NO, NO.... it's over


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NO, NO... it's over

Well, today was the last night of archery season. If you know me I am passionate about archery hunting (I was out there until the final minute tonight) & you also know that my motto is: "it's the hunt, NOT the kill". 30 some days out in the woods this fall & not one day was boring.

Until another 10 months.....gone are the:

1. 4 AM mornings (sometimes I wonder until I see the beauty out there).

2. The walk to the tree, in the dark, while the coyotes howl.

3. Those sunrises & those sunsets in the peaceful woods.

4. Those 10 degree mornings when everything is so quiet that you can hear a deer coming a half mile away through the fallen leaves.

5. Walking across a mile of a muddy plowed field to get to my stand (farmers... please plow in the spring ... not the fall... I'm getting old).

6. being so still that the chick-a-dees and nuthatches land within a foot of me.

7. That squirrel that sat in my tree stand next to my foot.. until he realized I was there too.

8. Those 40 turkeys that flew from across the valley.. three of which landed in the same tree as me (yes I tried to shoot one that was 15 feet away and missed). His tail feather is still in that tree.

9. Hearing a deer walk around under your tree in the dark of morning. Only knowing he is there by sound and me trying so hard to see him in the dark.

10. That young deer picking up my scent on the brush and following it directly to my tree & circling the tree while trying to figure out where I was at... all the while I am trying not to laugh, as I look down upon him.

11. Watching 8 doe and yearlings parade by me, in single file, while not knowing that I was within yards of them (mission accomplished on my part) & those old does that picked me out on other occasions (rats... I'm still learning).

12. Those two young bucks fighting, under my tree for 15 minutes (cool).

13. Knowing and hoping that at any time that buck that I wanted could come into range (it never did happen this year).

14. The walk back to the truck... thanking the LORD for another safe hunt & year.

15. Knowing that my dad (in heaven) is smiling down upon me & seeing the legacy & ethics that he has passed on to me as a hunter.

Feel free to "add-on" some of your favorites from the past season.

Good luck to all

the dog

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NO, NO.... it's over

Well my season isn't over yet but it's been the most memorable year of my career good and bad:

I've had my best day on stand ever in Kansas with 7 120s or better sighted and passed 5 of them

I missed my Booner on oct 20th on my home farm

I passed my biggest buck to date. A low 140s three year old on my home farm.

Until this year I've only lost 1 deer. This year I've lost four and yes I actually put the bow down for a gun bc of it.

I killed a hitlister on Thanksgiving evening on my home farm. The wide 8

I parted ways with a good friend due to personality conflict magnified by hunting

I got two neighbors into better management practices

I came to full draw on a 180 and let down

I lost 700 acres of great hunting

I've picked up a great farm in Michigan

As you can see highs and lows all around. I've learned a ton and I'm a better hunter than when the year started.

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I have late muzzleloader left but I've had some highs and lows also in archery.

Passed a 140s class 9 point in early season at 40 yards.

I seen the 9 point again during the rut but wouldn't come in when i grunted at him.

I finally got to fill my doe tag with my new bow.

A week after the doe i got to fill my buck tag after a 400 yard recovery i got to wrap my hands around my first buck taken with my bow.

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Love your stories, thanks. Although I didn't get a deer this year, I can say I had a great season, hunting alot with my best friend, and felt half a## decent. It has been many years since I could hunt as much. I am actually already looking forward to next season, and what I might do different. Long ways away for me, but with Gods blessing I'll be around. I really enjoyed reading about all the hunts and pics. :clap:

too_

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It was a below average year for me.

The good:

Planted a new foodplot this year in turnips and clover here at the house, and little bro got his second archery deer ever on it. Nice doe

Hung a stand in a new place at the house this year just for the rut. First morning my little bro hunted it on Nov. 3rd he saw the biggest buck he has ever seen while hunting, a P&Y 8 pointer. Came in to 35 yards but no clear shot. Brother was still super pumped.

Got my first ever drop tine buck on trail camera on the other farm. Turned out to be the buck I was after for the whole season.

Killed 2 does, one with the bow, and one with the gun.

The Bad:

Biggest buck I saw all season was about 110"

Saw 1 coyote for about every 3 deer

Never saw the drop tine buck in person, last pic we got was end of October. Hoping he made it through alive

First season in several years that I didnt see a shooter at all

Had camera issues all season. Seemed like there was one not working right every couple of weeks. Gonna buy some new Bushnell trophy cams, and slowly replace all the cameras we have now over the next couple seasons

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5. Walking across a mile of a muddy plowed field to get to my stand (farmers... please plow in the spring ... not the fall... I'm getting old).

Sorry not going to happen

Ptg dog..the reason we do fall tillage is you dont work wet ground in spring...fall... you can play in wet soil because over winter the frost will crumble it.. spring tillage.. you will have clay balls and poor soil to seed contact, plus with fall tillage, less passes are nessesary come spring and you can plant sooner

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5. Walking across a mile of a muddy plowed field to get to my stand (farmers... please plow in the spring ... not the fall... I'm getting old).

Sorry not going to happen

Ptg dog..the reason we do fall tillage is you dont work wet ground in spring...fall... you can play in wet soil because over winter the frost will crumble it.. spring tillage.. you will have clay balls and poor soil to seed contact, plus with fall tillage, less passes are nessesary come spring and you can plant sooner

I know... but "I" like the years that fall tillage is NOT done due to weather conditions, as has happened in the past. Just makes it easier for me ... selfish

good luck to all

the dog

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