How's things where you are? Last year was a SLOW year, but I've been seeing more deer around this summer than I have in years. I'm hoping that continues through December.


Turkey's were also plentiful this year, after a 4-5 year absence. Seems they all but disappeared a few years ago, but I hardly go a day without seeing a couple.


I seem to know less and less about game and the whys as I get older. Nature is still a big mystery, thankfully.

Been seeing some really nice bachelor groups around.

Fewer does though.

We're the opposite. Super mild winter, but not seeing deer, turkey or bear like we have years previous. My hillside is full of huckleberry and blackberries. Normally have bear in there like crazy. Apple trees didn't produce worth a damn which sucks too. Had a couple that held through October and kept game on the property.

As long as the boy kills a couple 125lb'ers I'll be happy. I hunt for the peace of mind anymore....

For the last couple weeks been seeing a bunch on the road in the morning before daylight.


I need to quit being lazy and get some cameras going.

I’m afraid we will have an abundance of hogs this year from the rooting and wallows I’ve seen riding around.

Hogs haven't pushed in at my AOR, but they are getting close. I know where a bunch are about 10 miles from me. I don't want them.

I'm LOADED up with apples right now, they have started dropping hard. I dumped three 5 gallon buckets of them in the woods this morning, they'll be gone in a day or two.

There is one BIG doe that I haven't seen with babies for the past 2 seasons still running around. She has to be old, for as big as she is, but she's one cagey bitch.

We havs the same bachelor group back this year. Hope to get one of the big boys before harvest. They leave after the crops come out. Been seeing lots of does up on the other hunting spot. Hopefully we have a good season this year.

Perfect one to drop!

Up till this year I've never seen a set of triplet fawns on my place. Last night there were 2 sets of triplets, 2 sets of twins, and one doe with a single fawn, so 11 fawns for 5 doe. There's also at least 8 bucks older than 1.5 that I've been seeing in the soybeans next to the house. We haven't even bothered to count dinks. I guess taking 10 coyotes off one bait pile this winter might have helped with the deer population.

The deer here are finally making a comeback.

I hear you, but I'm serious, she's a tough one to get a bead on. She's given me fits.

Yeah, I've never seen triplets. Saw twins today.


Coyotes have been noticeably absent this year.

Ole brood doe that blows?

I’ve seen those... pain in the butt.

She's screwed me more than once and I could never get a shot on her.

Our deer are way down this year! didnt see very many fawns last summer or fall, not seeing many this summer so far. some bucks nothing big yet tho!

Much snow last winter for you?

Hunt her hard and remove her. That bitch will blow out all your spots. Leg stompin, blowin ass holes! lol

Quite a few around the house this year. The big boys get scarce come October and go nocturnal quickly.

She may get a dirt nap at the apple tree with a 40gr Maxi-mag arrow.

Lots of standing corn around late last year. Many of those fields are soy now. Plus quite a bit of bad weather last year led to a decreased harvest in many areas. Relatively mild winter and a good crop year so far should have good results

But seriously, try another tactic. If she knows what stand/blind you sit in, set up further back on her trail. Make sure the wind is in your favor and smoke her.

lol that works too

I hear you. A buddy up the road saw here a few times last season in the field I walk through to get to my spots. I've been dumping apples just on the other side and seen here crossing it, then just skirting the edge, before crossing the road. I'm not going to cross the field early on in hopes of catching her.

An old, experienced doe has 3 eyes. Two in her head and one in her azzhole. They can spot you coming or going and with the wind in your favor.

Everything looks good at the zoo, besides one daylight picture of 6 coyotes. It looks to have been a decent year for antler growth. We got some nice bucks on camera at the feeders. So far 5 or 6 different 10 pts, and a couple are good, none of the big 8 pts have showed up yet. As soon as the hunters start scouting around us they'll show up. Got a big 9 pt, he was big enough last year, besides he was all broken up by the time I saw him.

We had a pretty good winter, I think the Bears are getting alot of the Fawns around here! have Yotes too, but alot of bears, My old Bud drew a tag last fall and I put him on a 250lb, but there still alot of them, but few tags! 1st time in almost 20 years I did get at least one deer with bow! seems like when I did see one it was a spike or Button buck!

