Well guys back from Mt with no meat. Hunted hard for 6 days had some close encounters just couldn't get it done. It was warm and windy and the Bulls just weren't very vocal. Four of us went and two of my buddies killed nice Bulls. A 321" and a 265" we got the 265 on film. Gonna spend the next week with family and wait for the temps to cool down a little here. Looks like next sat will be my first day out. JLS hope the hand heals. Nick glad to hear your able to shoot. Good luck fellas Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Well fellas good and bad news (but the good kind)... Good news is the bucks are on their feet according to the recent camera pulls at the swamp property, and the food plot is getting amazing visits from does and young bucks...talking like in the morning all the way up till 10am and in the evenings doe families roll in at times as early as 2:30pm. Just awesome! The small plot has mainly MonsterRaxx brassica blend but we put in a bag of soybeans as well when we planted and some winter rye and the mix on days seems to hold them well into the morning heading back to bed and then earlier as they headed to the main food. The issue though is the spot is a tough tough one to eat wind wise, may just let it set until closer to Halloween before pushing it (The bad). More good news is this property (where RD resides) has some good bucks moving around and very killable...a clean wide 10 is shaping up to probably tempt me atleast a couple times early, not gonna lie it is a good problem to have though. Also a 110-115 inch 8-point nice 3 1/2 year old buck is going to tempt me, I just hope he never sticks around long....he's one of those that could be passed fine so long as it doesn't stick around. Will share some pics later on fellas, at my part time gig today and don't have em with me.
No luck for me on the first day. My buddy did get a nice one though, makes me feel hopeful. Sent from my XT830C
Well guys, If I don't kill one in the morning it will be the first opening weekend in 3 years that I haven't.... Sorry! Im off all next week, so maybe then. I did kill this black coyote this morning.
Next Saturday will be the first day in my neck of the woods. Will get in the morning hunt till about 11. Then back home with family the rest of the day. Need to head to Orlando early Sunday for work so an evening hunt is out of the question. I'm excited to hunt my new stand location and see what movement there is. I was reflecting on other opening day success I've had. Took one buck, missed the biggest archery buck I ever had a shot at. and missed a big spiker on year. So, out of 20+years of hunting, three chances. Never shot at a doe first day so, not sure I can recall my chance there. I'm not sure if this is good or bad however, gives me some confidence. I'm ready!
MO Bow- Still sounds like u guys had a good time even if you weren't able to connect yourself. Ty- Good to hear things are shaping up any sign of RD or the one from last year yet? Boot- That's a solid buck your buddy got, and a pretty rare black yote. You getting it mounted? p.s. Just got the text from TY congrats on the doe Pick- Hopefully you can have some luck this weekend before you take off, regardless don't sweet the early season the best time will be here before we know it. Finally was able to get a few other stands taken care of around the house and at another property I have. Yes I know nothing like waiting till the last minute but the injury set me back with them. Things look good for both places but not real sure what's around. Thursday I think I am going to hunt one of the places in the morning and see if I cant connect on a doe. Debating if I will then go to the farm and check a couple cams or just wait. If the wind stays the same as they are calling for I will be sitting the food plot with the most recent pictures of turkey foot. 20 Degree drop from today till Thursday then staying High of 60 through the weekend and lows in the low 40s at night. Pretty good weather for the opening days.
Nick - RD is doing what he did in 2013...flirting in the background of pics we suspect but not showing him self for 100% confirmation. In 2013 we didn't see him till I shot my buck October 26th....he is non-aggressive and a loner so with the clean 10 and solid young 8 taking over the northern bedding I suspect we won't see him do his thing till does get more receptive. He is at least 7 1/2 minimum so he doesn't mess around till the messin is worth it. My gut tells me we may never see eye to eye...but hey that is the awesome part of the journey. I'll probably gladly kill the clean 10 or one elsewhere....despite knowing if RD is around late season he comes in to plot. Really don't wanna eat tag soup again waiting on him...did that in 2012 and last year (2013 killed Kicks).
