07-08 Whitetail season success thread [Archive]

Clayfish

November 1, 2007, 11:51 AM

Let's use this thread to post our kills this season. Post up the pics and stories of any trophys small and large here.

I'll Start

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t77/clayfish1/078point.jpg

I killed this guy Saturday morning 10/27/07. I was walking a trail and I heard him grunt directly ahead. I forgot my grunt tube so I took a gamble and let out the best deer grunt I could muster. Well, it actually worked because he grunted back. I let out another grunt and he had me pinned. He walked within 10 yards through the thick stuff as I was on my knees in a bush. He gave me a shot so I took it. I thought he was going to run me over but his antlers got caught in the thick brush and that pulled him to the right of me. One more .308 win slug put him right down. I was so pumped because I had never imagined I could grunt a deer in with just my mouth.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t77/clayfish1/PA240219.jpg

Then there was this guy I shot last Thursday 10/25/07. He just needed to be shot and taken out of the gene pool. We estimate he was 5.5 to 6.5 years old. I walked up on him within 30 yards on the edge of a cotton field.

So far it has been a great season. I got skunked with a bow but 2 bucks in 3 days with a gun is awesome. I get 10 does and I think I will just carry a bow after them. I am going to a quota hunt next weekend where I get another buck and a doe. I LOVE DEER HUNTING.

Now it's your turn.

Venison_Jerkey32

November 3, 2007, 11:14 AM

No success yet, this morning I didn't see anything until about 8:30 when a group of 5 or 6 does were clambering around behind me, I had perfect opprotunites to take 2 different does, but I felt they were too small. I'm going out this evening and tomorrow morning and I'm sure I'll have a success to post. I'm so spoiled with internet connection at the ranch house! I even got a text message this morning while I was in the stand, man this is roughing it :cool:

Mainah

November 3, 2007, 02:43 PM

I got out early this morning before what's left of a tropical storm hit Maine. I saw all kinds of sign. The guy who owns the land behind my house was out too, we walked a parallel track on different snowmobile trails. I heard him fire a shot, and waited to see if he needed help dragging. He didn't show.

I got back home at about nine, put my gear away, and got out of my hunting clothes. SWMBO took off for the day, so I started on the chores. I'm in the basement working on laundry when my big dog barked, she's not a barker, so I came upstairs.

We've got a sun room with knee high windows on all four walls and my dog is standing in the middle of the room on high alert. I look out by my shed and there's a big fat doe out by the shed. By the time I got my gun reloaded she was long gone.

Picher

November 4, 2007, 11:23 AM

Yesterday, I shot a doe from the blind we built on an overgrown town road in Maine. It was the first deer I’ve seen this season and crossed the road from left to right, more than 200 yards North of the blind. I only had about 4 seconds to: 1. Tell my Grandson looking the other direction "Deer"; 2. Decide whether I wanted to shoot it; 3. Raise the rifle to the shoulder, (resting my forearm on a horizontal 2/X4"), and 4. Place the crosshair well into the kill zone; 6. Hold breath and be as steady as possible; and 5. Quickly squeeze the trigger. (The grandson had a 20 gauge shotgun, and didn't want to shoot the rifle, so this was clearly not his deer.)

Actual sight picture time was maybe one second, since the deer was walking and the the trail width was only a little more than a deer length at that range. The head was already disappearing into the fir trees on the right when the crosshairs steadied briefly on the chest cavity and the Remington Stainless .270 Win went off.

The deer disappeared at the shot, but I had it marked just beyond the "200 yard log" in the snowmobile trail. I heard the classic "thump" as the Ballistic Tip slammed into her.

A couple of minutes after the shot, another deer crossed behind the first. It was a bit larger than the first, but there was no "Reset" button on this hunting game!

My son-in-law Tom came down the trail as we prepared to go down to look, so the three of us walked down the road to find it. When we got to the log, we were careful to stay on the left side of the old road, so we wouldn’t disturb any signs of a hit, etc.

I found some wet leaves flipped over recently and we marked that spot. There was no blood or hair on the road, so I left Tom to look for blood and went down the road slowly to see if I could find anything else.

Tom called that he found some blood and it was fairly dark, like a heart shot. There was quite a bit for the first few feet, indicating a pretty good hit. I followed the blood about 50 yards and found the dead deer, shot in the heart, but the exit hole was back in the abdominal cavity a bit. The bullet may have fragmented a bit on hitting a rib, but the damage was excellent for that distance.

Cleaning the deer, the lungs, heart and top of the stomach were pretty well shot up from the 130 grain Ballistic Tip. It wasn’t the easiest deer to clean, but far from the worst. It had a lot of body fat and appeared very healthy (prior to the shot anyway). I didn't do a complete inventory of damage, since I was pretty messy from gutting and wanted to wash up in the road puddles.

I’m most pleased that I was able to pull off a difficult shot quickly and in relatively poor light. Making a good, killing shot under difficult conditions means much more to me at this time in my life than the size of deer.

The distance from the stand to the deer, according to my new GPS unit, was 234 yards. The accuracy was 5 feet, taken at each point. Because of the other stuff we had to carry in, (including a Black and Decker Black Cat heater to keep the grandson warm) I'd left the lazer rangefinder in the truck.

The rifle was loaded with four 130 Grain Nosler BTs ahead of 60+ grains of Reloder 22, (chrono'd at 3,260). The barrelled action is in an HS Precision Sendero take-off. The combo and load shoots 3 1/2" groups at 450 yards.

