Got this ten-point yesterday with one hour left in the day. The hard part was missing a buck right before sunrise and spending all day rehashing and thinking through why I missed.
Well, looks like I wasted a lot of time. I allowed a LOT of does walk over the past few weeks. I was allowing them to get comfortable, hoping that they'd bring in a buck or two once the rut got started. It's pretty much in as of last week. Now they're all gone. All except for two yearlings that I've been watching since the summer months when they had their spots. They showed up on my camera last night, but other than them, I haven't seen much else the past few days. Turns out I've got someone running dogs in the woods behind my property, so I'm sure they scooped up anything that was dumb enough to stick around. I'm hoping they didn't end up with everything in the woods and some end up coming back once they pressure settles down. I had a little cowhorn spike that I was going to let walk and grow another year to see how he turns out with some age. I'm almost positive he's been harvested.
Unfortunately that's the price you pay looking for that perfect buck. I passed so many deer this weekend. One real nice eight point, but he needs a year or two more to grow. But it sucks knowing even though I let him walk to get bigger, he very well could not make it to next year anyhow. But it's worth it to try and make each year better. I'm sure once all the commotion settles down they'll be back around.
I hope so. I saw my mamma doe and her two little yearlings today. The dogs were back in the woods, but a little further down towards my neighbors property. Those three does were the ones that I set on my off-limits list. I'd rather have to go buy beef from the store than take one of those three, at least until next year once they've had a chance to grow up a bit. I know some guys don't look at it that way. Once the spots are gone they're free game. But if they're young enough to still move around with their mother, I consider them and the mother off limits.
Hunted with my 13 year old nephew over the weekend and he got his first deer ever. Left my gun in the truck & had one of my most enjoyable hunts.
Knocked down my first Coues Buck this year. He's a very small 3x3. Shot was off hand with Ruger 243 @200yds.
Same hunt, and about 1/4 Mile away from where I shot my buck..., I shot this 125lb lion at 80 yards with my Rock River AR15
Meat is back on the menu! Always good to put some in the freezer and it helps when it has some bone on top of its head. Show us some pictures of that good venison steaks.
Yes sir! The meat from last night’s haul was given to my uncle who has an empty freezer and lost a doe last night. He had to fix something on my truck so I delivered an 8pt buck and butchered it out with him as payment. I got 1/2 of one of the backstraps and the head to euro mount. I have 107lbs of venison in my freezer from what I killed 2 weeks ago.. I’d say I’m set until summer!