Team 1 ~ First Blood ~


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Slow weekend for me. I shot another doe Saturday AM. Saturday night only resulted in a 115 inch 8 cruising through. Sunday was a bust. Our gun season opened this weekend so it's gonna get hard for me bowhunting until later in the season. I'll be in Illinois the second week of December for 5 days and I'm really looking forward to that. I've already let what would be my second biggest deer walk twice this season. I have my heart set on one specific buck. It's extremely challenging hunting one deer, but a feeling like no other if you connect with him. I did the same thing last year and ate my tag when both bucks got killed in November. I'm committed to killing him with a bow which makes most people think I'm nuts. At least this year if he goes down I have other mature deer i can target. Until then the chase continues.....

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Ruth, I hope you get one with the smoke pole. I love ML hunting. Our ML season starts this Thursday then crossbow opens till season ends in January. So far I have 2 shooters in my core hunting area (40 acre private farm near my house). For me anything 125 or bigger is a shooter since the neighboring farms shoot anything. Haven't seen the unicorn buck since August. The two i have recent pics of include a estimated 130 inch 8 point and 140 inch 9 point. There are several 2.5 year olds running around so I hope they make it through the gun season this weekend. Also going to KY one more time in hopes for a big buck. The KY Smoke pole season starts in a couple more weeks. Good luck to everyone - the half time break is over - time to take it to them!

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Bad news in my area. My target buck was killed by a gun hunter on opening morning. To make it worse my #3 also died that evening. The impossible is becoming reality on this farm. I've lost four 4.5 year olds, two 3.5 year olds wounded, and I'm missing a stud 3.5 and a 4.5. It's the downside to management. Working on small properties makes it extremely difficult to protect deer. On the positive side maybe my neighbors will start to understand seeing and killing mature deer is doable when proper practices are in place.

Now the goal becomes removing pressure in order to protect the remaining crop. There is the possibility that new deer move in so my hunting will be with trail cams until a shooter is identified. As the saying goes....... I'm not nuts, just a little crazy:)

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Too bad hoosier! I've become a little more selective in my area, a neighbor we hunt with is also, but no one around is so it's hard to do any type of management, even on our small lease, as the deer come and go, so for surrounding people it's a free for all. I'm hoping a few good ones made it through to pass on their genes, and maybe one to give me a shot come muzzleloader!

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Dad and I head for Illinois on Sunday! We will be hunting through at least Friday. My fingers are crossed for dad. It's been 15-20 years since he's shot a buck. The outfitter has some nice daylight walkers we are hoping to get dad on. The goal will be probably a 140 or better. There's also a true Monarch on the farm. Monday can't come fast enough!!!!

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Thanks Martin!

3:30 and I'm a kid on Christmas morning right now!!! They have some slobs running around and my mind is turning. Dads goal is a 140 or better. My target is up in the air knowing what's here. I have 160 in my head but when rubber meets the road a 50's would be tough to let go. We are both going to an area holding at least 3 pushing Boone. A guy killed a 6 last night with a 20 inch inside spread. We are the only hunters until Thursday when a group from LA comes in.

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Looks like team 5 has stolen our 1st place lead. Hope you get a 30 pointer Hoosier and close the door. Still chasing some 8's and 9's but nothing that will count for an upgrade. Hunting in AM with crossbow and then to KY for our last hunt with the ML. Hunting gets tough now - time to suck it up and finish strong.

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