Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
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Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
I just finished reading Dans article about the Big 8 and it got me to thinking about the countless times I have put myself through such misery in an effort to win the chess match between man & beast. Isn't it amazing what we will put ourselves through in our quest of that elusive whitetail we are after and the elation success can bring? I'm curious about some of your experiences in regards to this. What are some of your experiences with the misery that mother nature can hand us? Have you been known, as I have been, as the only one in camp crazy enough to hunt in weather that others don't even want to step out into, let alone hunt in?
You cannot invade mainland America. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
I think some of that intense drive comes with youth... When I was young I would hunt almost every day of our bow season till tagged out and looked at bad weather or bad conditions as some sort of advantage. If it was extreme wind I would think "GREAT" now I can sneak up on bedding bucks, if it was pouring rain I would say "AWESOME" I can get in a free hunt without them smelling I was there... Extreme heat, there heading to water, etc. etc...
If a hunter looks at the "negatives" rather than the positives he won't have that "killer" drive that pushes you till your tagged out.
If a hunter looks at the "negatives" rather than the positives he won't have that "killer" drive that pushes you till your tagged out.
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
I always figured that if you wait for ideal conditions...you will be waiting more than hunting.
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
Slayer, you have me thinking of one of my favorite gun hunts where I didn't have a prayer of getting a shot off. A blizzard warning had been issued for my area of the northern UP, but I figured I'd better hunt. I set up about a half mile in from the woods road, in the middle of a funnel a buck used just off of a known buck bedding area. The reason I set up in the middle is that I kept cutting the buck's track on the far side of the funnel (should have known better). I parked myself on a cushion at the base of a tree, facing the far side of the funnel. The snow was blowing sideways, and I had several inches built up on my clothes within minutes. The only thing of me that wasn't covered in snow was my eyeballs...
I could only see about fifteen yards, sometimes less. I really didn't have much hope of seeing anything with such reduced visibility, but thought I'd stick it out until dark which was just under an hour away. Some time passed and I heard the slightest noise in the high wind behind me and to the left. I turned my head just in time to watch a dandy buck trot by me less than 30 feet away at a good clip- he was in sight less than four seconds before the blizzard swallowed him up and it was done. I was totally unprepared and had no prayer of getting off a shot.
The experience was surreal, almost magical and something I'll never forget. I'm really glad I faced the weather that day, you never know!
I could only see about fifteen yards, sometimes less. I really didn't have much hope of seeing anything with such reduced visibility, but thought I'd stick it out until dark which was just under an hour away. Some time passed and I heard the slightest noise in the high wind behind me and to the left. I turned my head just in time to watch a dandy buck trot by me less than 30 feet away at a good clip- he was in sight less than four seconds before the blizzard swallowed him up and it was done. I was totally unprepared and had no prayer of getting off a shot.
The experience was surreal, almost magical and something I'll never forget. I'm really glad I faced the weather that day, you never know!
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
MOBIGBUCKS wrote:I always figured that if you wait for ideal conditions...you will be waiting more than hunting.
Exactly!! I love getting out on day's when the weather is not ideal. Some of my best buck sightings have been on day's with the worst weather you can imagine. It's almost like they have a sixth sense and know that less people will be hunting them on bad weather days and move more than usual. Plus.... less people means no hunting pressure on public land. I love that!
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
I have not experianced the "misery" part yet................
Its all good to me...........
marty
Its all good to me...........
marty
"Forged in fire lit long ago. Stand next to me and you will never stand alone".
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
That just means you haven't hunted in tough enough conditions yet zap! LOL Setting from dark until dark in freezing rain in wet cloths followed by two days of sitting in a blizzard and dehydrated with little sleep can tear a body up! Oh and the 45 minute walk through boot sucking mud didn't help boost the energy levels either. It's one of many times I can remember when mother nature put a whoopin on me but I stuck it out.
It's times like those that I realize I'm not the sharpest crayon in the box.
It's times like those that I realize I'm not the sharpest crayon in the box.
You cannot invade mainland America. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.
