Wildlife 2020/2021 Deer Season

[Outdoorsfellar]

I've read about them in years past, but never had any pics . When I acquired my BIL's land a few years ago... for that year & just a few miles away, I was getting pics left & right of this. Still , nothing has ever emerged here with my local herd back at my place.

 

[Sgt Fury]

I’ve seen it here in NJ and also in Ohio....never a severe case, just a few black tumors on their hide. Don’t know if it affects the deer meat so I’ve never shot one that had it.

 

[Wildlife]

Don’t know if it affects the deer meat so I’ve never shot one that had it.

"Should you eat the meat from a deer with fibromas? Only large tumors with secondary bacterial infection cause a deer to be unfit for human consumption. Infected tumors often are swollen and contain yellowish pus. Small, uninfected fibromas like those seen in the photo above do not affect the quality of the meat."

I doubt I'd eat the meat of an infected deer, but according to the QDMA article I posted, the meat should be fine if there's no secondary bacterial infection, which I'm no biologist, so like I said, I doubt I'd eat the meat from an infected deer. Why take that chance?

 

[giles]

Why kill it if you aren’t going to eat it? The animals pictured seem to still be feeding and are otherwise “healthy”. Just a few warts that will go away once it gets cold.

Now if one is barely getting along and obviously in real bad shape, that’s different.

 

[Wildlife]

Why kill it if you aren’t going to eat it? The animals pictured seem to still be feeding and are otherwise “healthy”. Just a few warts that will go away once it gets cold.

Now if one is barely getting along and obviously in real bad shape, that’s different.

I wouldn't purposely kill it, unless it were to protect the rest of the herd from getting it and attempt to do some sort of management.

If I was to kill a deer unknowingly with the virus, and it wasn't covered with the warts after the fact, I'd still butcher the deer while protecting myself and inspect the meat thoroughly to determine whether or not the meat is worth keeping/eating. Perhaps send a portion out to be tested if possible.

Like I said, I'm no biologist and I wouldn't take any chances on consuming venison from any sick deer, especially if there are very obvious signs within the meat of not looking quite right, but yeah, that's me... I suppose the coyotes can then have it.

That's how I'd handle the situation. I hope that the little buck recovers from the disease and I certainly hope that I don't see it again on any other deer.

 

[Big_Holla]

I know they say it's that virus but I have often wondered if there was any connection to them and ticks/tick bites.

 

[Wildlife]

I know they say it's that virus but I have often wondered if there was any connection to them and ticks/tick bites.

Sounds logical, but I really wouldn't know. Next time I have the chance to speak to a wildlife biologist, I'll ask them.

 

[Wildlife]

Thursday - July 2, 2020:

Here's a very brief one minute daytime video of THUNDER yesterday around 5:30 p.m. He didn't stick around very long and the trail camera that I pulled the SD card from today had dead batteries. It died shortly after the video captured him apparently. I'm sure I have other daytime photos of him from yesterday on my other trail cameras, but I didn't pull those cards today. So, I'm not sure if he showed back up later on in the evening or not. I'm willing to bet that he did. He usually does.

Still, I'm kinda amazed that he was up and about rather early during the heat of the day.

That sick young buck also showed up during the hot time of the day also. He feed quite a bit, roughly a half hour of munching down the corn and then moved on about an hour before THUNDER showed up.

Anyhow, I thought I'd share THUNDER's progress, especially when I get daytime photography of him.

Hope you guys enjoy it?

 

[Sgt Fury]

Nice! I guess he spooked at the end of the video when the batteries died and the music stopped!

 

[Wildlife]

Friday - July 3, 2020:

Per my last journal video update of THUNDER’s rather short daylight stay on the first at the feeder. As expected, he did manage to show back up again much later in the evening to feed for a good half hour until midnight. A few of his younger buddies showed up right after him.

On a separate note; the following TC capture looks rather weird to say the least.

