You have shot multiple deer 6+. The window licker shot a 200" 4 year old, it aint the same. Don't use the inches as a measuring system. My wife and I could have 20 kids and never have an all star basketball player. Just ain't in the genes, brah.
1023's 2022 Season Journal
- Thread starter bowhunter1023
- Start date
It's all relative. If you had 180 acres, eventually you'd be wishing you had 360... and so on.It feels more like an obligation than I'd like it to and I'd made progress in turning that corner. If our 80 acres felt like 180 and not 8, it would help. Part of the longing for the old days was the rawness of the new experience and the adventure of exploring new ground. Even when I venture to the "big woods" around here, it's overrun with people and the adventure is downgraded before you even get out of the truck. Sadly, I've grown into a cranky old man that wants its to be like the old days. Old COB would be proud
Sgt Fury
Sgt. Spellchecker
I get what you’re saying as I’ve felt that way many times. I only have 28 acres in Ohio but have taken a few good ones there. Never killed a booner and I was pretty excited when one showed up a few years ago. He was about 150” in 2019, 180” in 2020 and pushing 200” in 2021. I sat MANY days from sun up to sunset and never laid eyes on him. It got to the point that after a couple of seasons, it wasn’t fun anymore…more like a feeling of a chore that needed to be done. To make things worse, this deer kept all of the other bucks at bay and my deer sightings were low….made a long sit even longer when you’re not seeing deer. This year I didn’t get a single pic of him. He may be dead from coyotes, a poacher, another hunter or even a vehicle collision. I’ll never know. He may even be alive and just “show up” after a year or two absence. This year was more fun because I knew what I had on camera and had a couple to choose from. I got another good one, but not the booner. In all likelihood, that was my one chance to get a booner in my lifetime. I’ll probably never have another one on a property that I can hunt. It kinda made me step back and reevaluate what I need to make me happy. Just having a couple of good ones to chase every season is enough for me.It feels more like an obligation than I'd like it to and I'd made progress in turning that corner. If our 80 acres felt like 180 and not 8, it would help. Part of the longing for the old days was the rawness of the new experience and the adventure of exploring new ground. Even when I venture to the "big woods" around here, it's overrun with people and the adventure is downgraded before you even get out of the truck. Sadly, I've grown into a cranky old man that wants its to be like the old days. Old COB would be proud
These two sentences sum up where I'm at, and specifically, that bolded word is what's being reevaluated. Trying to reconcile what's desired with what's possible, and how that "lowers my standards", is the current struggle. Or, if I choose to keep my standards high, recognizing the family farm isn't the place where I'll consistently meet those standards. I'm thankful I have at least one kid that enjoys this pursuit and that the farm can be her place to achieve all sorts of firsts and goals. Hell, without that, I'd be a full-time duck hunter at this point. Thankfully the waterfowl hunting sucks down here too
So I'll ask you guys what I asked Kaydence: "You want the bad news, the worse news or the worst news?"
For the sake of unraveling everything, I kinda have to tell the bad news first...
The bad news is we're down a decent young 8. Was contemplating climbing down when I see a deer go sprinting across my neighbors field, followed by a shot, then two guys sprinting, then two more shots. Within 30 seconds, I see a buck crashing down the holler on my neighbor to the S and I can tell he's hurt. He hops the fence and stops. He walks 10' and I can tell he's hurt. I glass him and realize I'll have an ethical decision to make because my tag isn't going on his antlers. He eventually stumbles off the bank into the creek where I get a good look at his 1.5 back legs and bloody crotch. As my neighbor said later: "I saw the muzzle flash, then heard the shot." I folded him with a Texas heart shot at 30 steps, then hollered "you boys might as well come down here"...
The young man that shot him introduced himself and I told him straight up that I was glad he didn't shoot me or our other neighbor since we were effectively downrange. He apologized and thanked me for putting the deer down. (I suspect it was lethal within a few more minutes, but certainly in a few days.) Anyways I asked who he was, then said is Joe Blow your dad and he said it was. I asked if he killed the big 11 point and he said yeah.
I saw this buck laying in front of their garage the day it was killed. You all have seen him and we called him Buddy. Scored roughly at 163". This is the worst news just because this was the only reason I was even hunting our place and I felt he was only 4, so was hoping next year would be super exciting watching him grow. Kaydence had her heart set on being the one to kill him and now she knows that the struggle is real.
The worse news is Buddy's older age class running mate is also dead. I saw him on FB and suspected it was him and they confirmed that tonight.
So anyways, I shot a crippled deer that turned out to be that young man's best buck to date and in the span of 36 hours, confirmed 3 less targets. If you need me, I'll be pouting and getting my waterfowl gear together. #deerhuntingisstupid
For the sake of unraveling everything, I kinda have to tell the bad news first...
