Getting That Itch

sc outdoorsman · September 28, 2011, 05:19 PM

I want to go deer hunting. In the worst way.

Season for us is about 2 weeks away. I have to be out of town for a week of training next week. So for the last 2 weeks we have been trying to get everything ready. We set up a new tower stand and made shooting lanes around it and cleared lanes around the existing ones, moved an old tower stand, broke up and planted 3 food plots. Tomorrow I have to clear the trail back to the stand where I killed the 8pt last Halloween and do a little tweaking to one of the tower stands and we should be ready.

We should have gotten an earlier start but between the heat and drought we decided to wait until the weather was a little more agreeable. We planted the 2nd food plot about 10 days ago and about 2 days later got the first rain in over a month and temps have been in the low-mid 90's during that span.

The forcast for the weekend and next week callls for lows in the upper 40's and highs in the mid 70's. That will really get the fever going. I will have a hard time focusing on my training next week.

I hope everyone else is ready and has a productive season.

kraigwy · September 28, 2011, 05:54 PM

Our season starts the 1st (Saturday). I had a friend from Alaska who was suppose to come down and I was going to take him antelope hunting. Normally I don't hunt antelope unless he comes down, but I got a tag so I might as well fill it.

He don't like horses so I think, since I'm going to be hunting alone, I just saddle my pony and ride the prairies. Most people don't get too far off the road so I'll get the chance at critters they chase to me.

Antelope arn't scared of horses, they graze among them all year long. On horse back you can get pretty close. Besides, being old and lazy, the horse can carry an antelope a lot better then I can. He can carry me and the critter all day and I don't even get winded.

I might stay out a few days just for the fun of it.

Our early deer season starts Saturday also, But unless something really stands out, I'll probably wait until the Nov 1 season.

FrankenMauser · September 28, 2011, 06:03 PM

Antelope is the kick-off for big game. With 6 in the freezer, we're itching for some more hunting.

No deer this year...
Elk season opens on the 8th.
I was lazy, and didn't want to clean another Antelope by myself this year. So, I still have my second tag to fill.

I'll go back for it on the 14th. (With my father and step-mother, who, somehow, didn't fill any of their 4 tags.)

...Then we start over: That long, arduous wait for next September's Antelope opener.

Then again... my garden is nearing its end for the year. Maybe I can squeeze in a Canteloupe season after the Elk hunt.

SDShooter79 · September 28, 2011, 08:47 PM

I know how your feeling, Saturday is the prairie antelope opener, and my wife has to work. I love my kids, but i gotta draw the line somewhere!

Brian Pfleuger · September 28, 2011, 08:58 PM

Oh, I'm itching all right... bow season starts Oct 15th. None of my gear is ready but I sure am. Got this picture on a walk through a bow-only area that we hunt...

He's a little hard to see in the uploaded picture but he's either an ENORMOUS 8-point or "only" a HUGE 10.

Not that I'm going to shoot him... I apparently ooze buck repellent, no matter what. I can kill doe all day long.

Cowboy_mo · September 28, 2011, 10:13 PM

Peet, I feel you pain for oozing buck repellent..

I haven't had an ethical shot at a buck for over 5 years. There was the huge old buck I hunted for two years (bow & rifle). After tempting me for two years and letting me see him 3 or 4 times (not presenting an ethical shot) he walked in front of my neighbor's 7 year old last year and down he went.

Brian Pfleuger · September 28, 2011, 10:32 PM

That's how it goes, ain't it Cowboy? I've been hunting since I was 17 and never get large bucks. My uncle is on his 7th year hunting right where I hunt as he's got something like a 2, 4, 5, 6, two 7s and an 8 point. A couple years ago my cousin shot a big 8 point right after I left the stand and he climbed up.

Here's a better version of the picture:

He's a beast.

Here are some others where I hunt....

Yeah, you could say Im looking forward to the season. These boys will be in my dreams while I kill every doe in the woods.

TXGunNut · September 28, 2011, 10:47 PM

Deer season over a month away here in TX. First scheduled hunt first week of December. Have a bit of cast boolit load development to do (one mould still in the mail!) but it's going to be a loooong couple of months with the pics you guys keep posting...but don't let that stop you. I'm loving it!

Zhe Wiz · September 29, 2011, 12:37 PM

Peetza's just saving up his buck luck for some friggin' 14+ point MONSTER. Meanwhile I'm killing all the little 6's, 7's and 8's hoping he never gets that chance. Unfortunately, judging by the pics, some have escaped me! ;-)

Zhe Wiz

Brian Pfleuger · September 29, 2011, 12:43 PM

Ah! He's back!

Zhe Whiz oozes buck *attractant* somehow!

EMN89 · September 29, 2011, 12:48 PM

Peetzakilla

That buck I killed was a big six not an eight, I said over the radio I thought it was an eight.

