Long Ridge Deer Camp

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Long Ridge Camp Scenes 2012

Three great camps were held at Long Ridge this year, all during firearms season. In all, eight hunters took deer (not all here), moose, grouse,turkeys and pheasant. No luck on elk for our lone western hunter this year. Below hunters chat and have cocktails before dinner.

Gear stowed and bunks ready below...

Many of these hunters only link up once a year at camp. There is much catching up to do and plans to make.

Below you see the grill packed to the edges with moose steaks. Grilled with a delicious coating, and then covered with sauce when served, they were delicious! Add baked potatoes, and a big salad, and it was four star. Don't forget a perfect red made this even better!

After supper stories.

This fire burns non-stop from Friday noon until Sunday dark each weekend.

Below is the current bulletin board in camp of most (not all) deer, moose and other successful hunts this fall. It has been a great season.

A picture I took of the full moon from camp.

Below is the last day this hunter and I could hunt this season. Joe took this doe at 30 yards while still hunting with his bow. Down below Walker's field, in stuff so thick we had to cut a path in and out to drag her to the rigs. I had no luck this day, and finished the season with one deer.

Another evening's repast.

Three weeks now it has been over, and I can hardly believe it!

I'll follow up with some more of the seasons pictures!

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

Friday, January 4, 2013

Long Ridge 2012 Fall Catch Up!

It's been about two months since I last posted...a busy fall with tons of fun hunting and camps giving me the chance to self sabbatical I guess.. Let's take a look at some animals about during hunting season. Eight of us took deer, plus a turkey, plus a grouse, plus a moose, and probably more! The buck below and the doe below him is 130 yards from deer camp at a tree rub. This seven pointer was taken by a Vermont camp member. He was chasing a doe, and it was a running shot. Nice.

This young man was not taken, and for that I am glad. I still like adhering to QDMA standards.

Nice fat doe, and this is my first IR camera. Not terribly impressed with IR night shots, and I note that the bucks are aware of it anyway.

Turks on my favorite stand.

Another decent guy!

Never took this guy either..

I took this doe with a muzzle loader at 35 yards. Dressed out at 125, smallish for these woods.

I was alone, so glad that daylight, a sled, and ATV were handy. We were about 3/4 miles out.

Hanging at camp.

Nice rub for a ten inch diameter tree. This was visited by multiple bucks just above camp.

Stayed tuned for posts of the three camps this season.

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

Monday, October 29, 2012

Goings On At Long Ridge Deer Camp

This is my camp bird feeder, which is quite beat up from squirrels, bears, and others. I probably should wait another month til the bears den up, but what the hey...

Geese are finally getting serious about migrating. This was a huge flock right over the farm.

Three days ago, I found this fresh rub in our very mature Christmas tree plantation. This tree is ten inches through, so the buck is likely a big one! This tree is about 150 yards from camp porch.

Friday I spent the day hunting pheasants with an old college pal. She raises and trains field dogs. After an unsuccessful hunt she wanted to train a five month old, and then freshen her 4 year old stud for a trial this week.

Above and the several below Kathy is working her pup on a quail she has placed in the near field.

The pup finds the quail and points, and Kathy moves to steady her on the bird.

When flushed, the quail flew around the bend and into a brush pile where we left it.

Below her champion male points to a chukkar in the Far Field, and I took this and the following close in picture.

If you click on this you will see the chukkar straight to the left of the dog.

So, beside a bit of bow, pheasant hunts and dog training I am feeling the itch and pull of muzzle loader to start next week. Can hardly breath!

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

LRDC Targets for the Season...

I have hardly had time this bow season to hunt, and have hit my stands exactly twice. No deer seen except ATVing out there were two does grazing in the Far Field. The other day I changed cards in the cameras, and here are some good buck shots. Mostly nocturnal, but a few day shots. Muzzle loader starts on November 3rd, and I will definitely be out there...