Here on the place, there is a doe and a fawn that I see pretty regular, but for the most part, I'm not seeing nearly the number of deer that I did last year. They cut the woods in front of the house and our deer numbers seem to be way down. I'm not seeing 1 track for every 20 I saw last year. I should be able to tell al little more in a day or two. Yesterday I took down the electric fence around whats left of the pea patch. Any deer around will be in there in a day or two.

I think it will be pretty good. We have had a little rain this summer

Stop wearing that scent control stuff in the woods and that doe will stop blowing. Stop worrying that she’s going to wind you. Forget about the wind. She will calm down

I don't wear scent control. I want her to get her, because I want to get her.

You need to take her out if ya get the chance .
An old matriarch doe can really fugg up a hunt.
She is also teaching the others street smarts.

Yeah, think of the neck roasts on that b!tch !

Lots of does with twins on our place & I saw one with triplets while mushroom hunting !

Gunna love hunting the new place, for the 1st time this season.

I remember you found moose sheds, are you going to be able to hunt them there ?

Noticed a very old, large persimmon tree edge of the wood line here is dropping all of its persimmons.

Short circuiting the usual October ripe-and-drop

hundreds and hundreds of purple ripe persimmons littering the ground. Smells great mowing back there. Makes sense why I had seen a doe back over in that area a few days ago.

Usually they turn orange and go splat with a surupy thud in the fall.

Went for a walk the other evening to one of our places. Saw 15 deer, 3 fawns, 5 bucks that were all 8 and 10 pointers, and 7 does. Don’t usually deer hunt that place very hard but plan on bow and muzzleloader hunting it some this season.

Pretty early for em to be dropping.

We had a easy winter and no killing frost late this spring also.


44A ought to be booming with acorns this year on the coner of the L shaped ridge system.

I need to put some time in their this year.

Not an adult, as it's a draw tag & the WMU only has 8 adult tags.

Am still contemplating buying a calf tag (over the counter), we'll see !

When I went out to go check those Keebler boys’ stands,
I was scouting the white oaks, dont see any early nuts.
No acorn cups on the creek oaks either.

Regional thing, not too concerned.

Hickory nuts are loaded max, should be good cutting action in a couple-three weeks for the ‘harmless squirrel’

Whats the point of calf tags , is the mortality rate really high or are they just controlling the numbers ?

I bet those calve's are some fine eating, I just don't think I could shoot one .

hate it when does do that

If you hunt for meat you will.

Pass up a tag, someone else will take it.

If she blows

she goes

We cut/thinned some of the woods around our house on a 1.5 acre lot. Aspen and birch suckers coming up everywhere. In the last two days we have had a "yearling" bull moose and a cow with new twins browsing on the new growth. Dollars to donuts the bull is hers too.

Honey Halfllab sits and watches them per her "no-chase" training. From the deck- she's no fool.

The 10 lb Dachsund, Chako, on the other hand is determined to run them off, tho he does stop and come back when called. The cow ignores him, but if we come out she goes defensive.

Maybe she was born while we were in Kotzebue those 8 years - she isn't playing by the same rules all our previous "yard moose" did. On the other hand, she still has both her calves- an accomplishment of no little note in brown bear country.

One of the neighbors will no doubt swat the little bull come season. Or even before.... bastids.

I don't shoot yard moose.

Leaving Friday for a caribou hunt up north, and again in early September for moose, both 1500+ mile round trips. This "free" wild game meat could get a bit pricy!

This will probably ruffle some feathers, but I’m surprised at the tone expressed by some about that old doe. To me, she deserves the utmost respect. Clearly, she’s done her job and done it well. She probably raised at least a dozen fawns over the years and kept her family safe. No doubt dealt with her share of predators and taught her offspring well. In my mind, she’s a trophy. Sounds like it’s time for her to take a ride in the truck, but when she does, I’d thank her and be respectful.

A 'mature' deer is just that....

They are fine eating !

MNR in Ontario, sell 110,000 calf tags @ roughly $60, do the math !

Gotta have a calf tag to be eligible for entry into the adult draw.

If the moose numbers are as low as they think, why encourage shooting calves !

That's my moral dilemma !

Did I mention that they are excellent table fare ?

Ha!!

