Fletch

I will trade you mine from this year!! It is very unused, sigh.

That is the ticket right there!! When I grill a whole tenderloin the next day I will slice some thin and warm up on a bun or bagel, maybe a slice of cheece and a big slop of Horseradish Sauce. I too love the Arby version but the supermarket sells a brand that is pretty good. Lunchpal or something like that.

I was on that site today lol.

I just bought this knife for my brother for Xmas. He picked it out I was a bit disappointed they are made in Korea now. Myself I use a Western my grandfather gave me a long time ago. It has cleaned a lot of deer and means a lot to me. The Kbar above has it's form. I have been thinking about retirig the old one so nothing happens to it, not sure if I could do that though.

I would say I have a lot of compassion for most wildlife. But I do not feel bad about killing a deer. As long as I have done my best to make it quick and clean. After a kill I will admire the deer and reflect that I am lucky to be able to do what I love and I will say thanks. I honor the deer by doing my best to make sure it is cared for in a way that no meat is wasted and the hide is used. I also have a few rules that some may find silly but to me and those that where my teachers do not. A few are I make sure I take the tongue and tuck it in before I take a picture, I do not sit on the deer while getting a picture taken and I do not put hats or decorations on a mount. That is just out of respect for them. I have noticed that hunters reactions may vary by how the dense the population is that they are hunting. A hunter who shoots hundreds of deer will likely feel a lot less than one who sees few deer and takes a more limited amount.

Would love to but have not. I have seen piebald but not albino or black.

SilverSalmon, where is Waflers?

Where is Wafters?? I have a bunch of crab apple trees in the back yard that produce a lot of apples but they are fallen and gone by the end of September. The deer just Hoover them. Then I have about 20 old ones in the woods that are old and unkept that do not produce. A few years back I tried cleaning them out and pruning and fertilizing to try to revive them but no luck. I need to just plant new ones!! But I want ones that stay longer. And I do not have a green thumb! I have bought very small oaks, pines, and a couple walnuts for planting and nothing has made it but a few pines!

I leave the ladder stands out and just loosen the straps. I check it all over each late summer and if needed pull and replace bolts. In fact I have 2 or 3 I think need the hardware replaced this summer. Just to be safe.

Merry Christmas!

Good job on the test and the lost pounds, I found them!! Have a great Holidays!

Great read Zem! Have a great Holiday Season!

Mmmmmm Italian sausage!! Congrats on the good season and thanks for sharing. Have a great Holidays!!

Way to go on the front loader does!! ...a group of 15 to 20 does.... Crap that is more does than I have seen in the last two years almost!!!

Well 2011 deer season is done and gone. I am a bit sad to see it go but will enjoy a few days sleeping in. As a whole for my group the season was less than stellar. Our sightings and take were lower than normal. For myself any season I get to hunt this much is a good one! Also I took a deer in bow and one in gun so I did have some success. Highlights of the year would be for once I was not wet half of the season!! The assorted wildlife sightings like the fisher and foxes. I did not witness not one buck chasing a doe, a rarity. As well as seeing only one buck over 1.5. I look forward to getting out squirrel hunting with my son in the next couple of weeks. As well as putting up a tower stand I got some metal racking from work for so we can get both of us in it next deer season. I really need to find some land either purchase or lease. Or even maybe join a club. The state land we hunt is so slammed by gun that nothing moves during light after a couple days. I might even try to get down south to Geogia and take up a buddies offer to go pig hunting this winter. I really enjoy keeping this journal and I also enjoy seeing what the rest of you are up to as well. We are all brothers and sisters in hunting. May you all have a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. Fletch

12/20 Well I got out this am in the hole. Was thinking I may get to do some still hunting with it warmer and raining. But the last two hours before dawn the rain stopped and the temp dropped to 28 so it was like potato chips! No sightings. Got out behind the house for the last hour and again nothing. It seemed they were strictly nocturnal the last two weeks. I really would love to see the shotgun end a week earlier and then two off weeks then a 9 day ML season. Well I am a bit sad, it is over for 9 months. I gotta set up a hunt down south for pigs with a busy of mine or something!

congrats! That is a big doe, did you weigh her? I as well took a huge doe, the matriarch,back 6 years ago or so and I noticed quite a change in the doe behavior since. They used to herd up when she was around. Never seen that since here or as many does for that matter.

Good luck on your bobcat hunt!

12/19 All day in Tully did not even jump a deer. Man depressing. I have some venison so I will make it but was hoping to take one more and split with my BIL and my Dad who both zeroed this year. Well I will get out for morning watch around here before work and that will end my season. If I do not get lucky I guess I will forward them that tag soup recipe!!

12/17&12/18 Got out behind the house for a couple hours. Actually had a bit of snow. Saw zip. After my daughters game I drove down to Tully to join my BIL and his friend. Had about an inch of snow there as well. Did a drive and hit last watch. Nothin. Man it was a chilly 6 degrees this morning! There were tracks from over night all around and by my stand. Sat for 3 hours and nothin. Did a drive and hiked around and did last watch and nobody saw a deer. Poor poor poor. I am beat going to bed. I am off tomorrow for a last stand.

1 buck bow 7A 1 doe shotgun 7F

Doc I would agree that a mature buck is a lot more wary and would be more apt to not investigate due to being inquisitive. Little ones do that. That said my two biggest bucks, a 5.5 yr old non typical that dressed just under 190 and a big wide 7 both were shot while smoking, not them, me! Both were also during the rut when most of the bruisers make one of their few mistakes. When on a doe I swear a buck would run into the butcher shop if the doe went first. I by no means thinkn smoking or chewing improve your chances and I am sure it actually lowers them. I was just pointing out you can shoot deer doing either. As well as wearing regular clothes, your everyday boots, no cover scent, no calls.....like they used to years ago.

12/15 pm Out for a little sneak and peak behind the inlaws. Still hunted and sat for a bit. Absolutely nothing. Time to start getting serious!!

Thanks Burt!! I will get out for a short sit Sat morn and then have to go coach my daughters basketball game. Then I will be out all afternoon, all Sunday and all Monday. This weather has been silly. I went out last evening and it was 53 degrees out! A whole season and had 3 days with a dust of snow gone before noon? Deer not on usual late season patterns here. Not sure what there doing except moving at night!! Good luck to you as well. Hope you see some smoke this weekend!

I as well got the xp security virus. Screwed the work comp up good. I had to pull the hard drive and send to my tech guy. Been without my work comp for a week now. Stupid flipping people who make that crap should be drawn and quartered! I was on this site when I got it as well last Friday.