Had today off so I checked two of my stands, one is in a bow only area and the other is real close to a friends house and he doesn't like gunfire around his place, so I didnt even bring a gun
with me. Both stands have activity by them even though one
has guns going off all around and the other has pines being logged off, brought a smile to my face and I can't wait to get back out there with the bow.Any luck sugar?

Hunted this morning and saw about 19, a few small bucks. My brother had a nice 8 point just out of range and ended up bedding as it was heading my way, that's how it always goes I guess. I believe tuesday morning will be my next day off and now I think I have a route in which the 8 point like to travel.

I haven't found him yet. Still looking. He lost so much blood I know he is dead somewhere but I don't know where. I am going to go back in the morning and sit until 11 and see what I see then I'll get down and look.

Sugar check along the nearest water source, they get thirsty when mortally wounded. Don't give up on him, he's some where
in the area. Goodluck.

Heres the short of the story I mentioned...If you all may recall I just moved into this house (renting), and there was a guy that hunted out back for the past few years, at one time I debated on letting him hunt and had actually come home one day to find him bringing his belongins out of the woods he would leave out year round.

At that time I had a converstaion with him, seemed like an "okay guy" so ....fwd to one week before gun opens, he calls and asks to go back out there, per our conversation I said he could.

Saturday after openging I talked to a couple of guys that hunted an attacheted land, said someone shot a 12pt.20-22" spread , then another gut told me the same, next day I get a call from this guy saying he shot a 12pt @ 70yds with a 30-06 but couldnt find it ("TWICE and couldnt find it" I thought), well, he proceeded to tell me how it all went down and finally he came to admit that both shots were through the brush and he didnt know where he hit it, there was blood everywhere, tracked it well over a mile and found nothing.

This guys stand was about 50yds from mine, I know how thick it is in there and I know that the window for opportunity is small but this guy took two "pot" shots and was not looking for an ethical kill but to have the trophy.

Even if I wouldnt have had the chance to put an arrow through him it sure would have been nice if someone had the chance to at least make a clean kill on what sounds like a great deer.

I know that if I live here next year this guy wont be back in those woods.

Damon, I agree it's best to keep this "Yahoo" out of the woods. Thanks for the story.

Sugar, I hope you find him. He should have died by now, so I would keep an eye out for buzzards.

Dont guess you've had any luck on fnding the deer ay Sugar? Well, Bow opened back up yesterday here so I went out this morning and put a little corn down and a couple cams out. Will be hunting the rest of the week in the morning and see what it brings.

OK, starting to panic just a little. Usually, around the beginning of December I have a freezer full of sausage. This year has been totally different. I've only arrowed two slickheads and haven't been seeing the number of deer I normally do. I've hunted this one area 8 times and have yet to see a single deer there. I see lots of sign (fresh trails, scrapes, rubs..) Looking back in my journal, I average seeing 8 deer per outing at this property for the last 3 years. Talking with other hunters, they say they aren't seeing the number of deer either. Last winter we had snow storm after snow storm with record amounts and during spring gobbler season hunters were seeing alot of carcasses. I guess the winter took a major toll on the Virginia herd, or at least where I hunt. Don't worry guys, I haven't tossed the towel yet. My time in the field is getting limited with it getting dark early. I can only hunt on Mondays...BUT...I'm taking vacation time from Christmas to New years and will be in the VA mountains with my bow.

I went out on Tuesday with not to much luck, only saw 6 deer. It was rainy and windy all morning, I'm sure the deer were not liking it to much and were bedded down early. Heading out on Sat, lets see if we can't get this team back on the board.

No news on my front. Heading out on Thursday, lets see if we can't get on the board.

Figured I would touach base as well. Went out for most of the day Saturday and Sunday. Didnt see anything at all. Not even markings on the trails that any deer have been around. Thought for sure once it got cold the deer would start using the Cedar Swamp, but that hasnt came to fruition. Doesnt look as though I will get back out this week because I go to work at dark and get home the same. I will be back in the woods this weekend and I have the following week as vacation, which I plan to hunt everyday.

Hunted yesterday (Monday), left the truck it was 22 degrees, never got above 30...damn it was cold! wind chill had it around 12 degrees. I hung in there though, but only saw 3 doe for the entire day. Walked around a little around noon to get some blood flowing. Saw lots of old abandoned scraps. Moved to another promising spot for the evening and saw nothing. Won't be able to hunt again until next monday and possibly tuesday. BUT...The week after Christmas, I'm on vacation and will be hunting with my son (who I havent seen in 7 months because he's deployed on an aircraft carrier).

Checking in here too guys. I have been out and about and seen some nice deer. Nothing close and the deer that were close were just too young. I know where some nice deer and after the last couple of does are bred here I will head to the feed to kill a nice buck cuz that's where they will be. Rifle season is on here in Kansas so I have been bird hunting. I sat Sunday evening and man was it nice and cold. I was perched over some beans and nothing showed up but some long beards and a yote. Shot the yote. No deer though. I was sure something was going to come in. I will be out this weekend for sure. I just bought a Z7 so I'm anxious to get in the woods with it. I am confident that I will kill a nice deer for the team. I have plenty of time left. Keep at it.