The Balvar 8B scope power was set at 6x, to handle anything within 350 yards. I’d already determined that I wouldn’t shoot at any deer beyond that. It’s not worth the tracking, and Hurricane Noel was due to strike within hours, so I wanted to get any deer out of there and to the processor before the rain got too bad.

We called my son on the cell phone and he came the ATV in the truck to help get the deer out. It was about half a mile back in the woods. We’d dragged it about 150 yards over the wet road area to a higher place...and away from the main deer crossing, prior to gutting it out.

This deer was within the size range I like. When I took it to be processed, it weighed in 94 lbs.

Picher

P.S. Sorry there aren't any pictures, but it was just a normal-sized doe and she wasn't very photogenic after the drag, etc.

lockedcj7

November 4, 2007, 11:51 AM

I've taken two. One was a mature doe on the opening day of muzzle loader season. She developed a routine of stepping out into the edge of my pasture at dusk. I sat on the edge under a tree in a lawn chair and took her at 53 yds.

The second one was this morning. I was watching the same pasture and first saw two does at 400+ yds. A few minutes later, a big-bodied 5 point came out at 150. Before I could line him up, he trotted directly away, through a tree-lined draw and up the other side. Three does (or two button bucks and a doe) came running out from the right side at 200 yds. They all ran around chasing each other and butting heads (which is why I think they were button bucks). The 5-point tried to play along and they chased him back toward me.

He ran to within 75 yds but was under the crest of a small rise and I couldn't see him. He trotted back out, through the draw and up the other side again. At 200 yds, he finally stopped and turned broadside, offering a perfect shot. My 7mm-08 Rem. Mountain Rifle barked and I saw the result through the Leupold VX-II scope. The 120 gr ballistic tip hit higher than I would have liked but angled down and took out the lungs. He dropped in his tracks, so he must not have realized he was hit too high. :D

I was able to finish my coffee and then drive my truck right up to him. I didn't bother field-dressing him since I would have him at the processor's in less than 30 min. The hardest part was dragging him up into the truck bed.

JKump

November 6, 2007, 04:43 PM

I have taking three as of now. A spike on opening day 10-20-07, a 10 pointer on 10-30-07, and a doe on 11-3-07.
Here are the pics of the 10 pointer.
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/JKump/100_0229.jpg
http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/JKump/100_0228.jpg

arizona hunter

November 6, 2007, 04:55 PM

You guys are making me cry:( because here in AZ we have to be drawn for deer-we don't have nearly as many as some states. Anyway, I did not even get a tag this year! But it's nicew to read success stories. Well, I guess I'm going after prairie dogs this weekend-can't eat them, but it sure is fun with the .204 Ruger.:D

Keep grunting!

BIGR

November 6, 2007, 11:29 PM

Wow, what a start to the season. Black Powder started last Saturday and I saw a 3 point right off the bat, 25 feet in front of my ladder stand ( did not shoot him). Later that morning I see 7 more deer, mostly yearlings and does. I could have shot a pile of them but I am waiting on Mr Big Buck. Saturday evening I see five more does. The locals say the rut has not started so what do they know. Monday morning I see four does, but things heated up on the evening hunt. One doe comes within 20 feet of my stand but she gets nervous and runs off. About 45 minutes later another doe comes up the ridge in a cautious manner. I am watching her when I hear another deer coming around the hill. I look and see big horns. The buck is rubbing trees with his horns and I am trying to get my gun ready without the doe seeing me. The buck gets within 15 yards in front of me and I squeeze off a shot. He stumbles and runs down the hill about 50 yards and crashes onto the ground. I could see him from my stand and could tell he was dead in less than a minute (295 grain HP powerbelt was deadly). Not knowing how big his rack was, I couldn't wait to go see, but I waited about 20 minutes. He was 9 point with a pretty set of antlers. While draging the buck out I saw a fresh scrape he had just made before his life ended. The rut has begun and here I am at home. Oh I am going back, I only came home today to take the deer head to the taxidermist. Its the best one I have shot with the muzzleloader yet. Sorry no pictures yet, my camera guy has not emailed them yet. Going back to find the 9 points daddy or grandpa. Doe meat will come later after the rut.

Charles S

November 7, 2007, 08:02 AM

Great post....I love reading others hunting stories (not those in magazines).

I shot my first buck this year at the beginning of the second weekend of bow season. I had been up in the climber for about 10 minutes when an 8 point and a 7 point walked out together. I shot the 8 at 12 yards. Public land on a local lake. It was a miserable evening - hot and a ton of mosquitoes. I still had a great time.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27505&d=1192147554

I shot my second deer the last week of bow season it was a doe at 22 yards. I shot once and she ducked the arrow, but turned and looked back. I aimed at the lower edge of her body and sent another arrow at her. She ducked into the second one. (I got lucky).

So far it has been a great season.

I hunted really hard this last weekend (our rifle opener) and did not see a deer. I did not feel too bad though it was hot and we only killed three deer total on the lease for the whole weekend.

It cool off and the hunting will get better. I do love to deer hunt!

Kentucky Deer Hunter

November 7, 2007, 09:18 AM

I took this doe opening morning of muzzleloader season. We estimated she was about 4 1/2 years old and weighed about 175lbs. Good size doe, and great eatin! I actually had a good time processing this deer myself, which I have never done before. I always thought it would be so hard, but it was actually quite simple.

Good luck to everyone this season!

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums-recent/attachment.php?attachmentid=27990&d=1194311623

gedenke

November 11, 2007, 04:40 AM

First thing, congrats on all your deer!

