Disappointing Season

SuperKirby · 12-12-2010, 05:40 AM

Today is the last day of muzzleloader season and I don't get to go out. As the season goes, it was a bit of disheartening. I got to go out more this year than last year, so that was good. I hunted in probably the coldest weather I've ever hunted.
Yesterday I really thought was going to be a good day. We had a blizzard that started Friday night and lasted until about dark last night. Yesterday afternoon I gave up on plowing and decided to go hunting instead. I've yet to find anything still hunting in the woods, so I figured if I was going to it would be in a blizzard.
About 5 minutes into the hunt, right after I walked off the dirt road and into the first stand of trees and while I was still getting the safety off the Disc Extreme, I had a deer jump about 10 feet in front of me. I ran around the front edge of the trees hoping to catch him cutting through the cornfield but I just missed him. I got on his tracks and followed him back to where I was originally going to hunt, as I've seen a few there before the season started.
Here's where the really disappointing part starts. I stopped at a small opening deciding which way to go. I was looking to the left where the tracks I was following went when something to the right caught my eye. I looked over and saw a HUGE body. It was just behind a row of bushes, and I seriously had to stare at it to make sure it was a deer (there's rumors of a couple bears back there.) I couldn't tell if it was a buck or not, and honestly I wasn't looking real close at the head. I waited for it to turn broadside and fired. I was rewarded a sickening little pop. I know it was more than just a primer going off, but there was almost no smoke or kick. I reloaded and they were too far back in the brush to have a clean shot. I trailed them for another hour, and realized that in the storm things looked a lot different than they normally did and I didn't really know where I was at. I figured I better follow my tracks back and made it home just after dark.

Michlw39 · 12-12-2010, 05:49 AM

At least you're seeing deer--unlike me!

It's the age-old question...is it better to have loved and lost (seen a deer and missed) than never to have loved at all (not seen anything)? I say you have the advantage over me

Buck up: it happens to all of us...it'll make the next time you do drop that big deer that much sweeter.

And amen about the woods changing big time after a snowstorm! You're a better hunter all the way around after that experience--another positive for you moving forward.

gregrn43 · 12-12-2010, 08:06 AM

These has been a disappointing season for me as well. I was off on vacation for the 9 day ml season here, it was extremely hot and saw 1 deer the entire season. Modern gun wasnt much better a few small bucks and does, but nothing decent to shoot. I have 4 game cams out and still only seeing small bucks and does, I think its about time to put a doe or 2 in the freezer for some meat.

cayugad · 12-12-2010, 08:28 AM

Well not getting a deer is no end of the world. At least you got to get out and try. And best of all, you did see deer. So it was not a complete loss. That was some blizzard yesterday.

SuperKirby · 12-12-2010, 09:30 AM

It was definately a learning experience, and that's always a good thing. Just gets a little frustrating sometimes. Oh well. Hopefully next year. I think if I could have got out for a few afternoon hunts it would have made a difference. I think with as cold as it's been this season they're waiting until later in the day to move much.

deer655 · 12-12-2010, 03:04 PM

Did you figure out why your shot didnt go off? Your season this year sounded like my last years season. This year was pretty good; 1 muzzleloader buck, 1 archery doe. I just got back from a squirrel/ turkey hunt. Best weather of the year-25 to 40 degrees and clear skies,lite wind. We got a fair amount of squirrels and 1 turkey.