Well our Kentucky whitetail season has finally come to a close. It was tough hunting from beginning to end for me this year. Seems on almost every sit something or someone just didn't want me to succeed. I won't bore you will all the mishaps but here we go.
Our archery season begins in early September. The weeks before I always start out my year by scouting. This usually consists of sitting and watching soybean fields and determining the outlet paths the deer are using to get to the beans from their daily haunts. Once I find a deer I am interested in, evenings consist of sitting afar a couple nights a week wiping my brow of sweat and swatting skeeters (that's a KY word) until the hot Kentucky day comes to an end all to make sure the pattern is consistent.
(http://i51.tinypic.com/332mf0i.jpg)
(http://i52.tinypic.com/e9t0kx.jpg)
About a week before the season arrives I will hang stands at these locations and wait for opening day. This year at one of these fields I spotted a very nice mature 8 pointer I had come to know and another buck that was traveling with him into the fields each evening. A tall very mature eight point I had three years of trail camera pictures of. He was running with a young but very impressive 6x6 buck that we decided to give a pass to just to see what he could eventually be. My scouting found me watching for this guy and his buddy evening after evening and they always seemed to show. This is the first year I have ever picked a certain deer to target. But I had a long past with him and he was at his prime, mean to other deer and ready for the taking. I really don't recommend this as it is very hard on the ol' ticker. He was at least five and a half years old and maybe a year older. He is very large bodied and ruled the roost wherever I saw him.
(http://i31.tinypic.com/2wqzyvl.jpg)
(http://i54.tinypic.com/mmq44k.jpg)
(http://i51.tinypic.com/2w7qseh.jpg)
Many years a wrong way wind will keep me from hunting for days at these season opener spots on the bean field and this season was no different. Day one came and found me perched in my spot on the opposite hill watching for them that evening as I had done for weeks prior. Much to my surprise on this night neither of the bucks showed. Evening two came and I was anxious to see if they would come. No big 8 on evening two, but the big 6x6 showed and kept my interest in the spot. Finally on day three I got a good wind and climbed aboard for my first hunt of the year. I sat and waited for the oncoming deer I was hoping would show on schedule. Around deer30 I heard the sound of deer sliding down the far creek bank and I stood and readied myself. Doe after doe and a few small bucks walked under me when all the sudden at the right time I heard more deer dumping down the slope. The sliding leaf sound ended with splashing in the creek as it had all season and the first sighting of the big 6x6 standing and drinking just 50 yards away from me in the creek was a magnificent sight. The 6x6 casually walked right under me and entered the beans. Much to my surprise darkness fell again that evening with no sign of the big 8.
Day four and five found me watching from the opposite hill again and now even the 6x6 had gone MIA. Come to find out a few days later on a recon mission we had a bumper crop of acorns and they were on the ground everywhere. The deer had dispersed into the woods on their new food source. While I can usually adapt to this fact what caught me by surprise was this happened a month earlier than usual. I spent the next month and a half with no sign of the big 8 point. In the meantime I passed up several very worthy deer with the bow but did manage to shoot them with my camera I always pack along with me.
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa121/kyTJ/Stand%20shots/photo3-1.jpg)
Our late October pre-rut finally rolled around and my first sighting of the big 8 came when he was walking across a field in a small creek bottom opening. I had a stand just inside the woods amongst several acorn trees deer were clearly using. He came across the field headed my way but when he got to the edge of the woods he stood for five minutes just looking around. He finally turned and un-alarmingly walked back the way he came for no particular reason. With our first personal meeting my hopes had been rejuvenated. Day after day went by but with no more sign of the Big 8. This deer had gotten old and smart and never seemed to have any pattern whatsoever I could figure out. I am still convinced that all the acorns were keeping them spread thin.
A week or so later during an evening hunt and with pre-rut in full swing I hear the leaves crunching with footprints. I stood up and grabbed my bow and all of the sudden see a coyote heading my way. He makes his way by out in front of me and stops to sniff the ground. THUNK the sound the Morrison loosing the sting makes and with a well placed arrow the yote bolts for his life. His pumping heart carried him to about 35 yards as he does a barrel roll at full speed. The site of the hit was 24 paces from the base of my tree and was one of the luckiest shots I've even made. As I approached the yote I could see the arrow had hit him perfectly through both lungs. This day was the definite bright spot of the season.
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2ywczrl.jpg)
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2zrfiiv.jpg)
Some time just after that I did have my second encounter with the 6x6. One cool November morning he followed another nice ten point right in front of me and stopped broadside at 12 paces. I was tucked back into a cedar tree and they had no idea I was in the world. At this point in my season this second encounter with him was very hard on my heart, but I stuck to the plan and watched him as he walked away.
