I hosted MKK here, yesterday. We had a good time getting to know one another....and I hope he had a good time hunting, here. Brknarrow (Frank) was also here for the AM hunt....and came back to have dinner with us. Pretty slow in the AM (we saw zilch). In the PM, he got to see "several" does....and we had a couple come into range. I wanted to let them meander his way, but the older of the two got "suirrely" and I was fighting that + the fact darkness was coming, quickly. I decided to take the shot offered, and drilled her at 11yds. Arrow looked great, but the blood trail was nearly non-existant. We thought we'd heard her crash, so we looked ahead....to no avail. We backed out. I went back this AM and tried to get on the blood trail, again. Nothing. Perplexing, to say the least. I decided to go up to where I thought she'd crashed....and if we'd have walked 20 more yds last night, we'd have found her. No biggie. She's in the cooler, now. What a remarkable 1st trad. season. 4 does down, and my 1st trad. buck, to boot. I'm sure it'll sink in, sometime in the future....just what a great season I've experienced. Here's doe No. 4 for the year. I only took one photo. I apologize for not cleaning her up any better, but I thought time was of the essence. Shot was a high, double-lung. I can't begin to fathom why the blood trail wasn't any better than it was. You're looking at the off-side exit wound. Entrance was same spot on the other side....slightly higher. Here she is.................... Also....I must've added incorrectly in my initial assessment of my buck....+ I left out the LMB G3 measurement entirely, when I rough scored him. I come up with 91-3/8" now (so noted on the scorecard thread). Regardless of score, I'm tickled to death with him.
While standing corn makes for tougher bowhunting hunting it will save a few bucks lives during rifle season as was the case again this year here. Next year could be very good for you in that respect. With it standing... mornings are your best bet... at least here they are. I tried loading your video but I am on dial up at the house. I'll try it again tomorrow at work. From what I could tell he looked very good and definitely mature. Looks like a great spot to setup !! Tim
Jeff, sorry to hear about the situation. Hope everything goes good. Congrats on a great season so far though!!
Like VS said, she sure bled Internally. Maybe the holes got plugged up with stuff, It happens. Congratulation's on a great season Jeff!! Excellent shot!!!
I saw the whole thing!!! lol. He drilled that girl! I messed up a shot, but it was all still fun. Like I told Jeff, I just glad it was a clean miss, and not a wounded deer. That would be the only thing to make me mad. Saw PLENTY of deer though. Made it all worth while. lol. Great play on the doe! Can't wait to come back sometime!
Back at work now but I did have a doe w 2 fawns feed through to bed. It was great that they were so relaxed for the opener. I heard roughly 30 shots in the 2 hours of light that I hunted. And yeah, I did a drive around while here at work on the outskirts and there is standing corn elsewhere as well. That should help some bucks get through. Maybe more than most. Next year should be outstanding but I'm still hoping to let the air out of one buck that won't make it through to next year. :D If not, no big deal, exceptional year for passing and seeing some really good bucks.
Jeff, sorry to hear about the troubles at home. Unbelievable. Great work on the doe and buck! You've put that trad bow to work!
First deer today was a 4 pt that casually walked by at 20 yards. I tried like hell to put a brow point on him but likely, most likely wouldn't have shot anyway. It was nice to see antler and casual during our firearms season. Shortly after, my landowner shot down the field from me. Twice so I knew...phone call later, yup missed. Claimed it was a big 8 or 10. It went in the corn and when I left, I found it's tracks and verified it wasn't hit. I had the same doe from yesterday w/ fawns under 20 yards. Out of the tree by 8:45 and to work now. Tomorrows another day, my bow and I will be in a tree once again. Nice morning.
Huge congrats on the buck! Really nice deer, great year you've had. REALLY sorry to hear of all your troubles, glad they seem to be behind you. While very unfortunate, it does bring up to all of us a sobering reality that there are some real wackos out there, and the internet can be a place where personal information can be used in bad ways. We'd all like to think we are one big happy group here, but this (sadly) shows that we have to be careful about things.
Congratulations Jeff. You are one hell of a dedicated hunter. I consider it a pleasure to "know" you. So are you hanging it up for the year? Hosting some more? Or going after another buck?
Matt: I'm tired. I didn't go out, today....and I might not go out until Fri. or even the weekend. I had PERFECT winds, today....and just don't have it in me (I also have some things that needed taken care of around the house). Yeah...I've got another buck tag. I also picked up 2 more doe tags, just in case I change my mind about a couple does I've been seeing. I AM hosting some more, though. My buddy Page will be here some. Brknarrow (Frank) will definitely be back. MNKK (Anthony) plans to return. And, I've been trying to get something set up to host an active-duty military hunter for over a year, now. He called, today (Stationed in Jacksonville, NC). He's coming up, next weekend, and bringing his family with him. I can't wait. I've been looking forward to this for a LONG time. I've seen ONE 3.5yr old this year...and as far as I know he's still alive. I'm sure a few days off will re-charge my batteries. Heck, I know it will. Nate, Shed, Vito, Rybo, tx.....thanks a LOT. I appreciate it. It's been a whirlwind.
Wow, I just realized that in the time it took me to make my post I didn't even see the last doe. I don't care who you are or where you hunt, 4 does & a 90"+ buck all with trad gear is one helluva season. That would be a great season with any weapon.
