Last year's deer

[HICKMAN]

Tell us last year's deer story!

Mine was my first ever. Never did take it real serious when I was a kid, always shot at whatever popped up, squirrels, rabbits, quail and the occasional grouse.

Last year I got the itch to finally focus on taking a deer. Decided to try first with a bow, so that I'd at least be out in the woods from Oct to Jan. Had two does walk within 12 yards opening day, right after legal light.... couldn't see enough light through the peep to make a shot.

Saw a few other does, but 65-75 yards away. Never did get anything close for a bow and didn't see a single buck all season long.

Hunted several places, family owned land, which my cousins run all over. Tried several public place and finally got lucky the LAST day of firearms season with my T/C Omega Z5 muzzle loader. 75 yard shot down hill drop her.



Looking forward to trying again this year, I learned a lot last season.

[clt46910]

It gets better every year, but you never lose that feeling in the pit of your stomach when the shot is getting closer....LOL

I am sure you will be looking forward to this next year.

[colt45er]

Nice Deer

Last year...

I am a meet hunter, not a trophy hunter. Sure if I can get a shot at a nice mount, I will, but my primary goal is to get meet. Also I usually only get one weekend, maybe two for hunting.

Opening morning, it is raining pretty good on an off. I am in my ground blind about 10' in the woods over looking a grass field. I hadn't seen anything all morning and was getting ready to get up to....well....get rid of the water I had been drinking. I see something move out of the corner of my eye and decent size doe walks out of the tree line about 50 yards ahead. I wait till she gets to the middle of the field, thinking she is alone I raise the shotgun (rem 870, iron sights, Hornaday SST slugs, 12 ga). I was using the shooting sticks I bought at the NRA show last year.

I am sighting on this doe, deciding if I should take the shot or wait and I see more movement. A decent size 6 pt walks out of the same area only a little further away. Rack wasn't real big, but good size body. I guessed 60 yards and stepped it off later and it was 65. He was standing still, quartered toward me. I sight, exhale, squeeze. Boom, deer does nothing. Doesn't bob his head looking for me, doesn't kick up, doesn't stumble, just stands there. I rack the slide and he takes off. I get sights on him again about 85 yards quartering away, running, not leaping, no flag raised. I take another well aimed shot. BOOM...nothing, doesn't break stride, doesn't stumble, no flag. I am pissed. I missed two shots, the first an easy shot, the second one harder, but still. I send my dad a text letting him know both shots were mine and misses.

about 10 min later the rain is picking up and I hear a shot from where my dad was. He sends me a text letting me know he shot a doe, she dropped, got up and took off running. He was using a scoped Marlin .44mag lever gun. Shot was broadside at 110 yards.

I tell him I'm mad cuz I missed mine, I'm hungry and I probably killed the woods so I'd come give him a hand.

After starting to walk, I figured I had to at least to check the spots I shot at. Go to the second one.... bright pink lung!!! I get excited....I run to the first spot, blood but no lung..... I start tracking and sure enough about 10 yards into the woods, 70 yards from first shot, 30 from second shot. He lay dead. I check him over, 4 holes. Both perfect shots, didn't hit bone so they expanded and went through. I am thinking that he litterlally did not know what hit him.

This is the Buck.

This buck was last year's 8pt


This was last years 2nd weekend out. I got the 8pt opening weekend. Doe on the left is mine, the other doe and buck are my dads.

[HICKMAN]

While I'd like a nice trophy in the man-cave, I'm definitely happy with meat in the freezer. Hope to add a few more does to keep me in steak longer this season

[hotfarmboy1]

Originally Posted by HICKMAN

While I'd like a nice trophy in the man-cave, I'm definitely happy with meat in the freezer. Hope to add a few more does to keep me in steak longer this season

same here I'm in it more for the meat than the trophy. But if this season I see the big buck that I've been seeing lately around our woods. I'm definitely taking a shot at him. Hopefully he will be in muzzleloader range.

[infantrylife]

Got 2 last year in bow season and didnt hunt after that. Got a small basket 6 and a doe. I usually keep 1-2 for jerky and give the rest away.

[HICKMAN]

I'd be happy with a couple of does. I learned a lot last year, need to do more scouting over the next couple of months, and find more decent bowhunting spots on public land, or make more friends who own land

[VanillaThunder]

mine for the last 2 years have looked like this:

[jmiller676]

I'll play...again



and mounted on my wall

[Bshaw]

http://http://tinypic.com/r/2n6dc2d/3