Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Well, I just finished eating "Buck Tag Soup." Wow, what a season. It seems like yesterday Rob and I were hanging a stand set in puddles of sweat and now I peel off more layers than the Eskimos.

The season for me started well before the opener with food plots.




As the season started Rob and I set out to get a kill on film, while he was gracious to give me most of the camera time as he had killed on film many other times, it was him shooting and me on camera, thatgot it done for us on a nice mature nanny.







My home property target was this big gal. She is a wise ol chick. A few close run ins with herwere all I needed to fuel a hatred. I had a chance to smoke her with the 30.06 in gun season, but was greedy as more deer where pouring into the field at last light. (she always leads about 50 yards out in front) For the record, I wish I had she busted my in second season. I have her ondeath row fornext year.




Mid October brought a road trip down to Wild's Outfitters (twildasin)

Rob and I took off on a Friday at 11am and made it to York, PA in time to shower and head out for the evening hunt. I nearly took my first deer on film all by myself, but she walked off the edge of the frame right as I shot. Matt / PA, myself, and twildasin pulled a triple play that Friday night. It was a fun weekend.
Here's my doe.



Yes, this was the "Radical Hysterectomy" for those of you keeping score at home.;)

After the trip, it was time to get down to serious business and Rob and I put away the cameras in order to up both of our stand time in hopes for a buck. Although, I had several encounters with good bucks, up until the second to last Friday, I had not had any shots. I had a cameraman with me to witness the spectical and capture the mess.

We had been in the stand for like 5 minutes when this guy comes running out from right where we walked in.



We watched him go back where he came from (downwind) and as we were, we had this better buck chase a doe right at us. I'll admit it, I got rattled, stopped up and blew the shot. He will haunt me a bit this off season. This pic is when he came back and swung downwind of us while looking for his girlfriend.



I tried to shake it off and the following morning in the rain and fog up on the mountain, I shot my first archery bird at 41 yards. Sorry for the pic, I don't know why we didn't get more. The bird and I were soaked, so I just had Mike strap him to my climber.



On the last day of the first season, in between rain downpours, I shot an 8 point that I was sure and still am, is dead. A downpour minutes after the shot ruined a blood trail, regardless I was sure a short search would turn him up. After two days and 8 guys later, I still think he is dead, but he is a ghost. I looked everyday at least in a small capacity hoping, but I am told these things happen, I just didn't think they did to me.

Gun season was fun with the gang as usual, but a tag remained. With two weeks off around Xmas, I hunted more this past second season than ever. With a trade show trip to leave for on Sunday morning early and the snow to plow tomorrow, I am calling it right now. 2008/2009 is in the books....somewhere near 191.5 hours in the field. What a year. Thanks to all who were part of it.

Now.......when is 3D........what are we planting......where we putting cameras at? Let's get going on 2009/2010. ;) Cheers guys.

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Nice post Ben, great pics. I had a great time in 08. Before we know it we'll be into the plots, but don't forget, spring turkey isn't that far away!

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Yes sir, a few birds down on film this spring, coming right up.:D I promise I will get my butt out of bed this spring.

[8D]

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

nice pics. i had some tag soup to this year. it was pretty dry

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Great thread Ben!! Man that sure Is a big doe that you got a picture of, wow! Great pics, thanks for sharing!!

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Great post, Ben. The videos were great tonight, thanks for showing. Get yourself a 2G tag next year...we have doe killing to do.

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Nice Ben!!! Super pics and story!

The best thing about the end of one season is preparing for the start of a New season!

Hopefully someday we will Hunt together!:D

Dan

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Great post Ben, really enjoyed that.

Good luck next year, and hope to see you over the winter at some indoor shoots.

Take care,

Brian

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Sounds like a great season. Hunting with good friends...priceless!

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Cool post, and great pics. You definately put your time in this season!


Shane

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

very nice Ben!

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Istill have a few days left b/4 tag soup. I can't complain-I've eated the tag for 5 years now but have passed on over 50 Bucks within 15 yds. over that time& some pretty decent. This is the winding down of my 52nd year of Bowhunting so i've killed plenty over the years.
I take the edge off with off season Bowhunts in Tx or Ok. for hogs & take a few does (IF) they cooperate.
2 hogs this year & 2 fat Iowa Does (twins in size). Chops marienating as I write this.
I had THREE different Big Boys VERY close this year-They are still big because they were within feet of making that fatal mistake & didn't-their 6th sence kicked in.I had one at 10 feet-he had to cleara big limb in MY tree-stopped & turned around. I could have shot him straight up the rear at 15 yds but just let him walk. No regrets.

