2013 in review
- muddy
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2013 in review
Season was tough, no getting around it. Camera sightings were pretty bland up until July when I got a few nice bucks on cam.
This guy I had on cam last year, he didn't grow at all. Not sure why, but I know it's the same buck because of his wonky eye.
And "Ulcer"
Opening weekend came and went, I managed to see "Ulcer" driving out in the headlights, at that point my goal was him or nothing in that area. My other goal was to shoot a mature buck with my Dads bow.
I spent a lot of time in a stand location where my Dad was going to hunt with me this year.
As October rolled on my target bucks disappeared, but I had some others show up.
First week of season I had this very nice buck come in and I opted to pass, I had specific goals and he just wasn't it. Very difficult to see from my pics, but he was pretty good. I rattled him up twice in the rut and passed him then as well.
video
http://s186.photobucket.com/user/muddy_ ... ort=3&o=15
The Lull turned into the rut, dinks were everywhere, and a few good ones got the pass again.
I passed this buck up several times over the year
video
http://s186.photobucket.com/user/muddy_ ... ort=3&o=18
video of another one that will be much better next year, but still a very nice deer.
http://s186.photobucket.com/user/muddy_ ... ort=3&o=20
random video, i believe this buck was grunting or growling
http://s186.photobucket.com/user/muddy_ ... ort=3&o=19
my "Ninja Video"
http://s186.photobucket.com/user/muddy_ ... ort=3&o=12
Finally we got thru the rut and into post rut. By this time I got disgruntled and didn't take as many pics. I did have this buck come in 2 times chasing a doe and let him walk, just not what I wanted.
Rut really showed how bad the EHD was in my locations. Hardly any bucks over 3.5 running around, heck even old does weren't around. I kept plodding forward, by the time November was over I had logged more hours than I could even really calculate. I hunted 17 days dark to dark just in Nov with no mature buck sightings, period. October I hunted cumulatively about the same, but the time was broken up to morning or evening sits with scouting and getting down in between. Crazy crazy slow year. I ended up making some phone calls and picking up some new land back by my moms house. This made everyone happy because she sees us, we see her, and I get to deer hunt. I decided to wait until late muzzleloader season to deer hunt again and we then concentrated on honkers.
Scouting yielded bad stuff.
Solid buck I found and buried in our flower bed to make into a Euro
Buck from trail cams above. Very good mass.
I got really bummed out, cams were sucking it up big time, I had 6 cameras out and nothing going on. I went coyote hunting, but didn't get much but exercise, but had fun and got my head right.
Season ended for me not tagging a single deer, which had never happened to me in very very many years. I made a few phone calls and a friend of mine let me come to his farm for the bonus late antlerless season. In the last 15-20 minutes I made a good shot on a big doe 2 days shy of my Dads 1 year death anniversary, so at least I had that going for me.
I had a very difficult and tough year. If I zigged, the deer zagged, and there wasn't anything I could do about it. I started hunting weird locations so I could scout in/out and deer sign was just NOT there. Scrapes were fewer, deer were fewer, and it really was a challenging season. Throughout all of it I feel I kept a positive frame of mind MOST of the time. I had a few rants with buddies in the same boat, but all in all it was a sub par season. I'm thankful I was able to hunt as much as I did, many guys only get a weekend or two, I had A LOT of tree time.
This guy I had on cam last year, he didn't grow at all. Not sure why, but I know it's the same buck because of his wonky eye.
And "Ulcer"
Opening weekend came and went, I managed to see "Ulcer" driving out in the headlights, at that point my goal was him or nothing in that area. My other goal was to shoot a mature buck with my Dads bow.
I spent a lot of time in a stand location where my Dad was going to hunt with me this year.
As October rolled on my target bucks disappeared, but I had some others show up.
First week of season I had this very nice buck come in and I opted to pass, I had specific goals and he just wasn't it. Very difficult to see from my pics, but he was pretty good. I rattled him up twice in the rut and passed him then as well.
video
http://s186.photobucket.com/user/muddy_ ... ort=3&o=15
The Lull turned into the rut, dinks were everywhere, and a few good ones got the pass again.
I passed this buck up several times over the year
video
http://s186.photobucket.com/user/muddy_ ... ort=3&o=18
video of another one that will be much better next year, but still a very nice deer.
http://s186.photobucket.com/user/muddy_ ... ort=3&o=20
random video, i believe this buck was grunting or growling
http://s186.photobucket.com/user/muddy_ ... ort=3&o=19
my "Ninja Video"
http://s186.photobucket.com/user/muddy_ ... ort=3&o=12
Finally we got thru the rut and into post rut. By this time I got disgruntled and didn't take as many pics. I did have this buck come in 2 times chasing a doe and let him walk, just not what I wanted.
Rut really showed how bad the EHD was in my locations. Hardly any bucks over 3.5 running around, heck even old does weren't around. I kept plodding forward, by the time November was over I had logged more hours than I could even really calculate. I hunted 17 days dark to dark just in Nov with no mature buck sightings, period. October I hunted cumulatively about the same, but the time was broken up to morning or evening sits with scouting and getting down in between. Crazy crazy slow year. I ended up making some phone calls and picking up some new land back by my moms house. This made everyone happy because she sees us, we see her, and I get to deer hunt. I decided to wait until late muzzleloader season to deer hunt again and we then concentrated on honkers.