(http://i52.tinypic.com/15e8vm1.jpg)
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2q3zsqv.jpg)
(http://i56.tinypic.com/2enagx4.jpg)
(http://i52.tinypic.com/6qazqq.jpg)
It was now the heart of the rut and one misty wet morning before light I made my way to a stand I had hung in a great rut funnel that went around the head of a deep draw. I knew this would be a good stand during the rut and waited until just the right time to sit it. As the morning went on I was excited to sit here as we all are in a stand that has been in place for some time and at the first sitting. The day drug on and I had seen a few deer with some smaller bucks. At about 11 am I stood up to take off my jacket. As I pulled it over my head I caught movement to my right. With my arms still tangled in the sleeves I realize it was the big 8 and coming fast. I finally got out of the jacket and grabbed my bow from the hanger. He made his way out in front of me at about 60 yards and was walking very fast. He was heading back to his bedding area from a morning of chasing. I quickly grunted. He never slowed his pace as I watched him go through the drainage and not using the funnel as planned at my upper end. That was the last time I would see him for the season.
(http://i56.tinypic.com/kbokcl.jpg)
(http://i52.tinypic.com/t7l74i.jpg)
(http://i54.tinypic.com/2urvxwz.jpg)
(http://i51.tinypic.com/21d0t3n.jpg)
I kept hunting hard as November turned into December. By mid December I finally just had given up on the buck for the season when one evening I looked around to see a beautiful nine point coming my way. There was an inch of snow on the ground and I decided I was going to take a shot at this deer if he gave me a chance. I know I broke my promise to myself. I was sitting on the ground with three large trees to my back watching him make his way down the trail and headed straight for me.
(http://i52.tinypic.com/1zl3j3l.jpg)
He slowly made his way up to me and as he passed out in front I tightened the string and when he was just quartering away with his head turned I released the arrow. WHACK it hit a snow covered branch just 5 feet in front of the buck. The arrow fish tailed off track and my buck was gone. I knew the branch was there but didn't see it as it had snow on it against the snow covered ground. Not two weeks later I got a trail camera picture of him again in the area but this time he showed after dark.
(http://i56.tinypic.com/1znqurs.jpg)
Its now January and by this point I had just about had enough of the bad luck and it actually became funny just to see what would happen at each sit. Up until this point I had been passing all shots on the doe and was getting itchy for some meat and tired of hearing my daughter asking me when I came in if we had a deer for jerky and sausage. One evening a late season doe came by just a little too close and blood was finally spilled.
(http://i55.tinypic.com/2s16rn4.jpg)
(http://i53.tinypic.com/2yxn8si.jpg)
(http://i54.tinypic.com/11qsn4x.jpg)
To add insult to injury the 6x6 hasn't been seen since gun season. Surely a victim of lead poisoning. After all the mishaps and as I get all my gear cleaned up and put away, I sit here wishing I was back out there. It's gonna be a long seven months.
Wowzer! How do you photoshop those prehistoric giant deer antler images onto those modern deer images?
Man. Nice deer. And a doe is pretty OK too. Congrats on her.
Rabbit hunt this weekend Thomas?
We'll be at it again in no time Bro!
Brother, than was one of the finest reads and picture presentations I have ever read/seen. Great photos and story telling! I am very impressed you passed that great 6by. Perhaps he has just laid low licking his wounds from the rut and he'll walk into your ambush as a Booner next year :)
Hats off to your great season. Thanks for sharing the journey, enjoyed hearing it!
From my perspective you had a great season! Lots of time out in the woods and two kills.
Thanks for sharing and congrats on the season!
I feel your pain, I had the same kind of season.Thanks for sharing, great read.
:campfire: :coffee:
close encounters with real nice bucks counts for a dang good season, a lot of guys would have settled fo a lesser buck....like me :thumbsup:
:notworthy: :campfire:
Excellent story and pictures Tom !!!! Very well written and narrated.
Winterhawk1960
Good pix of your season Tom ...we'll be chasing gobblers before long & won't be long after that till your after the big 8 again...get to shoot some foam in the mean time...
Great Story. I had a similar season except the doe part. If it makes you feel better there are others who have to wait till October.
Thanks for sharing with us TJ ! Great stuff !
Thank you!
Cool pictures!
Yeah ditto for my season on the bucks. Thanks for sharing. I need to take more pix from stands.
Good job. Hope you find 'em next season!
Tom,
Great stuff! Perhaps you didn't score on the 8 you were hoping for but you sure have some terrific memories to share. I admire your tenacity. For me, you are still "da man"! Again, great stuff. :thumbsup:
Louis
Thanks for sharing Tom, I really enjoyed that.
