HuntingNet.com Forums - 2011 in review

It was a tough year around here, in 30 years of hunting Ive never seen so few deer.The ones I could find were all in pockets that were already heavily hunted.I hunted hard almost every day for a month and a half during bow season.I watched other hunters tag out on deer they normally wouldnt shoot, and watched others give up and wait for gun season to open.And a few of us just kept going.I knew this one and one bigger than him were escaping the hunting pressure on a property next to one I hunt and nobody can get into.Finally at the end of the rut he came in and gave me a 25 yards broadside shot.

I didnt go during our two shotgun seasons, and waited for late muzzleloader to open.The nice weather, low deer count, and the shotgun bunters had taken a toll on things.I had a few oppurtunities to shoot a doe during my first couple outings but things being what they are I passed knowing I might eat my tag in the process, I just couldnt shoot a doe and feel good about it with the deer numbers this low.

Bucks proved hard to come by, and for several weeks I never seen an antler.Monday night I opted not to hunt and went for a ride with my wife to just look for deer instead.I noticed that one public area was getting hit hard, cars in every parking lot and guys all over.On the other side of the highway there was another smaller chunk of public ground, I tiold my wife I hadnt seen anyone in it all year and to drive around it once.On the very back side I glassed a decent buck , nothing hugs but not a bad deer, staying out of sight and skirting around the edge of of the slough.

The next night I went in after him, I set up on a little hill and waited.About 45 minutes before dark him and another buck came out about 1/4 mile away.They took thier time and I crawled towards them, they changed thier travel route and I would crawl the other way, this cat and mouse game lasted untill almost dark.He finally stepped out in the clear about 150 yrds away, I dont like long shots but had a good rest and was laying down.I touched the gun off and he dropped in his tracks a half mile from the road I had seen him from the night before.