Annual ML Trip
 

I’m back from my annual Virginia ML trip. We had a decent week this year. Traditionally the 2nd week of ML is the peak of the rut so they are hopping. Not so much this year. There are very little acorns in the woods this year and we don’t have access to crop fields so the hunting was tough.

First morning, at 7:30 I had a decent bear come by me. He was on the next ridge over from me at about 80-100 yards. Quite a bit of brush but I thought I found an open spot so I threw one at him. After a thorough search, I determined I didn’t touch him. It was a difficult shot but it was the best opportunity he was going to give me. I’m sure I hit a limb between me and him. A great start to the week though.

The next day was gorgeous weather but dead when it came to activity. Not even the squirrels were out. 20 minutes before our prearranged time to head out, a decent buck showed up. For over 10 minutes he stood behind a pine, facing me with only his head and neck to about the throat patch visible. He eventually stepped out and I put one through his shoulders. He went about 50-60 yards but the majority of that was him rolling down the side of the ridge. The 250g TEZ Pushed by 80g of BH and a Harvester Sabot out of my Genesis destroyed his lungs.



On Wednesday, one of the guys from our group killed a decent bear. A boom-flop from a Triumph with a 300g Expander and a Harvester Crush Rib.







Two more 8s were killed as well but they were your average 2.5 year old 8s. Overall, a fun week-much better than being at the office. I’m done in VA until after Christmas but will get back after them again, hopefully in some snow.

Very nice!! Congratulations

Man thats a dandy of a buck, congrats! Where were you at in VA?

I live in NW VA, like you said....we have no acorns at all either...and no rut yet. Heck, I haven't even seen a single scrape and only a few rubs. Weird year.

The pic of the bear is really cool...how its focused on the gun. Nice job whoever took it.

Congrats!:party0005: Nice buck!

We were in Craig county. No food, no scrapes ect. We did see several that were somewhat chasing does but not like the normal flurry of activity this time of year. Everyone keeps telling me it's late this year.

Thanks, photography is a hobby/part time job of mine. Though the way my FT job has been, I haven't picked up a camera much lately.

Cool deal TN.

I hope you are right and it is late...LOL, I'm beginning to wonder if they took the year off! I've seen one buck (a spike) in 8 sits so far in Nov. Crazy.

That's a dandy buck. Congrats on a good year. Hope your trip back is also successful.

TNHagies,

Very nice buck. Congrats! Just curious...did you weigh him? If so what did he weigh dressed? Looks like a heavy deer for sure.

BPS

Nice job, especially considering how tough it's been this ML season in VA.

We did not weigh him. I know a lot of guys who are big on weight but I guess with our tiny southern deer, we never get into weighing them. Probably because we don't want to get drepressed when the hunter weighs more than the hunted :biggrin:

The bear weighed 168 which is about average for the area.