1023's 2023-2024 Season Journal

[JARHEAD]

This is the most consistent buck I've ever hunted. I'm getting pictures of him every day, but 99% have been at night. He was on 4 different cameras on Sunday (and maybe more when I check the others) and he went 500 yards in 20 minutes on Monday night. Even with all the pics, there's only a couple of patterns to pick up on which lead me to believe he's bedding in two different areas. In this pic, he's headed to where I thought he's bedded the majority of the time going back to late-July when he first showed up. I'm to the point now that I'd rather him survive until next fall so we can continue the battle when he's fully mature, but I'm still on his ass for the time being!

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Shoot that sumbitch!!

 

[bowhunter1023]

Shoot that sumbitch!!

HA! I assure I've made a valiant effort to do so thus far! If it were only that easy

I have a good 100+ hours on stand in November and have been on the ground 3 times when he moved in day, but I was in the wrong stand. He's just better at chess than I am!

 

[JARHEAD]

Odds are in your favor. Time in the stand will kill him. Stay the path and good things will come!

 

[bowhunter1023]

Well, so much for my reason to hunt behind the house. Still can't believe I missed this deer last year

 

[JARHEAD]

Dammit man! At least you know his genes are out there in your neck of the woods

 

[Big_Holla]

Another kick in the balls. Again, at least you know and aren't hunting a ghost. Anyone you know personally and where he was killed??

 

[Boarhead]

Dang Jesse!

 

[bowhunter1023]

Another kick in the balls. Again, at least you know and aren't hunting a ghost. Anyone you know personally and where he was killed??

I know of him and generally where he was killed. As good as our place is, it's only 11 acres and it's easy for a buck to move to much better ground a 1/2 mile to a mile away. I suspect he shifted his core to fill in for another buck, which moved him a 1/2 mile south. Was fun while it lasted. I'll never forget seeing him pop over that hill last year. To this day, that's as rattled as a buck has had me. One of those deer that was much bigger in person than in a pic, and I wasn't prepared for the sticker shock!

 

[Isaacorps]

Ugggghhh, sorry man

 

[Clay Showalter]

Well that sucks

 

[giles]

Something else will fill in the spot. Keep going, just stop looking for him and start going for you.

 

[finelyshedded]

Dang Jesse, it sucks but happens to us all more than we know sometimes. Congratulations to the hunter but sure wish it was you behind him.

 

[mrbighorns]

That blows- another one will roll in

 

[bowhunter1023]

I've been busy flexing my hypocrisy and am very optimistic about tomorrow evening's hunt. When this buck showed up this summer, he was traveling E/W through an oak flat. I've thought he was bedding near our NE corner, so I moved a cell cam to a nice pinch point the week before gun season. He's been through here multiple times, including last night.

Even though I'm one of those "ban baiting" assholes, until it's banned, I'll use it to my advantage whenever I feel like it. And I felt like it. So I went in last Thursday and dumped 120#s of roasted soybeans, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn. He was there the first night and hasn't missed a meal since.

With a 10 degree temp drop coming and the perfect wind, my hopes are higher than normal. Knowing my luck, I'll see a spike and a possum, but at least I'll be in the woods!

 

[Bankfish]

Good luck!!

 

[JARHEAD]

Kill him!

 

[Dustinb80]

Good luck Jesse

 

[5Cent]

Get him!

 

[WoodCoDep]

got him patterned for now, go kill him

 

[bowhunter1023]

He's headed to bed right where I need him to. Can't draw it up any better.