Well the Michigan Deer season closed this evening and I got skunked for the second year in a row. Made plenty of memories and had a great time as I always do out in the woods, but was just wondering if anyone else out there got the ol'goose egg as well...congrats to all of those who were succesful this season...I am counting down the days until October 1st already!!!
I am sharing a bowl of tag soup with you. My father took 9 deer in Michigan this year. You must be it a completely different area.
saw more deer this year the ever before and still got skunked, guess maybe i ought to shoot one next year. :banghead:
I saw more deer than ever this year! I think it was because I stayed home instead of going to my hunting grounds. First time in 23 years that I haven't camped out and hunted. Next year, God willing.
The printed-out tags I get now aren't nearly as tasty as the old style ones that I had to buy at the store.
Killdeer :wavey:
Tag soup here too. I think I got lazy and should've travelled a little farther to some of the bigger public forest. On the bright side, unlike Killdeer,I prefer the taste of the printed out tags, no carbon paper to chew on :)
SKUNKED! My bro shot a nice 9pt on our property and that was cool but I didn't take a shot. Saw 3 tonight but no shots. First time in years I didn't tag one with a bow tag!
My story is in the daily hunt forum and I would rather have been skunked.
I was waiting on your annual camping thread Killdeer, guess I'll have to look forward to next year.
Dennis
1st time in 16 yrs. that I havent taken at least 1 deer, enjoyed the season anyway, just like spending time in the woods.
Wounded one with my bow but didn't find him until the next day, the coyotes beat me to him. Got one with a rifle, makin' venison stew tomorrow.
I have until Jan 15th.... All season the only deer that I have had shot opportunites on (7steps)(12 steps) were both not legal bucks in both my counties in Missouri. A legal buck must have at least 4 points on one side. These two bucks this year make number 9 and 10 of bucks that I've had in on me the past 4 years and had to let walk.. It always seems a "no" shooter comes in and spends 20 minutes at just a few yards. LOL
I would love to have a deer in the freezer but they will be bigger next year. It is fun to watch them being deer... I'm not giving up until dark on Jan 15.
John III
I got one with the shotgun, but it still feels like I got skunked. I'm really kicking myself about it because I passed on a few small bucks in the early bow season. I thought I would try the "let the small ones walk" thing. I would have liked to have shot a doe this year, but all of my opportunities with the bow were small bucks. Ended up shooting a small 6 pt. with the shotgun after I got the impression another guy who has permission to hunt on the property was intentionally trying to ruin my hunting. Although my dad and I have permission to hunt the land and hunt no where near where he hunts, this guy has made it clear he doesn't like it. He was focusing his racoon trapping and wood cutting as close as possible to my treestands with greater intensity during the rut. During prime time during the rut (on my vacation day) he drove his quad right up to my treestand and basically accused me of stealing his coon trap. I had gone from seeing tons of deer and small bucks to nothing, so I felt pretty lucky to see that buck on opening day of the shotgun season and figured I might as well take it. I really need to find a new place to hunt or focus more on state land. At least on state land I can expect that kind of behavior. I also decided next year I'm not going to be as picky. With only one deer with my recurve I feel like I need to get a few more under my belt before I start getting picky.
I've taken a few deer this fall. But I'm zero for zero on turkeys, reminding me once again that I can be bested by an animal with a brain the size of a raspberry. :banghead:
Got till Jan 15 not given up yet. :bigsmyl:
Our season is open until Feb 28... :archer: ...but so far I haven't taken one with my bow.
Second bow season in a row that I was skunked...but I'm having more fun than I ever did with a compound.
I have a lot of tag soup to go around if anyone wants any! :knothead:
Josh
Season closes this weekend, but up until now I have accounted for one miss.
I have one more week! 2 saturdays. Feelin lucky. Just seems anytime I have a chance to get out the weather has been horrible. Saturday is going to be my day I hope. Does beware, I'm getting desperate!
GLENN
I killed (and recovered) 6 this year with my training wheels and muzzleloader, but lost the 7th i shot with my long bow. i got too excited and pushed her out when i should have left her alone. this is the 2nd year i have struck out with my trad gear.
Tag soup at my house too!!! At least I have a choice of deer or elk for dinner :goldtooth: :goldtooth:
Gene
We still have a few weeks to go in Ohio but I have yet to take a deer this year. On the other hand, I've been able to hunt nearly every time I intended to, so by that measure, this has been an incredibly successful season.
I had a very tough year myself. But 09 started out better already.
Our season closes 1 March... so just maybe I'll have some luck.
This is my first year of trad hunting so can someone send me the recipe for tag soup ? Should I use all four of my tags, or would that make it too hard to swallow? :banghead:
Honestly, I had a great time, saw a lot of deer, and now I'm hooked!
Hunting regulations should allow unused tags to be used as food stamps after the season closes.
