Cory and I decided to hunt Butner game lands with two other buddies of ours for the opening day of the Eastern NC Muzzleloader season. We had about an hour drive from my place in Burlington, NC to Falls Lake so we left the apartment around 4:30 a.m. and planned to meet up with the other guys around 5:45 to start heading into our spots. It was a cool morning in the upper 40's to low 50's. The cooler temperature had me excited for a couple of reasons: first, I would hopefully not be covered in sweat after the walk in to our stand location and, second, I had high hopes that it would have the deer up and moving around in the morning.
We decided that Cory would film the morning and I would film the afternoon but that we would both carry our guns just in case we got a chance to get a double on film! After a short walk in - about 15 minutes or so - we were starting to setup the climbers at the inward most point of a cove where a creek drainage comes into the lake. Cory got some good footage of our setup as well as some pictures that can be seen below. We hunted hard until about 10:30am, but we didn't see any deer. There were multiple shots however, but they were mostly on the other side of the lake from where we were hunting.
After a quick scouting trip on the way out of the woods, it was time for lunch, so to Harris Teeter we went for a sandwich and a drink. We talked over our plans for the afternoon hunt and decided to try a spot that Cory had hunted last year on the other side of the lake and taken a good buck. As we arrived to the parking area two guys were carting out a nice cow horn, which they shot earlier in the morning where we had planned on hunting. Lunch was completed and we geared up and decided to scout as we went and find a different spot since said guys said they would be back in there for the afternoon hunt.
We happened to stumble upon one of the most beautiful spots we've seen in quite some time. Of course the deer wouldn't cooperate, but if we aren't successful by the end of the season at this spot then we are doing something wrong. We found some oaks that were dropping acorns, in a good funnel area, with a water source close - all the makings for a great stand location this time of year! I setup with the camera and had to familiarize myself with all of the gadgets once again. Hopefully next time it will be a bit smoother. Cory definitely has some experience on me in the filming department! We hunted the entire afternoon from this location, unsuccessfully but confident for the next hunt in this area.
Even though we were unable to harvest a deer this past weekend it was nothing less than a great day in the woods hunting. I know it beats the heck out of sitting in my 8X8 cubicle office.
We'd love to hear from folks who were able to harvest a deer this past weekend. If you have photos or if you want to share your story let us know!
-Paul Nicolucci
After a quick scouting trip on the way out of the woods, it was time for lunch, so to Harris Teeter we went for a sandwich and a drink. We talked over our plans for the afternoon hunt and decided to try a spot that Cory had hunted last year on the other side of the lake and taken a good buck. As we arrived to the parking area two guys were carting out a nice cow horn, which they shot earlier in the morning where we had planned on hunting. Lunch was completed and we geared up and decided to scout as we went and find a different spot since said guys said they would be back in there for the afternoon hunt.
We happened to stumble upon one of the most beautiful spots we've seen in quite some time. Of course the deer wouldn't cooperate, but if we aren't successful by the end of the season at this spot then we are doing something wrong. We found some oaks that were dropping acorns, in a good funnel area, with a water source close - all the makings for a great stand location this time of year! I setup with the camera and had to familiarize myself with all of the gadgets once again. Hopefully next time it will be a bit smoother. Cory definitely has some experience on me in the filming department! We hunted the entire afternoon from this location, unsuccessfully but confident for the next hunt in this area.
Even though we were unable to harvest a deer this past weekend it was nothing less than a great day in the woods hunting. I know it beats the heck out of sitting in my 8X8 cubicle office.
We'd love to hear from folks who were able to harvest a deer this past weekend. If you have photos or if you want to share your story let us know!
-Paul Nicolucci
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