Welcome to Brown=Down Tenn

Unit L 3-does per day limit all season


Aint no does lounging around for 6 years squeezin out a baker’s dozen.

😃

I ain't ever going to figure out Tennessee's deer regs......

squirrels will blow your cover too d_mn things

Forget cover scents and any other gizmos that claim it eliminates scent!!!

Always hunt the wind! Deer cannot smell what is down wind of them. It really is that simple.

Killing does just to kill something is another thing I quit a long time ago.

Those cute little bunnies are great eating and a lot easier to get outta the woods. As far as shooting a moose calve , I would likely find a local rancher and buy a year old steer, haul it home and shoot and butcher just like the moose, and you would get more eating without the guilt .

Someone should tell Rick to start a deer hunting sub-forum.

Yeah, lotsa stuff up top, that there are more appropriate places, below.

In my opinion, people post up here to get more views & opinions.

Trouble is, half the hacks up here are keyboard cowboys & really know nuffin about nuffin !

No offense to the OP, Scott, just a generalized comment.

Hence the twins and increased number of turkeys.

I read on the internet that all deer and hunting seasons we're open year-round now so people could put food on the table.

The internet also told me that wearing a maxi pad across my nose and mouth would save my life.

I am so glad that the internet is trustworthy, fair and balanced.

We cant either......

Eye candy limits for license sales is what it boils down too.
Elmer " bubba" Fudd sees those #,s
He thinks deer are gonna be shoving each other out of the way so he can shoot them.......

In unit CWD you can shoot 2 does.
Submit tissue for test.
Get another buck tag
Whether positive or not.

If ya shoot a buck and it test positive .
You get another buck tag.


Sure glad I dont live in those counties.
Be a doe kill fest for buck tags this year.
Killing off all the seed corn this year doe wise and
X amount of extra bucks associated with that

Then they will bytch for the next 2 3 4 yrs about lack of deer to hunt.


Regular state limit is 2 bucks.
Which is where it should be at.
When I 1st started hunting in TN it was 11 bucks combined in all the old zones you could hunt across the state.

Giving bubba the shoot house tripod corn feeder hunter ( baiting illegal in Tn) an extra buck tag for every 2 does he gets tested is stoopid.

It will bite those counties in the azz several yrs down the line.
But they dont see it or care...

TRWA and TWRC are public eye publicity hounds .

The Wardens plain ole suck.
They really do turn a blind eye to ALOT of schit.......
Seen it 1st hand way to many times.
They act as if their job of enforcement is a inconvenience to them.
if it dont involve a boat ramp, on water in a boat, or tar road.

They aint doing schitt no matter how many people report a incident.
They dont wanta be known as the "bad guy" for doing even the minimum required in their job.

0 respect for em basically......

0......

Dont even like to talk to em anymore, other than show my license.
After last yrs fiasco with 2 wardens on a dove field and the blantant schit they both turned a blind eye too, while many hunters were complaining to them both about it all.
Fugging sickening........

Never was like that to any wardens in other states in the past.
Talk with em, feel good about them out doing their jobs.

Tn Wardens wanna be the good ole boy and collect the check.....

JMO........

Depends on how you look at it
Squirrels also tell you of approaching game or humans.
As will bird movement and calls.

Knowing crow or raven calls and what they mean and how they are flying will also key you into stuff possibly gonna happen or happening.


Your average shoot house corn pile hunter has no clue........

Ours is pretty much by county as far as what days are either sex and length of season, buy state hunting & big game lic. and done.

Raeford, get a feeder, a savage axis, call pM ‘Cecil’

Cecil Dirty-dirty

Hoping to hook up with Coach[Pall Mall]

I have not been on Tndeer even to look around in 6 mos

Seeing chit like Ruger hauling his 3rd litter of border collie pups to the animal shelter is enough dumbassery for even me

Me neither[more like a year].
Saw where John Sloan[Bowriter] died.
hated to hear.

I've seen a few around. Nothing to get excited about yet though. I'll get some trail cams up in a month or so. But, last year we had plenty of deer around. Hell...right up til the day before the season. I think I saw 2 deer last year. It was the slowest year I've had for deer sightings since I was a kid I think.

Nobody that I know of in our area shot a nice buck. So, there should be a few around I'm hoping.

