Okay! Just got back from my friend's cabin in Vermont. Gorgeous weather, a little cool Saturday morning - 27ish degrees when we set out in the morning. And....
Got nothing, saw nothing, heard nothing.
Not even as many hunters in past years.
My friend said he saw plenty of sign, actually more than last year, but he didn't see any deer this weekend. He did find some fresh scrapes -- he thinks with the beautiful full moon on Friday night and Saturday night, the bucks probably were "active" all night and then just rested during the day.
So, now a relatively long story about this past weekend:
I did see and hear some hunters, though. After I got setup (just sitting on the ground) in the morning, shortly afterwards I heard some rustling about 50 - 60 feet away. Then I heard the rustling again, and .... BOOM! a rifle shot from that direction, sounded very close. I just froze, not wanting to attract attention from the shooter possibly looking for a followup shot (I was wearing blaze orange vest and blaze orange hat, I was very visible). I didn't hear any animal running, falling, or sounds of dying. Hmm... About 15 minutes later, I heard a guy's voice, coming directly from where I heard the rustling, talking very loudly on what must have been a cell phone. He didn't say anything about getting a kill. The only thing I can figure is that he had been setup in that brush that I heard rustling, and had an "accidental" discharge with his rifle. I never heard the guy get up to look for any kill.
After I heard him talking, then I packed up and moved up and diagonally away from him.
Then... about 2 hours later, I heard a guy moving loudly, wearing a blaze orange vest, downhill to my north about 75 yards away. He didn't seem to be making much effort to move quietly (which was VERY difficult to say the least anyways, with the amount of extremely dry leaf cover). He didn't see me, and I didn't think he was carrying a gun. Oh well.
About 45 minutes later, the same guy comes crashing up hill to my south, again sounding like a bull in a china shop. When he was about 50 yards away, he saw me, stopped for a second, then just kept on moving up hill very loudly. Again, I didn't see that he was carrying a gun.
At this point, I decide to return to the cabin for an early lunch and coffee. I meet up with my friend, and tell him my odd encounters. He did not see any other hunters, and also my son did not see any other hunters.
Next day... My friend goes up the road a little ways near where I was the previous morning. Finds a car parked on the side of the road, with various bumper stickers that most hunters would probably not have on their own vehicle.
We now think I saw an "anti-hunter"! Very exciting for me! They are not allowed, by law, to "harass" hunters, but... they can walk through the woods. They way that guy had been very noisily crashing through the woods makes us think he was an "anti".
I wish I had gotten a picture!
So, no venison to bring back, but as usual with every hunt I've been on it was interesting!