I’m finishing up an 111 hour week. Starting October 24th I have 37 of the next 40 days off. I cannot wait. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I start my vacation October 25th. I was suppose to be off clear through November 14th. The 2 weekends I was scheduled to work has no coverage so they are basically forcing me to work even there is a no forced work/overtime policy. So I'll be off 16 of the next 20 days starting the 25th.
So curious about how you guys handle shooting or passing bucks? I used to shoot the first brown thing that walked by because I want the freezer full. Certainly nothing wrong with that. The older I get the more I want to let the young ones live to see what they become. At some point I knew it was okay if I let deer walk by and now actually really enjoy watching deer. I do find it interesting that it seems like people think that if a yearling has a screwy rack that it womt become anything and I do disagree with that. I at least want a deer to be 2.5 to see if it has potential. What do you guys think? Sent from my SM-G955U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
I used to be the same way. I shot any deer that walked past me. Now, after years of passing on those smaller bucks, on the 2 properties I hunt I have probably at least 10- 15 bucks 130 all the way up to nearly 200 inches. Just learned over time I fill my freezer with does and hold out for at least a 3 year old, preferably 4 year old and up. At the same time I don't restrict myself to the point where I can't enjoy hunting. I know so many guys that are miserable cause they haven't shot a buck in years cause they have such a high standard. Like if it's not a booner, I'm not shooting it. Now get real. How many of us hunters, even if you have monstrous deer on your property get an opportunity at those monsters? Very few of us get opportunities like that every year. If I kill a 130 inch buck on my property, knowing there is a 200 inch buck on my property, I'm fine with that. Now, would I want that 200 incher? Of course. But I'm not going to base my life on killing that 200 inch buck.
Here's a story on my grandsons first deer. We got to the stand about 6:30. We are sitting in the stand and could hear a few deer moving around in the dark. This was my grandsons first morning deer hunt ever. So, just as it's getting light he tells me he's tired. I told him now is prime time. Just like your evening hunts. Just before dark in the evening and just as it gets light in the morning. So it's about 7:15 and I saw 2 does in the grassy area walking down our way. The one doe was huge and the other was a nice size 1 1/2 year old. I did a fawn bleat and both of them stopped in their tracks. After about a minute the bigger doe continued on but the younger one turned and walked towards us. He said he wants to wait on the bigger one and I told him she isn't coming and this is a nice doe. Well the closer she got he was shaking anyways. She quickly got into range and he asked if he could shoot. I said not yet. It was 7:20 and he let the arrow fly. He only heard me say yet and thought I said yes. I wanted him to was cause she was a a pretty bad quartering to angle and I knew to make that shot he would have to be real right on that shoulder. When he shot, that doe probably did the highest jump whirl kick I have ever seen. I knew that was a good sign but I was still concerned about the angle. We got down and found the arrow. It had very little blood but it had that greenish reddish look. Another bad sign. Still I thought if he caught one lung it went through the gut last so I had hopes. We did look for blood and he found a drop where she went in the woods. I told him we need to give this deer some time and we are going back to the stand for 1 and a 1/2 hours. Said we'll get after her at 9. So it's 9 o'clock and we start the tracking job. We went to that drop of blood and I had him stand there as I looked for the next drop. I was still concerned because of the shot angle. About 20 feet later I found a drop about a 1/4 inch big so I said come on up here. Then I walked a couple more feet and found a couple drops. Then it was like a faucet turned on and I was now confident this doe was dead. Since the blood trail opened up I had him take the lead. I suddenly saw her laying about 15 yards up ahead. I told him to stop. He says why? I say look up! He jumps in the air, let's out a little yell and runs to her. There was no stopping him at that point. These are the moments we live for. The rest is history. I put videos on my Instagram page of the tracking job. If you want to check them out, I am manofthefall on Instagram. Now he's like when are we going again? I want to shoot a buck really bad. I think I'll be taking him either Monday or Tuesday evening.
After I killed my first buck I never had the urge to shoot one like that again, always looking to kill a mature buck, easier said then done though obviously. I’ve passed ALOT of deer in my life, always having a camera with me makes it very enjoyable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Speaking of passing bucks...just had one of our stud 2.5 yr olds walk by at 22 yards. Good luck surviving this year buddy! Sent from my SM-G955U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
If she’s indeed dead that gives us 338 correct? Good enough for 2nd place at the moment!!! (Of course the scorecard hasn’t been updated for a bit). Hopefully I can get a doe down once i finally get out in the woods to pad our stats some more. As team captain I feel obligated to remind you all we need everyone who’s legally able to take a doe, will give us a huge boost in score. Great job guys!!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I just put an absolute smackdown on a coyote!! Sent from my SM-G955U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Yes, second place going by current scores. Of course other teams scores aren't updated either so it may not be second but we sure moved up this weekend!!!!!