D
Awesome stuff TJ !
Man you hunted hard though :notworthy:
Ya it can be a Long 7 Months, but at least there are lots of other animals to hunt.
Congrats
It was a long frustrating season that I wanted to end also...
Looking forward to the thunder ckickens in May...they have a way of getting the best of me also.
I think sometimes the piece and quiet is enough (sometimes)!
Josh
Better a long and frustrating season than no season at all, eh? ;)
Nice pics and narration..hopefully the big boy left some seed... :thumbsup:
Wow, great story and pictures! Thanks for taking the time to post.
J
Great pics and beautiful critters! Thy alot for the pics! I love the pics with the dew-drops on the trees!
Great photos and story! You're a better man than me passing on the 6pt! Thanks for sharing.
Great story and pics. Thanks for sharing. Congrats on the doe.
Earl
great pics tj. those deer had some impressive head gear. thanks for sharing your season with us. ruddy
Sounds like a great season to me. How old do you think Mr. 6x6 is?
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: Acorns!!
Tom, like I said earlier, I admire your patience and commitment to hunting that single buck. That in itself is a great thing to be proud of!
Those deer are amazing and so are you for your strong will.
I "hunted" right along with you as the season progressed...I can`t say thanks enough for that!
I remember the `yote, and then the doe.
You obviously hunt for all the right reasons Tom.
I have never hunted a place where I could pass a buck like that 6x6, and I doubt that I could, even knowing there were a dozen bigger ones in the area. You must be one tough guy!
Thanks for sharing your Kentucky season. Time to get ready for next year! :wavey: :notworthy:
great story I would of killed that 6x6 he was a trophy to me
Yeah Tom bad luck but memories that keep us going till next season. Turkey season is right around the corner. :archer2:
Thanks guys don't get me wrong I really enjoyed the year and love watching all the deer action, but with some beautiful bucks running around a sense of failure sets in if you don't put an arrow through one (self inflicted or not).
QuoteOriginally posted by onewhohasfun:
Sounds like a great season to me. How old do you think Mr. 6x6 is?
He is 3.5 years old this year. He made a 15-20" jump from last year which is very rare and the reason he was on the no hit list. I have picts of him standing next to the big 8 and he is 50 lbs smaller. To see him on the hoof you would know immediately he is a young buck. Hopefully he is just spending his time somewhere else and will return but I have doubts.
I think I enjoyed your season about as much as you did! Excellant pics, thank's for taking us along. I'm just north of KY ahout an hour and a half. Every time I drive through I always think it would be a nice place to live. I have several friends from there, beautiful country! Jason
Thanks for sharing. I know I could not have passed that 12, twice, even once. At least you have meat in the freezer, and a ton of great memories to keep you inspired for next year.
Great story TJ. I know all too well how acorns can "mess" things up.
Jack
WOW! Good story. Great bucks. Nice Pics. Looks like somebody was beatin up on the 6x6.
Tom: Sounds to me like you actually had an awesome season. I worked all season on a large muley. But I had to settle on a couple of Does. 1 Muley and 1 Whitetail. Still a great season. Good luck next year. Don
Great story by a great story-teller. I really enjoyed that!
Hey Tom....as usual great stuff! Incredible pictures from start to finish!
Some mighty fine bucks in your part of the country! :thumbsup:
Thanks for shraing your tough season. I am right there with you it was one of my hardest years ever. I had got within range of bedded 30" 3x3 mule deer with no shoot. Had my hand pulling the string twice on good bulls on a tough unit,with no shoots fired. I had a bull at 10 yards but it was during my cow hunt. I finally fill one tag out of 4 in the last week of doe hunt. It's amazing how the hard times always seem funnier as time goes on. :laughing:
Nothing there looked brutal to me, lot of great encounters. Nice pics and story TJ.
Really nice story and pics. Threads like these are what got me coming over here to this forum. You might have gotten skunked by this buck, but just think of all the things you've learned chasing that big fella!
QuoteOriginally posted by smoke1953:
Nothing there looked brutal to me, lot of great encounters. Nice pics and story TJ.
Ohhh..there's a ton of comedy that TJ didn't relay! He and I have compared notes all season as to who had the most unseen or unexpected suprise hunt killers...and he finally pulled ahead in the late seaon for the win!!
The mad dash from work to climb in a stand ony to find the farmer 20 yards from it dumping loads of horse manure....the lady in a jogging outfit that came out of nowhere to pick up the arrow he'd missed a doe w/ earlier in the morning and not noticing him in the tree 20 yards from her.. :biglaugh: only a couple, but that one was my favorit!! :laughing:
good job
NIIIICE!Thanks for sharing
Awesome pics and story! You must have an iron will for sure! That big 6x6 would have broke my will! By the way you can't claim "skeeter" is just a KY word! We use it down in LA, too (although I wish I'd never see another one)! ;) :campfire:
Great stories Tom! I would have broke the promise to myself long before you did. But good job on the choices. Hope the 6 by lived, but if not, no doubt his genetics are still around, looks like he was a scrapper. Look forward to next year!
