Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game who else had their ass kicked this season?

Tracked this guy to his denning area and tried calling him in, no bueno.

Litterly here. Back in July, I had a health problem and had to turn my elk tag in.I I kept a deer tag out in eastern Colorado north of Burlington.

Last Wednesday I was feeling pretty good, so I drove out 130 miles and 2000 feet lower in elevation. I had an invite to stay in a buddy's camp trailer he keeps parked on his BIL's land.

Saturday morning, my mind was saying "you can do this" . By Sunday afternoon, my body was saying "What the hell are you doing out here". I came home Monday morning, not doing well. I saw one buck, then a doe and a fawn Sunday out of the corn they were combining.

Not doing much this week.

Hope you feel better soon.

Saddlesore, Sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. I hunted up there also and deer numbers are as low as I have seen. I've hunted it since 1996. So I don't think you missed much.

My second - ain't braggin..........but, I may be on limited time so I plan on making the most of it.

Hey T, sorry to hear about your luck this year. So far my season has been productive and will hopefully continue to be so. Since misery loves company, unless I decide to change my ways and become a poacher, I too will definitely NOT get a caribou, wolf, dall sheep or moose this year.

Got ass kicked in sheep and moose hunts. Did manage to knock down a couple caribou.

Wish I had a bunch of those acorns to scatter on my hunting area. The crop was a bust here. Only place I heard any dropping was right next to the parking lot, about 150’ lower than the ridge I hunt when they’re good. The buck I whiffed with my crossbow was eating (I think) the tops of the wild sunflowers that grow in a meadow I sit over. He was really working them over.

Mine was kicked a good deal off and on by gout. Jammed my tie joint in an injury and it irritated my gout. Still managed to get out some behind the house. Ran into a large herd of cows , few deer and this year lots of cats.

Yesterday I was diagnosed with tricompartmental osteoarthritis (fancy name for real bad knees) and referred for spine surgery which is causing pain in many other places in my lower body.
I have very little chance of getting anywhere near a public land bull during 3rd season next week.
... BUT 2 years ago I had a checkmate shot, 40 yards, on a nice bull on Wyoming public land and I was just as crippled then as I am now. Unfortunately I was holding a cow tag.

Looking for a recipe for a cow elk tag myself!

Perhaps Mrs. Mule Deer could include a chapter on tag prep?

Had fun and learned stuff so not so bad, all in all.

Waterfowl were tough in Nodak. Don't go there to play with skittish birds. Oh well, it wasnt without some success.



As I left Nodak, headed to Montana. Weather got cold and snow came hard. Visibility was garbage. Only saw 2 legal bulls on public in 6 days. Both escaped as I was making a play. Saw a bunch of cows and spikes. Ate a deer tag too. Hardly saw a buck worth shooting. Wolf tag also came home with me, but that's not unusual.



I can't complain. Coulda been working and still have some elk meat in the freezer from last year.

T Inman: Good luck on that archery Moose Hunt.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Had hernia surgery Oct. 20, no heavy lifting, dragging, especially dragging or lifting deer for 4 to 6 months. Missed most of muzzleloader season in N.C and western Va. already, and rifle season until first of Dec. First time in fifty years I've not hunted the first week of the season. Bucks chasing does everywhere and I'm sitting at home. That a kick in the ass!

My Colorado elk hunt thoroughly kicked my azz. It brought me to the realization that I am too old, fat, and wore out for such. My knees are shot and it took me twice as long going uphill and four times as long going downhill. I did manage to get a 5x5 bull in one of my favorite spots. The deer kicked my azz by their lack of presence. In 8 days I didn’t see one buck that I would shoot at. A couple of guys shot bucks that I was thinking “really?” While telling them “nice buck”. I had a scrawny racked 3x3 walk right up close begging me to shoot him, but I declined.
In summary, I’ve got a long overdue orthopedic appointment Nov 30. Happy Trails

If not even going out means, “getting your @$$ kicked”……we qualify! Got a “left over” license in a very bad area. I now know why there were left overs! memtb

Tag soup for me this past elk hunt. Just could not connect with a cow. Had more than ample opportunities for a nice bull. Just no tag. Plan for next year! 👍

Daughter and I just got back form 8 days in the Bear Lodge Mountains in the WY Black Hills. The weather really kicked our butts. 10 inches of snow, real high winds and temps as low as 8 below made for a real tough hunt. Spent way too much time on firewood for the wood stove.
Game and fish need to take a real serious look at the tag numbers next year for region A. Two consecutive years of EHD has really cut the herd. Know of only three deer taken in that area. Saw three bucks and one of those was running across the road after dark.

Tag soup for us but still enjoyed the time. It was daughters first ever deer hunt and she learned a lot!

Thanks to the guys here that helped me out with 257 bullets. Without the help it would have been difficult. It was really appreciated guys!

Bill

This has been a terrible year for us. Rain kept us out of our elk area at the beginning of the season and our trailer developed a gas leak so couldn't turn the heat on which led to the water freezing the next week and just this last Sunday I slid off a mountain road and got stuck in a drift. Broke the brake line and the 4WD getting out and had a pucker factor 7 drive out of the mountains with no brakes. 1 whitetail doe is all we have to show for it. I wonder if God is trying to tell me something.

The weather and the deer kicked me and my buddy’s ass on state forest land in NY for the last 5 days. Came home empty handed but enjoyed the time hunting anyway. I did finally see a legal buck(about 5 to 6” spikes)yesterday. He harassed a little yearling doe past me at about 25 yards, grunting and nose licking the whole way. She was having none of it. Had the scope on him and grinned, telling them both they don’t know how lucky they are today. Then I thought…just like typical teenagers…he’s got the pedal down, and she’s braking for all she’s worth! Better luck next year!

Doc_Holidude