Here's mine, while it's not a Whitetail, he is a 4x5 Columbian Blacktail. Taken opening day 10/29/2007 here in Southern Oregon. By the way, this was my first buck so I'm sure I've burned up all my luck ...for the next two lifetimes!:p

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/gedenke/Geoff.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/gedenke/GeoffsNicelookinBuck.jpg

goalie

November 11, 2007, 10:26 AM

I got this 4x5 buck on opening evening with about 4 minutes of legal shooting time left.

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/3552/2007deerhunting003kz3.th.jpg (http://img409.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2007deerhunting003kz3.jpg)

I also took a medium sized doe opening morning. Both with my .270 Mossberg ATR-100 and fixed 4.75x Weaver Grand Slam scope, both one shot kills with Fusion 130 grain ammo.

Trapp

November 11, 2007, 01:47 PM

Here's mine:

Details first. Last of bow season, almost didn't go because I was up late. I heard something behind me around 6:00 and checked it out. A small doe. I drew back and saw spots on its butt. No go on that.

40 minutes later I hear a squirrel....or so I thought.... 20 yds away a 4 point comes out. It is walking towards me. I watch it, not wanting to scare it. It gets about 10 yds away and starts ripping into a sapling. I draw...

Now, what is going through my mind is this: Hmm... what about all of those articles that say "don't shoot a deer from nearly vertical" or "Don't shoot a deer that is facing you head on" (with a bow). I go figurin: Last day of bow season, a buck, I can get help tracking, 10yds away I should get good penetration.....

THWACK!!!! Just to the left of the spine and just behind the shoulder. The deer bolts like greased lightning. I watch it run away and circle with the arrow sticking out its' back.

I start questioning my shot.....good? bad? to far back?..... I call my wife and tell her the good news. Since I think it may have been too far back, and I didn't see the arrow poking though the bottom, I go back to the truck. Funny thing, I could have shot a doe at 35yds quartering away if I had an arrow ready.....Oh well.

This is what I found after tracking him:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=28144&stc=1&d=1194803249

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=28145&stc=1&d=1194803249

First kill with a bow, 7 point, first kill in too many years (only started again recently)

SavageSniper

November 12, 2007, 08:10 PM

And not a day too soon. Started Saturday morning of with a cool 42 degree Florida General Gun Season opener. I was up by 3:00 to pickup a friend and be in the woods by first light. There were four of us on our 480 acre plot. At 7:00 I hear my friend who was using my wifes (shhh!!) .243 fire the first shot of the season. It turned out he killed a nice fat spike. At 8:15 another friend gets a 145lb 7 point. We all reported in at the farmhouse at 9:00 to swap stories, give congrats and to start getting them on ice. Later that day we were all on the front porch of the old house talking and such when I looked down the power line that runs north thru the property and saw a spike standing there looking at us. I had my .223 FV handy so I opened the bipod lay prone on the porch and touched of a shot. He folded and ran into the woodline. I stepped it off at 207 steps. Were he ran into the woods it left a blood trail so big Ray Charles could track him. He ran maybe 50 yards. When we cleaned him his heart was GONE. I mean really gone. Nice day and plenty more to come. Not to mention that I have blown that .223 not enough gun thing to pieces:D

Bitmap

November 13, 2007, 09:35 AM

I posted a number of pics in another thread here, but here we are again.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q241/Bitmaps_photos/2007hunting/2007whitetail3.jpg

Taking the kids out again soon so hopefully I'll have more pics to show off.

MJZZZ

November 13, 2007, 09:59 AM

No luck on opening day of Missouri rifle season, I did see one running away from me. Tried again the next morning, but with 25 mph winds they just weren't moving around. Combination of late spring freeze and summer drought killed about all natural feed in our area. I'll try again this weekend. Mike

FirstFreedom

November 13, 2007, 07:29 PM

175 lb doe - jeebus! Good job fellas. Opening of rifle season is this Sat the 17th.

davlandrum

November 13, 2007, 09:02 PM

Gedenke - That is a BEAST of a blacktail!!! I knew you guys grew 'em big in S. Oregon, but dang!!! I might have to try your neck-o-the-woods someday (when I ain't going to E. Oregon for muley).

piercfh

November 14, 2007, 12:39 PM

I killed this little guy within the first week of the season. Since then I have passed on several other young deer, and still haven't shot a doe. I have been seeing tons of young bucks, but nothing old and mature. Not a lot of does either. This weekend I'll pick up the .308 and start helping some friends with management.

This cull actually scored 106 3/4 by the BTR and is eligible for their bow records. Their cut off is 105 with a bow.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27687&d=1192939330

gedenke

November 14, 2007, 01:15 PM

Dave, thanks! He weighed a little over 200lbs when I dropped him and hung out at the butcher at 124. My taxidermist scored him at 123 5/8", missed record book by 2". Dang!

Pierch, I must say, that is the strangest spread I've ever seen... 4x1.5?! Still a nice buck though! Congrats. And that goes to everyone!

piercfh

November 14, 2007, 08:02 PM

The buck actually had 3 scorable points at the base before the
brow tine starts. The irregular points measure from 1.6 to 2'' jacking the irregular score up by BTR methods. If his other side would have been like the right he would have scored over 125, and would have made pope and young. He is honestly a 2.5 year old deer. I guess his weight at 100-120 lbs. which is pretty small for my neck of the woods.

davlandrum

November 14, 2007, 08:56 PM

07 Muleyhttp://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=27509&d=1192158781

Capp35

November 14, 2007, 09:02 PM

I didn't shoot these, but did take their pictures a few months ago. I wish I had my Bow. HeHe
Blacktails in Oregon.......

