We had 6 hunters at our camp...plus 3 relatives close by, all hunting our 400+ acre farm, plus some joining property. (Braxton County)
I killed an 8pt that was 18" outside, right off the bat Monday. We had 2 goofy spikes killed, two 6-points and 3 other 8pts(13-16" outside). PLUS...we all saw other bucks besides the ones killed. My father was the only one not to pull the trigger, and (at age 76) he was looking for a big boy. Him and I watched a wide 6pt inside 50 yards, but didn't shoot. Nobody killed more than one...as that's the rule unless you see a second deer that is a nice 8 or bigger. We don't "disallow" people from shooting small bucks...but they had better only kill one.
Some of you may scoff at our numbers, as we have no true monsters. BUT, it wasn't long ago that when someone killed a 14" wide rack, people were stopping to look at it.
I was seriously questioning our management practices until this year....but apparently it takes about 4 years to work.
It's also hell watching your hunting camp get old. I'm the youngest at 37...and it's a pretty sharp incline from there. My father and another gentlemen (same age) still do pretty well....but in that terrain, without a 4-wheeler, they would be in the cabin watching TV instead of hunting. I cussed the quads beyond belief until I saw what it allows my father to do.
I'll add pics when my dad e-mails them to me, as I forgot my digital camera.
OOPS!!! I forgot to add that one of the 8-pts was killed by my cousin...WHO IS DUE WITH HER FIRST CHILD on January 8th....Now that's a hunter! LOL
2007 WV Gun Season
