PURSUING THE WILD LIFE
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Pursuing the Wild Life

Archery season prep and scouting

8/17/2014

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When we reached the refuge it was already very hot and humid. Except for crazy bow hunters mid-August is not the time to be hiking and scouting. As we drove through the refuge to our scouting locations we noticed there were no other people in the refuge. I wondered in silence if that put Douglas and I at the top of the crazy bow hunter heap. Our first hike was into the Suwannee River floodplain to a small hammock. It's less a mile off the road but there is no marked trail to get there and you have to walk through the swamp and across a small creek to reach it. Once there the reward is a hammock of approximately 20 or 30 acres with mature oaks and lots of privacy.

We spent about 20 minutes in one small area of the hammock, close to the edge we entered. We set up a game camera and a GPS marked a good tree stand location then left. I don't like to spend too much time in places I intend to hunt especially within a month of the season opening.

The only excitement was an encounter Douglas had was when he saw and nearly stepped on a small rattlesnake then five or 10 minutes later he did step on the same small rattlesnake. I was about 20 or 30 feet in front of Douglas when I heard the unmistakable and very unmanly sound that he makes when startled by a snake. It is usually coupled with an equally unmanly flailing of arms and legs that is hard to describe. If you've ever seen a drunk person trying to fight or dance, you're understanding what I'm describing.

After hiking back out and making it to the truck we were wet with sweat and it was very hot under the midday sun. We drank some more water ate a granola bar and drove to our next scouting location. With the air-conditioning running at full blast, it was a pleasant 15 minute ride further into the refuge. At our next hunting area we went through the same scouting routine and located a good ambush area. The area we located was a narrow place in a hammock formed by two ponds. The ponds created a natural funnel of about 50 yards wide and there was a clear game trail with evidence of buck rubs from previous seasons. The game trail also ran somewhat east to west making ideal setup locations to take advantage of the northerly breezes typical during hunting season.

It is worth noting that no matter how dependable the wind direction may seem it often changes. Especially during archery season when the winds can turn around as the day warms, etc. The only way to mitigate variable winds is to use a climbing tree stand and climb as high as reasonable. Tree stands are a hot topic that we will discuss in greater depth in a later post. And remember on public lands there are restrictions on the installation and removal of semi-permanent tree stands making climbing tree stands more attractive, we think. Another benefit of climbing tree stands is portability. If conditions change or someone else is hunting in “your” area you can easily move on to another. A decent climbing tree stand with a comfortable safety harness is the single most important item of gear after your bow. I can’t count the number of deer and hogs that have walked right under my climber upwind and downwind with no knowledge I was above them.

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Repair notes:
  • This was a fast and relatively average to poor, bordering on redneck quality job.
  • All materials were purchased at Lowes and Home Depot.
  • Total time spent: a few hours.
  • Total cost: approx. $50.


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 A marine grade filler was applied
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Then sanding and multiple coats of cloth, resin and sanding
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Then a final light sanding and spay can / palmetto paint job

The first trip we put in near Cedar Key and worked our way up a couple creeks that would have been inaccessible in a larger boat. We found 15 or more Redfish and a couple nice trout.
Gear used:
  • ​Old 1980’s Gheenoe, classic model purchased at a garage sale for $150.
  • Trailer assembled from parts
  • Yamaha 6 hp purchased new
First Impressions:
  • ​Gheenoe’s are excellent backwater boats. Their shallow draft, excellent stability and maneuvering are boats you can take just about anywhere in relatively protected waters. And you can pull, push or paddle them if needed.
  • The Yamaha 6 hp 4 stroke is a good balance between weight, portability, economy and power. The engine is not yet fully broken in, so it hasn’t been run a full throttle but I’m guessing it will move the loaded Gheenoe between 10 and 15 mph. The 6 hp is not a speed demon but seems fast enough and in the rocky backwater creeks, speed is the last thing you need. Easy to tilt up, shallow draft, and easy pull start are more important to me. As far as fuel economy goes, I don’t know how many hours I can expect from the 3 gal. remote tank because after a two or three hours running time the gauge hadn’t budged from full.
  • The ride of the Gheenoe is great in smooth water and fair in a chop. The boat and motor are sensitive to load distribution and the loads should be adjusted to be when heading into the wind and waves to keep the boat dry. I expected and did notice some hull cavitation when in rougher water. The hull could be strengthened in some areas but I doubt I will make many hull modifications.
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Paul with a couple nice trout from the first trip
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  • Blog
    • Garage sale Gheenoe
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  • Some links of interest