https://publish.comcast.net/rpath/A8YQ8OiPGtvHj-J_dREhWFdpZCOLXwlutwnkEJqlyTN8hA8DgJ1g_4QJl0I1augiqq2MHUDJ2A5ApUNEl9Jhhl2QVpcZ5aIl-_IFT6QRWKs/

https://publish.comcast.net/rpath/3_a4r37zB-FFP4JEy0i2vhOlpQM5xMVu6-Yuk0HjVoF_ZTxbmphu7OPVlAZn5SfD5HDmcdq2UEMaq_UxIs7gP712KJBmABHGbEGHTluihcQ/

https://publish.comcast.net/rpath/zqF1jA8AQBhU6c_1WcNLf0BtC-AMUoCvRbSNlIxTS1AkuGefTEMQFjrgUZBldum0PUKL19YqxMZPS89Qm2NLHnG0-zjaKeetnNfJBtVlKOI/

Mavrik

November 14, 2007, 10:43 PM

My father got this 8 pointer opening morning of Missouri's firearm season. We hunt on 120acres that has no year round water source so seeing a decent buck is a rare experience and getting a shot at one is even less likely. As far as I know it's only the 3rd buck 4pts or larger taken off the property in 20 years.

Rifle was a Savage 110. 30-06 with a Nikon Scope

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/2069/1004493smallsx0.jpg

It was a good opening weekend for us, My cousin took 2 good does and I got 1 myself as well.

Mav

remjeep75

November 14, 2007, 11:26 PM

all these pictures are getting me amped up for the pa and nj firearm openers.

gedenke

November 14, 2007, 11:48 PM

Capp, WOW! That last one is absolutely amazing! (please PM me the location, a simple gps position will do just fine, he he he;)) Great pics!

davlandrum

November 15, 2007, 01:24 PM

Apparently, I don't know where to hunt in my own state!!!!!!!!

NRA4life

November 15, 2007, 02:46 PM

Here's mine for the year. Took him on the third afternoon (Monday of this week) of the Missouri rifle season. My best whitetail for sure. Added 2 does on the opening day also. It was just my dad and I on Monday and we had horrible rain and thunderstorms rolling through. We were just about to give up for the day when it let up about 3:45. We decided to go out to the 2 closest stands so we could get back to camp if the weather went sour. I was out on my stand 9 minutes when this old boy trotted by in the field at about 60 yards or so. What an afternoon.

gedenke

November 15, 2007, 10:10 PM

Ok, last one, I promise....:D

Here's the rack after my taxidermist got ahold of it. Gibson's Taxidermy in White City, OR. He does good work, especially on birds and head mounts.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/gedenke/Mount.jpg

Sarge

November 16, 2007, 10:04 PM

Remington Model 78, .30-06, 150 Nosler BT handload clocks 2944 fps. Neck shot at shoulder, 212 yards as near as I can tell-DRT. 8 point MO Whitetail.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x187/SargeMO/07buck2.jpg

PS- the 'Romeo' reference is due to the fact that this guy and another buck go so involved in chasing the ladies, that it resulted in in him ending up across my tailgate. Better 'across the tailgate' than 'through the grille'.

nickE10mm

November 17, 2007, 03:00 PM

Dad's 9pt in Mark Twain Nat'l Forest (Ozarks, SW Missouri)

http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/7075/image030mc2.jpg

FirstFreedom

November 17, 2007, 10:13 PM

Nice job, Nick!

I'm gonna define today's hunt as a success. I saw three deer, and one was a 6-pointer I passed up - about like that one or a little smaller - he came right up to within 6 or 7 yards of me, in response to my doe bleat call, and stared at me. I'll let him grow some, and try to get him in a couple years. Oh, get this - there IS a big bruiser somewhere on my hunting lands - I saw the rub to end all rubs on the base of a large cottonwood tree. Kinda cool - never seen a rub that large before.

lil_bro

November 18, 2007, 12:35 AM

I got my first during the youth season here in Oklahoma.

(not a very good pic)
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p272/lil_bro_album/323398-R1-13-7_010.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p272/lil_bro_album/323398-R1-04-21_019.jpg

He was a 8-point buck that weigh in at 176lbs undressed.

He was shot with my Yugo 24/47 Mauser using Wolf Gold SP ammo at 12yds.

Now I just need to fill my doe tag.:D

FirstFreedom

November 18, 2007, 01:48 PM

That's a very nice buck, lilbro - 176 lbs undressed - that's pretty big - what % do you subtract to arrive at dressed weight? I've heard 40% for the weight of the guts, but that seems too high to me.

gedenke

November 18, 2007, 09:53 PM

Way to go lil bro! That's a nice one, especially for your first. Congrats!:cool:

As for the dressed weight, my butcher said "add" 40% for the guts, hide, and head, but that's thinking in reverse (mine was weighed after field dressing/skinning). But of course that's just an estimate. My 2 cents.

BILLDAVE

November 18, 2007, 11:12 PM

I shot this eight pointer on Saturday morning about seven-thirty. It was taken in Fulton Co. Illinois with a Colt Single Action in .45 long caliber. I'm gussing he was between 180 amd 200 lbs. The rack is nice, but small for his weight. Not bad if I say so myself.