Isoroku Yamamoto, Japanese Admiral
Isoroku Yamamoto, Japanese Admiral
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
I hunted a day in Dec. a few years ago when the temp was around 5 above all day and the windchill was in the minus 20's.......By 3:30 I had my camera on a nice 140 class buck feeding in a cut bean field, after some coaxing he closed the distance to 35 yards and I dropped the string on him. I was so cold after the shot I could barely talk on the camera, my fingers were frozen solid and I think I was near hypothermic, but I saw over 20 deer that afternoon and killed one of my biggest bucks...................I love the misery!!!!!
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
I will never forget my hunt 2 years ago for a big 12 pt.I worked all week and come Saturday there were wind chill warnings of 40- and No Travel Adviseries. I live 60 miles from my hunting area but my mind was made I,m HUNTING. My friend begged me not to go .She said NO DEER is worth killing yourself. I did,nt have any snow camo ,so she went to the thrift store and bought me a white sheet.We cut out an eyehole to fit my heavy facemask.I was worried about the mask and sheet not turing as one with my head .So she sewed the facemask into the sheet.We bought some fake grass from Sportsman Warehouse and sewed that on to.She made me take her with in case I did,nt make it back to the car ,and she could come looking.
It was a long hard walk across the deep snow .About a 1/4 mile to the cattails where i would set-up.I was so exhausted when i finally got there at around 3:30.I started clearing snow,and looked up and the huge buck was running out of the woods about 500 yards away.I did,nt have my bow ready ,my snow camo sheet,nothin ! He was 45 minutes early.It must have been the brutal cold that brought him to the small patch of soybeans so early in the afternoon.I thought he would stop when he hit the patch of beans ,but he just kept coming right to me.He was second s from seeing me standing on the edge of the cattails.So all I could do was dive into the snow.I thought he would stop and mabey I could get set.But he ran right up to me less than 10 yards away.And started feeding even closer 8 than 7 even closer.A couple does ran out behind him and ran up beside him even closer.And there I was face first in a snowbank with my bow laying an arms reach away.Their breath was streaming from their nostrils while they gorged on the beans.I could only peek with 1 eye while laying there. I waited for the does to turn away ,while the buck stood 5 yards away with his head down.I reached for my bow and I heard a wheeze and stomp .And as fast as it started it was over .Turns out another doe came up from the other direction and I did,nt see her.But she saw me.I was so sick ,that it did,nt turn out. But I,ll never forget it ! It took a while to get over that one.But at least he survived to get bigger. I found his sheds that year.And 1 side from last year.Can,t wait for another chance this fall.
It was a long hard walk across the deep snow .About a 1/4 mile to the cattails where i would set-up.I was so exhausted when i finally got there at around 3:30.I started clearing snow,and looked up and the huge buck was running out of the woods about 500 yards away.I did,nt have my bow ready ,my snow camo sheet,nothin ! He was 45 minutes early.It must have been the brutal cold that brought him to the small patch of soybeans so early in the afternoon.I thought he would stop when he hit the patch of beans ,but he just kept coming right to me.He was second s from seeing me standing on the edge of the cattails.So all I could do was dive into the snow.I thought he would stop and mabey I could get set.But he ran right up to me less than 10 yards away.And started feeding even closer 8 than 7 even closer.A couple does ran out behind him and ran up beside him even closer.And there I was face first in a snowbank with my bow laying an arms reach away.Their breath was streaming from their nostrils while they gorged on the beans.I could only peek with 1 eye while laying there. I waited for the does to turn away ,while the buck stood 5 yards away with his head down.I reached for my bow and I heard a wheeze and stomp .And as fast as it started it was over .Turns out another doe came up from the other direction and I did,nt see her.But she saw me.I was so sick ,that it did,nt turn out. But I,ll never forget it ! It took a while to get over that one.But at least he survived to get bigger. I found his sheds that year.And 1 side from last year.Can,t wait for another chance this fall.
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
DEERSLAYER wrote:That just means you haven't hunted in tough enough conditions yet zap! LOL
I would not agree with that.
marty
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
Great story Swamp..
Have you guys read my article:
Another deerless day in the swamp?
