Originally Posted by
WV Hunter
Hey man, you've had some great days afield! I wish my hunting this year has been even close to that. Where in VA are you hunting?
You are right, have had some GREAT days afield and I'm not complaining a bit! It's just that the times I HAVE passed on does I have not gotten the big buck and the ONE time I didn't pass he was right behind her!!
I have hunted the following counties this season: Craig, Powhatan, Charles City, Goochland. I usually see the most deer in Goochland but I haven't seen ONE this season!
Originally Posted by
cayugad
Sounds like you had some great hunting so far and are filling the freezer just fine. As for a "Truly Big Buck" ... I know the feeling. One year here it was "does only season." And what walks in front of me but one of the nicest bucks I'd ever seen in the woods. I mean a real heart stopper. And as he walked out, I thought ... next year buddy. And you too know now, where he lives. You'll get him. Hang in there.
Yes, freezer is full already! Two doe tags and a buck tag left and I'm happy to be giving meat away this year.
Originally Posted by
toytruck
I'm a meat hunter, if its a mature or nice size deer and legal its gonna take a ride home with me. If I get a chance at a bigger antler buck vs less antlered I will try for the big boy, cause he has more meat on his bones.
Mike, I didn't go out this morning, but will be in a corn field this evening. Good luck maybe this is the day for you!!
One thing I like about the one shot of a muzzleloader or bow is it makes one tend to wait for the best possible shot in order to connect, at least that's the way it is for me.
Originally Posted by
nchawkeye
I've had 3-4 occasions from 1975 when I started hunting with muzzleloaders to the present that I saw a huge buck that I could have killed if I had been using my bolt action...It happens, no big deal...Some of my most exciting hunts have been with the flintlock I made myself, shooting a big old doe with the balls I made as well...
It's about the hunt, the challenge and not the antlers to me, I see roasts, not antlers...
Yes, my wife reminded me WHY I got into hunting in the first place…to put the most organic meat you can find on the dinner table with no middle man! I've only been doing it for about 6 years now and I was terrible at first…would go whole seasons with seeing only a few deer, then I got the hang of it. So while filling the freezer is the goal it's usually easily met now…so I don't mind a little indulgence in finding some nice horns. And I have now seen two AMAZING sets of horns (for my area) in a manner of days that I just couldn't take!