broke ice...

[churly]

Sunday afternoon I got my first deer of the year with a bow. It was a young doe. I hunted my uncle's ground in Clay County TN. We hunted all morning and he was the only one to see any deer at all. After meeting at the truck, I changed out of my camo and back into jeans. We decided to go get my stand out of the woods. We were almost back out of the woods, walking down a creek bottom when these two does got up and ran over on the side of hill, in range. My uncle handed me my bow, and I began walking backward slowly while this deer was starring at me. I had a stand on my back and was shooting uphill so this was very akward feeling, but I let the arrow fly and it found its mark. We left the woods after we heard crashing and came back to find the deer not 40 yards from the shot. Not your run-of-the-mill bow hunt, but I'll take it. Deer seemed to be really moving alot before daylight and in the middle of the day all weekend.

 

[Buoy-Master]

I know Fluke got one the other night. Seemed like he said it was a 110 lb doe. I'm getting all the meat

</p>

Congrats on breaking the ice there Churly...now to get you a Big'n!</p>

 

[Tr19]

Where abouts in Clay County is your uncles land ? I am on a lease in Macon County that is about a 1/4 mile to the Clay County line . Did you find any acorns up there ? We have a few trees dropping but that is about it .

 

[ratherBfishin]

Good job . I went last week but could not get any to come into range. Anybody seeing any white oak acorns? I found a few red oak but not any white oak . What was her main source of food? I usually cut the stomache open to see what they have been eating.

 

[churly]

His land is near Butlers landing on the river, so he is close to you, actually just accross the river. There are some chinkapin oaks (sawtooth) dropping pretty good on the hill tops, but we are seeing alot of deer feeding in the pastures both day and night? I found 6 deer that had died from EHD. Just walk a creek bottom and you'll soon know if you have it. There are still plenty of deer though! All of the deer we found were does, so that goes along with our managment plan!

 

[ratherBfishin]

EHD?

 

[Liveliner]

churly - 10/2/2007 7:28 AM Sunday afternoon I got my first deer of the year with a bow. It was a young doe. I hunted my uncle's ground in Clay County TN. We hunted all morning and he was the only one to see any deer at all. After meeting at the truck, I changed out of my camo and back into jeans. We decided to go get my stand out of the woods. We were almost back out of the woods, walking down a creek bottom when these two does got up and ran over on the side of hill, in range. My uncle handed me my bow, and I began walking backward slowly while this deer was starring at me. I had a stand on my back and was shooting uphill so this was very akward feeling, but I let the arrow fly and it found its mark. We left the woods after we heard crashing and came back to find the deer not 40 yards from the shot. Not your run-of-the-mill bow hunt, but I'll take it. <font color="#0000ff">Deer seemed to be really moving alot before daylight and in the middle of the day</font> all weekend.

</p>

That is what I have been reporting.  I have been seeing them in the open fields and clear-cuts in the middle of the day since the moon has beem in this phase.</p>

Way to go on the harvest..  Good shooting too.  You would not even think to practice a shot like that.</p>

 

[churly]

ratherBfishin - 10/2/2007 9:31 AM

EHD?

It is also being referred to as Blue Tounge Disease. I believe it is a virus, but I know the deer actually dies of dehydration.

I'm one of those field-dressing perfectionist, my goal, when gutting, is to get it done as cleanly and as quickly as possible. It was soo hot that I did not even think of opening the stomach, but I did note a lot of green material in the throat and mouth and that deer was bedded when we first walked up on it which means it was probably chewing its cud! Regardless, I still hunt dropping oak trees, even if there are beans or other agriculture around. Deer know that have to have that protein to make through a cold winter.

 

[Jmax]

Way to show us how to do it......emoScratch ...well now that I think about it....maybe I should say way to get REAL lucky and show us how to shoot.emoSmile If you get some jerky can I have a piece?emoWorthy Jmax

 

[ratherBfishin]

Jmax I have some jerky my dad had made . If we get to go Monday I will bring it. I have had a dehydrator for 3 yrs. know . It is still in the box . My wife brings that up every year. Who knows I might even take it out of the box this year.

 

[SpurHunter]

Stack up those does! They taste better, drag easier, and help your overall herd! I know you know this but the more we say it, the better! </p>

I hate to clean deer, so I have started doing it with out cutting the chest cavity open at all! It takes someone to show you how, but once youve done it, you will never go back! I can even get the little tenderlions out!

</p>

My buddy over in McMinnville has 7000 acres on their nusery, and has found 30 deer so far....almost HALF bucks. Very odd as his ratio is waaaaayyy off on bucks to does. I heard it is harder on the bucks, but dont know that for a fact. So far he has collected a 120" and a 158"

 THAT sucks.......</p>

 

[ratherBfishin]

A friend of mine would quarter one up and never gut it. It is always funny to watch a person gut there first deer. Like there afraid they are going to mess it up . I tell them dig on in. You are not going to hurt it is already dead.emoVomit

 

[Tr19]

Churly , we walked every creek bottom and have not found any dead deer so far . Looks like we have been spared . All the deer we have been seeing has been around fields also . Found a little hot spot that has some acorns dropping in a corner of a field . That is where I harvested the two does opening weekend . Passed 4 more this past Saturday waiting on a buck .

 

[churly]

Tr19 - 10/2/2007 4:31 PM

Churly , we walked every creek bottom and have not found any dead deer so far . Looks like we have been spared . All the deer we have been seeing has been around fields also . Found a little hot spot that has some acorns dropping in a corner of a field . That is where I harvested the two does opening weekend . Passed 4 more this past Saturday waiting on a buck .

And thats how you kill a big one...let 'em go so they can grow!

 

[Liveliner]

I have searched creak bottoms and ponds and have found no dead deer near Fall Creek Falls Park.

 

[Jmax]

Same here as well LL. I have walked and scouted four areas now this year and several creeks without so much as one deer found dead. Does seem to be only in some areas. Thank goodness it is only in some areas that does not seem too widespread. Hopefully that will be the worse of it. Would hate to see a state wide spread of Blue Tongue disease.emoRolleyes Jmax

 

[Buoy-Master]

<p align="left">JMax...ask my Wed Night partner and Flip about my deer jerky

 Purty good I must say! </p><p align="left">Picking up about 80 pounds of deer tonight. Hopefully, if I have the chance to get another one by donation (I pay for processing) I'll do it all in jerky this time. </p>

 

[SpurHunter]

If'n your serious about making that much jerkey, you better have room for meat! I WILL be calling you!