2012 Deer Season update.

[onelastshot]

We are well into the deer season for many states and I was just wondering how everyone was doing in terms of success, in the field and of course, how the hunting camp experience fared. On a personal note I've had some wonderful mornings and afternoons afield, great weather and quality time. I've also spent a bit more time with last minute projects working on friend's rifles and helping a newbie find his way around.

What is unusual is it's the middle of November and only one deer is hanging in the cooler so far. Until today, other than a couple of does and a very young 8 pointer, sighting have been few and far between for me. I haven't taken the safety off or come close to squeezing the trigger. This evening was the first outing with a number of different animals sighted. A small six pointer and 10-12 does during the course of the afternoon. Just wondering how everyone else is faring this season and if anyone has pics and stories they would like to share.

 

[2506]

As for the deer killing this year it was the worst season that I have had in over 20 years. I go from East TN over to East NC every year for about 3 weeks to hunt. This year the big storm Sandy held me up 4 days before I could leave to get there because of the snow and high winds that are not conducive to pulling a camper in. When I get to my hunting lease land I find that where my best hunting stand is that is located right on the property line on an old logging road between my lease and what had been paper mill land now has been turned in to Wildlife land and anybody can hunt it. This land had been very thick with green briar and pine trees but the Wildlife people had come in with a bulldozer and had cut some lanes 50 yards or so wide through it that come right up to the edge of my road right at the main deer crossings of these roads. The second day I get to hunt, Saturday, I hear shots no more than 200 yards away from my stand on both of the lanes in the Wildlife land and this goes on every day along with those little 4X4 cycles with their gutted mufflers running in and out. My deer are being cut off before they are getting to my land. I normally kill 6 to 10 deer every year and see MANY MORE. I only saw three deer in 12 days and I killed them all. One doe and two 8 pt bucks. One of the reason that I did not see as many deer was discovered with only 3 days left to hunt. I did not see a single deer at the best crossing of my road and found that about 50 yards from this crossing someone on that Wildlife land had shot a deer and no doubt could not find it and the buzzards were on it making all kinds of racket and it was stinking and no doubt this spooked the other deer away. My time over hunting was not a total disappointment though. After 20 years of witnessing to my hunting buddy I was able to help him see the light and brought him to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and I was able to baptize him into Christ for the forgiveness of his sin that he might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:38.

 

[Joe C]

Deer season in NE has been the best I've had in years this year. So far I've tagged five. Three does with my bow and a nice 9 and 8 pointer with two different rifles during last weeks gun season. I also had two of my friends who where here to gun hunt last week that shot deer. One shot a 160lb dressed doe and the other shot a small 8 point and a 180lb doe.

 

[civil82]

Joe C, where at in NE? I just spent a week in the NW part of the state.

 

[fr3db3ar]

Just seeing does here. Which will be fine come late bow or muzzle loader but for rifle it's bucks only where I am.

 

[onelastshot]

As for the deer killing this year it was the worst season that I have had in over 20 years. I go from East TN over to East NC every year for about 3 weeks to hunt. This year the big storm Sandy held me up 4 days before I could leave to get there because of the snow and high winds that are not conducive to pulling a camper in. When I get to my hunting lease land I find that where my best hunting stand is that is located right on the property line on an old logging road between my lease and what had been paper mill land now has been turned in to Wildlife land and anybody can hunt it. This land had been very thick with green briar and pine trees but the Wildlife people had come in with a bulldozer and had cut some lanes 50 yards or so wide through it that come right up to the edge of my road right at the main deer crossings of these roads. The second day I get to hunt, Saturday, I hear shots no more than 200 yards away from my stand on both of the lanes in the Wildlife land and this goes on every day along with those little 4X4 cycles with their gutted mufflers running in and out. My deer are being cut off before they are getting to my land. I normally kill 6 to 10 deer every year and see MANY MORE. I only saw three deer in 12 days and I killed them all. One doe and two 8 pt bucks. One of the reason that I did not see as many deer was discovered with only 3 days left to hunt. I did not see a single deer at the best crossing of my road and found that about 50 yards from this crossing someone on that Wildlife land had shot a deer and no doubt could not find it and the buzzards were on it making all kinds of racket and it was stinking and no doubt this spooked the other deer away. My time over hunting was not a total disappointment though. After 20 years of witnessing to my hunting buddy I was able to help him see the light and brought him to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and I was able to baptize him into Christ for the forgiveness of his sin that he might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:38.

A wonderful way to put things in perspective. Looking at the bigger picture, after 20 years of friendship, you've introduced your friend to a new and more rewarding life. And the best of it is, you both probably feel like you got a gift from each other. This thanksgiving should have an added significance for both of you.

