Bow season opens here in Virginia. And it is going to be a hot opener. Calling for 88 degrees for the high. Anyone else's season open on Sat.?
Ours opened Oct. 1st. Haven't hunted in quite a few years. Way too many leaves on the trees right now to bow hunt, though. 88° is hot. Kinda uncomfortable. Plus you got to get that deer cooled down quick. I remember one November it got up into the 70s here and I was hunting in a Tshirt and was crawling with ticks. I liked it cold when I hunted.
Ours opened this past week, got my buck first night out. Now my wife is the main focus, we got a few really nice buck still running around that she is looking for.
My BIL tagged a nice mid 130's 10 pointer last night. I really need to start bow hunting again (haven't been since high school). Supposed to be 86 here today. That's what I don't like about bow season....have to have a way to keep the carcass cool. A buddy of mine build a home-made walk-in cooler in his pole barn. It is pretty simple but works very well. Inside an existing building (pole barn, garage, bedroom), frame up some 6" walls and insulate them. Insulate the floor and ceiling (he installed some false floor and ceiling joists and used batts). Cut a hole and install a small window AC unit. It says about 45* in there no problem, but you have to disable/relocate the automatic thermostat to get it that cool.
PA bow season comes in tomorrow morning......and I won't be going. Have a wedding all day tomorrow, not to mention I sitting out in 88° temps with the bugs.... Too many leaves on the trees too. I enjoy hunting the rut, on those cool, crisp mornings and evenings. Nothing like being in he woods that time of year!!
I am with you there Scotty. Our season has beeen open for a month or so. I have not even looked at my equipment yet. Although I was informed of a serious buck having been seen crossing a road into my hunting area. I am starting to feel the need for tree climbing.
I will probably just hunt the morning and bring my 70 quart cooler. I will hunt a farm other than my own in the morning. If I get one I will run down to the store and get a couple bags of ice and quarter the deer and put it on ice.
Way too hot up here in NY. Deer are moving, though. My brother passed up two young bucks already up near Hilton, NY. Great apple crop this year so if you know of an old orchard, you should fill your tags. I'm like Scotty... the RUT is the time to be in the woods. It's magical.
Ours openend the other day forage but havent been out yet.. Here's a few that i've got over the years though.. Good hunting to all you guys this year eh!
Warm here in Upstate NY.. 70's, when out on my farm this morning,, looking to take a doe for bow season.. Watched a yearling about 50 feet from my stand, too small,,, then Momma came , I passed as I've seen them together many times, rather leave a breeding doe... The yearling came with in 25 feet of my stand, whoops no little doe,, Button buck! Glad I didn't shoot now, would have felt like a jack azz.. Let him get big.. Funny , my one 13 acre field I use to always see like 6-8 deer grazing,,, past month I've seen no deer.. Maybe it 's just too warm, their laying down?
Wow, Luke....that's a dandy buck! Congrats!! Looks like he's in pre-rut already by the looks of his neck!!
No not usually....Biggest I've gotten Was a 193lb 8 pointer, only a few over 200lb that I hear of once in awhile.
Typical average kill for Maine bucks over 200 lbs is 600-700 out of 20k total harvest.. I ran into one 10 years ago. 215 dressed, grossed 154. Bottom left of my current avatar.
20+ years ago my dads neighbor shot an 18 pointer that weighed 235 hanging carcass.... no head and no fur. It was a monster. First and last deer the guy ever shot.
