F-Troop Est. 1968

Friday: Polecat, Leaddog and Robba hunts local mountain in search of mules. None found. What appears to be a cell phone tower is located, and has been determined to be a treestand at the top of the hill. Who would lug a steel framed unit all the way up there, when natural stands abound? Infiltrators. Hopefully signage left at said tower will be found by owner, before said unit become property of Ftroop, before the State of New Yorks claims it first!

Saturday: Crew forced on remote hunt. Crew questions sanity of Polecat. Crew has yet another cardiac stressing walk almost to Canada. Waypoints earned for GPS units. Headlamp batteries challenged on walk out.

Sunday: Crew hunts Bunny Hill, as always, does encountered at end of hunt but must have evesdropped on crew making plans the previous night, and informed buck, who most likely went to Canada via crews Saturday route.

Friday: Polecat and Leaddog hunts ridges to the west, sign of mules increasing, no mules observed. Observed tent with chimney emitting smoke. “Interlopers” present somwhere in woods.

Saturday: Crew once again forced beyond their will to hunt far away lands, sign of mules also increases, as do signs of infiltators. Scrapes and such abound, with the infiltrator being spotted by Probie. After interrogation, it is learned that our secret backwoods hunting euphoria spot is called “Icicle Mountain”, by the interloper. How “Disneyesqe” this sounds for our favorite spot, images of duckies and bunnies swirl in our heads….. Later, Interloper then stumbles on F-troop enroute to exodus point, probably (hopefully) overhearing crew making fun of said name. Interloper again grilled, and sent on his way, hopefully to think about not returning to “STAYAWAY MOUNTAIN”, as named by Ftroop.

Sunday: Crew hunts local, then to Bunny Hill where Leaddog intercepts two does while approching his watch. Blowing does sent to notch, where others encounter said mules. As end of hunt approaches, Trailhugger heads to trail, via “backdoor” where he gets a brief visual on what appears to be not a duck, but a huge rack. No shots taken, El Mule de’ Grande goes back to notch, Ftroop retires due to end of day, vowing to return and harvest said beast.

Synopsis: The RUT is finally on!

Friday: Leaddog, Nick and Polecat hunts Hooter Ridge for mules. Polecat does his best to kick said mules off ridge, with no results. Second drive produces one fisher from the lifeless woods to Nick.

Saturday: Ftroop assualts the mountain know as “Liz”….in the rain. One doe is pushed by Muffin from his assigned target. Second drive on one of the bunny hills results in the thorough soaking of all team members. Good day to be warm and cozy in a duckblind….Team wonders of the wherabouts of Robba who was not in a duckblind.

Sunday: Beautiful sunny day, crew hunt favorite secret spot, doe meets Lindy who was in midst of admiring himself in the reflection of the water. Some scrapes now present, finally.

Synopsis: RUT IS STILL NOT “ON” IN OUR WOODS!

Friday: Leaddog and Steve hunts from northern remote access point. Polecat and Robba meets expeditionary crew in Raven’s Ridges from other remote access point. No deer, two inches of snow proves deer are somewhere else at the moment. Does encountered on Hooter Ridge at end of hunt.

Saturday: Entire crew commanded to go on forced march/hunt to favorite remote area. Mules encountered on remote mountain, and in other places. Robba and Steve accesses said area from yet another remote access point. Bears active. Bucks still appear to be on vacation. Egress made with assistance of headlamps for most.

Sunday: Day of “rest” for crew. Operation “Bunny Hill” commences. Crew pushes does from one bunny hill, several appear to sprout wings and flies off mountain. Second bunny hill results in the same.

Synopsis of Weekend Three: Lack of scrapes and rubs….NO RUT YET!

Friday: Leaddog hunts solo (recon) on Hooter Ridge Ext….nice day. Robba recons west fringe later in the day.

Saturday: Crew hunts Meadows, rain. One doe is seen. Crew admires high wind and sideways rain from camp, as all leaves depart trees in one mighty swoop.

Sunday: Crew hunts secret spot, rubs, scrapes and does abound! A return trip is planned next week!