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

one of the twin Does.

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

wis - Tag soup is never filling. I had one legit pass (on film) on a legal buck this year. I told Rob and others that asked after seeing the video that I wasn't regreting it then and I wouldn't at the end of the season.;) I don't, we got him, on film on his turf and we will hopefully see him next year.

Schultzy - Thanks, she is my arch enemy and has been. Sooner or later she has a date with 86 ft lbs of KE.;)

MGH_PA - Thanks for giving me a ride out of the stand tonight. The vids, well one certainly keeps me humble. As for the 2G tag, consider it done.[8D]

Mean V (Dan) - Thanks, this was one of the greatest seasons I had, mainly because of all the guys I was able to spend it with. I love the thought of a new season and new opportunities. Heck, I bought a treestand today.;) What can I say, I have a problem. As for hunting together, theinvitation is always open at my end. You're welcome in my camp anyday.

BP - Thanks, I fully expect to see you often this winter. Peanut Butter eggs are on me.;)

nybow, sr77 -Spending time in the field with good friends is as good as it gets in my book.:)

twild - What can I say, the freezer apparently been empty if not for that awesome excursion. Well, I would have been more trigger happy in rifle season if that would have been the case.:D But, I hope that "mob" hunt is gonna be an annual thing down there. Thanks a ton for the memories.

ahunter55 - That's what it's all about those close encounters, lets ya know you are still alive, ya know? I have been working on getting a group rate on a local hog hunt for this spring. Something I have never done, but have heard can be a blast. Any takers?[8D]

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Ben, Same here!! I'd always share what I got!

I've been thinking of putting some kind of Bear or ???? Hunt together and fill the place with HNI members. So who knows??

Dan

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

You know the hunt is on for next year. I just hope we have time to go out and relax this time instead of eating dead tired and just wanting to get to bed!Since the wife and I split I am moving out of the house looking for a townhome for Austin and I. So new home same hunt for 2009. I ahve spent a few days down there since christmas and I tell ya there are plenty of deer there! I been seeing close to 20 a night behind the mansion!

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

well i as well had buck tag soup for dinner tonight but it was a decent season got a few big bucks on film in velvet and had a few encounters with smaller young bucks nothing im looking to shoot at but next year i will def get a doe tag so i can for sure get my first deer

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Spring bear? Everyone meet in Canada, first round of Labatts are on me.;)

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

You're On!! I've already talked to a couple of outfitters.

The Best Bear Outfitter I ever hunted with Diedof a heart attack a couple of winters ago!

Dan

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Hell, even I'd do a bear hunt. I'm in.

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

I hunted with Turnpike Ridge, Don Holstrum I think his name is. He's out of Maine and I'd recommend him. He hunts Quebec but I'd love to try Sask, Yukon or whatever. Depending on when, I'm in.:)

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

Depending on when you guys want to do it (not 09 hopefully), I should have this wedding paid for. I'd love to do one if we can make it happen for a reasonable price.

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

I'm seriously thinking of Bear hunting Manitoba in the Riding Mountain area. If you know nothing about the area, do a little research. It's an Awesome area for Bear, and a good % of color phases.

I've already contacted a couple of Outfitters in the area I know and I'm waiting some figures. They are on a tag allocation, so tags are limited.

If I get something solid I'll post and whoever is interested in a Bear hunt can contact me for more details. I'm thinking they can handle 4 to 6 hunters could be a lot of Fun and a chance for some of us to meet up. It definitely would be for 2010.

We'll see!:D

Here's a Pic of the Last Bear I killed in the area.

Dan

RE: Buck Tag Soup - Pass the salt. (pics)
 

As bad as i hate to admit it i like taking bucks at the end of the season, year before last ,last week
of muzzle,last year tag soup, this year opening weekend of shotgun i think you stay more motivated
when you dont get one till late.This year i got him early didnt enjoy the rest of the season as much.