Here is a link:
viewtopic.php?f=159&t=1348
Another hunt that I would like to mention took place a couple years ago in Rome pond marsh. I got this bright idea that I would have Carol drop me off on the far end of the marsh kitty corner from my house and I would hike the 3 mile treck through the nasty cattails and brush slipping thru the bedding areas with my rifle trying to get one of the bucks living back there.
Needless to say I was dead tired when I got back. It was an all day hike. Every step in that marsh is a workout. Fighting thru brush and sinking to my waste in muck and water... I was totally exhausted and only saw small bucks.
When I pulled off my soaked hunting suit I noticed that my back tag was missing And... within the backtag holder were all my EAB buck tags that could not be replaced without shooting a doe for each tag.
I decided I would have to try and find that backtag holder... I took Ratslayer with me and in the morning drove around to the other side of the swamp and went in and searched for the back tag for hours, even jumped a nice buck now that I did not have my gun cause of lack of tag and Rat missed it... So after a day of searching I finally got back to my truck with the sorest legs and back a man can stand... Guess what?
My truck keys were missing They had come out of my pocket somewhere out in the marsh... Along with my work keys, tool box keys, house keys, etc.. It was my only set.
We had to hitch hike home after hiding Rat Slayers rifle. The next day we went back and had a lock smith make me a key...
Have you guys read my article:
Another deerless day in the swamp?
Here is a link:
viewtopic.php?f=159&t=1348
Another hunt that I would like to mention took place a couple years ago in Rome pond marsh. I got this bright idea that I would have Carol drop me off on the far end of the marsh kitty corner from my house and I would hike the 3 mile treck through the nasty cattails and brush slipping thru the bedding areas with my rifle trying to get one of the bucks living back there.
Needless to say I was dead tired when I got back. It was an all day hike. Every step in that marsh is a workout. Fighting thru brush and sinking to my waste in muck and water... I was totally exhausted and only saw small bucks.
When I pulled off my soaked hunting suit I noticed that my back tag was missing And... within the backtag holder were all my EAB buck tags that could not be replaced without shooting a doe for each tag.
I decided I would have to try and find that backtag holder... I took Ratslayer with me and in the morning drove around to the other side of the swamp and went in and searched for the back tag for hours, even jumped a nice buck now that I did not have my gun cause of lack of tag and Rat missed it... So after a day of searching I finally got back to my truck with the sorest legs and back a man can stand... Guess what?
My truck keys were missing They had come out of my pocket somewhere out in the marsh... Along with my work keys, tool box keys, house keys, etc.. It was my only set.
We had to hitch hike home after hiding Rat Slayers rifle. The next day we went back and had a lock smith make me a key...
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
DEERSLAYER wrote:That just means you haven't hunted in tough enough conditions yet zap! LOL Setting from dark until dark in freezing rain in wet cloths followed by two days of sitting in a blizzard and dehydrated with little sleep can tear a body up! Oh and the 45 minute walk through boot sucking mud didn't help boost the energy levels either. It's one of many times I can remember when mother nature put a whoopin on me but I stuck it out.
It's times like those that I realize I'm not the sharpest crayon in the box.
Zap,
Give him a link to AT's hardcore hunter thread A very good INSPIRATIONAL read
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
Man it is just crazy sometimes what a hunter will go through to be successfull .
One of the stories that comes to mind for me is ....................
Chignecto Sanctuary bowhunt 2005 ........
I have hunted this stand for 18 days straight from morning till dark on a hardwood ridge just inside the Santuary lines . I and many more had seen this buck cross the main road many times during the evening hours but never in the morning or during the day . So I decided if I was going to hunt this great wonder I was going to have to pay my dues , LOL,LOL . I had watched everything from yearin doe's to 7pt 120 class bucks between the 18 days that I hunted this buck but never had seen the big guy that was visiting my stand every night while I was in bed ,dreaming of sticking him with my Fred Bear !!!
I tried changing my entrance and exit routes to my stand , I tried new scents and rattlin times. But nothing seem to work . This buck was truely in a pattern I could not seem to break . So on the 17 evening just before dark I was sitting in minus -20 degree dry cold temps and just about ready to pack it in and I heard the corn flake leaves that had been lying there from the fall start to crumble . Off to my right I see antlers through the mixture of spruce and hardwoods . So about this time I my blood is boiling and I start to get pumped . Then I see 2 does coming acrooss the hardwoods and I think to myself , I got you where I want you now !!!
