First early season buck
- Bowhuntercoop
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First early season buck
As some of you know I moved from pa to sc this past spring. My wife works in the medical field and took a job in western sc. My in laws retired to myrtle beach and she wanted to be closer. This left me with little to know time for spring and summer scouting. I put in a pile of time in pa like I always did and will be returning next month to chase the big ones.
So once we got settled in I found the closest public. A national forest with 122k acres! Big big woods to say the least. Pine flats, hardwoods, ridges, swamp, you name it and it’s here. I’ve spent the last 4 months cyber scouting and in June and July put boots on the ground trying to get a grasp on where they bed. It’s so green and thick it was tuff to find primary bedding areas. I have a lot of work to do this winter.
I hunted for the first time Tuesday and passed 2 doe and a decent 90-100 inch 8 pointer. Locals have told me a 100 inch deer is big for SC. I wasn’t sure if i was gunna regret passing him but I’ve shot enough 100 inch deer in pa and knew he wouldn’t make me happy. I was honest happy to see him get up outta a bed at 75 yards and offer me a 17 yard shot.
So today I have a n wind. I knew of a south facing slope from on x with a creek to the south of it. I decided to access using the creek and chest waders to help with sound and scent. I humped in almost a mile wearing waders and I was soaked from sweat! Striped em off and left em by the creek. Pushed to the north about 100 yards and got set up.
At 545 I caught movement to my nw at about 60 yards and he stood up from his bed! He was slowing making his way to the se and I ranged and opening at 41 yards. Once he got into he turned 180 degrees and gave me a quartering away shot. I let the arrow fly and knew the sound of a good hit, could see my fletching were buried.
Gave me 30 mins and got on blood. He headed straight south towards the creek. Found em piled up against a bank dead but he was watching his back trial when he died! Amazing.
I’ve been bed hunting now for the last 6-7 years in pa but this was my first year in SC. The tactics work. They take time, patience, and a lot of hard work. Not to mention some luck! No idea what he scores nor do i care, he’s a great deer let alone for SC. I got 3.5 months left and a pile of tags, I’m just getting started!
So once we got settled in I found the closest public. A national forest with 122k acres! Big big woods to say the least. Pine flats, hardwoods, ridges, swamp, you name it and it’s here. I’ve spent the last 4 months cyber scouting and in June and July put boots on the ground trying to get a grasp on where they bed. It’s so green and thick it was tuff to find primary bedding areas. I have a lot of work to do this winter.
I hunted for the first time Tuesday and passed 2 doe and a decent 90-100 inch 8 pointer. Locals have told me a 100 inch deer is big for SC. I wasn’t sure if i was gunna regret passing him but I’ve shot enough 100 inch deer in pa and knew he wouldn’t make me happy. I was honest happy to see him get up outta a bed at 75 yards and offer me a 17 yard shot.
So today I have a n wind. I knew of a south facing slope from on x with a creek to the south of it. I decided to access using the creek and chest waders to help with sound and scent. I humped in almost a mile wearing waders and I was soaked from sweat! Striped em off and left em by the creek. Pushed to the north about 100 yards and got set up.
At 545 I caught movement to my nw at about 60 yards and he stood up from his bed! He was slowing making his way to the se and I ranged and opening at 41 yards. Once he got into he turned 180 degrees and gave me a quartering away shot. I let the arrow fly and knew the sound of a good hit, could see my fletching were buried.
Gave me 30 mins and got on blood. He headed straight south towards the creek. Found em piled up against a bank dead but he was watching his back trial when he died! Amazing.
I’ve been bed hunting now for the last 6-7 years in pa but this was my first year in SC. The tactics work. They take time, patience, and a lot of hard work. Not to mention some luck! No idea what he scores nor do i care, he’s a great deer let alone for SC. I got 3.5 months left and a pile of tags, I’m just getting started!
- Bowhuntercoop
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- Lockdown
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Re: First early season buck
Congrats! Dandy buck!!
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Re: First early season buck
Awesome buck! Congrats on the kill.
"Immerse yourself in the outdoor experience. It will cleanse your soul and make you a better person"
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- street28ss
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Re: First early season buck
Congrats, awesome buck!
- wolverinebuckman
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Re: First early season buck
Way to get it done in a new state, Great buck!
Bummer of a birthmark, Hal.
- Bowhuntercoop
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Re: First early season buck
I will say scouting my way in and hunting terrain features are some keys on why I killed em. The in season scouting thread really got my thinking. When I’m in doubt il scout my way in and if the sign ain’t there then maybe il just hunt the terrain features since it’s all new areas to me.
Times when I’m scouting in and find that fresh hot sign il possibly set up over it. I stared a journal for sc. Using a journal up north was a big help for different times in the season and trying to remember things. I would highly recommend anyone that’s serious to start a hunting journal. Im only 31 and I cant remember all the crap from the season before.
Times when I’m scouting in and find that fresh hot sign il possibly set up over it. I stared a journal for sc. Using a journal up north was a big help for different times in the season and trying to remember things. I would highly recommend anyone that’s serious to start a hunting journal. Im only 31 and I cant remember all the crap from the season before.
- Brandonkinchen
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Re: First early season buck
Beautiful buck. Congrats
"The archer is the true weapon; the bow is just a long piece of wood." -Sebastien de Castell
- bigbucks1234
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Re: First early season buck
Nice work!!!!! Congrats
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Re: First early season buck
Very nice buck !! You had be struggling in those waders, I know it was HOT !!!!
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- jporcello
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Re: First early season buck
congrats! thats a great buck
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results” Albert Einstein
- Bowhuntercoop
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Re: First early season buck
Hooks1 wrote:Very nice buck !! You had be struggling in those waders, I know it was HOT !!!!
I was freaking dying and questioning my sanity. Amazing though how quiet you can be accessing through water compared to walking through the woods.
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Re: First early season buck
Unique rack. Nice deer!
- Lu Rome
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Re: First early season buck
Awesome! Congrats!
“Curiosity never killed the cat. The cat died from stupidity, or maybe an overdose of mice.” -The Old Man
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