Camp Near and Deer Rifle season is over

[deadeye]

Lots and lot so deer were observed by all.  It was not unusual to see 5-8 deer on a more or afternoon sit.  Good mix of doe/fawn combos. Probably close to the average of 1.5 fawns per doe.  Lots of 1.5 year old (spikes, forks, 6's and small 8's) running around.  A good number of nice 2.5 year old's, and some really big older bucks.  A couple go shot but three or 4 of the big ones were observed but didn't present a good shot.  Between bow and rifle we ended up with 3 bucks and 6 does lots of encounters and a few good stories that will be told for years to come.  So as not to bore you too much, here's a couple.  Wednesday morning my brother in laws nephew had a huge 10 point standing at 40 yards.  He had his gun up and crosshairs on him but only heard a "click" when he pulled the trigger.  By the time he recovered from the shock, the buck was gone.  He will be seeing that vision for a long time.  Last Saturday, just before the end of legal shooting I heard a shot from where my sons friend was on stand.  When he came out he said a huge bodied deer was standing 40 yards away, and when it stepped in front of swamp grass, he could see big antlers so he put the crosshairs on his chest and fired.  All hell broke out as 5-6 other deer ran around and out into the swamp. He though the deer went down where he shot it but after a search (by now it was dark and his only light wasn't too bright) he was not able to find any sign of the deer. No blood and no deer anywhere.  Three of us went out to search for the deer, hoping we would at least find some evidence of a hit so we could return in the morning.  The shooter guided us to the spot where he said the deer was when he shot.  This is in a point with thick alder and diamond will brush.  After a brief search with no sign, I went out the point and followed the edge in the swamp looking for some sign of blood.  After about 40 yards I walked up to a dead deer.  Only thing was it was a small 7 point.  I called the other two over and the first thing the shooter said was "That's not the deer I shot".  Really, I told him, here's a freshly shot deer, 50 yards from your stand, that dropped in its tracks when you shot, what do you thing the odds are that someone else shot it?  Later back at camp he (probably after he had time to think of a story) he said there must have been two deer and he shot the wrong one.  I'm not buying that story. 

[Boar]

awesome pics, was the 7 pointer not to be shot???

[dakids]

That 8 pointer is a beast!!!  How much did it weight?  Looks old as well.

[deadeye]

Boar, yes that is correct. We do not purposely shoot small bucks. There's a ton of does on my land so if you want to shoot a deer does are open season.  My family and friends let much, much bigger 8 pointers go by. Even my 13 year old grandson took pictures and videos of nice young 8 pointers.  I have a number of racks in my cabin.  One has a "Don't Shoot" sign and one has a "Shoot" Sign.  The don't shoot is an 8 pointer probably an 2.5 year old not too much mass and short points antlers probably reach the end of the ears.  The Shoot one is not a huge buck but very respectable.  I chose these two because just by looking at them you can get a feel of what we prefer not to shoot verses one that you can shoot.  I know a lot of people say you can't eat antlers.  Like I said, there's plenty opportunity to shoot a doe if you want venison.  I'm just glad I found the deer.  Oh, I did have a lot of fun at his expense throughout the evening.  I told him the reason he couldn't find the deer is because a "fern" was covering it.   

[Boar]

lmao!. cool thanks for sharing

[Jerkbiat]

He probably got buck fever when he seen the horns. My kid does that alot. All I hear is it is big or huge and when it is all said and done not so big. Nice, but not the way he describes them at first. Hopefully his patience will come.

[deadeye]

Maybe buck fever but I know he had passed on a few smaller 8 pointers earlier in the season so not likely.  I attribute it to the rapidly growing darkness as his shot was still in legal shooting time (I checked my watch when he shot) but darkness can really play tricks on you.  That is why I usually put my bow or gun away about 15 minutes before the end of shooting time.  It's usually not a fun experience to track a wounded deer after dark.  Unless it leaves a blood trail like dakids doe did a few weeks ago.    

[dakids]

Get lucky and center punch the Texas heart and they dont go far. Blind person (or glenn) could have followed the blood trail.

[Boar]

blind person woulda found long before.glenn...

[glenn57]

 

iffin ya shootem right like i do they fall over where they were standing!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jerkbiat]

Yeah, darkness can definitely play tricks on a person.

[glenn57]

Yeah, darkness can definitely play tricks on a person.

wadda mean??! boars been in the dark for ages... Oh wait..

[Boar]

boar plays in the Darkness! Hello Darkness my old freind....

[Rebel SS]

I heard even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. 

[Jerkbiat]

I do my best work in the darkness.