Well to my surprise the does came into feed but ole bent tine never showed his face .
The 18th morning had come ....... The alarm clock that was set for 4 was now ringing in my ear and I was thinking ,,,why am I doing this to myself . Anyways I got up and cursed and swore a bit that it was now -25 outside and all I was going to do was freeze my AZZ off again trying to harvest my biggest buck to date .
After arriving at my hunting spot ,I got settled in to hear a horn beep out near the main road which was about 4oo yards away . I knew that it was nothing for the rest of the bowhunters to beep the horn on the way by and sometimes my uncle would be heading to work near by and would do the same . So I never thought nothing of it . Well this is where events start to turn .................... 6:45 am rolled around and I could hear these leaves crunching like corn flakes again and said to myself ,dam it those friggin ole does here again . But to my surprise ,,, ole bent tine was on his way down the game trail that he had prolly scouted so many times before . Well I got to say my heart was in my throat and my video camera was in my hands . I do have the video of this buck that I will post for ya all to see . But here was this buck sweeping the hardwoods trying to pick up the scent of those does from the evening before . So I decided that I was going to have to do one thing or another and that my chances of harvesting this buck was NOW !!! And the camera would have to wait till I stuck him with an arrow .
Well after a few minutes and him still cruizing the woods I got my bow in hand and got into position for him to present me a shot . After a few minutes he headed right for me and I thought oh no ,,,whats the chances this buck will walk right under me and I will not get a shot at him . Well after the buck reached 30 yards I drew my bow anyway thinking that he just may make a mistake and turn and present me a shot . Afte the buck walked with in 13 yards of me he got doen on his knees ,,, yes just like a goat does and started rumaging around a burch trees roots. At this time I was getting quite excited and just waiting for my oppotunity to arise . Well it did .............he got back up and turned broad side and looked back over his shoulder towards the woods .............. Well I must say he received quite a shock when he done that ,,,,, whack,,,, right through the boiler room was my 2117 100 grain gator bite mechanicle broadhead . It drove him right to the ground and he spun around for a sec and then he hit the balls of his feet and headed for the woods . Well then I grabbed my camera and started filming this gurglin buck that bleeding out and taking his last breaths . It was one of the most heart pumping hunts I have ever experienced . This buck was now mine .
After I heard no more noise , I waited for approximately 20 minutes as I called my dad to tell him I had finally stuck the beast that had been illusive for so long . So he left his stand and headed to come and see me. and help me out with my buck at mine .
Well after field dressing the buck and getting him out of the woods , I decided I would take this buck to show my Uncle that blew the horn so many times before was he went by where my truck was parked . Well when he seen the buck , he was speechless .......He said ......Jamie that was the buck that was on the road this morning on my way to work and I blew the horn at him to get off the raod . Well the story had all come together then . I told him what happened. That buck had just spent a little too much time chasing does across the river that it cost him his life . He was 13 pts and weighted in at 216lbs. My biggest buck with the bow to date . The long cold hours on stand had paid off and it will for those who devote themselves to these great monters . Here is a pic of him and I will be sure ot post the video of him .
One of the stories that comes to mind for me is ....................
Chignecto Sanctuary bowhunt 2005 ........
I have hunted this stand for 18 days straight from morning till dark on a hardwood ridge just inside the Santuary lines . I and many more had seen this buck cross the main road many times during the evening hours but never in the morning or during the day . So I decided if I was going to hunt this great wonder I was going to have to pay my dues , LOL,LOL . I had watched everything from yearin doe's to 7pt 120 class bucks between the 18 days that I hunted this buck but never had seen the big guy that was visiting my stand every night while I was in bed ,dreaming of sticking him with my Fred Bear !!!
I tried changing my entrance and exit routes to my stand , I tried new scents and rattlin times. But nothing seem to work . This buck was truely in a pattern I could not seem to break . So on the 17 evening just before dark I was sitting in minus -20 degree dry cold temps and just about ready to pack it in and I heard the corn flake leaves that had been lying there from the fall start to crumble . Off to my right I see antlers through the mixture of spruce and hardwoods . So about this time I my blood is boiling and I start to get pumped . Then I see 2 does coming acrooss the hardwoods and I think to myself , I got you where I want you now !!!
