for 9/15!
From: Swamp_Donkey
01-Sep-23
Does anyone have bucks out of velvet yet?
From: steve
01-Sep-23
All my bucks still have velvet. One has a little piece off.
From: Bwhnt
01-Sep-23
My boy got er done. Fried squirrel coming soon. Gonna try to make a white gravy with some fresh honey mushrooms this weekend to go with it.
From: soapdish
01-Sep-23
Congrats.....tasty little buggers
From: nehunter
01-Sep-23
I'll be on my recliner watching this website waiting for someones success!
Best of luck
From: Corax_latrans
01-Sep-23
I’ll miss the CT opener…
But I won’t be missing it.
At.
ALL……
Wish me luck;)
From: Swamp_Donkey
03-Sep-23
Here's one of the megas I'm after. I took this photo from my binos so it's super blurry, but youre looking at a 150's to 160's class 10 pointer. Lots of others around that I've glassed up in the bean fields
From: Swamp_Donkey
03-Sep-23
I'm hunting at least 5 different 10's all above 140's. Hopefully, they stick around. Also... Bucks here are now out of velvet. I'd say half have shed half are still on. Just an FYI
From: steve
03-Sep-23
Today was the first buck out of velvet, all the rest still have it today.
From: Mathews68
03-Sep-23
I’d Like to shoot one in velvet
From: Swamp_Donkey
03-Sep-23
lol.
From: steve
03-Sep-23
Only shot one in velvet ! Hunting over 50 years.
From: Big Dog
04-Sep-23
Swamp, hunting five different 10's ! Yer killin' me , LOL, ...sounds like the makings of an epic season.
From: steve
04-Sep-23
Velvet buck
From: PeteO
04-Sep-23
Five 10 pointer's over 140". In CT?
From: Mathews68
04-Sep-23
How did you preserve that velvet. I have been reading some info on it. I may have a decent opportunity at 1 I am getting daily. But who knows. Haha
From: steve
04-Sep-23
The taxidermist I use Kevin , sends them out and they put on a synthetic coating. Much better than the real thing! Hard just getting it out of the woods without ruining it
From: CTBobcat
05-Sep-23
5 different 10's all above 140's? holy shit
From: steve
05-Sep-23
I have over 20 bucks none are near 140.
From: Notme
05-Sep-23
Wish I had 20 bucks let alone 140..lol
From: tobywon
05-Sep-23
Notme....you don't make any cents :)
From: Bwhnt
05-Sep-23
Soapdish is after a true CT 11 pointer.
From: Dank
08-Sep-23
I'll be out opening morning! Usually hunt mostly afternoons early season but alot of morning and mid day activity around me .
From: soapdish
08-Sep-23
I can make corn cob holders from the antlers. Way more practical....
From: Brian M.
08-Sep-23
I'll have to wait til Saturday. Have to deal with two appointments for bat issues on Friday morning. Hopefully my bat season is over by Halloween this year.
From: Wilgabeast
11-Sep-23
I’ll be out opening morning . Have some real strong patterns with two good bucks on a north- type wind . Opening morning is calling for that wind ! Going to be set up 2 hours before first light .. that’s how strong the intel was
From: Bwhnt
11-Sep-23
I might do an afternoon sit if it all falls into place with the family life. I have a great inside corner that has been producing opportunities since I started bowhunting there in 1995. Nice hay fields and big oaks in the woods. I don't even bother to scout it anymore. They will be there. Won't shoot a doe with young, or a fawn. Young buck, old buck, or dry doe and it will fly.
From: Brian M.
13-Sep-23
May have to wait til Sunday, Saturday looks like a blow out. Not sitting in a tree with 40-50 mph winds. Friday is still a no go for me.
From: steve
13-Sep-23
The patterns have been changing the last 2 days.
From: Wilgabeast
14-Sep-23
I wouldn’t really use the last two days of horrible wind and rain as a judge of if a patterns changing . Deer always do different stuff during big weather events. Like when that stud 6.5 year old buck is out in a wide open field at noon time during a blizzard feeding .
From: Wilgabeast
14-Sep-23
But on the other hand . Patterns definitely should be changing around rite now . So either way get on em tomorrow if you have em
From: Big Dog
14-Sep-23
Friday and Sunday look promising
From: steve
14-Sep-23
This is not helping
From: Big Dog
14-Sep-23
tomorrow no excuses LOL
From: soapdish
14-Sep-23
Should be a good opener with cool temps. I had a new string put on last week and haven't had time to sight it in. If I get a chance I may go in the evening. Good luck to those heading out.
From: Wilgabeast
14-Sep-23
The excitement is building . Two more hours of work. Not expecting much sleep tonight , to excited
From: 2Wild Bill
14-Sep-23
Friday heavy winds.
From: Wilgabeast
14-Sep-23
Friday morning is certainly not calling for winds … 5-8 mph out of the north north east .. real feel of 48 where I’m hunting at 7 am . Coldest morning in a month . Should be a great morning if you’ve done the homework
From: Shoot’n 12’s
14-Sep-23
Gd luck kid.
From: Blood
14-Sep-23
2WB - not tomorrow. Looking good all day - light breeze to cover movement. Saturday - not so much.
From: N8tureBoy
14-Sep-23
Will be in Maine this weekend. Good luck to all tomorrow!
From: 2Wild Bill
15-Sep-23
4:45 this morning I was on a hilltop looking for the comet and the eastern exposure was quite windy as the cloud cover moved in from that direction. I went home, downhill west of that hilltop and the breeze was less, but now, 6AM, I can barely see the ground and the wind is picking up. I expect by daylight it will be a brisk and gusty day.
