Seasons over for me.

swampdrummer · October 11, 2009, 12:00:00 AM

Tomorrow is the last day of the south Florida archery season. Spent most of the day in the woods and looking back. Its been a good first traditional season overall.Not near the number of deer in the freezer as I had hoped but I didn't get skunked either.Had 26 "sightings" in probably just about the same amount of days. I tried to hunt at least once every day of the season but life got in the way more than once or twice. I know I was seeing he same deer on multiple occasions and near as I can figure I saw 11 or 12 different deer. Not bad for a 20 acre parcel!
Highlights include
First time actually hunting my own property and not having to deal with the crowds.

Not believing that I could really miss a deer close enough that I could see her eyelashes, twice!
Seeing a very territorial squirrel leap onto a does back as I was in mid draw, blowing her out with a quickness.

Watching a coon feed along a trail and stand up on his hind legs and then run off. Clued me in enough to look over my shoulder and see a big doe 5 yards behind me.
Watching a nice 8 point feed down the edge I was sitting on only to bed down at 15 yards in a thick patch. Offering no shot and keeping me in my stand for an hour after I couldn't see to shoot.

Having a piliated woodpecker hammer the tree I was sitting in, right behind my head. Dang near jumped out of the tree.
A possum climbed in my ground blind with me and attempted to drag off my thermacell.

Hearing a coon make a sound I'd never heard before. Near as I can describe it was moe from the three stooges with his yoyoyoyoyoy! followed by a growl.
The misses. I missed 5 times this season! Actually 6 but the 6th miss caught her in the neck and left a good blood trail. Not a shot I was happy with but I got very lucky and was able to recover her after a 300 yard tracking job thru the swamp.
All in all, a good time was had. Lots of fun. Learned a bunch. This was my first season back in the woods in close to 20 years. I'll be back next year and of course will be sticking pigs whenever the freezer gets low but I think I'm probably done for the year. Of course, if it cools off and I find some promising buck sign. I can still sling arrows until January down here!Maybe next year I'll be able to actually hit were I'm aiming rather than were I'm looking!
Thanks trad gang for all the help and advice!
Brad

bretto · October 11, 2009, 12:25:00 AM

Sounds like a great season. Nice Doe. Keep practicing next year will be here before You know it.

Benny Nganabbarru · October 11, 2009, 12:46:00 AM

Very nice! What's your bow?

Soilarch · October 11, 2009, 12:56:00 AM

Sounds like a great season! Congrats!

Rocks · October 11, 2009, 02:20:00 AM

Sounds like a great season, congrats on the doe and good luck next year.

Biggie Hoffman · October 11, 2009, 06:21:00 AM

?????? Why is your season over? We hunt all the way thru January in south Florida?

stickbow2442 · October 11, 2009, 07:16:00 AM

Sounds like you had a great time. Can't believe your season is over with already. Ours is just 11 days old and will go untill Jan 1st.

Robertfishes · October 11, 2009, 12:04:00 PM

I hunt with a trad bow all the time during "gun season" on our lease. I wear a hunters orange vest but took it off for the pic of this December doe last year. We are issued antlerless deer tags every year, I like to use mine late in the season after I pick out the lead doe in my area and I hunt her like you would hunt the big buck. this doe busted me at least 8 times last year...

joevan125 · October 11, 2009, 12:08:00 PM

Yea why is your season over.

swampdrummer · October 11, 2009, 12:27:00 PM

Seasons over in the sense that archery season is over. Yes, I can still hunt until Jan. but starting tommorow its bucks only except for a week in November. I'll be in the woods. Just not with the same intensity. Thanks guys

joevan125 · October 11, 2009, 12:33:00 PM

Brad

Dont let those guns scare you off, some of my best bow kills have been during gun season.

stickbow2442 · October 11, 2009, 12:46:00 PM

Yeh I hunt with my longbow all of deer season.

Wiley Coyote · October 11, 2009, 12:52:00 PM

Our season has just started. I hope I do as well as you.

Biggie Hoffman · October 11, 2009, 06:33:00 PM

Ohhhhhh........now I get

swampdrummer · October 11, 2009, 10:42:00 PM

Thanks for the replies folks,
Part of the problem and the reason I've called the season off is the 6 misses. Its been a good month. I did my homework and scouted hard. I had deer in front of me most every day that I hunted. I made the decision to go trad. back in january of this year. I'm shooting good on the target. I just can't seem to pull it together on a deer. For me, a lucky neck shot doesn't cut it. It could have just as easily been a big doe running around the woods with an arrow stuck thru her neck. I wasn't happy with the shot, I wasn't happy with the recovery, although I do thank the provider above that I was able to bring her back in for my nourishment.
I'm just done until I am confident I can kill cleanly. I'm having a hard time rationalizing using less than the most effective gear at the risk of wounding one of gods creatures.
Not a tree hugger by any means but my performance this last month has me questioning myself for sure

Shaun · October 11, 2009, 11:46:00 PM

Maybe next year I'll be able to actually hit were I'm aiming rather than were I'm looking!

Brad

Sounds like the trick would be to look where you are aiming.

I feel your pain - the transition from target to game is a tough one. We've all struggled through this stage. I have shot over lots of deer and can't believe I have not yet stuck and arrow into antlers (where I am often looking at just the wrong moment). You will eventually learn to "pick a spot" which means more than it sounds like. To keep focused on the spot from before the draw till after the arrow gets there is almost impossible on a live deer - much easier on a target.

Thanks for sharing the wondrous moments of your year afield, I love the possum trying to make off with the Thermocell.