Here in SE Michigan they claim that the car/deer accidents are down 35% this year. I can believe it.
Last couple of years you can basically hunt deer here from October first (bow) until February with all the special seasons. No wonder i'm still trying to tag one.
I shouldn't have let that doe walk away on opening day.

I believe the bucks must be in full rut here. Usually, the week before Thanksgiving is pretty good. I saw two bucks within half-mile of my house yesterday a couple of hours before dark, one of them actually on my property. Thing is, I don't have much incentive to hunt now since I have about a hundred lbs of ground venison and 20 lbs of sausage in the freezer. I have a friend who has a couple of sons who kill a bunch of deer each year, and they keep me in meat. I'll probably give them a 100 pack of WWB .45ACP and a box of 12 gauge #8s each. Pretty good trade. I do have to pay for processing the deer.

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Georgia On My Mind

I was skunked during bow season...just couldn't get one into my limited bow range. I did kill a "smallish" 8pt the opening day of muzzeloading season (pic below--wife and I). Rifle season actually opened today but since I'll be hunting virtually everyday for the next couple of weeks I'm staying home this weekend.

Don

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Laus Deo! <><

In 46 years of deer hunting I've never seen fewer deer, EHD took out about 65% of what we had and the DNR with unlimited doe tags took out the rest. Not much point in going out any more this year with the skinny pickings and every one else I've talked to has the same story, deer hunting in mid-Michigan has changed big time! Next year the state wants more money for deer tags and the bad taste in the mouths of hunters from this year should be interesting with some down right P.O' d. people.

My 12 year old grandson on his first day of deer hunting. Opening day with a muzzleloader at 75 yards. This I think was near Hillsdale, Michigan. A 6 pointer that weighed around 145 pounds. His dad has yet to get a deer in the last 3 or 4 years that he has been hunting. As a side note, the grandson broke 2 fingers on his right hand earlier this week playing football with some friends.

We as a family are doin' pretty good this season. My son has taken 3 8-points,his wife one 8-point,their son 2 7-points and 2 does and I've taken 2 8's,a 9 and 1 doe. Five of the bucks have been 185 or better,2 of them 200+. We ain't complainin'.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

I have done ok. Took a nice 8-point, a cull 4-point and a doe so far. Might take another doe if I get the chance

Here is a pic of the 8-point, he was in full rut and was worn slap out. Been a busy boy.
Took a pic of him through the scope in my spare time.
About 250 yards with 7mag BAR with a Kahles scope. Dead right there.

The last pic is one I took is just the woods at close of day, Just liked it so here it is.

Happy Hunting to all!

Karnivore

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That's a heap of venison! How do y'all process it? I get all ground except backstrap and tenderloin now. We love the chili and the sausage.

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Georgia On My Mind

Kahles makes a GREAT scope! Very underrated,imo.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

The processors down here have become very sophisticated. In addition to traditional cuts,you can have it done as jerky,snack sticks,summer sausage,onion sausage,pepperoni,bacon burgers,breakfast link sausage,and on-and-on. The Cooked products run about $1 to $1.50 per pound extra.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

I had my last deer made into a bunch of summer sausage that I shared with several non-hunting neighbors. It's a sure bet they'll stay in favor of hunting.

Doing ok, the first week the weather was too windy,
Last night I killed an 8pt. And this morning a doe.
I'm on vacation till next Sunday which is the end of the first season,
And still can take 3 more doe.

Vic3620

Glad some of you guys are doing well.
Have'nt seen many deer this year. The
area i hunt is stone cold. It's very worrisome
and my buddies and I are wondering if our
area has been hit with some kind of disease.
SE central Indiana.
No good reports from hunters in our area.
I'll keep hunting though and hoping for the best.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Skunked during archery here in PA. Saw some BIG buck but never got a good shot. Now I have to endure rifle season (which I have grown to hate).

Until this week it's still been kinda warm in Arkansas hunting with my two sons and my dad. Even so I took a nice 8 point opening morning of modern gun season, dad got a small 6 point and a decent 8 point. Boys got skunked.

I'm not the least bit against taking does, in fact, they taste just like a buck if you close your eyes when you chew.

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- Change it back -

Not too well so far. Had some dogs running the deer on my property and never got a shot during black powder.
Maybe next time. I hope the dogs are gone cause I love dogs, but....people have to control their animals, especially during hunting season.

I got a 9 pt (10 th pt was broke off) Near Lewiston MI on opening morning.
Deer was beat up from fighting.
Processor estimated 170# when I took it in.

I'm already done for the season. I put two on the ground during bow season including this 8 point.

I took a 5X5 Whitetail the third day of the Black Hills season. It was about a 200 yard standing broadside shot. It's the largest buck I've ever taken, and I'm having a full head and shoulder mount done. I have until Dec. to fill a West River tag, so I've been letting the little bucks slide for now. I share the meat with family and friends. I have my meat processor add smoked bacon ends to the ground venison. Tastes great, but then I'm one of those guys who thinks bacon compliments nearly every other kind of meat, fowl, or fish.

Congrats on your deer and good luck in filling your West River tag.....pics of your 5x5 would be great if you can post 'em.