Rembrandt

November 19, 2007, 12:10 AM

Sorry nothing yet....been bow hunting for over a week and haven't been able to get close enough to the two I'd want, passed on all the rest. Seen over twenty five different bucks so far. Best year for bucks in years. These are the ones we're passing on to grow another year or two. My son took the one in the last photo. We'll put a couple of doe's in the freezer later for meat.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/deer07-13.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/deer07-11.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/deer07-3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/Bucky3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/deer07-12.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/deer07-1.jpg

Rembrandt

November 19, 2007, 12:13 AM

....and a few more.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/deer07-7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/deer07-6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/deer07-5.jpg

lil_bro

November 19, 2007, 01:16 AM

Thanks guys, one of these days when I get time I will write up the whole story.

As for the dressed weight I've been figuring around 40% of the undressed weight.

One of these days I'm going to order a game scale and eliminate the guess work.

Now I just gota go fire up the BBQ.:D

tyrajam

November 19, 2007, 12:37 PM

Well, I've shot 2 does so far with my bow. gun season opened here in Indiana Saturday, but Ididn't get to hunt because my basketball team (I coach) had a tournament. I've got a few nice bucks I've seen bowhunting that didn't come in range that I'm hoping to get now that gun season is here. Hopefully I'll get a nice one posted soon...

Heres a pic of a doe I shot and another pic of a buck we got on our trailcam

Kentucky Deer Hunter

November 20, 2007, 10:23 AM

tyrajam - Looks like they grow 'em big in Indiana. My wifes family lives in Indiana, hmm....:cool:

davlandrum

November 20, 2007, 01:04 PM

Almost makes me want to pack up and move again to get back to a state where I could take more than 1 deer a year and hunt more than one season!!!!!

FirstFreedom

November 20, 2007, 01:27 PM

What kind of restrictive rules do they have up there anyways.... yeah, Oregoners, when Capp reveals that location, holler at me and I'll come up and he'p you hunt em. And I thought blacktails were little cute deer. Great googily-moogily! :eek:

davlandrum

November 20, 2007, 01:36 PM

FF - Rules for Oregon - 1 deer tag per year - can only hunt one season. One elk tag per year, must chose season.

So If I decide to bowhunt deer, and do not get one, I can not go during rifle season and fill that tag.

That is why I usually bow hunt elk - because I love it, and rifle hunt deer, because the freezer needs stocking. Some day I am going to get my elk (fill the freezer) and be able to hold out for a big deer instead of putting the first legal deer down to make sure we get meat.

There are chances to get an extra tag in some units, but I have not been successful in getting drawn for one.

gedenke

November 20, 2007, 05:42 PM

Rembrandt / Tyra, those are some great live shots! :cool: And Remb, looks like you've got yourself a great place to hunt, I admire your patience in passing up some nice bucks. Is that private land? I'm guessing it's your property or someone you know. Good luck with your hunts!

SavageSniper

November 20, 2007, 07:22 PM

Almost makes me want to pack up and move again to get back to a state where I could take more than 1 deer a year and hunt more than one season!!!!!
At the end of the first week, I have killed 3. One doe and two spikes. Very nice bag limits here in the Sunshine state:D

ZeroJunk

November 20, 2007, 10:52 PM

Rembrandt, what are you taking the pictures with? I took this on a little buck this afternoon at about 50 yards and you can hardly tell it is a deer.It's like find the deer in a child's book.All I have is a 4X optical zoom.It would be fun to take some pictures,but last time I checked before digital, a lense would have been $1000.

MeekAndMild

November 20, 2007, 11:16 PM

WOW! Congrads all you successful buck hunters (and photographers too!) I talked to my neighbor yesterday and he told me that he's gotten some nice pics on his deer cam. All I've seen have been does; I got a nice doe today and spent some time tracking her; even with a 45/70 bullet through the rib cage she ran quite a distance. It was amazing that there was no blood at all for the first 30 yards, then a sprinkle or two. But when I loaded her into the pickup truck all the rest came out. So much for blood trails.

Rembrandt

November 21, 2007, 12:28 AM

Have a little farm in southern Iowa that all the photos were taken. Population is out of control right now, critters ate about 500 bushels of corn or about $2000 in damages. Combine yield monitor showed all the damage was in the outside 20 rows. Beans didn't take quite as bad a hit.

Camera is Canon Rebel EOS digital with 300mm lens. Taking pictures of deer is almost as much fun as hunting them. I know of a couple of big ones out there that make it difficult to settle for anything less. Got about another 40 days to hunt before the season ends. Here's a few more....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/Bucks11.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/Hanibal2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/Img_1416.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/Wildlife/Img_3363.jpg

ZeroJunk

November 21, 2007, 08:43 AM

Thanks Rembrandt. The 300 MM Canon is doing a fantastic job. We have the same problem on deer population.Unfortunately, about 160 inches is as big as they get around here. I have had 14 little bucks within 50 yards of me in the last 10 days.Ten were probably yearlings. One was maybe 120-130, just not quite big enough. I would like to have had a good picture of him.

tyrajam

November 21, 2007, 10:33 AM

Those are some great pics, the only good pictures I get are on my trailcams. The limits in Indiana are 1 buck per year, but each county has their quota for does, usually between 2-6. If you travel a little, you can shoot as many does as you can. But I'd give up shooting lots of does and one buck to move back to my homestate of Oregon where I can hunt deer, elk, bear, cougar, and draw for sheep, goat, antelope...even though when I lived there the only thing I was succesful for was deer;)

gedenke

November 21, 2007, 01:18 PM

Rembrandt, with that much of a problem, I wonder if the [your] state would grant you permission to "thin the herd" a little and maybe take more deer than normally allowed? Who knows, maybe you could even sell some of the extra meat to compensate for your loss? Just a thought, I know farming is a business, and you have the right to protect your investment.

kingudaroad

November 21, 2007, 01:56 PM

We don't grow em that big in Central Texas but here's a nice Hill Country 11 point my son shot last weekend.

