TheHornHunter

You do with your deer as you please and I’ll do with mine as I please. If I’m interested in your opinion I’ll ask, otherwise keep it to yourself… especially when it adds zero value. This forum shouldn’t be one for petty bullshit Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Honestly up until about a year ago I gutted every deer I shot as soon as I got to it. But then I spent some time hunting in the south and the Midwest and they will let it hang for a day with the guts in it in 50-60 degree weather. I’d never push it that far, but us northerners were the butt of quite a few gutting comments. So after those experiences and spending time with outfitters that deal with 50+ deer a year I’m willing to let it sit over night and deal with it in the morning when it’s around 40 or lower. I’m not saying my way is the best way by any means, or that anyone else should copy it and honestly don’t even know how the whole gutting thing came up. My buck is going to be hanging for at least a day so he’s gutted Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You got it! That’s my rule of thumb… if I have to look twice then he doesn’t get shot Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dude you have no idea what you’re talking about. People leave deer sit over night all the time in warmer temps. I tag out pretty much every year and no one has ever said one even slightly negative thing about meat I’ve served. Go down south and talk to those boys about gutting. It will blow your mind. Just because someone does something different than you doesn’t mean it’s wrong or you should shit all over it. You’re literally the worse type of hunter… the one that always has to give his opinion when no one gives two shits about it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks! Pretty sure he’s 4 based on trail cam history. He lost a good amount of weight the last month but no doubt he was mature when you see him coming thru the timber Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep. They weren’t punctured or anything and it was less than 40. To be honest this method had me weirder out at first too but I’ve been in multiple deer camps out of state last few years where that’s how they do it and I’ve never noticed any difference in taste or quality. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here he is! Kinda hard to take pics in rain but glad I was able to finally kill this buck after so many encounters and screw ups on my part Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have to dispose of a carcass regardless of guts in it or not. Maybe weighs 30 pounds more. I don’t mind gutting just didn’t see the need since I was going to be breaking her down in the morning regardless Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I destroyed the heart so just went with the gutless method Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

BBD! Watched him drop in the field Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Couldn’t get settled in before deer showed up and ended up getting busted pretty good by one. She was about to get down wind at 10 steps so I hit her with a coyote video figuring she’d run and not blow. Didn’t work the way I was hoping haha Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Got my doe quartered up and in the fridge now heading out for last sit. Cams are lighting up since noon, here’s to hoping for good movement. Good luck to everyone! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That’s a major bummer, sorry to hear man. We had a neighbor like that and dropped the lease because we got tired of it. I can tolerate a lot of neighbor drama but finding dead bucks with bolts in them every year gets old quick, especially when they think they can hop the property line without a call just because they drew blood Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Dropped a decent sized doe tonight. I spotted a group of 15 or so from a half mile away and closed the distance to 175 yards or so. I’m fully addicted to running and gunning on the ground and spot and stalking deer. It’s been my worst season in terms of killing a good NY buck but honestly I’ve had more fun the last few weeks pushing the envelope on the ground than I’ve had in a while. I’ve got one either sex tag left for tomorrow. Might pop another doe or may hold out for horns Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Deer were moving good tonight, just not the one I’m after. I heard more shots than I’ve heard in a while too. Back after it tomorrow Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In after the 9pt again. Found two big fresh sets of tracks into this timber block that are probably from this morning. Good luck to everyone out! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Both definitely impact it and I’m sure being in a high deer density area like I am helps. But our buck:doe ratio sucks and works against us for rattling. We’re somewhere between 4-5 does for every buck so more than enough to go around and not be too competitive. I’ve actually been rattling less the last couple years because of that. Most of our 4+ year old bucks are rarely broken up and seem relatively shy so I’m growing more skeptical about their desire to fight over a single doe when there’s so many around. We have a few older bully bucks that are broken up each year and that’s usually who I’m targeting with rattling. Now the Midwest is a whole different game, when you get closer to a 1:1 ratio like Kansas the bucks will literally fight to the death and rattling works much better. It’s just another tool in the tool box and I’m still perfecting it. Lots of variables to consider with it but I rarely leave home without my antlers from 10/25 to 11/25 even if I don’t use them most of the time. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My buddy has really good luck with big bucks and snort wheezes. I must suck at it because they never respond well Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve rattled in tons of bucks, mostly young but some good ones, including the one I killed in Kansas this year. It works best in very specific situations which is probably worth a thread itself. I only use real antlers and think they sound much better than any bags or fake antlers. Pain in the ass to carry around but I’ve rattled them in from 500+ yards with my current set. This pic is a good example of what I mean by specific conditions… early November right on edge of thick bedding with limited visibility means they gotta come close to tell whether there’s really a buck or not. There’s also a big river to the right which funnels them to my stand and my wind is blowing over the water so impossible for them to get down wind. Great tactic but execution is critical and doing it wrong will let every deer on the property know to stay away. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For sure. Does want no part of bucks for a good chunk of the season. I’ve grunted at does as a deterrent before when they were going to get down wind but mixed results there. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Same. I will occasionally do some rattling during the rut but only in specific situations. In general though I only call to deer I see and aren’t coming to me. And when I do call I wait until they aren’t looking my direction. Most of the time they don’t come, but occasionally they do. It’s super easy to over call and that does way more harm than good. If you call at one and he doesn’t respond just let it go. Occasionally they will disappear and come back 20-30 mins later typically downwind so be ready for that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We’re spoiled in western NY ag country. Come to 8H and knock on some doors. There’s no shortage of does and farmers love people willing to kill them. This property is a permission piece that started with just killing does on it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ve filled lots of freezers for my friends and family this season. One anterless tag left and definitely plan on punching it. I wish some of the other hunters in my hood would shoot does, seems like they are mostly just interested in horns, which leads to pics like that Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Took a chance and ended up getting busted. I wanted to hunt this field Sunday which is where I misfired on the 9pt but there was 8 million does there at 130 so I went somewhere else. Pulled cards yesterday and the 9pt day lighted at 430 Sunday 50 yards from where I misfired on him. As you can see in the second pic, this spot has a boat load of does and I knew there was a risk one of them would bust me but figured it was worth the risk. This particular doe got about 3 steps from me sitting on the ground and then made a scene for the next 20 minutes. It was like watching an accident in slow motion and I knew it was going to happen as soon as I saw her… probably should have just killed her. Oh well. Hopefully wind forecast is right and we get an east wind tomorrow night so I can go after him in a different spot that’s easier to hunt Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It’s a deer that’s been on camera and I almost stepped on him so I knew exactly which buck it was Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk