Had my first chance at a doe tonight about 45 yard shot. Over 30 hours in the woods and haven’t had a shot yet. Almost took it but the deer was on top of a ridge. I was not sure what was beyond the target. The risk was not worth the reward.
I said I used to, but it's a time thing. There's not too much to it, but time is such a precious commodity for me. Now, when I'm retired, I'll do my own again.
Why not, I sure would. Had a decent 10 pt walk right through my front yard at my house during the week of gun hunting. I should work from home, while hunting. Maybe next year I'll be able to build my elevated deer condo and work from Hut with my phone as the hotspot and a car battery to power it all. When the laptop battery dies, it's time to stop working for the day. I'm only half kidding and could easily do this.
They really are. I had a couple of old tech cams years ago. They ate batteries and only seemed to take pictures of squirrels and wind moving branches. This year I got a cell cam and a couple of really nice non cellular cams. Like you said, a game changer. It's still fun going though pics Feb the non cell cams while in the stand. Good way to pass the time
If my luck doesn’t straighten out this weekend I am going to my backup plan. A feed tub with corn in the front yard. I’ve taken 30+ hours out of my days to do it the “right” way. As much as I like sitting in the woods, I got other stuff to do.
Here's what I got in my shack. Many points, but no tag needed. I used a home defense Rd from my 9mm That was pretty messy on the exit at 5 feet.
Umm yeah. There's boards I have to replace now. He chewed some holes in the plywood. I noticed it early ish on opening day. Then I realized it wasn't mice like I thought. I didn't want to ruin any chance at a buck so I waited him out and shot it after shooting hours on Saturday. Luckily it stayed put and I didn't need to shoot t earlier in the day. I saw 2 does on Saturday one early, before season started, and the second at mid morning and I was scoping it attempting to grow antlers on it. That didn't work. Day two, I saw 4 deer, all does I think. The last 1 I saw might have been a spike but it was moving a bit too fast to be certain. At any rate, it wasn't big enough to shoot for me. In a couple years I'll have a hunch of decent bucks around as I saw quite a few small bucks that were all different horned. The trail cams really allow you to know what's out there. There was a decent 8 pt and a tall 6 that I would've taken this year.
Strike out this morning. Think I'll go hunt the farm this evening. I haven't hunted it yet this year.
Just got the wifes little buck done. My 7 year old boy was with her when she shot it and really wanted it mounted. I was to cheap to take it to the beetle place to get euro mounted (the daughters bear skull is there now and hide at the taxidermist). It turned out acceptable (i.e. the wife didn't complain).
Really quiet for the weekend of gun season, it was also really warm. I only heard one shot all morning. It was darn loud too because I took the shot at a doe. I didn’t take a shot yesterday and figured they might pass the same trail again. I broadcast some corn on the lower path last night. There were 4 does. I wanted to let them get closer but my wife was about to leave for work and didn’t want to miss the opportunity. Deer was about there when I shot. I was concerned for a moment and didn’t see where the deer went. After another minute I found it 50 yards from where it was shot. Loaded her up into the bucket. Had to get it quartered really quick, it’s almost 60 outside. First time bagging a deer in the AM. I never have had any luck in the morning. Pressure is off, not going to hunt tonight.