It's a doe that appears to have super short legs. Never seen her before and she did not stick around at all. Just passing through I suppose. This is the only photograph I have of her. Not sure if it is a genetic thing or perhaps a past injury. Either way, she looks as if she is an adult with super short legs and her lower ankle bones or lower leg joints appear to bend the opposite way.

Anyhow, what you guys think? Hopefully, she shows back up again so maybe I can capture a much better photograph of her.

Last night was super busy at the feeder once again. THUNDER and a few of his younger buddies devoured a shit ton of corn. They all visited a few times through the late night and the early morning hours spending a good half hour each time feeding and trying to fend off the raccoons

Well, until next time, I want to wish everyone a ‘Happy Independence Day’ weekend and try be safe out there!

 

[Isaacorps]

Chupacabra

 

[Wildlife]

Chupacabra

I'll be honest,,, I had to 'google' that

 

[giles]

We had a dwarf buck on the athens farm for a few years. Perfectly healthy, just had them short legs. I seen him almost every hunt for a couple of years. A hunter did finally kill him, I was in my trophy hunter stage.

What stage of hunting do you consider yourself, Denny? I think I seen all 5 stages last year in your thread.

 

[Wildlife]

We had a dwarf buck on the athens farm for a few years. Perfectly healthy, just had them short legs. I seen him almost every hunt for a couple of years. A hunter did finally kill him, I was in my trophy hunter stage.

What stage of hunting do you consider yourself, Denny? I think I seen all 5 stages last year in your thread.

Geez Dave, I wasn't aware that there are 5 sages of hunting a buck. Silly me, maybe that’s my problem buddy?

Granted, I haven’t harvested an Ohio big buck since 2011 and of the last two that I did harvest, each qualified as an Ohio big buck, one typical and the other non-typical from a different county than what I currently hunt.

I’d say I’m most interested harvesting that same caliber of bucks for the rest of my deer hunting days if possible. I love being in the outdoors during that time of year huntin for'em as you may already know. Yup, it’s more than a hobby, it's a passion of mine in case some of the other folks haven't noticed yet.

My family & I are big venison eaters so, if I’m not successful in harvesting a big buck, I’d gladly fill that tag with an antlerless deer no problem whatsoever.

Just to be clear, I did miss out on three full consecutive deer seasons since 2011 and I felt like I was more than a bit rusty once I got back into it again. Plus, over the last three seasons I was attempting to get as familiar as I could with the newer properties while hunting it, learning as much as I could about the local deer herd and all the other hunters in the area, which I believe I have a fairly decent handle/knowledge on it today.

Last season, I did try some different things with hopes of learning perhaps a different approach to the new season. I did compile all my documented data from over the past three seasons. I think I have some interesting patterns figured out to some extent with regards big buck movements on certain times of the month around here.

Also, there were two significant changes that happened earlier this year that I believe will further work towards my success with regards to this particular property that I absolutely care to take a good old mature buck off of.

1. The current property owner heavily restricted human access, which has so far has significantly decreased the number of people that I have not seen lately on ATV's, 4x4's, so on and so forth. The previous years, all year long, human activity/pressure took place often and no doubt that had a negative impact in keeping those bigger bucks on the property. We have had plenty of poaching problems as well since I've been here.
2. The property owner did manage to put up plenty of no trespassing signs all over his property and I was told by him & his family, and the local sheriff that it will be strictly enforced. I was asked to report any suspicious characters, people that I don’t know, seen on the property, which I’d be happy to do.

Sure, some of those past year bigger bucks made their appearance known during the rut for a couple of days around here, but they wouldn’t stick around very long that's for sure. They would soon disappear as quickly as they came until the next the rut. I do however, know where some of them go now and that's based on scouting, field observations, conversations with the neighbors and time spent on google earth.