Brian Pfleuger · September 29, 2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMN89

Peetzakilla

That buck I killed was a big six not an eight, I said over the radio I thought it was an eight.

Well, I only hate you 6/8 as much then. ;-)

warbirdlover · September 29, 2011, 02:33 PM

Bowhunting is open in Wisconsin but the one week of rifle hunting isn't until the week of Thanksgiving in November.

The bowhunters on the land report some absolute MONSTERS roaming. Real wall hangers. I'm trying to stay calm....

Saltydog235 · September 29, 2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

I want to go deer hunting. In the worst way.

Season for us is about 2 weeks away. I have to be out of town for a week of training next week. So for the last 2 weeks we have been trying to get everything ready. We set up a new tower stand and made shooting lanes around it and cleared lanes around the existing ones, moved an old tower stand, broke up and planted 3 food plots. Tomorrow I have to clear the trail back to the stand where I killed the 8pt last Halloween and do a little tweaking to one of the tower stands and we should be ready.

We should have gotten an earlier start but between the heat and drought we decided to wait until the weather was a little more agreeable. We planted the 2nd food plot about 10 days ago and about 2 days later got the first rain in over a month and temps have been in the low-mid 90's during that span.

The forcast for the weekend and next week callls for lows in the upper 40's and highs in the mid 70's. That will really get the fever going. I will have a hard time focusing on my training next week.

I hope everyone else is ready and has a productive season.

LOL you should move to Eastern SC. I've been sitting since the 1st of September and buddies since August 15th. Will be there tommorrow PM Lord willing.

sc outdoorsman · September 29, 2011, 05:42 PM

Actually the county I live in comes in 8/15, but I dont start getting the itch until the days start getting shorter and cooler. Ive tried early season and it's not my cup of tea. The land we are priviledged to hunt falls in the upstate and its ok by me.

We hacked through the path down to the lower part one of our properties today and the briars did their job on us. The deer are really working the area so it's all good. The food plot we planted has been picked clean of clover.
We went to our second parcel and tweeked the stand. There was a good bit of sign there as well, but not as much as the other. We left the 2nd parcel and passed the first there was a really nice buck standing in a dirt road about 100 yards from the stand my son killed his first buck last year. Almost as big as the one I killed last year. I told my son and he is really worked up. I probably wil not get a chance on that stand all year.

Saltydog235 · September 30, 2011, 07:19 AM

I know the feeling on early season, it can be miserable. I don't know how people can stand it without a Bug Tamer on and the skeeters haven't been real bad this year. I go early because it lets me relaxe and gets me outside and out of the office so the misery is worth it.

Scorch · September 30, 2011, 12:17 PM

Quote:

I want to go deer hunting. In the worst way.

Sounds like the way I hunt . . .

BIGR · September 30, 2011, 08:40 PM

There is a chill in the air and I am getting ready. I can't wait either. I go to deer camp on the 28th of OCT. and I have 4 weeks off from work. I am going to hunt hard and see what falls.......

sc outdoorsman · September 30, 2011, 10:55 PM

Peetza Those are relly nice bucks. Those pics got me fired up even more.

I hate going out of town. My dad is talking about putting up another stand next week in a great spot. The only consolation I have is there is a Bass Pro Shop fairly close to my hotel. Guess where I will be hanging out.

mouser868 · October 2, 2011, 06:10 PM

I've already put a button buck in the freezer, Bow season started yesterday, and gun season starts in November, so I have time to get a couple more.

TheNatureBoy · October 3, 2011, 05:49 AM

Our season started this past Saturday. I went to the range the day before so was a little tired after walking back and forth changing targets and the long drive back. Didn't hit the bushes til about 11-11:30. It felt good to get back out there. After the hunt, we sat around and told a few hunting stories over a few cold beers : )

BikerRN · October 3, 2011, 08:33 AM

18 more days and my deer season starts.

I only have one week to put Bambi in the freezer and have to work three of those days.

The scouting was productive and I've got an couple of ridges picked out to sit on and glass. Now I just need to hope that the townies that show up to hunt the weekend don't stir the deer up too much as I'm hunting the last four days of the season are M-Th.

Biker

FrankenMauser · October 11, 2011, 02:19 AM

I had a second Doe Antelope tag that went unfilled on our first trip. (See my first post in this thread -- post #3, I believe.)

In prior years, I just let an unfilled tag go. It wasn't a big deal to just ignore it. ...Just let the Antelope get bigger for next year.

But, there was that itch... that itch that just won't go away.

Crankylove and I jumped in my truck at 10:30 pm on Saturday (after he had been Elk hunting all day), and high-tailed it to our Antelope unit in Wyoming.
We crawled out of the truck before sunrise, and had a herd of goats sleeping 75 yards behind the truck.

