I have been lucky enough to make every opening day of the deer season since 1964. My opening date is still built on the rifle season, though, as I was not a bowhunter at all in my younger years. However, since becoming a dedicated bowhunter, I have made every opening day of archery season for the last 14 years. How many consecutive opening days have you other guys been lucky enough to make?
This year my grown son and I did our own deer camp. (Since 1974, I have always gone to a friend's camp, but he has gotten away from doing it on opening weekend due to the heat). What a blast! I have really been riding a high since this weekend. The chili was GREAT! Did not kill anything, but we saw a few, and Parks, my son, had a fox walk right up to within 15 feet and not recognize him in his ghillie suit.
Oddly, for me there have been very few really significant changes during the archery years, with the only truly memorable one being the switch over from recurve to longbow (I never bothered with wheelies). Next biggest change has been the increase over the years in the bag limit and the opening of the season earlier in the year. Management area changes never affected me as I have almost always hunted on private land.
I do wish the GA season would be changed back to the older system of having archery season start in October & gun season in November. There is just something unnatural about hunting in the heat of September with sweat dripping off the end of my nose.
I would like to hear a few stories of other people's adventures in deer camp and how things on the hunting scene in your area have changed over the seasons.
I apologize for being so verbose, but DAMN I'm feeling good! Wish some of you could have come along.
I wish I could have come along too!!!! Many more to you my friend!
This was my 26th year in a row hunting opening day of archery season!
I'm, 56 and got my first archery license at 14 can honestly say I never missed an opening day yet , dag that's 42 years !
Man and I thought I was doing good at 26 yrs!!!
I've made them all since 1973. I think that's about 37.
36 seasons for me , I once threatened to quit my job back in the late seventies if they didn't let me off . They knew I would so all was good.
Jack
Outside of the times I would have to work I've made most of the opening Archery day since 1983.
Made them all other than when I worked for Uncle Sam for two years. First was 1965.
My first opening day was archery season 1978.
The ONLY one I missed was October 1st 2001. Because I had started a new job. :(
Here`s to many more!!!
Happy hunting! :thumbsup:
......41 years for me.. OK how many deer have you killed on "OPENING DAY" IF I RECAL AROUND 13 ! I ALWAYS TRY TO TAKE A DOE FOR CAMP MEAT
Greyfox54 I was born in 54 too...Dang you got me beat by one year...lol I started with a Howard Hill Longbow my Uncle Bernie gave me. Blackbirds hated me ..took a few years to get a deer.
I can't play this I have kids that are young. :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by lpcjon2:
I can't play this I have kids that are young. :thumbsup:
Same here Tim, I'm only gonna get to hunt about 3 days this whole year. :banghead: :(
34 years and counting,can stand the thought of missing it.
Pappy
I guess I'm just a newbie but I've made opening day for the past 46 years. Now 3 of those had to be done in Montana but the rest right here in good old PA.
My Dad took me bowhunting on Opening day when I was 9 and so it would have been my 36th opening day in a row buttttttttttt a week before opening day......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/yohon/IMG_0599.jpg)
:mad: :banghead: :mad: :banghead:
lpcjon2, there is a secret to arranging to get the wife to let you hunt that day. Start about 2 months early, and talk about it continually, get your gear out and clean it over and over again. Just make a great big fuss about how wonderful its gonna be. By opening day, she will be glad for you to go just get you to shut up about it. If that doesn't work, you may have to drop back to plan B and just plain beg and promise to work on the honey do list really soon after it. Usually one or the other will work.
Yohon, all I can say is BUMMER. Man, I hate to see that. I hope you are healing up well. Best wishes for a quick and complete recovery. Can you shoot from a cammo wheel chair?
Getstoned I started with a 45# Indian "Deerslayer" Maybe it was but I wasn't for a few years either . I did manage some muskrats and mallard ducks along with an occasional cat .
First season was 1967 at age 14 as well. I missed 1972-1974 spent those 3 years with the US military.
I have not missed an opening day since.
Now I fell old, but fortunate.
23 years for me, Javelina in Arizona :archer2:
Started when I was 14, turning 62 next month... I don't think I've missed an opener, but that's a lot of seasons to remember! One year my buddy and I drove nonstop except for food and gas for 48 hours, Utah to Georgia, to make opening day at home after an elk hunting trip. Just couldn't stand to let it go by, although we probably weren't the most effective hunters after that.
New job and a wedding cost me two opening days, started in '83.
1966 till now except 1974-1976 while in the marines