wooly

Congrats on your first!

Might try a few field edge sits later in the week with the bow when deer get back to acting like deer. I cheaped out and didn't bother purchasing a ML tag this year. I've got one doe tag left to try and fill, but motivation is low to hunt anymore with shed season right around the corner.

Thanks! That only happened once my first year with that rest. I never imagined that happening so it caught me off gaurd and cost me a hunting arrow and a deer. I pay closer attention now, but that sounds like just what I need.

Maybe you could leave the wife up there with it....then you wont have to worry about losing your wallet,lol

I don't know Lawdwaz.... things can always pop up unexpectedly and maybe you don't make it back first thing in the morning. Just in case, you better leave your car keys and wallet hanging next to it so whoever finds it can get it back to ya ASAP.

Now you're talkin'! As much as I'm sure you wanted to nail that big SOB, you gotta be chmpin' at the bit to get after them antlers! .... not to mention another go around with those studs on the hoof again next fall! Good luck finding them horns this year!

I'd never leave that much money hanging off the side of a tree. ..but if I did, I wouldn't forsee any major problems other than my Wisker Buiscuit bristles possably freezing up. Had that happen once after a rainy hunt when I kept my bow in the garage one night when temps dropped.

I got rid of all my shotguns a while back but my old Winchester 1300 Black Shadow was one I wish I had back. The speed pump was so effortless it was almost unsafe if you weren't paying attention.

No running shots for me either. If a deer is on a slow walk I'll follow along with the gun up and both eyes on the deer. When I see him about to step into a shooting lane or opening in the timber, I'll drop my cheek on the stock, acquire my target(both eyes still open), and try to stop him with a "mahhh". The rest is usually history. At no point do I ever lose sight of the deer by squinting or having my crosshairs "lose him" behind a tree or brush.

Not a bad article here from Outdoor Life. The 27 buck pics alone make it worth a look. http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2011/09/freak-show-bucks-look-genetically-altered-deer

Good job man! Glad you were there to end it quick as you did.

As long as we're on topic of the whitetail becoming an endangered species by next fall, here's a few more points I thunk up that may be of some relevance as well,lol As was already touched on in another thread, the lack of snow again this season resulting in many more unrecovered deer. Some guys initial reaction to that may be that they are figured into the total deer take. Correct, and I agree with that, BUT if even a small percentage of those hunters continue to hunt to the point they are sucessfull again, then the numbers really start to add up quick resulting in less animals for next fall. Looking back on the early green up we had this spring, conditions seemed ideal for optimal antler growth. Judging by some of the sucess stories here, I'd say most will agree with that? Of course everything that starts early usually winds down early, making available greens tough to find now at a time there should still be some left. Perhaps the drought we suffered this summer will have more of an impact on those green fields getting hit later in the year when deer really start scratching for some grub. How about the early start to bow season adding another two weeks of pressure to the herd? I know it's low impact bow hunting, but it's quite possible many deer were forced off early fall preffered food sources, and not exactly in prime condition leading into and after the main phases of the rut. Always good to see plenty of fat on our harvests before winter, but it also means theoreticly they will start to tap into those reserves a little earlier than necessary with the lack of primary food source availability. Anyhow, good discussion for the post season.

Not knowing anything about that case other than what was posted here sounds a little rediculous. I'm thinking maybe they plead that one down from something more serious of a charge. Maybe they dozed all the corn into one end of the field or something crazy like that. I just think there may be a little more to the story that wouldn't necessarily come out in court if they settled for that verdict.

I'm not a fan of voicing my own beliefs outside the rule book, but I can assure you if things get too severe at some point, supplemental feed may become an important part of their diets to pull through some areas. Lots of good points made here folks. Good to see a lot of you keeping a close eye on what's happening on your properties and the challenges these deer herds may face in the coming months.

Close call bro! Glad the only skid marks were on the road and not in your drawers! ....coulda been alot uglier than it was!

Understood guys. I figured this would be somewhat of a regional topic. Probably to the point of only affecting certain areas of wmu's so it's good to hear some of your herds should be in good shape. Obviously, only time will tell.

Oh contrare mon frare! Been doing this too long to not notice the changes in my area.

I know, it's still a little early for next years predictions but I'm curious what you guys are seeing in your areas. I suspect a lot of the same from many of you. Here, most primary food sources have already been depleted. The few fields that were planted in corn have been picked over since early November. Deer in my area rely heavily on apples durring lean times. A terrible year for mast across the board is really gonna put a stress on them in the coming months. Add to that, signs of overbrowsing in a lot of areas that usually offer some greens this time of year in the thickets and creekbottoms. I think excluding this year, the last bunch of seasons we've seen some excellent numbers of deer and that may be catching up with us. I'm thinking our population may have peaked, and perhaps exceeded what the habitat could support. Yotes also seem to be at an all time high in my neck of the woods. There weren't too many days durring archery that I didn't see at least one over a couple of hours here and there. Surprisingly, over the summer I'd get more trail cam pics of coyotes than I did bucks of any calibur. Good chance they'll be fat and happy on carcasses this winter and enter the fawning season in excellent condition. JMHO- but I'm guessing if we get any kind of winter like we're capable of here in ski country, our local herd is going to take a pretty hard hit in the winterkill department as well. That's just another reason I've been hanging on to this doe tag with some hesitation. But in the same breath, I may be doing her a favor if my prediction is anything close to being right. So how's things looking your way?

Lol- now that's the kinda pet you don't mind shedding on the carpet!

That would make sence. I was hung up on it being based on something to do with fair chase or ethics.

One word Doc! ZOMBIES!

That looks like the buck Cabin Fever was chasin' ............lol! Tough luck for an incredible buck. Unfortunately I think it's gonna be another one of those years with dead deer laying all over the place. No snow again for most of the season here.

So much for the early youth season participation,lol Wonder how many of the estimated 8000 will be out there now.

This is one of those debates that will never grow old and never make both sides happy. BO is a good thing for everybody IMO, and I'd have no problem with a minimum requirement of say at least a hat. Yup, even for birdwatchers, photographers, and belly button pickers,lol. Target identification is obviously most important, but I'll be the first to admit I've had my own eyes play tricks on me out there somedays. BUT, most times that has happened was in the low light periods around dusk and dawn when even BO becomes less effective. I'm ok with any way the laws are written now or any changes that may be made in the future. Adapting to changes that affect how everyone hunts would just be another obstacle to overcome as a hunter that would make sucess that much sweeter. Hunter safety should be of upmost importance, not how hard it is for some to kill a deer before sunset or after sunrise.

Must be some real special bucks to stuff them away in boxes,lol Popcorn packing or newspaper?