Its funny you say he non- aggressive and loner, also doesn't mess around until the time is right. Pretty much the same feeling I have with Turkey Foot. He just doesn't slip up and Knocking on wood has never had anything broke even with the little junk he has. Its crazy to see how different they act from deer to deer. I was pretty surprised to see him in the plot with the other bucks on that last pull. But he may have a different attitude this year who knows. I hear you on eating the tag though, Its a tough choice because your heart wants that deer so bad but then its hard swallowing that tag at the end of the year when it doesn't come together.
Typical bad news for the Swamp Property today (where RD lives) - Owner is gonna harvest corn now, oh well...the real bad news is one of his distant nephews asked to hunt again and he was given permission, was out there hanging a stand this weekend....only good news is was told no to bow season. So it is still my father and I for bow only but come gun 5 (a 6th is possible) people will be hunting this 70+/- acres..........it takes till about Christmas for the deer to move near light after that. *Praying for a bad weather gun season like no other! This cycle occurs nearly every season/year there......most of these hunters are honest to God "weekend warrior" types, and I hate using that term, and try never to call anyone that but shoe fits in this situation. Just hoping Pops and/or I tag a mature buck prior to gun season.
There is a story to those two deer this morning...lol. I will post pics of the Coyote on here later, there on my phone. I've killed 3 Coyotes this weekend...wow! Anyway, About 7:00am I'm sitting in my stand and to my left come this doe jumping 15 feet. She stops behind me at 30 yards....I ranged her...then shot. I could have bet my paycheck I missed her....I was like oh my! Within seconds of shooting I see something in the corner of my eye...its a coyote right behind her....I nocked another arrow and went hey you...it stopped...and I smoked it. I sit back down...thinking to myself, how did I miss that doe? As I sit there for about 5 minutes in sorrow. I seen another deer coming in front of me...I was like oh yeah, redemption time. I shot it at roughly 20 yards and it ran maybe 10 and fell over. I get down, go check out my newly found bacon burgers. Then go look at this 3rd coyote in 3 days. It was female which I was glad. Then I got to retrieve my arrow of the first deer that I was for sure I shot over. It's covered in blood, it all over the place. I was like no way...lol. She ran about 40 yards, I have double lunged her. I still would have bet money I shot over here cause that's what it looked like from my view.
Getting some confidence with all these kills for when that buck steps out that's for sure. Seems like a lot of people are killing yotes already this year
It was a good one Matt. Both are getting done in bacon burgers. When I got back from the processor this was in my yard...lol. It for pass cause it was mowing the lawn. Sent from my XT830C
Thanks to Real Time Pain Relief , my wrist is doing a little better ...... I'm not real sure about the sprained part though, seems like some bones are a little out of place to me. I did feel good enough to get out Saturday (and the Dr. said it would be a couple of weeks ). With having the perfect NE wind for my favorite stand, I couldn't stand the thought of not going. The morning sit was entertaining with several young bucks running all around me doing a lot of sparing. Seen several doe but wasn't interested in dragging one out just yet, that and I don't shoot doe from that stand until after my buck is down. The evening hunt got real interesting, had younger bucks and doe passing by from the moment I climbed into the stand. As light was fading, I started hearing some heavy horns doing a little sparing and as soon as they stopped, I roared. Ended up having a 3.5 year old 120ish buck charge to 30 yards. I do love calling them in but I think I'll give him another year or so.
I have a feeling with this cold front moving in for the later week and weekend a lot of people are going to be putting some deer down.
Yeah perfect storm kinda...only thing better would be some light flurries Still trying to not get discouraged about all the hunters last minute being added to the spots...but just makes me more likely to not wait till after gun season to close on a buck. I've decided and come to peace with the first buck that no doubt I'd take in late season is gonna grab an arrow from opening hour till gun season...RD would be awesome but I can't afford to keep waiting on only him.