I scratched the itch.

The shot was fired about 22 minutes before sunrise, Sunday. I hadn't even tied my shoes yet, when I shot her.

We had enough time to walk out to her, discuss retrieval options, walk back to the truck, get warmed up, and drive across the river (dry, but treacherous, this time of year*) ... before sunrise. Those warm rays of light felt great, while doing the dirty work.

Now, the Elk hunting itch isn't quite as bad.

*One Game Warden, and myself, are the only people that use the particular crossing we drove through to get her. When we get up there, most years; my tire tracks are all that you'll see at that crossing. The banks are very steep, the river bed has deep loose sand, the approach and departure are walled by 6 foot sagebrush, and it's very slick this time of year (slimy silt mud on top of clay). ...But the next crossing was 1.5 miles away on cow-pocked, slimy roads.

sc outdoorsman · October 11, 2011, 08:54 AM

Today is opening day. I decided not to take it off after being out of town all of last week. It was a good decision, It is pouring rain and gusting wind so I feel a little better. Tomorrow may be a different story. I feel an illness coming on

We went up and looked around yesterday. The big buck is still working the area near the stand my son has claimed. I hope he can get a shot at him.

That is a beautiful photo of you and the goat. That itch just will not go away will it!!

Saltydog235 · October 11, 2011, 10:26 AM

Get in early. Mid day has been showing some lately too. Evenings have sucked due to the moon.

September 28, 2011, 05:19 PM	#1
sc outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Location: Western SC Posts: 208	Getting That Itch I want to go deer hunting. In the worst way. Season for us is about 2 weeks away. I have to be out of town for a week of training next week. So for the last 2 weeks we have been trying to get everything ready. We set up a new tower stand and made shooting lanes around it and cleared lanes around the existing ones, moved an old tower stand, broke up and planted 3 food plots. Tomorrow I have to clear the trail back to the stand where I killed the 8pt last Halloween and do a little tweaking to one of the tower stands and we should be ready. We should have gotten an earlier start but between the heat and drought we decided to wait until the weather was a little more agreeable. We planted the 2nd food plot about 10 days ago and about 2 days later got the first rain in over a month and temps have been in the low-mid 90's during that span. The forcast for the weekend and next week callls for lows in the upper 40's and highs in the mid 70's. That will really get the fever going. I will have a hard time focusing on my training next week. I hope everyone else is ready and has a productive season.

September 28, 2011, 05:54 PM	#2
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,060	Our season starts the 1st (Saturday). I had a friend from Alaska who was suppose to come down and I was going to take him antelope hunting. Normally I don't hunt antelope unless he comes down, but I got a tag so I might as well fill it. He don't like horses so I think, since I'm going to be hunting alone, I just saddle my pony and ride the prairies. Most people don't get too far off the road so I'll get the chance at critters they chase to me. Antelope arn't scared of horses, they graze among them all year long. On horse back you can get pretty close. Besides, being old and lazy, the horse can carry an antelope a lot better then I can. He can carry me and the critter all day and I don't even get winded. I might stay out a few days just for the fun of it. Our early deer season starts Saturday also, But unless something really stands out, I'll probably wait until the Nov 1 season.

September 28, 2011, 06:03 PM	#3
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,778	Antelope is the kick-off for big game. With 6 in the freezer, we're itching for some more hunting. No deer this year... Elk season opens on the 8th. I was lazy, and didn't want to clean another Antelope by myself this year. So, I still have my second tag to fill. I'll go back for it on the 14th. (With my father and step-mother, who, somehow, didn't fill any of their 4 tags.) ...Then we start over: That long, arduous wait for next September's Antelope opener. Then again... my garden is nearing its end for the year. Maybe I can squeeze in a Canteloupe season after the Elk hunt. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

September 28, 2011, 08:47 PM	#4
SDShooter79 Member Join Date: August 20, 2011 Location: South Dakota Posts: 77	I know how your feeling, Saturday is the prairie antelope opener, and my wife has to work. I love my kids, but i gotta draw the line somewhere!

September 28, 2011, 08:58 PM	#5
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	Oh, I'm itching all right... bow season starts Oct 15th. None of my gear is ready but I sure am. Got this picture on a walk through a bow-only area that we hunt... He's a little hard to see in the uploaded picture but he's either an ENORMOUS 8-point or "only" a HUGE 10. Not that I'm going to shoot him... I apparently ooze buck repellent, no matter what. I can kill doe all day long.

September 28, 2011, 10:13 PM	#6
Cowboy_mo Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,039	Peet, I feel you pain for oozing buck repellent.. I haven't had an ethical shot at a buck for over 5 years. There was the huge old buck I hunted for two years (bow & rifle). After tempting me for two years and letting me see him 3 or 4 times (not presenting an ethical shot) he walked in front of my neighbor's 7 year old last year and down he went.