I did come close on a few different occasions over the last two seasons and I still kick myself in the ass to this day for not hunting on a particular day back in 2018 during the late part of the rut. If I did, I’m sure I’d have another 160+” mounted on my wall today because he walked right underneath two of my tree-stands during the noon hour, Anyhow, I digress...

I’m certain that I'll be successful once again in harvesting another Ohio big buck. Sometimes, it’s all about the luck ‘TOO’. Who knows, maybe this year will be my lucky year?

(BTW, just so you know and now all you others,,, I was told by my father in law many times since I’ve been hunting this place that “it couldn’t be done because of all the human pressure”. Obviously, I took it as a challenge. He supposedly tried throughout all his hunting career to harvest an Ohio big buck off that same property, and it’s the same property that my wife’s grandparents grew up on many years ago, whom they also have hunted it. None in the family have ever successfully harvested nor seen a true “trophy” during their times living on and/or hunting it. My father in law did manage to harvest a decent 8 point buck though, about 30 years ago. I however, have seen my share of a couple of real good shooters, but in each case, it wasn’t in the cards for me to pull it off. Maybe this will be my year. We'll see what happens.)

I hope I answered your question Dave and that's interesting about the dwarf buck. I've never heard of nor seen one myself, ever! I wasn't even aware there was such a thing to be quite honest. I guess that's what I have in the area now, a dwarf doe. Hopefully I get to see her up close and personal with my own eyes this season. I think that would be neat to see.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Wildlife]

Tuesday - July 7,2020:

Hope everyone had a enjoyable holiday weekend because I sure did. It was super nice to spend much needed quality time with all of the family once again.

Anyhow, I have another video of THUNDER to present that I just put together. Basically, it consist of a series of photographs from yesterday during daylight. He definitely appears to be the dominate local buck and you'll get to see a part of that within the video.

I'll also share that it's becoming more of a challenge for me to get to the feeder area without disturbing the deer. I had a deer blowing at me this afternoon when I grabbed the SD cards and laid out another 50lbs. of corn.

Just so everyone knows, these videos of mine will usually have music associated with them. I hope these kinds updates of THUNDER and/or unusual wild-game captures are appreciated?

Until next time, stay cool out there and do drink plenty of fluids.

 

[giles]

This is what I was referring to.

https://www.hunter-ed.com/national/studyGuide/Becoming-a-True-Sportsman/201099_93070/

 

[Wildlife]

This is what I was referring to.

https://www.hunter-ed.com/national/studyGuide/Becoming-a-True-Sportsman/201099_93070/

Okay, I understand where you're coming from now. I guess I should've known what you meant, but unfortunately, I didn't.

Let me say this,,, obviously, you're entitled to your own thoughts and shared opinions, Dave. It's still a free country!

I must say though, it kinda appears to me that you're trying to bust my balls regarding my methods of hunting perhaps?

If you truly believe I was in all five stages based on your shared link, then so be it. Does it really matter?

The way I see it, I hunt deer. Plain and simple!

As long as I do it legally, which I always do, then who really cares what stage I'm in? I'm just thankful that I get to do something that I thoroughly enjoy doing even after all the shit I put myself through over the years. Praise the Lord that I still can do it, thank you very much!

Yes, I choose to chase big fair-game mature bucks, all season long if that's what it takes. I can afford to do that nowadays. It wasn't like that for me ten years ago. These days, I believe I have the patience and can afford to be a bit more choosy.

I've never had an issue filling my freezer with venison in the past nor filling out my pre-purchased ODNR deer tags. I'll always use my best judgement whenever, wherever or whatever hunting situation I may find myself in, trying to accomplish my desired goal that I may have at the time.

Yes, I've taken hunters out with me over the decades, including youths and adults that were new to hunting. I've also hunted with seasoned hunters every year as well, and not just for deer either.

Like I mentioned before within this journal, I haven't harvested an antlered deer in quite sometime and that's been by choice for the most part, given the fact of the lack luster opportunities I've had towards a real trophy type of a buck in the given areas.

