I was hoping to score early as I have the past 3 years but it didn't work out for me. I always purchase an extra tag and will usually take whatever comes by the first morning. I drew my bow twice today on 2 different does but couldn't get the shot I wanted so I passed. I didn't want to take a risky shot and then spend the rest of the day tracking. The wind was a factor too here in Putnam County. The bottom line is I had a really good day in the stand even though I didn't score today. It's just good to be out there knowing I'll get another chance and when the quartering shot is there I'll make it....Good Luck to all my fellow Mountaineers for the rest of the season.

Hey guys,

Sounds like yall are fired up about the upcoming season. I was fortunate enough to get an invite to your state this fall for a bowhunting trip. I will be there from 10/19-10/23. It is on a private lease in Wyoming County WV (which i understand is a bowhunting only county). I purchased 2 out of state deer tags...Ive hunted Florida my whole life, and have never been north of North Carolina. Im looking foward to seeing WV...from what I hear its pretty wild.

Does anyone have any pointers someone from out of state should know? What about the weather for that weekend? I guess the rut usually occurs later in the year...anyway just thought id drop a line!

Adam

Wild and Wonderful

Welcome to our state!!! you'll enjoy Wyoming Co, as it has huge bucks... but you will miss the rut by about 3 weeks for full rut. steep hills, son, so get your legs ready... there is no flat ground 'round them parts... Best of luck...

My advice for "everything is taken" is layers, layers, layers, especially if you're joining us from FLA. Late October like that it's not unusual for it to be in the low 30s when you hit the woods in the morning, and climb to 55 or 60 by noon. Then be warm like that as you head into the woods in the afternoon, and drop back down as it gets later. I guess what I'm saying is that you really need to prepare for big temperature flucuations of 30 or 35 degrees.

For all of you already here, did anyone shoot anything Saturday? I passed on about a dozen does and a spike. I'm hunting all private property this year in a few different counties, and trying to limit myself to "shooter bucks" only (probably 6 points or more). Had one small doe that almost got herself busted for being stupid. She made 2 circles around my tree and close enough for me to spit on. She had me terrified she was going to get me busted if a buck stepped out.

Boy was it good to be back in the woods.

Well guys I did it!!! Saturday morning at 7:50 I shot my very first buck with a bow. Of course I have taken does, but never a buck. In fact years ago I lost a 6 point buck due to a bad shot placement.

But, the deer gods have forgiven me and let me take a buck this year.
I arrived at my stand at 6 AM and was setup to hunt by 6:15 AM. The woods was quite and the stars and a half moon were bright! I heard something like a deer go over the hill, at least it shounded that way. Then as light broke I heard and saw some squirrels running around on the ground.

At about 7:45 AM I heard something like someone walking to my right. I looked up the hill and saw a deer coming my way. I stood up and got positioned so I could be ready for a shot. Finally I saw that it was a buck, I drew my bow back just before he got in front of me...only 20 yards away. Then he stopped and looked right up at me...DANG!!! I HAVE BEEN MADE! He looked at me for what seemed like an eternity...then he made a complete 180 and started walking back the way he came. I then took the shot!! I saw the deer jump and start back up the trail he came down. The whole time I watched my arrow (they have white fletch wrap on them) bounce up and down. I saw him make it to the top and then lost sight of him.

I radioed my son and told him that I got one and was going to give it about 30 minutes, and while waiting I was going to get down and check the spot he was standing.

I got down and went to where he jumped when I hit him. I looked around for hair and or blood. Didn't see nothing. I saw where he made impressions in the leaves and I moved up slowly and looked for blood. Didn't see any...I was getting worried then I saw it...BLOOD!!...just a little drop. I started to look for more and started tracking the trail. I noticed the further I went the more blood I saw. He had went up the hill and I guess the arrow was still cutting cause the further I went up the hill the more blood I found. Just as I topped the hill I found my arrow...covered with blood and a whole lot more on the ground. I picked it up examined it and put it in the quiver. I pulled another one out and placed it on the string. I didn't go 3 steps and I found him!!! He went about 10 yards from where the arrow came out and fell. In all he only went maybe 50 or 75 yards from where I shot him.

Now I will tell you what he is....and SEVEN POINTER!!!! Not really anything to write home about, but my first 7 pointer. His inside spread is only 7 inches or so.
Here is a picture of him.



Deer was taken with a Martin Jaguar bow set at 70lbs, arrow was XX75 2213 at 26 inches long with a 100 grain Wasp broadhead. First deer taken with this bow.

Congrats WVHunter

Congrats WVHunter129 on your early success. Good job on waiting on the quartering shot and tracking. Good shot placement saves hours of tracking. My hat is off to ya.

Way to go Juddie. Where was this buck last year when we were on the same bowhunting team??. Sounds like you did an awesome job.

It might be nice if us mountaineers could keep this thread going throughout the season.

Good luck all.

hb

Thanks guys for the congrats.

hillbillyhunter1, I don't have a clue to where he was, but I would of love to had this one to enter in the contest last year.

I checked my trail camera yesterday evening and I have pictures of him at my stand the night before I took him.

I plan on going back and hope to score on a bigger buck. Even though I have no pictures of a bigger one, I know there has to be one in the there. We have pictures of at least 10 different bucks ranging from several spikes (nothing under 6 inches), 2 different 3 pointers, a 4 pointer, 2 different 6 pointers, an 8 pointer and of course this 7 pointer. So I know a big boy has to be there...he is just camera shy!