We had 5 hunters in our camp 1st season...Jackson and Union public land...3 bucks (4/8/8)and 1 nice doe. The big8 pointer was a brute...biggest bodied deer of the 100 or so deer I saw in various camps during 1st season. I saw longer antlers and more points but this8 was very nice, thick mass, I would take this guy to dominate in the woods. It was the coldest 1st season I have experienced (20s)...no rain or snow...wind was not too bad...overall could not ask for a much better weekend.
The bucks were definitely in full chase mode. The big 8 just came bull rushing in with his nose to the ground going right for a scent. The smaller 8 was chasing a doe.
When I hung my stand thursday at noon I saw a really nice 8 about 75 yards from my spot...was hoping to see him again opening morning but the 4wandered by late opening morning andI took him from ~60 yards. Spined him...first deer I have had just drop where he was shot. I am mostly in it for the meat but would love abig deer...if I took a doe first I would be selective on a 2nd deer. Being on public land you have to kind of take what you can get...neverknow when other hunters will start moving and clear out an area.
After quartering my deer saturday afternoon I hunted the evening from the ground overlooking a ravine. ~3:30 2 other hunters set up on the opposite side of the ravine around 100 yards directly in front of me. I can't understand why when you see someone hunting an area thatsomeone could think it is ok to compete for the same deer...it is not like these particular woods are that crowded and I know theydo not normally hunt the area as it is the first time I have seen other hunters in this spot in the past 3 years. I basically stayed for another 10 minutes and left...was not really looking to get another deer at that point anyway as I had to get on the road early sunday...my main goal was to retrieve my stand. I was going to sit the evening and not leave until dark just so I would not f up someone elses hunt while I was going in...but I was not going to stare at two other hunters for another hour...I kind of knew where other hunters where on my trek back and stayed at least a few hundred yards away.
Anyway...really great 1st season...
My 4...good eats...
8pointer
The big 8 pointer...going to be a nice mount...was really happy for the guy who got it...he definitely deserved it.
Southern Illinois first season