Yes, I could've shot at an antlered deer more than a few times, every season if I truly wanted to, but I chose to stick it out, for the long haul if need be, keeping my eyes always peeled, hunting for that quality antlered mature buck, always letting those younger ones walk or given a free pass all the time with hopes of them becoming a quality mature buck someday. Yes, I will harvest buttons over does 95% of the time because they usually don't stick around the following years anyways, but does will.

I have been close on more than a few occasions though, almost making it happen once again within my hunting career on a nice mature buck since 2011. Besides, it's not like most of those mature bucks are the world best eaters anyways. From an eating perspective, for me anyhow, I've had my share of older bucks, and does, that did not turnout quite as well at the dinner table, regarding taste and/or tenderness, or to my desired liking. The older ones tend to be a bit more on the tough side and a bit more grizzly, at least from my experience. A couple hundred pounds of venison per year in my freezer would be considered the minimum requirement for my home. Some past seasons, I exceeded that by a lot and others, not so much.

I consider myself to be extremely fortunate that I can still hunt the way that I do, and still provide my family excellent organic food at the dinner table. Hardly anything else pleases me more!

And, if you truly must know, yes,,, I do prefer to harvest a quality, top notch trophy type of a buck by way of compound bow and arrow, and then, have him displayed on my wall afterwards. That is my personal favorite method of hunting! However, if I'm unable to accomplish that during the regular portion of the bow season, then I'll attempt to shoot one via shotgun and/or muzzle-loader, but you can bet, I'd much rather shoot one with my bow. That DOES NOT mean that others have to follow my lead by any stretch of the imagination. I can honestly careless what other do to make it happen as long as it's legal. It's their personal choice. It's whatever works for them. Again, as long as it's legal and it makes you/them happy. Trust me, if someone's hunting accomplishment pleases them so tremendously, then that's what it's all about in my book and I'll be extremely happy for you and/or them in making that happen!

Last season, I lost a deer that I shot by way of bow & arrow, which I gave it my best to recover. I'm sure you remember. I ran into some rather unforeseen weather conditions after the shot that heavily contributed to the entire misfortune. That has not happened to me in a very long time and I was completely sick over it for a few days. There never has been a deer season where I haven't learned a hard core lesson. I wouldn't expect this new season to be any different. I'll always try to give it my best no matter what. That's also the very least I intend on doing when I hunt. I know of no other way.

So, what you can expect out of me this new season?

Well, I intend to shoot and harvest the state deer bag limit once again this season. I've already mentioned that my family are heavy meat eaters and always have been. I'm the only one that hunts in the entire family currently. I DO NOT expect to come up short this year either. I hope to harvest a better than average buck, a trophy if you will, and if I find myself getting into the later portion of the season once again, I may change my requirement to some extent, perhaps towards a younger/smaller buck, or just another antlerless deer, much like I've always have done in the past, which usually turned out to be a fat doe.

Stay tuned if you wish and I hope that you do continue to follow along. We'll see what happens together!

Finally, I truly wish you the very best of luck this season, Dave, along with all the other 'TOO' members! May you all achieve your desired goals and hopefully that ever lasting dream buck harvest 'TOO'!

Thanks once again for asking & sharing! I really do appreciate it!

 

[giles]

I wasn’t busting your balls. Simply wondering. From the outside looking in, it seems you are like many of us with a changing mind. One thing for sure, you put in the time and effort!

When I originally asked the question I had just got off the phone with a hunting buddy and we talked about our outlooks for the season. So I was in that frame of mind. Maybe I should’ve dwelled a little more on it.

It’s your season, your time, your tag, spend it how you wish! That’s the most important.

 

[Gern186]

Holy shit I started reading that reply and the sun went down and it started getting light again. Lol

Good luck with however you decide to hunt that makes you happy.

 

[giles]

I was close! I ain’t that upset yet.