I don't know how much of an accomplishment it is, my friend, but thank you anyway. I guess the actual accomplishment is that I got old enough to retire and am still in good enough shape to climb the mountains to go where they live. I do think that success in hunting is a mixture of patience, perseverance, skill, experience, having time to hunt, and a large measure of good luck. I don't think I am a very skillful hunter. Having hunted for over fifty years gives me a whole lot of experiences to draw on, so I don't make as many stupid mistakes as I used to make.
My eyes aren't as good as they once were, so I rely on a good pair of binoculars and good scopes on rifles to check on the quality of deer I see. I do think I am a whole lot more patient than I used to be. Taking a couple of youngsters out the last two opening days has convinced me of that. They can't sit still and get bored easily. When they move, they move way too fast. Still, both boys have been lucky. Last year, the first one took his first buck, and then he took a huge doe this year. The second boy got a young buck this year. To me, taking those two youngsters out and putting them in a position to take a deer was the accomplishment. I take more pride in their success than I could possibly take in my own. Both are now hooked on hunting.
The key to taking two decent bucks late in the second week two consecutive years (as I have done) is to be able to get out and hunt every day. Not everyone can do that. Some days you don't see anything but tweety birds, but at least you are out in the woods and are able to enjoy nature. You have to be ready when that one chance happens, so I guess that is the patience thing. Happy hunting.
Congrats on the buck, if you don't mind my asking what part of Pa are you in?
I don't mind at all, TM. I live about six miles west of Chambersburg. Our hunting camp is at the southern end of Huntingdon County near the Fort Littleton Interchange of the Pa. Turnpike. We hunt almost totally on State Gamelands #81. Believe me, I don't mind sharing the information. So far, I have seen a grand total of four other hunters (other than members of my camp). Nobody moves the deer, so you have to rely on natural movement. I have a few spots where the bucks go after they have been pushed a bit on the first day, and they have paid off for me nicely. If you are ambitious enough to climb a steep mountain and get where they are, you might do OK. The areas within a quarter of a mile of the road aren't too productive.
Your right, you can't give up, even in second archery/muzzleloader, the deer are still out there and with a little patience....congratulations...
But the photo?
I'm a quality photo enthusiast like the thread at the top of the bowhuting forum on quality photos....they make a hunt memorial...
Congratulations again.
The photo was the best I could do. I was hunting by myself that day and had nobody to take a proper hero shot. If you would like to see some that we took when we had help, email me and I will send you a few by return email.
Finally!!!!