 

[onelastshot]

Tuesday, November 20th. Reflecting on the fact that Connecticut land owners have a generous season. Runs from Nov. 1 to December 30th. I may need the extended season this year to "fill the freezer". After almost three weeks of wondering if deer in Connecticut were in fact extinct, the past 48 hours, and several stand changes have turned the tables.

While the safety is still in it's secured position, time afield has changed from listening to squirrel dances to actually glassing deer and being afforded the opportunity to fill a tag. In total, 10-12 does, two fork horns (one I've seen three times) a small 6 and one young 8 pointer and tonight, a very mature heavy racked 8. I picked him up on my scope at 375+ and watched him disappear before I could contemplate a shot.

Tomorrow, up at 5:00a.m with renewed confidence and an extra large thermos of coffee!

 

[MrMajestic]

My time over hunting was not a total disappointment though. After 20 years of witnessing to my hunting buddy I was able to help him see the light and brought him to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and I was able to baptize him into Christ for the forgiveness of his sin that he might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:38.

Way better than killing a Deer!

I got three Buck and a big Doe in my annual NE NC excursion. A 6, 5 and a spike all with good body weight for the area. Longest shot was 400 yards with my .243AI and the 105 grain A-Max. I must admit I missed a big racked Buck at 632 yards due to a bad range call! With shooting lanes you just don't get time to range, dial up and shoot. Its pre-range, guess holdover and get a shot off before they disappear as quickly as they appeared!
PA starts next week and and I'm off for two days.

 

[Joe C]

Joe C, where at in NE? I just spent a week in the NW part of the state.

Civil,

I'm just southwest of Lincoln near a little town called Crete.

Getting ready for Muzzle Loader season now, even though my father-in-law says my Knight Disk Extreme with a Nikon 3-9x40 on it isn't really a smoke pole! LOL!

 

[civil82]

Joe, you live in a beautiiful state. I drove 20 across Nebraska last week. It's a different world as compared to Northwestern Pennsylvania. It was my first trip out there and will be doing it again next year. Tough hunting this year with the drought, wild fires, blue tongue, etc. but it was a blast. I didn't see a lot of bucks during daylight hours, but shot a narrow racked 8pt whitetail. I didnt use the doe tag and bonus doe tag that I purchased. Saw a lot of smaller does, which gives some hope that the population will rebound strong this year. PA season starts Monday. Good luck to all.

-Civil82

 

[onelastshot]

Friday evening, managed to get through Thanksgiving yesterday without killing any relatives and, more importantly, had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with my younger son in a stand, had beautiful weather and quality time. Once again my new friend, the fork horn, arrived as usual, trotted across the field and joined two does feeding in the adjacent corn field.

I've managed to convince family, friends and neighbors who hunt our property and neighboring parcels, that during this season and next, only 8 pointers and better will be taken with the exception of spikes. In addition, 8 pointers with small or thin racks, typical of 18 month old and two and a half year old animals will also get a pass. With a little luck my friend forky and other young bucks will get another year or two, to mature.

I didn't shoot Thursday but I did have one of the best times afield I can remember, and a special memory of time spent with my son.

Tomorrow, the hunt continues.

 

[Mr. Ten-X]

My WI hunt begins the evening of 1 Dec, after the gun guys have been out of the woods for nearly 6 days. Have 2000 acres to hunt in Buffalo County and will be looking for a 160" minimum whitetail. Maybe this will be the year for one of the 180 inchers or a non-typ to make a fatal blunder

 

[onelastshot]

Didn't hunt Saturday morning, time spent with family, but I did get out this afternoon. I beginning to see a change in the deer's pattern. Instead of seeing the odd doe, they are now coming out into the cornfields in groups of 3-4. A dozen or more made their way out into the open before it grew too dark to safely shoot. I did manage to score though, early this morning. A major outlet had one of Danner's more expensive boots available for their Black Friday/ Black weekend sales. Kind of difficult to pass on a pair of all leather boots that retail for $249.00 on sale for $99.00.

The good news is my concerns of coyote depopulation of the deer herd seems to be unfounded fortunately. The downside is with the rut winding down, sitings of bucks has dropped off markedly. Even my friend the fork horn has decided to change his routine; it's been two days now since he showed himself. I'm hoping he didn't join the ranks of another statistic.

Tomorrow, I'll bring my Nikon D90 along. In the past few years I've come to realize that hunting with a camera can b e just as rewarding in many ways. With of course one major exception, it doesn't put my favorite meat in the freezer.