Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Topic: Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell (Read 2413 times) previous topic - next topic

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

November 10, 2007, 11:01:47 AM

Well, it was a cold windy morning, but I sat out long enough, and saw 5 does at different times, one of which had a good sized fawn.
I also saw a smallish buck, but he was moving too fast for me to attempt a shot.

So anyway, I'd been out on my stand for about 3 hours, and was getting cold, and had decided to head for the house when 3 large does came walking past the stand.
They came from the northwest, I was facing southeast, had my gun leaning in a fork of the tree and was IN the process of climbing down, when I saw 'em.
I froze, and two of them looked due south into the wind, while the third was nibbling something on the ground, and I got my rifle, sighted in on the one eating, and took my shot, and made a good hit.

She went down instantly, bleated and died, as I slid another shot home and watched the other two start to run off.
All in all, it was a very good morning.

Anybody else have any luck this morning?? :D

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #1 – November 10, 2007, 02:09:49 PM

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST (not me)

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #2 – November 10, 2007, 07:08:10 PM

I have about 20 bedded down in my back yard as I type, the closest about 30 ft from the glass doors. I was going to "cull" the herd this fall, but if 5 or 6 don't come when they're called. We put out corn for them, and old apples. One big doe will come look in the window and bob her head at us if the corn is gone.
And the freezer is empty.....

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #3 – November 10, 2007, 07:21:00 PM

Here is my deer:

and one of me with it:

(extra points for picking out the Tbird :D )

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #4 – November 10, 2007, 07:30:25 PM

Awesome job hun! You are the mighty hunter/gatherer, lol. She looks like a good size doe, and I know ya done good!

And...I'D know that Bird ANYWHERE! Now...what kinda points do I get? :D

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #5 – November 10, 2007, 07:31:39 PM

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #6 – November 10, 2007, 09:02:36 PM

Ya gotta love when they drop in their tracks. The one I shot did so as well - I shot him on an old logging road and was able to drive right up to him.

The only thing that sucks about shooting one so early (I got mine the second day of the season) is that the season you look forward to all year is over just like that. I didn't even get a chance to really hunt this year. Of course it's nice to be able to poke fun at the other guys as they head out into shiznitty weather (we're having our first snow of the season tonight)...

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #7 – November 11, 2007, 02:22:16 AM

I think we can shoot 11 this year in Georgia during regular gun season. Runs until after the first of the year. The does in my yard would all dress out under 100lbs, closer to 75lbs. Less than 40lbs of meat.
Just small deer here. Sometimes a bigger doe will be around, and bucks are about double the weight.
Good luck with your hunts.

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #8 – November 11, 2007, 03:01:01 AM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;186972

The only thing that sucks about shooting one so early (I got mine the second day of the season) is that the season you look forward to all year is over just like that.

I've got an Any deer tag, and 2 antlerless only, in addition I can also get as many more anterless tags for 7 bucks each...the deer are thick here. Conservation Dept. really encourages people to take more does.

And I've heard the deer in the southern states don't get as big as the ones in the midwest. Dunno about the Canadian deer, I've not read a lot about them.
This one I've got was so heavy that I couldn't lift it in the truck by myself, in fact, the older fella that hunts on my place across had to help me, and we still had a helluva job...but in his defense he's older and has a bad back.
I had it hanging in my maple tree, and it broke a branch bigger around than my arm. Came home from eating lunch with my dad, and the deer was on the ground, tree branch on top of it :hick:
Anyway, deer is in the locker now, round steaks, tenderloins, and the rest to be ground so it can be made into jerky.
Yummy!

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #9 – November 11, 2007, 07:18:35 AM

i gotta go this year

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #10 – November 11, 2007, 01:48:31 PM

It was actually the first time since 2003 I'd been hunting, what with my general.."depression" and everything...seems like it's been an ace week, got my divorce papers Tuesday, and a decent deer Saturday, today is gonna be a day to unwind, the pressure is off of me in a way it hasn't been for a long time, and I think i'm just gonna enjoy the hell outta the fact that my dad didn't get a deer, and the other 2 guys that hunt here on my place didn't get their first-day deer either. THAT gives me no-end of satisfaction...this place..if you can't take a deer on opening day...you can't take one anywhere.
Normally I always hunted over on my dad's place, with him on side of the bean field, and me on the other, so that anything that would come across the property either he or I would have a chance to take.
This year, I wanted to try something different, (more to prove to myself I still had it in me) and it look like I've got what it takes still.

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #11 – November 11, 2007, 02:26:54 PM

I got one about 8 on opening day. 7 point (barely) buck, the largest I've ever got. First time out with my own rifle too, which is a big deal since I shoot left. Almost filled both my tags. 3 does came walking by, and I took a shot at one, but must have missed. Then the buck came by 20 seconds later, and got him. I'm lucky it's a 7 pointer, cause we have a "4-on-one-side" rule where I was.

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #12 – November 11, 2007, 02:31:01 PM

Yeah, the 4 point rule sucks, but then again, i think it'll make for more bucks later on to shoot at.
The three does came by me, I was trying to get another round in, the one was dying, the other 2 were milling around, watching me, so finally I slammed the bolt home, and they hauled ass. :hick:
Congrats man.

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #13 – November 11, 2007, 03:19:51 PM

Yeah, well, you guys and your multi-deer bag limits SUCK.

The first few years I hunted we were allowed two (and always got two), then they restricted it to one, then they restricted it to "antlered only" ("antlered" meaning at least 3" of horn). Eventually they started a draw, where you called a 1-900 number and put your name in for an "antlerless" stamp. It cost you $6 to enter the draw. If you get a stamp you're STILL only allowed one deer per year. I don't know what happened with the deer population around here, but it crashed in the late 80's and has not come back since.

As for the size of the deer - we have deer with large bodies, but small antlers. That little 3-pointer I shot weighed 110 lbs at the butcher shop - that's without skin or head, so I figure 135-140 "dressed" weight. My father shot one a few years ago that dressed out at 218 pounds but only had 5 points. My largest deer, a 9 pointer, weighed 190. Does usually weigh about 110-120 for an "average" adult.

The 3-pointer this year makes it so that I've shot deer with 0 (does), 1/2 (a small "bumphorn" buck - each "horn" was about 1/2" tall, I thought it a doe when I shot it), 1 (a "spike" that was missing a horn), 2 (spike on both sides), 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 points...

Opening Day Deer Stories, 56K Hell

Reply #14 – November 11, 2007, 04:13:03 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;187039

Yeah, well, you guys and your multi-deer bag limits SUCK.

The first few years I hunted we were allowed two (and always got two), then they restricted it to one, then they restricted it to "antlered only" ("antlered" meaning at least 3" of horn). Eventually they started a draw, where you called a 1-900 number and put your name in for an "antlerless" stamp. It cost you $6 to enter the draw. If you get a stamp you're STILL only allowed one deer per year. I don't know what happened with the deer population around here, but it crashed in the late 80's and has not come back since.

As for the size of the deer - we have deer with large bodies, but small antlers. That little 3-pointer I shot weighed 110 lbs at the butcher shop - that's without skin or head, so I figure 135-140 "dressed" weight. My father shot one a few years ago that dressed out at 218 pounds but only had 5 points. My largest deer, a 9 pointer, weighed 190. Does usually weigh about 110-120 for an "average" adult.

QUOTE]

MN was the same way for several years throughout the 80's and earlier 90's. The last 4 years or so the population has boomed, though it's still only a one-buck-or-doe, and a second-doe-only optional tag.

This year I haven't gone yet due to us moving into the new house.