Well this year has been a slow year on our property. Ive got family land/ leased land we hunt in Putnam Co. near Center Hill Lake. I have 8 buddies that hunt with me (rarely have more than 3 or 4 hunters in the woods at any time). So far we have taken 9 does and zero bucks. We started seeing rutting/chasing activity the first week of mzl and have seen rutting activity every weekend since. On each of the 3 weekends of the first segment of gun, I saw shooter 8 pointers chasing, and just couldnt close the deal, each time the bucks were running does and never presented clean broad side shots, the biggest one I could see plain as day, but didnt want to shoot at a target moving 100mph.
this is the 8th year we have kept "quality managment practices" in place. Our rule is simple; if you shoot a buck, you mount it! If you need meat or wanna watch something die; shoot a doe! This is a loose rule that allows my buddies to take what they consider to be a trophy, and not what me or anyone else thinks is a trophy, and trust me we all have different standards. Basically this managment system has resulted in being able to see antlered bucks just about everytime I sit on stand. I consider a hunt successful when I able to see and pass on deer, killing one is just icing on the cake!
I had a buddy ask me if I was sick of trophy managment practices and ready to shoot a smaller buck. My reply was NO WAY! I am convinced that as these bucks get older, they are getting super smart and the only way to bust one is to catch him chasing, have him pushed on you, or just plain old luck.
I've learned that good time spent at the deer camp with good friends and family is as valuable as all the bucks on my wall.
Wish you all the best of luck for the rest of the season! I got 2 more weekends left, and if I have to go buckless I will still thank God for every minute I have in the woods, and a safe return home to my family.
this is the 8th year we have kept "quality managment practices" in place. Our rule is simple; if you shoot a buck, you mount it! If you need meat or wanna watch something die; shoot a doe! This is a loose rule that allows my buddies to take what they consider to be a trophy, and not what me or anyone else thinks is a trophy, and trust me we all have different standards. Basically this managment system has resulted in being able to see antlered bucks just about everytime I sit on stand. I consider a hunt successful when I able to see and pass on deer, killing one is just icing on the cake!
I had a buddy ask me if I was sick of trophy managment practices and ready to shoot a smaller buck. My reply was NO WAY! I am convinced that as these bucks get older, they are getting super smart and the only way to bust one is to catch him chasing, have him pushed on you, or just plain old luck.
I've learned that good time spent at the deer camp with good friends and family is as valuable as all the bucks on my wall.
Wish you all the best of luck for the rest of the season! I got 2 more weekends left, and if I have to go buckless I will still thank God for every minute I have in the woods, and a safe return home to my family.