Great story. Great photos. Looks like you had a very exciting season even though you didn't have the outcome you would have liked. Nice looking arrows they look just like mine.
thanks for sharing Tom...has me pumped for next year!
Nice pictures, Tom! Still looks like a good season, but I know what you mean. Hope you get a crack at them this fall again!
QuoteOriginally posted by LoweBow:
QuoteOriginally posted by smoke1953:
Nothing there looked brutal to me, lot of great encounters. Nice pics and story TJ.
Ohhh..there's a ton of comedy that TJ didn't relay! He and I have compared notes all season as to who had the most unseen or unexpected suprise hunt killers...and he finally pulled ahead in the late seaon for the win!!
The mad dash from work to climb in a stand ony to find the farmer 20 yards from it dumping loads of horse manure....the lady in a jogging outfit that came out of nowhere to pick up the arrow he'd missed a doe w/ earlier in the morning and not noticing him in the tree 20 yards from her.. :biglaugh: only a couple, but that one was my favorit!! :laughing: [/b]
Yeah LoweBow and I went back and forth all year with some things that would just make you roll on the floor. The lady pulling my arrow out of the ground was funny. Just another one that pops in my mind was a small group of does had stopped about 25 yards out while feeding on acorns. They were all facing me and I was up and ready to give them a go when an old Dodge pickup truck came down the road I was about a hundred yards from. This usually wouldn't be an issue as these deer are used to vehicles going by. But this Dodge was well mature in its years and it was missing badly and making loud noises. As the heap got right to where we were it let out a huge BANG backfire. Sounded like a bomb hitting the ground. I just threw my hands up in the air as I watched my sausage run over hill.
Then there was the spike buck that had a very nice buck behind him both coming down my trail. When the spike slammed on the breaks and was watching a squirrel root around in the leaves right in front of him. No big deal right? Well not this year. The spike started blowing and ran off taking the buck with him. I wasn't going to shoot either of them but that is just how my year went.
cool pics, great story... but looks like a not too bad season to me! always next year & they'll be bigger
Beautiful pictures. Hope you get a crack at that buck this upcoming season.
All those experiences are why we hunt and make it special, if it was easy the reward wouldn't be so sweet. Congrats on a great season TJ.
great story and picture's,you the man! It's hard targeting one deer like that, It's the greatest thing in the world when you score, but oh so hard if you don't after passing on some other nice bucks. At the end of the day(or season)though it's the challenge and beauty of the great outdoors that somehow make it all worth it and leaves us all staring at the calender waiting for next season.
TJ
Good story. Sometimes the plan just doesn't come together. I haven't punched a buck tag for 4 years for virtually the same reason as you this season.
Still, it's the way I choose to hunt and I'm comfortable with all my decisions.
Now I get it!
QuoteOriginally posted by Otto:
TJ
Good story. Sometimes the plan just doesn't come together. I haven't punched a buck tag for 4 years for virtually the same reason as you this season.
Still, it's the way I choose to hunt and I'm comfortable with all my decisions.
You are a better man than I Steve. I don't think I can take it another year. My wife kept telling me "I know you are just nasty because you haven't shot a deer" Haha. Next season I'm slinging some arrows. It will be better on my marriage.
I'm still depressed about two misses and a finished season.............but that is what I need to practice more.
Boy those are some real bruisers. Thanks for the story.
That was a great post TJ. Very few people would have been able to pass on that 6x6. Hopefully, he made it through the gunners. He'll really be something next season!
WOW to have half that many encounters would be great.
Those are great pictures.
Thanks for taking us with.
Tim
Great pics! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your season with us! :clapper:
Great stuff TJ! Thanks for sharing!
Wow! By my standards you had a fantastic year! Wonderful story and photos - thanks for the effort you put into sharing your season.
QuoteOriginally posted by jonsimoneau:
Very few people would have been able to pass on that 6x6.
I think he's talking about me! That is a fine looking buck!
Nice job on the 'yote, Tom. Thanks for taking the time to give us the details on your season. Very nicely done. Great pics too!
Enjoyed the season TJ - thanks. Its a worthy pursuit!
Great story and wonderful pictures! Even though you didn't get the buck that was on your "hit" list, you will have a very memorable season. Thanks for sharing!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
48# Spirit longbow
45# Martin Hunter recurve