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=28330&stc=1&d=1195667726

ibfestus

November 21, 2007, 05:41 PM

:mad:Four days before the Missouri opener I blew out my right knee and that put me on crutches. I let somebody else have my stand on the first Sat. That is his 8 point (Mo. count) in the pic.

Finally on the last Sun. I got so down I just had to get out, so I dumped my crutches and rifle the ATV and headed out about 2:30PM. Got to the back fence and there stands a little 100 lb yearling looking at me. A 175 gr. Sierra put her on the deck. I managed to get her field dressed and in the back. I was back home by 3:15.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/ibfestus/11-10-07Kelly017.jpg

Rembrandt

November 21, 2007, 07:26 PM

gedenke, the guy who farms my place also farms about 7000 acres. The state gave them 250 depredation tags to thin out the deer population. Tags are only good for doe's and can be taken starting August first. Deer meat cannot be resold because it's not USDA inspected. I like venison, but 250 deer is more than I can eat.

rr4406pak

November 21, 2007, 08:25 PM

Shot this buck out behind my house on Monday 11/19 at 7:05am.
Saw him running up the cornfield when I woke up.
Ran outside wearing my PJ's and slippers.
Dropped to one knee and nailed him with a double lung shot.
Not a bad 9 point for my backyard here in New York. :D
Man was I psyched!

bclark1

November 21, 2007, 11:19 PM

as previously mentioned in another thread, worst opener ever in terms of deer numbers seen - however, this was the only guy that gave me a decent shot inside 200 meters. if you're only getting one, it's not a bad one to get.

http://photos-775.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v160/2/56/1905775/n1905775_40330056_7224.jpg

wish i could get a better angle on the rack to show off more but the taxidermist's got him now. first buck ever, no less, i'd been passing on smaller ones and shooting does for the past few years waiting for one worth hanging up.

backstory:
second morning of the season, about 0645 he comes bounding in tail up but slows in the corner of the clearing. he seems to be heading up the hill at a slow walk after that to other folk's property and out of range. i'm in a fairly high tree stand with some branches obscuring shots out that far, so i wait until he comes into one of my holes and figure i'd better shoot or somebody else is getting him on the neighbor's property. little shaky from my perch but now or never, i shoot and he goes down. however, because of the tall grass, i can't tell whether i hit him (i figure some bucks are wiley enough to duck when alarmed), and especially not if any wound is mortal. i decided not to wait and see, but rather to be closer for any followup shots, unhitching and laddering down quickly. takes me a minute to find him in the brush, he was a bit further out than i'd initially estimated. paced it at about 175, i forgot my rangefinder on this trip so it's the best i can do. shot was high and left, hit neck and the bullet deflected inside somehow, coming out behind the outboard ear. 30-06 remington premier accutip 165gr out of a charles daley mauser. the draw i was in was steep - way too steep for my gator, even for the neighbor's ATVs - and it took 3 of us to get him up the final near-vertical edge to the crop field. butcher guessed him about 210 field dressed. 6 points on left side including the split brow tine, 4 on the right, with some nice mass. pretty happy, and will hopefully be happier with some does this weekend.

BIGR

November 22, 2007, 01:51 AM

Nice deer bclark1, I would take a shot at it if I saw it in the woods. After getting a 9 point with the muzzleloader I went back for rifle season and got three does. I have seen 60 to 70 deer so far since NOV. 3. I have hunted hard though, but I have not seen much rut action other than the 9 point that had just made a scrape and was after a hot doe when I shot him.
More to come in December whn I get some time off to go back.

Sarge

November 22, 2007, 11:00 AM

NICE buck, Bclark!
You too R440- I hunted hard for the first 3 days and wound up with a 'yard deer' myself this year. Take 'em where you find 'em. I am kinda disappointed that nobody got a pic of you shooting from the yard in your PJ's...that would have been a TFL classic;)

7mm-08

November 24, 2007, 12:07 AM

Here are a couple of pics of the 4x4 I took this year.For the most part of the season it has been very windy seen about 11 deer in 3.5 days which is better than the 3 deer I seen last year in 10 days.A bigger one had went by 15 minutes earlier treestand was swaying too much to get a shot.Then this guy came out.Got him with my new Browning micro hunter in 7mm-08 150gr federals.Some very nice pics and bucks so far,good luck all.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j249/7mm-08/Picture084-1.jpg
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j249/7mm-08/Picture087.jpg

BILLDAVE

November 24, 2007, 06:40 PM

Nice Bucks all around! can't wait to ge back in the tree stand!!!!

T-Ray

November 25, 2007, 06:45 PM

I took a nice spike (really big for a spike)after missing a smaller spike an hour before. both at about 50 yds with sako .223 with leupold vxIII 3x9-50. same night, actually about 10 minutes before i took my spike, my cousin hit a 150 lb pig in the middle of the spine on the run right after he missed it. we're mixing the venison and pork for some good sausage. this was all on the same property at different stands

jsflagstad

November 25, 2007, 06:47 PM

I got this one with a bow this year in Wisconsin. It was 204lbs dressed and is my best with a bow.

Charles S

November 25, 2007, 06:52 PM

jsflagstad,

Great buck....especially with a bow!

jsflagstad

November 25, 2007, 09:58 PM

Thanks Charles,

I was amazed on how it happened. He was the last of 5 bucks in a bachelor group that walked passed my stand that mid October evening. Started with a fork buck, then a basket 6 point, then a basket 8 point, then what I now know was a small 14 point, and then this 10 point that I shot. I passed on the 14 point as I could tell that he was young (2 1/2 yr old) and knew that he will really be something in another year.