The bad news is we're down a decent young 8. Was contemplating climbing down when I see a deer go sprinting across my neighbors field, followed by a shot, then two guys sprinting, then two more shots. Within 30 seconds, I see a buck crashing down the holler on my neighbor to the S and I can tell he's hurt. He hops the fence and stops. He walks 10' and I can tell he's hurt. I glass him and realize I'll have an ethical decision to make because my tag isn't going on his antlers. He eventually stumbles off the bank into the creek where I get a good look at his 1.5 back legs and bloody crotch. As my neighbor said later: "I saw the muzzle flash, then heard the shot." I folded him with a Texas heart shot at 30 steps, then hollered "you boys might as well come down here"...
The young man that shot him introduced himself and I told him straight up that I was glad he didn't shoot me or our other neighbor since we were effectively downrange. He apologized and thanked me for putting the deer down. (I suspect it was lethal within a few more minutes, but certainly in a few days.) Anyways I asked who he was, then said is Joe Blow your dad and he said it was. I asked if he killed the big 11 point and he said yeah.
I saw this buck laying in front of their garage the day it was killed. You all have seen him and we called him Buddy. Scored roughly at 163". This is the worst news just because this was the only reason I was even hunting our place and I felt he was only 4, so was hoping next year would be super exciting watching him grow. Kaydence had her heart set on being the one to kill him and now she knows that the struggle is real.
The worse news is Buddy's older age class running mate is also dead. I saw him on FB and suspected it was him and they confirmed that tonight.
So anyways, I shot a crippled deer that turned out to be that young man's best buck to date and in the span of 36 hours, confirmed 3 less targets. If you need me, I'll be pouting and getting my waterfowl gear together. #deerhuntingisstupid
Chancegriffis
Active Member
You are explaining part of the reason I don't trophy hunt anymore. Seems like the reward really isn't worth all the heartaches. Sorry man
Bankfish
Junior Member
- 758
- 71
I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but I don't think those last two deer are the same deer. Unless it's just the different angles. The top buck just looks bigger, wider, different brows, how far the beams are apart at the ends... could just be me
I think you're right. That right brow seems to be different. One bends right and the other bends left.I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but I don't think those last two deer are the same deer. Unless it's just the different angles. The top buck just looks bigger, wider, different brows, how far the beams are apart at the ends... could just be me
Shoot-straight
Member
Sorry to hear that. Been dealing with some of that myself. It definitely stings. Sometimes big deer making hunting less fun but some times they put you on cloud 9. I’m sure those genes are around your place and will show up in the future! You must like misery though because duck hunting in Ohio rarely pulls me out of a slump lol.
The more I look, the more I agree. Might be hope yet!I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but I don't think those last two deer are the same deer. Unless it's just the different angles. The top buck just looks bigger, wider, different brows, how far the beams are apart at the ends... could just be me
bigten05
*Supporting Member*
Looks like different deer to me to. Ive had this happen before and ended up killing my best buck at the time after grinding it out and searching some new area in the late season.
Cruised around the farm today checking cams and it's clear that I'm already in "next season" mode. Not sure how many hunts I have left this season, but I'm ready to move on and get to work preparing for Fall '23. I'm more excited to cut trees and turn dirt than I am to hunt. What's wrong with me?!?
bigten05
*Supporting Member*
I'm always planning for next season. As soon as I shot my buck this year I was making notes and plans for next year.Cruised around the farm today checking cams and it's clear that I'm already in "next season" mode. Not sure how many hunts I have left this season, but I'm ready to move on and get to work preparing for Fall '23. I'm more excited to cut trees and turn dirt than I am to hunt. What's wrong with me?!?
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Ha,Ha... Your not the only one gearing up for next season... I'm looking forward to seeing if a certain 8 point made it through the season here in Jersey... He's on state land so it will be Jan. before the season ends, at which time I'll dump some corn out and put up a camera or two... I'll put some boots on the ground in Jan. Feb. to get a better idea where to set up next year... I'll also start a mineral lick to see what happens... Since a few TOO members have contacted me about bear hunting next year, I plan on finding some good spots... Would be cool to get someone on here a bear... This is buck I'll be trying to pattern if he made it... Nothing super big, but a respectable buck for Jersey... So there's nothing wrong with you...Cruised around the farm today checking cams and it's clear that I'm already in "next season" mode. Not sure how many hunts I have left this season, but I'm ready to move on and get to work preparing for Fall '23. I'm more excited to cut trees and turn dirt than I am to hunt. What's wrong with me?!?
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