Well to my surprise the does came into feed but ole bent tine never showed his face .
The 18th morning had come ....... The alarm clock that was set for 4 was now ringing in my ear and I was thinking ,,,why am I doing this to myself . Anyways I got up and cursed and swore a bit that it was now -25 outside and all I was going to do was freeze my AZZ off again trying to harvest my biggest buck to date .
After arriving at my hunting spot ,I got settled in to hear a horn beep out near the main road which was about 4oo yards away . I knew that it was nothing for the rest of the bowhunters to beep the horn on the way by and sometimes my uncle would be heading to work near by and would do the same . So I never thought nothing of it . Well this is where events start to turn .................... 6:45 am rolled around and I could hear these leaves crunching like corn flakes again and said to myself ,dam it those friggin ole does here again . But to my surprise ,,, ole bent tine was on his way down the game trail that he had prolly scouted so many times before . Well I got to say my heart was in my throat and my video camera was in my hands . I do have the video of this buck that I will post for ya all to see . But here was this buck sweeping the hardwoods trying to pick up the scent of those does from the evening before . So I decided that I was going to have to do one thing or another and that my chances of harvesting this buck was NOW !!! And the camera would have to wait till I stuck him with an arrow .
Well after a few minutes and him still cruizing the woods I got my bow in hand and got into position for him to present me a shot . After a few minutes he headed right for me and I thought oh no ,,,whats the chances this buck will walk right under me and I will not get a shot at him . Well after the buck reached 30 yards I drew my bow anyway thinking that he just may make a mistake and turn and present me a shot . Afte the buck walked with in 13 yards of me he got doen on his knees ,,, yes just like a goat does and started rumaging around a burch trees roots. At this time I was getting quite excited and just waiting for my oppotunity to arise . Well it did .............he got back up and turned broad side and looked back over his shoulder towards the woods .............. Well I must say he received quite a shock when he done that ,,,,, whack,,,, right through the boiler room was my 2117 100 grain gator bite mechanicle broadhead . It drove him right to the ground and he spun around for a sec and then he hit the balls of his feet and headed for the woods . Well then I grabbed my camera and started filming this gurglin buck that bleeding out and taking his last breaths . It was one of the most heart pumping hunts I have ever experienced . This buck was now mine .
After I heard no more noise , I waited for approximately 20 minutes as I called my dad to tell him I had finally stuck the beast that had been illusive for so long . So he left his stand and headed to come and see me. and help me out with my buck at mine .
Well after field dressing the buck and getting him out of the woods , I decided I would take this buck to show my Uncle that blew the horn so many times before was he went by where my truck was parked . Well when he seen the buck , he was speechless .......He said ......Jamie that was the buck that was on the road this morning on my way to work and I blew the horn at him to get off the raod . Well the story had all come together then . I told him what happened. That buck had just spent a little too much time chasing does across the river that it cost him his life . He was 13 pts and weighted in at 216lbs. My biggest buck with the bow to date . The long cold hours on stand had paid off and it will for those who devote themselves to these great monters . Here is a pic of him and I will be sure ot post the video of him .