Don

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Laus Deo! <><

Hunted hard all bow season in Columbia County New York. Didnt see one deer in six weeks, but i did miss a huge black bear, broadside at 20 yards!!!!!! At 11am on opening day of the rifle season, i caught an 8 pointer peeking at me through the brush at about 100 yards. A 308 to the throat put him down. Only saw two does earlier that morning. This area used to have a buck take of around six bucks per square mile, lately its getting harder and harder to find them. Very little sign in the woods, if any. Seems as though the rut never really started yet and only heard 5 shots on opening day. 30 years ago, it sounded like a war zone.

An update on my grandson. A couple of days after he went hunting, he was playing football with some of his friends at school. He fell and broke 2 fingers on his right hand. He's had quite a year. Two broken fingers, his first deer, and his first Hooters girl.

I hunted hard for 3 days here in Southeast Missouri. Saw one buck and about 11 or 12 does. The weather here has been rotten. I usually see that many on opening day. After 3 days it was pretty clear does were all I was going to see, so I took this one at about 135 yards. My model 70 Winchester 30-06 with a VX3 Leupold did the trick again.



30 lbs of sausage ready for the smoker.

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Lakota, that boy is going to go places in life. He's being raised proper.

Like this so far...two bucks and one doe. I could have taken many does and some smaller bucks. Seeing a bunch in NC.

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C & L

Got a fair Western WA buck with 629-4 and Central MT with M70. Wanted to find a real lunker in MT but took this one the day before I had to head "home." Blue Tongue and last couple of winters has knocked down the deer, some say 70%.

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Those are some dandy bucks!

EHD/Blue Tongue here in MO was bad last summer. Really felt the effects this year in some counties. Coyotes are thicker than I've ever seen around my farm the last year or two as well. Can't believe how many I'm seeing on trail cam pictures.
I'm going to try to get a few with the foxpro spitfire and my M&P Sport I have set up for predators. I may learn to trap as well. Gotta get rid of those awful song dogs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Didn't bow hunt.....did go out last weekend, which was first weekend of gun season.....was out in the rain and wind Sunday mrng when six spooked deer came through....four does, two bucks.....subtract one buck from that group....Savage 220 20 ga. bolt slug gun with Leupold optics.....80 yds broadside, DRT.
I think our population may be down also.....I have a walk in reefer, we processed four deer this past weekend.....usually among friends and family we have abt a dozen hanging by the end of the first week.

I'm with you on the coyotes! I shot this one while looking for deer, he had been eating well, lot's of fat on him, especially around his tail.

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My oldest son got a small buck on the juvenile hunt.

I shot a small buck and a doe this morning. That should fill the freezer unless we run across a trophy buck. Good luck to the rest of you, and great pictures so far!

beautiful rifle, 300 Savage cartridge?

Moose are about as common around here as an honest politician. Someone bagged this one with their bumper the other day. About 10 miles from my house.



http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...=2013312040041

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Sure you did

No sir, that one is a 303 Savage.



My father restocked it and gave it to me as a birthday present this past year.

.303 Savage is an "obsolete" cartridge and not suitable for deer hunting now because of that. Saying that in jest of course!

I recently sold my perch belly stocked 1899 Savage .303 rifle. It was made in 1912 and would drop a deer just fine.

Nice looking deer and awesome looking rifle Sir. Is your father a stock maker? Regardless, he is indeed a skilled craftsman.

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C & L

That's a beautiful rifle. I bet you get a lot of satisfaction using it given the family history with it!




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Mike, we had four moose run across my friends front lawn last weekend. Unreal. In the Town of Austerlitz, Columbia County. Also had a tresspassing hunter arrested on our property. The guy set up shop, pop up blind, trail camera, corn spread all over and no hunting license. Been a huge problem with out of state hunters poaching nonstop. Anyhow, This guy got his invitations to local court from Encon.

No, he just likes to have a project going on out in his garage. I helped him build the garage hence the nice birthday present.

Here's the rifle my son used. My father built it for him. It is a Mexican Mauser action, and chambered in 257 Roberts.


He made a similar one for my younger son as well. He's yet to get a deer with his.

Good year so far. Seen a couple nice bucks during PA archery, but could not get a good shot. Passed on a couple does, as my doe tag did not cover the farm I was hunting on.

Shot a nice 6pt second day of Maines firearms season with a Browning .358 BLR.

Just yesterday, I bagged a small doe here in PA gun season with a S&W 629 6 inch. She is being made into all garlic ring bologna...

Went out for a walk this afternoon in the local state forest trying to beat the coming storm with my red dot sighted Redhawk - No buck, but seen a Fisher, not to often seen around here. It was the second I have seen in PA in the past 2 years.

Larry

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Your Dad has it figured out. Another nicely stocked rifle in yet another great caliber. Impressive!

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C & L

Sitting at camp right now with dad in Clarion, PA waiting for my buddy to get here later this evening. Snowing now so should have a couple inches by morning. Doe & buck are both in starting tomorrow so I'm hoping one go us gets something. Gonna be cold though. I'll post a pic if one of us gets lucky.

Here's my contribution. My brother and I were a little skeptical when we were drawn in the lottery for our Muledeer Buck tags in the North Dakota Badlands in the Southwestern part of the state. We have been aware of the low numbers of muledeer for the past few years and knew that they have not been giving out any muledeer doe tags at all, but with the way the lottery system works here in North Dakota, we would have lost our preference points had we put in for something different, and since we only get drawn every 4-5 years, we didn't want to lose our points. Well, we saw a fair number of deer (not like other years, but not too bad) and I managed to connect with this one a few weeks back. Not the biggest I've shot out there, but a respectable 4X4 mulie nonetheless.

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1891SingleShot