Anyway, each buck came directly under my 20 foot ladder stand and stood 5 yards in front of me quartering away on the edge of the field looking over the field for 5 or so minutes before entering the field. They did this one by one and I was amazed that they kept getting bigger and bigger as the next one came. When the 10 point that I took came up, he gave me his left side quarter first, I drew and then he turned giving me his left. I settled in shooting at an extreme downward angle and sent the arrow on its way. Somehow I got both lungs and teh heart and the expired in 25 yards.

JSF

Full-choke

November 28, 2007, 10:01 AM

Well, even though I have been out in the woods several times, this is my first deer folks. I've gotten plenty of other critters but never been privileged enough until now. She was only a yearling, but she presented well and I marked her for the kill.

She was about 25-30 yards away in a thicket. I planted the slug dead nuts behind her right shoulder blade and destroyed her heart. She ran about 25 yards kicked the back legs up and did a face plant. I couldn't have asked for a cleaner kill or a better day to do it!

Happy Hunting All!
F-C

Kreyzhorse

November 28, 2007, 10:29 PM

Okay, I'll play. This is my first deer taken using my new Ruger No.1 in 45-70. I passed on a couple of questionable shots but finally got a clean shot on this doe at 40 yards. I hit both lungs, she ran about 100 yards and was done. Very pretty animal.

Kreyzhorse

November 28, 2007, 10:38 PM

Sorry - forgot to post my pic!

Dirty_Harry

December 2, 2007, 02:21 AM

I=Jealous

I was not able to get out this year. I had even bought a new rifle for deer hunting too. :(

ZeSpectre

December 2, 2007, 10:17 AM

First year hunting and the schedule only allowed for 3 days out. :mad:

Day one - warm, HUMID?!?, and saw several deer...across the property line on the neighbors "no hunting please" property :rolleyes:

Day two - 13 freakin' degrees and a chill wind to boot. Saw ONE deer meandering around in the edge of the woods. I spent almost two hours patiently waiting for it to decide to step into the clear which it never did. Six hours in that cold was enough, I went home.

Day three - Saw a deer early on, somebody's dogs showed up and spooked it. Decided to move to another location and was apparently having a clumsy day because I was making more noise than the 3'rd tank battalion. Saw nothing else that day.

pipoman

December 2, 2007, 01:27 PM

Firearm season opened in KS last Wed. I hunt on a 40 acre tract in the middle of a section of farm ground owned by my father-in-law. I arrived at their house at around 2pm Thurs. I was sidetracked talking to my mother-in-law. At around 4pm my father-in-law came in and asked if I was waiting for the deer to find me. I went out to my area and walked about 1/2 way around it. I spotted a tiny fawn eating so I stopped and watched it. After around 5 minutes this big boy (8 point non-typical) came around the side of a cedar tree. Facing me, chest shot, S&W M29 6" P&R, Winchester platinum ammo. The entire hunt lasted around 1 hour. I'll be going out to get a doe or 2 next week.

http://users.powwwer.net/ckds/forums/deer_2007_small.jpg

http://users.powwwer.net/ckds/forums/2007_hunt.jpg

Capp35

December 9, 2007, 02:46 PM

Sorry, Oregon guys. I've been told not to reveal where those Blacktails are at.

Here are some more pics from my place.
The first two are the pics of the buck I got.
The third is a pic of a cull buck that I let a co-worker take.

https://publish.comcast.net/rpath/JgQNMRMfi9pmDkFFaKlr8VhuoF590M1xRib9daBQ1GnBrBLxOvhx9eMFBppnue-JnsT1CFHdQgTkkItebmcXJD20oZxUAeALOjgE-hgX2Zg/

https://publish.comcast.net/rpath/hKVO40J9dhef4YOXAr-DwpxkhMJgzUqTeDjDrK_l9QyXV4c5GWygIINcsXMJ1THskPcbZ07k_6i6H25AJhHBKligSrp-WgtxDqf_gVUf6C0/

https://publish.comcast.net/rpath/j2mxamjBoc1pU1vV8Q0fTm6sFr_ckx-TeP8ikpmRIH1O8fizTBAt2KviBQvtnZz3ZGdPkxcCISEj2C5u1yNsuE_OdhsBhsw0sdbD6g_g8ZQ/

BIGR

December 9, 2007, 08:44 PM

Great deer guys. Sitting thinking how much I'D like to be hunting this week looking for a big white tail buck, but I gotta work this week. I get to go back on the 17th for one more hunt.

MrCleanOK

December 10, 2007, 03:09 AM

13 points, 174 lbs. Shot him with a .243 in northwest Oklahoma. As a final "screw you", he went down halfway through crossing a river.

Freakdaddy

December 10, 2007, 10:42 AM

This was my son's first big buck! He's 16 and he shot him opening morning in Missouri and we were hunting public land. Live weight was at 250lbs and it's a 9 point. He used a Remington 700 Mountain Rifle in a .260 caliber. This is his third deer overall. Needless to say, he was walking on air all weekend long. It helped that the Ol' Man didn't get a buck...yeah, he skunked me LOL!!

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/Freakdaddy2/DSC01203.jpg

Freakdaddy

December 10, 2007, 10:43 AM

MrCleanOK...VERY NICE!!

