It was a fantastic trip, although it was cut short due to another winter storm rolling in.
We hunted in temps ranging from -8 to 11. It was -25 with the wind chill one day. Lots and lots of snow on the ground and lots of deer movement. In the first 3 days on stand I saw 130 deer. A quarter of which came within bow range. I was hunting the woods 100% of the time as well, these deer were NOT seen in the fields. I saw a few coyotes and my buddy killed one big male the first night. I saw 2 bucks I would have liked to take, One was an 8 that would have pushed 130 and the other was a 10 that would have scored 125-130. Never had a clean shot on either and I don't take shots that aren't 100% in my mind. The second time I saw the big 8 he had shed one side. This is of course is when he gave me a good broadside shot. O'well, he will be there next year
I told myself I was NOT going to shoot a doe and I was hanging on for a big buck (I have already killed 4 does this year for meat). I am a meat hunter to the core and it was killing me not to shoot at least one of the does I was seeing. But I held out and had one of the best trips ever without pulling the string back.
Caleb
Congrats on what sounds like a great trip! Some of my favorite hunts never included dropping the string. I cant fathom seeing that many deer in that short a time. Hope to see some pics
What area of MO were you hunting? I hunted near Springfield one year and for someone used to VT deer hunting, I was in heaven! Saw lots of bucks!
I was in rich hill, its 70 miles south of kansas city. And it was deer/waterfowl heaven. My wife and I are moving somewhere between there and KC in 2010.
Thats what hunting is all about.
Sounds like the kind of trip that lifelong memories are made of. That's what we do best...make great memories!
My farm/cabin is in Dade County, near Lamar. Man, wish I had that kind of action! Sounds like a once in a lifetime hunt, congratulations!
I think I am moving back to Chickamauga by this Summer, we will have to do some hunting in N. GA!
Regards,
Barry