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
In my younger days I would REALLY be miserable. Not perceived misery, real. I did not have the correct clothing and know how to be warm and safe. I just wanted to kill deer so bad I would brave it in terrible conditions. I was basically an idiot with a gun that was stubborn. That is the only way I knew how to kill deer, meaning I would not quit and would hunt when others quit. I began hunting with noone to teach me anything about deer hunting, and I hunted the heavily pressured public lands of Virginia. I thought I would never kill a deer.....LOL
The misery and the elation of hunting really hit me this year and it encapsulated my many years of hunting into a 5 day period where I felt an entire range of emotions. On November 5th I got what I believe was a 3.5 year old to walk by at 40 yards. To far for me to shoot. Well I hunted the entire day from dusk til dawn...zip. November 6th I sat from dusk til dawn in two different spots, did not see a deer all day. On November 7th I looked at some topo maps from a place my buddy invited me to hunt. I set up in the dark. Right at sunrise a dandy buck comes marching right at me from below. My wind is great and he did not smell me at all. I came to full draw and had what I thought was a great pin sight on him at 7 yards...well I waited too long and he stepped forward with one large step as he was trying to make his way back to bed down in the thicket and I him in the intestines. I had never in all my years had a shot hit so far back. He ran off and stood at the edge of the woods for 30 minutes. I did not move a muscle. He slowly sauntered off never to be seen again. I even brought in a tracking dog the next day and searched high and low for that buck. By the time I got off the mountain I had no buck and my truck began breaking down. By the time I got home, my truck was done, out of commission and I was seriously in jeopardy of not being able to hunt at all the rest of my vacation. Well I woke up on November 9th and I was so wiped out from hunting non-stop for the past 4 days that I just sat at home, dejected. About noon I told myself I am stubborn SOB and that I would not quit and that if I had to ride my bike the 15 miles to hunt, I would do so. Then I got an idea. I own only 1.25 acres in a suburban neighborhood and have about a 40 yard stretch where a creek runs through. Well I put on my worst looking camo and just said "f it" I am going to sit down by that creek from 1pm til dark and I don't care if I see a deer. I used my climbing stand to set up and within 5 minutes I arrowed the biggest buck of my life, and absolute brute for my area in regards to his body size, and my first 3.5 year old buck. The MISERY of deer hunting, you gotta love it!
The misery and the elation of hunting really hit me this year and it encapsulated my many years of hunting into a 5 day period where I felt an entire range of emotions. On November 5th I got what I believe was a 3.5 year old to walk by at 40 yards. To far for me to shoot. Well I hunted the entire day from dusk til dawn...zip. November 6th I sat from dusk til dawn in two different spots, did not see a deer all day. On November 7th I looked at some topo maps from a place my buddy invited me to hunt. I set up in the dark. Right at sunrise a dandy buck comes marching right at me from below. My wind is great and he did not smell me at all. I came to full draw and had what I thought was a great pin sight on him at 7 yards...well I waited too long and he stepped forward with one large step as he was trying to make his way back to bed down in the thicket and I him in the intestines. I had never in all my years had a shot hit so far back. He ran off and stood at the edge of the woods for 30 minutes. I did not move a muscle. He slowly sauntered off never to be seen again. I even brought in a tracking dog the next day and searched high and low for that buck. By the time I got off the mountain I had no buck and my truck began breaking down. By the time I got home, my truck was done, out of commission and I was seriously in jeopardy of not being able to hunt at all the rest of my vacation. Well I woke up on November 9th and I was so wiped out from hunting non-stop for the past 4 days that I just sat at home, dejected. About noon I told myself I am stubborn SOB and that I would not quit and that if I had to ride my bike the 15 miles to hunt, I would do so. Then I got an idea. I own only 1.25 acres in a suburban neighborhood and have about a 40 yard stretch where a creek runs through. Well I put on my worst looking camo and just said "f it" I am going to sit down by that creek from 1pm til dark and I don't care if I see a deer. I used my climbing stand to set up and within 5 minutes I arrowed the biggest buck of my life, and absolute brute for my area in regards to his body size, and my first 3.5 year old buck. The MISERY of deer hunting, you gotta love it!
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Re: Misery & elation... that's deer hunting
I too had some miserable hunts as a kid and a young adult! I can remember sitting in below zero weather on my ground stool late bow season..Nothing but hand me downs that didn't fit right for gear! But I was out there! Freezing cold!!!! I can remember hunting mornings in Late season again in the mid 1990's when the actual temp was -20! Funny thing is we usually always saw deer and had many close encounters. I missed a buck late season from a treestand in 2000 when the windchill was -40! Shudda had him too! Hunting the edge of a huge alder swamp and it was so cold and snow was so deep the deer would just pour out early in the afternoon to feed on acorns! It's funny how this sport can literally take you from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs all in the same day! I guess that's what keeps us coming back for more every season and braving the brutal weather that often is associated with hunting in the upper midwest!
Obsession Bows
Lone Wolf Alpha and sticks
Lone Wolf Alpha and sticks
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