Persimmons are like cocaine for a deer! At least here in GA.

No wonder she was mushroom hunting...she has triplets.

Funny deer here, some nose through em like a vacuum, a d then with plenty of deer, some will pass them and the possums hit those drop zones.

I’ve kill deer hitting persimmons, I’ve deer mosey through them and not even look down. Maybe they was ‘full’. Lol

Funny persimmons too

Some trees here drop them in the fall, some different trees here on our place hold them till January. Little frozen jerky fruit snacks.

Have to shift and use those trees at ace cards later on.

No bait state.

If she blows she stays!

Oh the deer...

But if ya get drafted and get a 4f at the physical.

And then bragg about riding rodeo for yrs prior and after receiving that 4f and getting out of being drafted....

0 respect for ya playing that game........
I brought that schyt out to light in a thread I started on that candy land site long ago.
I was the "bad guy" for it too.

Fugg him.......
I hope soldiers and marines that died in Vietnam are kicking his azz in the afterlife.....

Been overrun with deer at our place for 20 years.
With son[doeslayer] having moved on it's only getting worse.
Can't walk 20 yards past house without picking up a tick or two, that with 2 Labs out half the time.

Now that’s funny!

I have a lot of scrub persimmons (possum persimmons to the oldtimers) on my property. I think next year I am going to fertilize them and nurture them. Coyotes love them too.

RemModel8: I don't know where you are and you don't say but here in SW Montana the Deer and Antelope seem to be VERY plentiful - sadly most of my scouting has been on private lands though so far.
Last week I spotted a "bachelor" herd of Whitetailed Bucks that numbered exactly 20 (twenty)! Two of those twenty Bucks were showing signs of attaining "Trophy" status in my opinion as I bino'ed them at 200 yards!
They were feeding, late morning time, in a freshly cut alfalfa field - they were sleek of coat and fat.
I would LOVE to Hunt on that farm this fall - it is 31 miles from my home.
In the area of my home the fawns (of both Mule Deer and Whitetails) are "dropped" just as the ranchers/farmers are starting their first cutting of hay and alfalfa. This decimates the fawn crops here abouts.
I have only seen a few sets of twin fawns all summer so far!
I am sure the more "rural" Deer fawn crops (both Mule Deer and Whitetailed Deer) have fared better than the more visible to me "ranch/farm" Deer.
I am looking forward to a very good year Deer and Antelope wise here in SW Montana.
Saw LOTS of calf Elk on my last two Spring Bear Hunts this year so they seem okay, at least, to me.
Haven't been up in the high county in over a month now.
Good luck to you wherever you are/Hunt.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Small spot. Corn up nearby.
No scouting.
Staying the hell out til around Halloween.
Too easy to blow a buck out of that little sanctuary

Zip a doe on public land

Persimmons are also good for making homemade wine.

They are bad for making homemade jelly. We had a bumper crop a couple years ago and I picked a 5 gallon bucket full. Ate enough to remember what they were like, in other words about 2. Set to pitting and peeling them. Got them all ready to go then blanched them to pulp them for jelly making. Bastards turned hard and bitter instantly! It was like scalding them made them green again. Scrapped the whole project never to be attempted again.

you fellows got me going, went and bought batt. for the trail cams and out of the 3 of them, cant get none of them to program! they worked last year but either the time or the date was messed up! had a 4th one that was the best but that was the one that got stolen! just Love to hate the Cams!

I’m not a camera guy. I’m going to hunt the same places regardless and I like the suspense of not knowing what will show up opening day. Last rifle opener I saw almost 30 bucks on the ranch, couldn’t make up my mind and didn’t shoot any of them. Had 3 fighting over a doe that were all around 160” and held off because there’s always a 180” or bigger one out there somewhere. I like being able to say “you never know”.

To each his own of course. I have friends who have cams our year around and know all the bucks by name.

You have more will power than me!

I don't think you got any of that from me. She impresses the hell out of me. She is about as cagey a deer as I've seen in a long time.

It's fun to ruffle the feathers of those that don't.

Apparently bi-cycles is a Campfire topic but deer hunting is off limits.


Funny, f a g world these days.

Agreed

just because i'm a lousy deer hunter doesn't mean i have no clue