DensityMan

December 10, 2007, 06:36 PM

Had a 'nice-sized spike' chase a couple does into me grunting the whole time (at the time I thought he was a fork point at least). The shot would've been rushed on either of the does, so I lined up where they went through and KaBOOM - the spike fell after about a fifty yard dash.

http://www.clanofthepurpleturtle.com/graphics/07_deer_camp/sparkys_spike.jpg

Taken with a traditional-style 1840's 50 cal percussion muzzleloader at about 15-20 yards.

The picture doesn't show it well, but he was big-bodied for a spike. Others hunting the same property that weekend harvested a 4 and a 6 that were both smaller-bodied. So I'm not quite sure what to make of him, but it sure was exciting to be able to see and hear him grunting away and chasing does like a big boy.

Third year hunting and my second spike deer; so apparently I'm still a meat-in-the-freezer hunter, and if it's brown and in range - BOOM. :)

Getting in and cleaning the deer (mostly) solo was a learning experience for certain. Had some great help over the radio though. Been out quite a bit trying to get in some more practice field-dressing, but the deer in Indiana get real sneaky after opening of firearms season and none of them have wanted to help me get in that practice. ;)

Gratz to all those above (and those to come) on their deer as well! :D

retrieverman

December 11, 2007, 10:40 AM

The 2007 season has been tough here in east Texas, but with much persistence, my son and I have overcame the moon and unseasonably warm weather. I have killed 4 does and a long spike, and he has killed 2 does. We both killed does during the Oklahoma muzzleloader season. I killed a 145" 11 point during the OK rifle season, and my son killed a 140" 13 point.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/retrieverman/Picture491_editedLarge.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/retrieverman/Picture018Large.jpg

Nevertoomanyguns

December 11, 2007, 12:42 PM

We both rattled out two nice Maine bucks on Public land and I also shot my first deer with a bow this year. Oh, and congrats to everyone on this thread. A lot of beautiful critters posted.

My first bow kill 105 pond doe small but good eating. I got more excited shooting her then my 2 last bucks a 213 pound 10-pt last year and my 201 11-pt this year.

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6876/1000215yg1.jpg

This is my best friends 259 pound (field dressed) 8-pt. That I was so nice to put him on. he rattled it out though.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1518/1000255ri5.jpg

This is my 201 pound (field dressed) 11-pt buck that I rattled out third week of the season. He would have gone more than that but he had been runing does hard.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2146/1000275tq9.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9111/1000274sd2.jpg

I know this is not 07-08 season but I don't think I have posted them here yet.

My 213 pound (field dressed) 10-pt buck from last season:

http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/1976/10019423gx4.jpg

My Dad's 260 pound (field dressed) 11-pt he shot last year. It was the 5th largest buck (weight wise) shot in Maine last year. The weight is a big factor in Maine. Antlers are nice but if you tell someone you shot a nice buck the first question they will ask is how much did it weigh and then they might ask about the rack.

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/4520/1001934bt3.jpg

rantingredneck

December 16, 2007, 04:50 PM

.......11 weeks after falling 18 feet while bowhunting, breaking my L-1 vertebra, being airlifted to UNC Hospitals and having a seven hour operation on my back.......I took a small doe. No pictures, sorry, she wasn't that big :o.

Mossberg 500 with 18.5" accuchoke heavy wall barrel at 30 yds using standard 9 pellet 00 buck. Head/neck shot while on the run, rolled in her tracks.

She's small, but will be tasty and for me is a personal success given that I had pretty much written off hunting this season after my injury. But once I was home I refused to just "lay down" and got up and at it again. Feeling better and more normal every day. :).

I've killed a few wallhangers in my time, but I think I'm more proud of this one than any I've ever killed.

SavageSniper

December 16, 2007, 05:34 PM

Great to hear you are back in the saddle Rantingredneck!!!!

gedenke

December 16, 2007, 08:58 PM

Kudos RR! I don't know you but great job not giving up! Cheers!:cool:

Niagara Shooter

December 16, 2007, 09:03 PM

I think that with all the snow that has fallen over the last 24 hours, my deer season is offically over. Had a good year saw lots of deer, and managed to take a few. My group ended up getting 8 deer, a 6er a 4 point, 2 buttons and 4 doe. That was for 5 guys hunting in NY state, the 6 point was my buddy's first ever buck and only 2nd deer. So all in all it was a great season and congradulations to everyone else who made it out hunting this year!
NS

Trapp

December 18, 2007, 08:37 AM

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd199/anmtrapp/P1010013.jpg

Deer number 2. Shot him close to dark. Searched for 3 or 4 hours and called it quits. Went back at about noon the next day. Found him 20 yds away from the last blood.

CamoCop

December 21, 2007, 02:37 PM

doe, 6 pt and an 8 pt this year....so far

phaessler

December 22, 2007, 07:32 PM

Killed this buck early in Muzzloader here in SW Virginia, 11/06/07, dressed out at 168#, nice mature 8pt. Taken at 65yds. 50cal muzzleloader/saboted 240gr 44cal, didnt go 5ft

Killed a doe a week later, same spot, dressed her out at 94#. She was a beauty. Travelled about 10 feet and piled up. 50 cal muzzloader/saboted 240gr 44 cal. No pics of her unfortunately.

Third buck I killed on Thursday, 12/20/07. Great 7pt. / 140#. 50cal muzzloader/saboted 240gr 44 cal Was within 15minutes of last light. Decided to try grunting. He came in like a freight train, tearing trees up, grunting, jumping up and down, thrashing his antlers against everything. Whistled to get his attention and that was it...He ran dead for about 15 yds.

Have until Jan 5th or we run out of freezer space. Funny thing is, passed on alot of nice shooter bucks and does during rifle season.

Safe hunting and Happy Holidays all.