Things you learned this year....


ODH

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There was a simular post in the deer hunting forums, which seemed to work out really well. The purpose of it is to help each other out with things we have learned this past bowseason, or anytime in your hunting career,and any tips you have that could help other fellow hunters. thanks

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Re: Things you learned this year....

something I have learned about hunting a huge trophy buck would be to scout, scout, scout. During this past summer, I scouted I dont know how many miles. Finally found the deer i was looking for. A massive 10 or 12 point, not sure # of points cuz I never actually seen him in clear daylight, was either dusk or early before sunrise. Even though I didnt harvest this deer, I will say that these old guys dont get old and big being stupid, lol. It took me around a month and a half to finally intersect him. I estimated him at about 140"+. He was a very wide deer. First time i intersected him was about mid November, desided not to shoot cuz of some certain cicumstances. (long story) Tips for hunting these big guys would be using a doe-in-estrus call. Believe me, it really worked well even for does. Also a grunt call and rattling antlers.

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Guest Huntin_Cop

Re: Things you learned this year....

Carry wire cutters!

My buck after the shot, still in velvet, decided that instead of jumping a fence, he was gonna plow through it... It didn't work, he got his fragile antlers entangled but luckily expired quickly. The damge to his velvet didn't occur til I tried to pry his rack out. It wasn't that much damage and my taxidermist doctored the velvet back and it looks as good as new.

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Re: Things you learned this year....

[ QUOTE ]

i learned that if your tree stand isnt very high up and/or you dont have very good cover in it, move very slowly and not much at all, i blew out 4 bucks(a 150 incher was in there). crazy.gif when i put my binoculars down a small fork was right under me and i didnt even know it.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is something I learned as well...move very very slow! I also learned to try to anticipate how the deer will move and try to get into position well enough in advance.

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Re: Things you learned this year....

hey guys!!

Every year I think that I have these guys figured out (LOL)!!! Last year two nice bucks .... this year nothing.

I had two nice bucks patterned in a certain area and figured they would eventually come by my tree (as in years past). Boy was I wrong. Neither came by my tree all season. They stayed either to the north or south. Both were killed during the gun season.

I guess what I am saying "is that you can think you have them figured out, just for them to prove you wrong"!!!

Good luck to all

the dog

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Guest antlers21

Re: Things you learned this year....

Not to overhunt one stand site. I seen a beauty buck the first weekend in the evening and I couldn't stay out of that spot for evening hunts and soon I had deer avoiding my foodplot and moving around it. (hitting it at night only)

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Re: Things you learned this year....

Nothing earth shattering, but still the notion to never give up.

I spent the first month of the season carting kids to practices and games so I didn't get to hunt October hardly at all, and when early November did roll around it was hot. But November 3rd in 70 degree heat I sealed the deal on my first buck in 4 years.

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Re: Things you learned this year....

[ QUOTE ]

hey guys!!

Every year I think that I have these guys figured out (LOL)!!! Last year two nice bucks .... this year nothing.

I had two nice bucks patterned in a certain area and figured they would eventually come by my tree (as in years past). Boy was I wrong. Neither came by my tree all season. They stayed either to the north or south. Both were killed during the gun season.

I guess what I am saying "is that you can think you have them figured out, just for them to prove you wrong"!!!

Good luck to all

the dog

[/ QUOTE ]good point

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Re: Things you learned this year....

During the rut, be more aggressive, get into those spots that you know are good but you think they are too hard to approach or hunt. I set up a stand in the only tree that would even be able to hold a stand in a tree thicket in the middle of the crp. Three days later I made my way into the stand before daylight. An hour and a half later, I had my buck. My point, when the bucks are sidetracked with hot does, it's time to be in spots you wouldn't be in any other time...do what it takes.

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Re: Things you learned this year....

I learned that antler restrictions are hard to deal with when for years you were lucky to see a spike buck at bow range, and once the law is in place, they tend to hover around you at 10 yards all season long...

I learned that a Remington 300 Ultra Mag is heavy to carry all weekend long up and down the mountains...

I learned that deer will run uphill when fatally wounded.

I learned that traditional archery is REALLY challedging at the moment of truth....

I learned that FOC, KE, and all the other numbers I stressed over with my compound was rediculus when a bow made from a single piece of wood cast an arrow 200g heavier then my compund arrows, 125g heavier broadheads, still blows threw deer and had an FOC of 26 and a KE of only 23.

I learned that you can never have to much RT Forums.. LOL

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Re: Things you learned this year....

I learned that I wish I would have been archery hunting sooner instead of waiting 30 years!

Learned more about bows since I joined this forum! cool.gif

Learned how to re-fletch arrows in this forum! cool.gif

Learned that somebody changed there nic! Who is this GrMntMan? LOL!!! grin.gif

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Re: Things you learned this year....

[ QUOTE ]

During the rut, be more aggressive, get into those spots that you know are good but you think they are too hard to approach or hunt. I set up a stand in the only tree that would even be able to hold a stand in a tree thicket in the middle of the crp. Three days later I made my way into the stand before daylight. An hour and a half later, I had my buck. My point, when the bucks are sidetracked with hot does, it's time to be in spots you wouldn't be in any other time...do what it takes.

[/ QUOTE ]ya, hunting during the rut was extremely successful for me this year, saw several good deer.

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Guest tyshe17

Re: Things you learned this year....

I learned that funnels lead to more deer (I doubled the most I have ever killed in a year this year)

I learned that a fawn bleet can be the end of any doe in early season (worked 3 times for me after I had spoted the deer)

I learned that on close shots (12 yds and in) holding on the lower body line workes better than still shooting at the lungs

I learned that it is hard to get into your stand too early.

I learned to start taking wind into account in my stand selection.

I know these next 9 months are going to be really long.

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Re: Things you learned this year....

That if you want to shot a trophey, you have to be able to pass on the smaller ones to let them grow. I arrowed my biggest buck last year, scoring 127" gross, the ground we hunt has some seriously big bucks, but they are hard to find. This year was so hot the second week in Nov (my vaca), I shot a 121" gross (unofficial) buck at the end of my vaca, my goal was for a 140". The thing is, if I let that buck walk, next year he would be better. Yes, I take that chance on not getting one. Next year, big or bust!

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Re: Things you learned this year....

I learned dozens of times, that no matter what happens, stay in your stand until absolute dark even if you think the hunt is a complete waste of time. I saw more deer after dogs walked by, barked at me in a tree, neighbor by the field yelled at his dogs, got out late, shot and missed and still had deer come out, shot my first deer on the ground after I carried my stand out and left all my pull up rope, limb saw, and my easy hanger at home. Lesson learned.

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Re: Things you learned this year....

I learned that a little squirrel can scare off a nice buck! Learned that this season as I had him broadside at 22 yards, was trying to stand up when a squirrel came from the other direction and the buck was scared off from the rustling leaves!! I seemed to see that squirrel every time I went out this year too!! I cursed at him every time I see him.

Learned what my effective range was this year, a rangefinder does wonders, I love using it and realizing yes I can shoot out that far.

I think I found a better spot or at least a more productiver area 60 yards from my current spot.

I learned if your going to take a mature doe do it early as later on they are harder to find and all you see are fawns! smile.gif

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