Good hunting you all.
From: Big Dog
15-Sep-23
After treestand flatulence check for downward thermals.
From: UWShunter
15-Sep-23
Many squirrels this AM, that’s about it! No deer or bear. Saw acorns everywhere. Gonna be a great season. viel Glück!
From: Wayniac
18-Sep-23
I'm usually out in the am, but only got a 2 hr sit in the afternoon, so i went to a property that is typically a good evening sit. Had a nice buck at 25 yards for a while, but he was in the one spot where I don't have a shooting clear lane. He was a bit antsy with the swirling wind, but I'm pretty sure I didn't get busted. Nice start to the season.
Good luck to all - I saw some pics of some nice deer taken
From: CTBobcat
18-Sep-23
I hunted opening day Friday. Only saw one deer (a velvet spike). As it got light I noticed a brand new ladderstand 50yds from me. It was empty, but I checked it out on the way out. Corn, apples, some white bucket, etc. Is this anyone on the forum? I left my number tied to the stand so hopefully I can talk to the guy so we don’t run into each other another day. He had a spypoint cam locked to a tree so I waved thinking maybe it’s cell cam and hell come check soon. Oh and the next day got a big bear pic.
From: CTBobcat
18-Sep-23
Bear pic.
From: Blood
18-Sep-23
CT - Is that public land??
From: UWShunter
18-Sep-23
Another Bear pic.
From: Shoot’n 12’s
18-Sep-23
Is that baiting on public land? If it is good luck on meeting that guy! Hahahah. It’s illegal to bait on public land. Private only in specific zones
From: Big Dog
18-Sep-23
CT, that guy had quite a spread laid out for the deer. I could be wrong , but isn't that illegal in CT. outside of urban management areas?
From: Ace
18-Sep-23
CTBob, I'd ask the property owner who else has permission on that place. It makes sense to coordinate who is hunting where and when. If it's public land, someone is getting busted, probably best to get out of there to make sure it's not you.
From: Blood
18-Sep-23
That bait site looks like it’s for bears not deer…..
From: CTBobcat
18-Sep-23
On ONX it looks really close between private and town land. It is unit 11, so baiting is legal on private. Just not sure 100% sure it's on private, but since it's so close to where I hunt, i was hoping to talk to the guy
From: Shoot’n 12’s
18-Sep-23
Blood that would be even more illegal as there’s no bear hunting in ct.
From: Shoot’n 12’s
18-Sep-23
IF this guy is dumb enough to leave bait out on public he’s prob dumb enough not to shoot a deer over it. Also ct how did you stumble across this? Hunting? Did you cross into someone’s private land? You do realize that you need written permission to walk onto someone else property regardless if it’s posted or not. You don’t know if it’s private or public you should probably do some researching so that you’re not trespassing. There are a million different ways to find this out, some free and some you pay for. So technically I guess you are in the wrong if this is private as zone 11 I believe allows baiting and you clearly don’t have written permission to be on there. I am constantly dealing with people trespassing on a few of our farms. It’s irresponsible, irritating, and just disrespectful. Not implying you are just in general.
From: steve
18-Sep-23
why does it look like a bear site? photo a friend sent me. private zone 11
From: Blood
18-Sep-23
Lol Steve. Who puts out a 6 gallon bucket of wine juice on a tray with corn for deer?? I wonder what is in the bucket?
From: CTBobcat
18-Sep-23
Shootin 12's - according to ONX is it town/state land. I saw the stand with my binoculars and after my morning hunt I walked over. I hike/walk that town/state land all the time. It wasn't there a few days prior.
From: CTBobcat
18-Sep-23
Blood - I didn't touch anything, but my only guess was the bucket was filled with corn and tray was a gravity type feeder where it flows out onto tray? No clue. Just guessing.
From: steve
18-Sep-23
Blood grape smell with the corn ? brings them in so they find the corn. .
From: steve
18-Sep-23
Blood grape smell with the corn ? brings them in so they find the corn. .
From: Shoot’n 12’s
18-Sep-23
So it’s not private? You seemed pretty unsure. If that’s the case then he’s hunting illegally and you should notify the proper people. Enough idiots in the woods legally, we don’t need anymore.
From: Shoot’n 12’s
18-Sep-23
Hahha Steve grape wine? You guys have all the secret baiting tips and tricks! Love seeing big bucks shot over 50lbs of corn! Gets my heart pumping. I am a wine connoisseur and like corn. I’ll keep it for myself
From: Shoot’n 12’s
18-Sep-23
Although that’s a pretty ingenious way to attract them!
From: steve
18-Sep-23
cant bait Mass shootn12 ??
From: CTBobcat
18-Sep-23
The other odd thing is the bait is like literally 2-3 yards from his stand. I've never hunted over bait but shouldn't it be farther away for a shot?
From: steve
18-Sep-23
too close is no good!
From: Shoot’n 12’s
18-Sep-23
No baiting in mass. Well you can but it has to be “completely gone” 30 days before season starts I think. Plenty of ppl do it. I don’t personally. I think it’s harder to shoot over bait than non bait. Once they know it’s there along with a hunter they’ll hit it during the night time non hunting hours. Few days at start of season you can prob get lucky and shoot one but after that they’ll be locked on and Rut anything can happen. They aren’t as dumb as everyone thinks.
From: ARLOW
19-Sep-23
10 days before the season 12
From: Hangnhunt
26-Sep-23
Anybody know a deer butcher in the on the eastern shoreline area? Old saybrook haddam any area around there ?