Scouting yielded bad stuff.
Solid buck I found and buried in our flower bed to make into a Euro
Buck from trail cams above. Very good mass.
I got really bummed out, cams were sucking it up big time, I had 6 cameras out and nothing going on. I went coyote hunting, but didn't get much but exercise, but had fun and got my head right.
Season ended for me not tagging a single deer, which had never happened to me in very very many years. I made a few phone calls and a friend of mine let me come to his farm for the bonus late antlerless season. In the last 15-20 minutes I made a good shot on a big doe 2 days shy of my Dads 1 year death anniversary, so at least I had that going for me.
I had a very difficult and tough year. If I zigged, the deer zagged, and there wasn't anything I could do about it. I started hunting weird locations so I could scout in/out and deer sign was just NOT there. Scrapes were fewer, deer were fewer, and it really was a challenging season. Throughout all of it I feel I kept a positive frame of mind MOST of the time. I had a few rants with buddies in the same boat, but all in all it was a sub par season. I'm thankful I was able to hunt as much as I did, many guys only get a weekend or two, I had A LOT of tree time.
http://www.iowawhitetail.com
Leading the way for habitat and management information
"It's a good thing you don't need commas and colons to kill deer" -seaz
Leading the way for habitat and management information
"It's a good thing you don't need commas and colons to kill deer" -seaz
- BigHunt
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Re: 2013 in review
HUNT LIKE A BEAST
- Stanley
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Re: 2013 in review
I don't know what there is about losing someone close and having a bum year, but they seem to go hand in hand. I know it did for me. When you are in a funk you don't want be where you are and when you get to where you think you want to be, you don't want to be there either. I'm thinking next year will be better for you.
You can fool some of the bucks, all of the time, and fool all of the bucks, some of the time, however you certainly can't fool all of the bucks, all of the time.
- Spysar
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Re: 2013 in review
Great recap of the season. I was wondering about the EHD, and I guess it got some. From what I observed in my hunting areas, it seems to kill a lot of the big bucks. I bet your Dad is saving up a huge buck for you next year.
Oh, and the pisss in the snow is hilarious. How many beers went into that work of art??
Oh, and the pisss in the snow is hilarious. How many beers went into that work of art??
A buck will see you three times, and hear you twice, but he's only gonna smell you once.
- Dewey
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Re: 2013 in review
Thanks for sharing Muddy. Hope your luck changes next season. Every once in awhile a season like that puts things in perspective and helps us appreciate things more.
Hunting with your Dads bow and gun had to be an emotional thing and I plan on doing the same next season. Time spent on stand reflecting on good times is a necessary part of the healing process I believe.
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Hunting with your Dads bow and gun had to be an emotional thing and I plan on doing the same next season. Time spent on stand reflecting on good times is a necessary part of the healing process I believe.
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Re: 2013 in review
Holding out for a big one can be tuff... sounds like u enjoyed the journey. Thanks for the recap n pics
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"When a hunter is in a tree stand with high moral values, with the proper hunting ethics and richer for the experience, that hunter is 20 feet closer to God." Fred Bear
- Jackson Marsh
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Re: 2013 in review
When you give it your best effort and it just doesn't work out, you can hold your head high. Hopefully those bucks you passed make it and the EHD takes a break.
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- kurt
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Re: 2013 in review
nice recap.
- Hodag Hunter
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Re: 2013 in review
The year was tough for most folks this year and losing your father wasn't easy either.
As time passes you will remember this season not for the deer shot but the memories you relived on stand of days past with you and your dad.
Good luck next year Mud. You deserve it.
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As time passes you will remember this season not for the deer shot but the memories you relived on stand of days past with you and your dad.
Good luck next year Mud. You deserve it.
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Re: 2013 in review
Good, heartfelt journey. Chasing dreams is rarely easy. The swings are huge. The work-of-art in the snow was great. Anyone who has had a season like you can relate. Hats off.
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- oldrank
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Re: 2013 in review
Great pics and nice way to lay the year out. Sorry to hear about your Dad, I lost mine last year also, it will be one yr in February. We spnet many good years together hunting and fishing and I am who I am because of him. There is not a day I spend in the woods I don't think of him. I use it as my inspiration to take one step further or scout just a little harder. There are a lot of special places where we spend time together in the outdoors and I go to them spots when I want to reconnect with him cause I know he is always there.
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Re: 2013 in review
Stanley wrote:I don't know what there is about losing someone close and having a bum year, but they seem to go hand in hand. I know it did for me.[glow=red]When you are in a funk you don't want be where you are and when you get to where you think you want to be, you don't want to be there either.[/glow]I'm thinking next year will be better for you.
Very true
- Edcyclopedia
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Re: 2013 in review
Nice write up.
Before you know it fall will be here again!
Before you know it fall will be here again!
Expect the Unexpected when you least Expect it...
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