Also guys I saw that big deer I shot low on. He chased a doe by me Sunday morning about 200 yards out. He was limping a little but still plugging along. I know that he is close to where I'm at. I'll get on him.

Gonna be cold in the morning, hopefully stick something early :s2:

Good luck guys.

Sugar, glad to hear your buck is still out there!!!!

Yet another gun doe only season here in WI , just when the deer
are starting to show up in my small hunting areas after a gun deer season, anothe one starts and the deer go into hideing
again. It takes a good 3-4 days before they calm down and start to show there selfs again. 4 day only gun doe only,9day gun deer season,7 or 9 day muzzle loader season, 4 day gun doe only, was out in my blind today with the bow 3:30 rolls around 2 shots ring out, 4:05 another shot rings out about a 100yrds into the pines.
Pretty sure these deer were going to funnel past my grounblind
to get to the small uncut corn across the road. Guess i will never
know. This gun doe season ends this sunday so I figure they [deer] should come out of hideing about wed or thur. My plant will be down between christmas and newyears so I should get some hunting in then and not be disturbed by the gunners.
goodluck guys

Just touching base guys, bigsugar nice to here your buck is still alive and congrats on the z7, you will love that thing. I went to Kansas yesterday, to hunt for my last weekend there and had some success. He is not the biggest thing, but it was the last weekend. I havent scored him, but took some quick measurements, 5" bases, 20" mainbeams and the tallest tine is 10". He came out with six other deer, ran straight to my corn pile at 30yds, quartering to me. i tucked it in right behind the shoulder and complete pass through. He didnt run 40yds and i heard him crash. Z7 & G5 striker does it again...

good luck to all of you, lets put some more on the ground.

Ended up being 130-1/4" ... over 34" in just mass alone....

Nice buck 22, lot of snow here in midwest wi at least 14" in the last 24 hours and still coming down. Gonna be 25 below zero with wind chill for the next few days. Once it stops snowing and warms up the deer should be moving again and I will go out.

Howdy all, checking in...

BigSug - glad to hear your buck is still alive...

TH - Sweet looking buck, that's awesome!

Well, I was suppose to have a nice long weekend of hunting - but we had a nasty storm blow through (interstate and many of roads are even closed) so now not going to be able to make it out... Technically I've got through the end of the year so we'll see what happens....

Way to go TH, another nice one.
Been very cold lately. I went out last Sat and saw nothing but doe. Only a month left in the season for me, I won't make it out this weekend but have plans to head out right after Christmas with my brother to do some doe management. It's bad when you see 20 doe and no buck in one morning :s14:

Last Monday I decided to hunt the area around those abandoned scrapes. They were on an old logging road that surrounded a huge pine thicket. Had my bow and muzzle loader in the truck, flipped a coin for which one to use (literally) and the ml won. Had a fresh snow earlier, just enough to cover the floor. Walking in on the logging road, not 75 yards from my truck, I spot movement coming up from the gully headed to the thicket, saw antlers, stopped him, shot...dead 7 point at 35 yards. From first sight to shot was maybe 10 seconds! Had my tree stand on my back and it was only 1:00 in the afternoon. I know, I know...should have had my bow! I did go to another spot and brought my bow that time. Had a spooked big racked boy come bounding by, but couldn't stop him. Season ends in a couple weeks here, but I'm off the last week and will be in the woods WITH MY BOW!!

Antler Eater
Hey buddy - back at you, that's a very nice buck you put on the board!

-fsh

Hey guys, been awhile since i have posted, obviously I have had no luck I have been out nearly every day, whether it be day or night. Just wanted you guys to know I havent given up because I realize I cant kill anything unless Im in the woods. Seen a couple of Does, to dark to put the pin on them but would have if I had better light as I have not filled any tags this year. Season ends for me on the 9th and I will keep trying!

wELL, THE SEASON HAS GONE TO THE WAYSIDE. NO KILLS THIS YEAR, NOT EVEN A "BALDY" LOOKS LIKE WE HAD 2 REGISTERED BUCKS. SUX! I HAVE NO PROBLEM SAYING I AM SURE IT WASNT FROM LACK OF EFFORT FROM THIS TEAM, SO GOOD TO BE ON THIS TEAM. MAYBE NEXT TIME GENTLEMEN! MAY THE WIND BE IN YOUR FACE.

Nothing for me this year... That makes the 1st year in a long long time that I didn't even take a doe with my bow - things just didn't work out... Always next year I guess :-) I did have a shooter about 5 yards from my blind - unfortunately he walked straight at me until he spooked out (at the 5 yards), then had the same buck run past my blind (about 10 yards that time) from the behind and didn't have a shot - guess that's hunting...

Our team was pretty active so I enjoyed that piece - was great to get to know everyone a little better!

Not sure what I all have on the plate for next year... Wife and I are expecting in APR and then we are closing on a new house soon too - so it's been a pretty busy last couple of months! Hopefully I'll have a chance for speed goats - hard to believe that's only about 6MO out! Probably do a lot more in-state stuff next year with the exception of an IA tag (that's probably about the only one I'll pursue) - really hope I can draw next year, can't wait to get back!