September 28, 2011, 10:47 PM	#8
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Deer season over a month away here in TX. First scheduled hunt first week of December. Have a bit of cast boolit load development to do (one mould still in the mail!) but it's going to be a loooong couple of months with the pics you guys keep posting...but don't let that stop you. I'm loving it!

September 29, 2011, 12:37 PM	#9
Zhe Wiz Member Join Date: December 12, 2009 Location: Dryden, NY Posts: 64	Peetza's just saving up his buck luck for some friggin' 14+ point MONSTER. Meanwhile I'm killing all the little 6's, 7's and 8's hoping he never gets that chance. Unfortunately, judging by the pics, some have escaped me! ;-) Zhe Wiz

September 29, 2011, 12:43 PM	#10
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,694	Ah! He's back! Zhe Whiz oozes buck attractant somehow!

September 29, 2011, 12:48 PM	#11
EMN89 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 136	Peetzakilla That buck I killed was a big six not an eight, I said over the radio I thought it was an eight.

September 29, 2011, 02:33 PM	#13
warbirdlover Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2009 Location: central Wisconsin Posts: 2,324	Bowhunting is open in Wisconsin but the one week of rifle hunting isn't until the week of Thanksgiving in November. The bowhunters on the land report some absolute MONSTERS roaming. Real wall hangers. I'm trying to stay calm....

September 29, 2011, 05:42 PM	#15
sc outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Location: Western SC Posts: 208	Actually the county I live in comes in 8/15, but I dont start getting the itch until the days start getting shorter and cooler. Ive tried early season and it's not my cup of tea. The land we are priviledged to hunt falls in the upstate and its ok by me. We hacked through the path down to the lower part one of our properties today and the briars did their job on us. The deer are really working the area so it's all good. The food plot we planted has been picked clean of clover. We went to our second parcel and tweeked the stand. There was a good bit of sign there as well, but not as much as the other. We left the 2nd parcel and passed the first there was a really nice buck standing in a dirt road about 100 yards from the stand my son killed his first buck last year. Almost as big as the one I killed last year. I told my son and he is really worked up. I probably wil not get a chance on that stand all year.

September 30, 2011, 07:19 AM	#16
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 1,563	I know the feeling on early season, it can be miserable. I don't know how people can stand it without a Bug Tamer on and the skeeters haven't been real bad this year. I go early because it lets me relaxe and gets me outside and out of the office so the misery is worth it.

September 30, 2011, 08:40 PM	#18
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,385	There is a chill in the air and I am getting ready. I can't wait either. I go to deer camp on the 28th of OCT. and I have 4 weeks off from work. I am going to hunt hard and see what falls.......

September 30, 2011, 10:55 PM	#19
sc outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Location: Western SC Posts: 208	Peetza Those are relly nice bucks. Those pics got me fired up even more. I hate going out of town. My dad is talking about putting up another stand next week in a great spot. The only consolation I have is there is a Bass Pro Shop fairly close to my hotel. Guess where I will be hanging out.

October 2, 2011, 06:10 PM	#20
mouser868 Member Join Date: September 29, 2011 Posts: 56	I've already put a button buck in the freezer, Bow season started yesterday, and gun season starts in November, so I have time to get a couple more.

October 3, 2011, 05:49 AM	#21
TheNatureBoy Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Posts: 1,204	Our season started this past Saturday. I went to the range the day before so was a little tired after walking back and forth changing targets and the long drive back. Didn't hit the bushes til about 11-11:30. It felt good to get back out there. After the hunt, we sat around and told a few hunting stories over a few cold beers : )

October 3, 2011, 08:33 AM	#22
BikerRN Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2007 Location: "State of Discombobulation" Posts: 1,333	18 more days and my deer season starts. I only have one week to put Bambi in the freezer and have to work three of those days. The scouting was productive and I've got an couple of ridges picked out to sit on and glass. Now I just need to hope that the townies that show up to hunt the weekend don't stir the deer up too much as I'm hunting the last four days of the season are M-Th. Biker

October 11, 2011, 08:54 AM	#24
sc outdoorsman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Location: Western SC Posts: 208	Today is opening day. I decided not to take it off after being out of town all of last week. It was a good decision, It is pouring rain and gusting wind so I feel a little better. Tomorrow may be a different story. I feel an illness coming on We went up and looked around yesterday. The big buck is still working the area near the stand my son has claimed. I hope he can get a shot at him. That is a beautiful photo of you and the goat. That itch just will not go away will it!!

October 11, 2011, 10:26 AM	#25
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 1,563	Get in early. Mid day has been showing some lately too. Evenings have sucked due to the moon.