Season Highlights of 2015

Hey everyone, does anyone have pictures or highlights from this bow season they would like to share? For me, I lost the blood trail on a doe but had no success on deer after that, I enjoyed the season anyhow! Merry Christmas everyone!

 

This was one of my worst seasons to date. I had more No-Deer sighting hunts this year than in my whole hunting career before this season. Two encounters with a nice 140 buck and a giant around 160. Couldn't get it done. I managed to take out a couple predators and I did have chances to kill young deer and does but decided not to. With all that and being my worst year bow hunting I still had a BLAST. I thank God for giving us his creation to enjoy. It's pretty cool to think that in my worst season of hunting I still learned ALOT.

 

Highlights of my season were that I had more shooter bucks in bow range in a week than I have in the last five years combined. The disappointment was that I couldn't get a shot at any of them for different reasons. I also had a coyote at 7 yards and couldn't get my bow drawn in time to get a shot. So for me it was a no shoot year...until I killed two late season does. :D I hope others contribute to this thread as I'm sure there were a lot of interesting stories that unfolded throughout the season.

 

I had a good season so far. I am still learning the 10,000 acre tract of public land I'm on. I found 2 very important missing pieces to the puzzle this year. with these two spots I am confident next year my luck will change. every year I move forward with my hunting knowledge and that is most important. I also learned where there deer are at certain times of the season and I am now preparing myself to move with the changes next year.

 

I spent more time laying out the camo and doing all the scent free washing then I did hunting this season. I was only able to make it out for 1 hunt this year, going to change it up next season and hunt later.

 

I had one of the best seasons ever! started the season off with my wife getting her first deer ever with a bow, she is now addicted!! I harvested a mid 140 class buck and a doe! To top the season off got a new no cam for Christmas, awesome season enjoying gods creations!!! TRULY BLESSED!!!!!

 

Had some monsters come on to the property, missed a shot at a 130 class 8 on a stupid mistake, shot 4 archery does, got to hunt more days and saw more deer than any other year and had a ton of fun. This buck was on the property and found dead on the neighbors. Got to see him once

 

The season started pretty slow for me with zero deer sightings for the first 4-5 sits. It began to pick up a little about the 10th of Oct. Because of what I had been seeing on my cameras, the reduction of antlerless permits, and the hunt report I receive every year, I decided early on I probably wouldn't be shooting any does. I began to see regular buck activity after the 20th of Oct. but they were all pretty small. I took the first two weeks of November off and passed many smaller bucks and all the does I encountered. On the 11th of November I was in my stand when I noticed a big set of antlers about 80yds from where I was sitting. I immediately grabbed my bow and got ready. The buck came into a clearing and began sniffing around on the ground. I blew the grunt call at him and he looked my way but didn't come to me. This went on fro about 10 minutes and several times he started to go back the way he came. When he would do that I would get on the call again and he would stop and act like he was going to come to me but each time he started back the way he came. The fourth time he started walking away, all I could see was his hind quarters and thought for sure he was leaving for good. I blew the call one more time and this time his whole body turned and he started towards me. My heart was racing as hew closed the distance and I knew he was mine. He comes to within 25yds and turns broadside with his head behind a tree. I said to myself as I drew the bow, "dude, you are going home with me in the truck today!" It was then that "IT" happened. When I drew my bow and my hand came back to my face, my glasses completely, and I mean completely fogged! I could not see anything but the outline of the deer. He stood there as I shook my head back and forth trying to get the air moving across them in hopes of clearing the lenses, but to no avail. He trotted off towards a doe bedding area that I knew existed about 200 yards from my stand. I figured he would go check out the bedding area and return, which he did about 40 minutes later but he never came close enough for a shot. To say I was disappointed would be a huge understatement. He was an 8pt that looked like he would go about 145, which is a whole lotta 8. I knew that was probably my big opportunity for the season. I hunted several times after that, including opening day of firearms but didn't see him again. This was the second largest deer I've ever had a legitimate chance at. I think I got his pic a few days later on one of my cams but it was too blurry to really tell for sure. I have lots of mixed emotions about this year but at least I was there to see this great buck. On the positive side, my brother-in-law, who is also my hunting partner killed the biggest buck of his life on opening day of firearms. We are estimating his buck at 6yrs old and it had 15 scoreable points. Here's a pic of him and his buck.




Blessings........Pastorjim

 

Well, my season started with my "go to" white oaks not giving up any acorns (next year), then I took off work the last week of Oct thinking I'll catch the seeking/chasing phase. I set up where I had pics of a decent 8pt, but after 6 dark to dark hunts, I could count the number of deer I saw on one hand! What rut??? The 8pt never showed that week.

First week of Nov I got numerous pics of a really neat 10pt non-typical, but on that day (Nov 7) I was in my other stand! So, I started hunting this set the second week of Nov and still saw very few deer. But, on the 11th I did have that 8pt tending a doe, but they were too far out! He came as close as 40yrds, but that was it. At this point I'm convinced this is probably my worst season, deer sighting wise.

Then, on Nov 14 (Sat) I decide to do ONE LAST dark to dark hunt for the season. I go to the spot where the non-typical was hanging. It was quite dark going in, as it was a new moon phase (no moon) that week, but I'm still good without a light. I'm maybe 50yrds from my tree when I hear 2 deer spook just yards from me. I was able to get that close to them without detection because of damp ground, wind, and complete darkness. I thought it was odd that they went in opposite directions. I continue to my stand, get set up, and wait the hour for first light. This is when I was thinking the deer I spooked might have been a buck with a doe?

The awesome sunrise is just getting above the treeline, so I decide to take a pic. I put the cam back in my pocket and maybe 3-4 mins later I see a doe moving quickly through the thick stuff to my left, but ahead of me. I'm certain she has a buck on her tail. Instead of continuing from left to right, she makes a turn (your season can change in SECONDS!) right at me!! Sure enough, there's a buck chasing her. I let her get right past me and that buck stops right in front of me!!! He's focused on her, BUT, he looks right up at me!! I'm like WTF? I'm 25' up, with a good WSW wind! Then he focuses back on her. That's when I put a stop to his lady chasing. lol

After a half hour I start on the trail, which took me through stuff that forced me to my hands and knees, literally. The trail started slowly because of no exit, but after a while it was perfuse! As I'm finally walking towards my buck, I realize it's not just an 8pt like I thought, It's the non-typical I got numerous pics of!! What started out as one of my worst seasons, ended up being one of my very best. Pics are on my "I got one of my trail cam bucks" thread. I can't post new pics.

 

I had a pretty great season. I got my biggest bow buck 165" mark.(still waiting to get him back to score him) and I shot a nice doe. I saw a lot of nice bucks and a couple monsters. I didn't get the big one I was after but I'm more than happy with my buck and season!

 

Jim I cant believe you shot that little thing! Congrats buddy!

 

I have never seen a piebald in the wild and this year I saw one twice. I saw her the last day of archery and again on the first day of rifle.

 

Thanks for all the replies and pics, found a property by my grandmother's with lots of monster buck sign and will hopefully get permission to hunt it next year! But all i shot this year was a doe I lost, a coon and some squirrels with a recurve...(great target practice.) This year I got a compound, and hopefully I'll harvest my first bow gobbler! Keep the stories and pics coming!!

 

Great stories and pictures all.

 

I did put down 5 antlerless deer this bow season! I hit probably 130" 8 point, my biggest buck to date. Jumped him twice, never found him after a nearly 3 day track job~! Still have a month to go here on Long Island, so hopefully a buck strolls past!