I can't remember exactly the recipe for tag soup, but I think that it called for lots of bullion cubes. Yep, pretty sure.......... :banghead: :banghead:
Yep,the boy and I bothed mmmmissed are only shots of the year 5min apart day before rifle season back in Nov.But we still had a great year and saw some things that most will never get to see.
im workin on a five year drought myself
Worst year ever for me. :knothead: The only thing I have going for me is January 1st Started Winter Bow. I can still hunt until the second week in February. :archer: I hope 2009 is a little luckier for me :pray: . .
Ours ended yesterday - Zip. I won't even allow myself to partake of good ol' tag soup this year - because it is my third skunk in a row, so I deserve nothing even that close to "good". This year I only saw one deer (during shooting hours) and it was too far off and going away. I only carried trad all year but it wouldn't have mattered if I'd had a bazooka! I'd have had to take out about 3 or 4 trees to get that one I saw - LOL.
I am soooooooooooo dejected, now that it's over - guess I'll have to go back to hunting pigs in SC (if I can hold up under it), if I want a chance at anything before next Sept.
Had a shot... :)
Hit a twig... :(
I did get a nice fat doe with my muzzleloader during rifle season tho so not a total "skunked" season for a change.
Big Ol' Goose Egg for ME!!!!! :bigsmyl:
Like Jason, until I bag a turkey it is a bad season. There is something about them, don't know what it is, but they seem to be arrow proof.
I got skunked on Turkey and whitetails this year. Second year in a row for whitetails. I just did not get any close enough for a good shot. Well now I just need to wait for spring for turkey's again.
Put a lot of time in with the longbow and never took a shot at a deer. I reverted to my rifle to put some venison in the freezer but it felt more like harvesting than hunting and I don't think I'll ever do it again. Other than that I think I'm gonna pay more heed to a wise quote I read the other day. "Never pass up an animal on the first day that you would be excited to take on the last day"
I'm on my 3rd year of skunkdom. These last 3 years I've been shooting only primitive equipment so I limit myself to what shots I would take. I only saw one deer this year(opening weekend) but she knew something wasn't right. She never saw me or got spooked but just walked off with her ears cocked back. Also, this year my heart just wasn't into hunting.
Pat
Yep, nothin......but in the long run the memories were worth it. With all the tag soup floating around I think I am going to have to put mine on the BBQ or something don't want it to get boring.
Allan
Skunked with the bow for the first time in 4 years. Killed 2 with the shotgun though so I still get to eat something other than my tags :)
Not sure about everyone else, but I just have not seen the numbers of deer I normally do. Some of the agricultural practices have changed on my hunting area. A lot of the areas that used to be grass were put into soybeans. Although this may have increased the amount and quality of food, after they were harvested it left a "desert" as far as cover was concerned.
Since our devestating ice storm last year it is nearly impossible to move around in the woods. Huge limbs and trunks down every few feet.
Most of the normally used trails went without traffic this year.
All of this and a lot of jacking around by fellow hunters during season didn't help either. The hunting was a little slow so the guys thought it might help to get out and "walk 'em up". I try to be polite and considerate, but it aggrivates me when I sit in a stand and watch other hunters walking around close enough to hear their conversations.
Oh well. I have the last 6 days of the season off. We will see how it goes.
OkKeith
I still have until the 18th. I taken a few shots but no luck. Hunting whitetails has been the hardest thing for me. I see deer evertime im out but just can't seem to make it happen. Its been fun.
Gilbert
I still got 8 days left but this year has been rough for me. I lost my Dad to cancer back in April and it's just not the same for me, really miss being in the woods with him. I lost some of my ambition when he left this world but I keep telling myself it'll get better with time and I'm sure it will. I did have a good shot at a fat doe standing broadside 12 yards from me, even had a small leaf right at her vitals to concentrate on, it was perfect and ya know what......I couldn't do it.....for whatever reason I let her go. It's been bitter-sweet for me...........IJ
Haven't had a good shot opportunity in two years !! (never took a shot!!) Alot less deer and a hellava lot of pressure on all the neighbooring properties plus the tresspassing shotgunners shoot everything in sight. Usually take my one deer a year. (all I want to eat). Friends have also seen alot less deer in the areas they hunt. They got skunked too !
I shot about an inch over a doe this year and that was all.
I did manage to hit a big doe with my truck though! :D (Truck's fine, had the snow plow on)
Zack
Well, I too am enjoying another years supply of delicious empty tags. How ever...... Now that the new years has rolled in, I have a month to start the year off by trying some more hunting. I also saw more deer then I have in a long time like many of you. The opportunity to shoot just didn't present it self when legal deer were in my site.
Skunked too, but it was from lack of commitment this year. Started a new home based business and was real busy helping ppl with there stuff.
Next year I am taking time for ME and my stuff. Lots of fishing and hunting planned.
Frick it just seems to be getting colder up here too...minus 40 this morning.
Jerrrrrrrr brrrrrrrear