NEW JERSEY'S OPENER SHOTGUN: HOW DID YOU DO?

BOWHUNTERCOP · 12-10-2002, 04:18 AM

MAN, WAS IT COLD ON THE OPENER!!!! BUT I STAYED ON STAND ALL DAY. I DIDN'T SEE DEER TILL 10:45 AM, THERE WAS 8, WITH ONE VERY IMPRESSIVE 8 POINTER SPREAD WAS ALITTLE PAST HIS EARS, ALSO WAS A REALLY NICE 6 POINTER!!! THE 8 POINTER GOT WITHIN 40YDS, BUT WAS IN THE THICKEST STUFF, I COULDN'T EVEN FIND AND VITALS IN THE SCOPE, I DIDN'T WANT TO INJURY HIM. THESE 2 BUCKS WERE CHASING THE SAME DOE, AND GRUNTING.

MY 2 FRIENDS AND MYSELF SAW 3 HUNTERS ALL DAY. MY 1 FRIEND DIDN'T FEEL GOOD, SO BY 12 PM HE WAS BACK AT MY TRUCK SLEEPING, HE GOT UP A FEW TIMES SAW NO HUNTERS RETURNING FROM LUNCH, HE TOOK A RIDE UP/DOWN THE ROAD AND SAW VERY FEW GUYS OUT. ON THE WAY HOME WE DRIVE PAST 2 CHECK STATIONS, NOT MANY TRUCKS AT EITHER ONE. SAW ONE TRUCK WITH A REALLY REALLY NICE 8 POINTER ON IT.

SO HOW DID THE REST OF YOU GUYS DO, AND DID YOU ANY OF YOU NOTICE LESS HUNTERS OUT IN THE FEILD?

wojtowicza · 12-10-2002, 10:56 AM

Man was it cold! like you said. i was out with my father and a friend. i saw 10 does and no bucks for the day. My friend shot one and i shot 2 does at 4:15. they both dropped on the spot so i had no tracking. they dropped about 10 yards away from each other.

well i was hunting a small WMA and it was crowded in the AM, but no one there in the afternoon. I went out again this morning and saw 2 does. i'm getting ready to go back out this afternoon.

jerseyjoe · 12-10-2002, 01:27 PM

2 out 8 of us tagged 4 pt's. I only seen does. Glad it was not windy out.

Broadhead88 · 12-10-2002, 01:42 PM

My wife gave birth to our son on Friday so I was done for the opener. It was 5 degrees in ZOne 2 and our club shot a big 7pt/6pt/3pt. My buddy stayed on stand until 4.20 and shot the 6pt. Lots of does were seen and not a lot of hunters seemed to be out. I hope to get out this Sat as my stand had some great sign last week for muzzleloader.

Hunting the wilds of Jersey

midwestxpress · 12-10-2002, 05:57 PM

Come On Jersey Joe, after taking a good buck during bow season your shooting 4 pts.? MWX..

Deleted User · 12-10-2002, 08:26 PM

[Deleted by Admins]

NJ_Bowhntr · 12-11-2002, 07:24 AM

It was very quiet in zones 28 and 35. Check station only registered 16 bucks the first day. That is down from 18 last year, and 26 in 2000. The real sad part is that prior to the 2000 season, the average at the same station was about 75 deer on opening day. Back in 1995, it was 80 deer, and has dropped to where it is now. The biggest decline was after the 1996 season when 77 deer were taken. 1997 was down to 40, 1998 was 33 deer, 1999 was 35, and 2000 was 26. Is it a coincidence that in 1995 they expanded the antlerless season through the month of January in this area, and allowed unlimited antlerless deer?

jerseyjoe · 12-11-2002, 07:33 AM

MWX...The owner of the property and his uncle who hunt ONCE every year took the 4pts...I would have gave them a pass<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>.

Congrats 88 on the new addition to the family...Hope mom and baby are well..

midwestxpress · 12-11-2002, 04:02 PM

I know you would have given those youngsters a pass, I'm just messin around. I stopped at the check station on Englishtown road today and the numbers are down. I know the Pile was around but I don't know how they did. Are the deer hanging at the Clarksburg Inn? I went by last night but I didn't see any. I saw alot of deer on Monday, no big boys though. Where I hunt there is no pressure what so ever, so I never benefit from guys moving deer as they go back for lunch or whatever. Its like fall bow everyday of the year. I either get lucky or go ome empty. MWX

meatgazer · 12-11-2002, 05:01 PM

went to old reliable stand on opening day. always see loads of deer and bucks from this stand during gun. alomost guaranteed a shot every opening morning. its a run on way to bedding area. got to tree and no pegs. stood by tree. immediately after daybreak had lots of deer cruising through. had bucks running does around me. no shot due to thick ground cover. moved in closer to run for next group of passing deer and possible shot. wind shifted and got me busted. never got a shot. i know who did it. Second time they did it. I am not even hunting near them. will be cutting down all 5 of their permanent stands. will not put up with any bull anymore. the stands are coming down very soon.