Getting to be that time when my focus shifts from fishing to hunting. September is a busy transition month trying to get boat cleaned, stripped of gear and ready for winter storage. Pool and back patio closing and getting my cameras in the woods
I have my cameras deployed as of 2 days ago on 3 properties and they are already showing promise
I'll get some pictures up soon as I accumulate a few more but have buck hitting my man made scrape and sparring already!
Stay tuned...

Teaser picture

It's getting that Time, hoping to get a cam out this morning Too. Happy Hunting to all!

Looking forward to it. Thanks for letting us come along for the ride.

We put a few cameras up on Wednesday. Hoping to get out and check them this weekend.

Had my cameras up for a couple of weeks
Bucks at a protein feeder. Rio7

Getting a handle on inventory

I like that wide 8

Looks like you're going to have a good year, none of our Deer have hard antlers yet. Rio7

Been having bucks come to a "licking limb" steadily for the last three weeks, but the first one peeing in the scrape at 0130 this morning.

That last picture of Mill Tree made me laugh. That little spike is gonna take on that 10 point and show him who's boss.

Nice choices. Good luck.

-Ken

Look forward to this thread every fall good luck DVD 👍

It starts Saturday, headed up there tomorrow morning

Moon is plenty bright from one of my bow stands

Live from stand

Season opens here tomorrow Oct 1st but too early and warm gonna be in the 80's all week so I'll bide my time for a couple weeks unless cameras show some consistent day time buck activity

This was just now, hitting my scrape, not a shooter but this full moon may have a little early action happening

Same here. Usually I wait until Halloween week. Right temps and right time.

-Ken

I’d shoot that bastard in heartbeat. Cool buck

Recognize any from last year, Dan? Did they get much bigger?

Wish I had a better photo of the 8.

Good luck, Dan !

Love this thread.

Agree with Paul. Look forward to this thread every year. It blows my mind the number of quality bucks you have.

I recognize a couple and they put on a couple inches and some mass, also the short tine 8 pt is always gonna be that I guess it's his genes....been unseasonably hot here all week in the upper 80's movement is very slow

Best thread every fall. Cooling off here, hope to get out tomorrow afternoon . But calling for rain.

Still on hold here monitoring cameras, probably another week before I get started

Cameras have been very slow not much movement, had one good buck last night sneak past and then at 2 separate time unwelcome visitors at archery only area near my home

They are everywhere this year Dan. My gut pile was GONE in 10 hours the other night. I mean stomach and intestines too. I went back to retrieve something I left in the tree the next morning and all that was left was a bunch of bloody leaves

Same. next week I'll get some things set up. I have vacation the last week of week of October and most of November. My non-scientific trail camera observation says schit kicks off on October 26th. For some reason....every fuggin year.

Danny, I had a lot of scrape activity Sept 16-24, then it stopped. Too early for does obviously, but I figure 28 days later...

Yep same schedule as you Pat

Showed up last night but still not moving to day time activity yet

New guy I have not seen showed up but still slow and not time yet

By the end of next week things will fire up. Book it

Halloween week will be my first time out. Temps not cooperating.

-Ken

I pulled an old stand Monday.
Found a couple little rubs and scrapes.

Went to mod a stand today and the creekbottom reeked of deer.

Got in, situated the stand better and bailed.
Rain forecast for tonight/tomorrow.

Farmer took beans next door and was almost done w corn across the road.
This weekend might be decent.

Finally day time picture of one of my shooter....tic toc closer to beginning to hunt

He was making rounds

Sat yesterday(Saturday) for last 2 hours ...was uneventful saw no deer and all cameras are again in a lull
Still a bit too soon but things will pick up any day

Quiet here too.



Still beats not being out.

Last Monday I shot the biggest deer Iv ever seen! Spossed to have been amonster 10 pt. He stepped out into my buddy's small food plot. Had a large single doe in there feeding, she busted out, I hit him with a bolt from my R10 Ravin shot sounded good. He ran into the thick stuff I could hear stuff breaking. Thought I got it done! Found my bolt about 10yrds from where I shot the buck, about 23yrds from my tree stand. I hit him broad side on the left. Bolt was on the left of where he ran. Bolt had blood all over it, head was trashed carbon arrow had a slight bend in it. Looked 2 hrs at night NO Blood, looked 4hrs the next day, Still no blood , my buddy also looked with me. Guess I must have hit him on the ball of the shoulder. Hope to see him next week when I go back there. He was the biggest body deer iv ever seen. Hate to lose a deer. But it happands

Had a trespasser arrested yesterday
He also threatened me in the woods

Sheriffs cuffed him and put him in the car after he got belligerent with them then the DEC officers showed up to write him up more tickets. He had last year‘s tag hunting with a crossbow(not season), not wear tag ect.
I caught the guy on my trail cam as I was getting my ATV loaded with a stand to set up
I jumped in the truck and flew to the property and intercepted the guy. He tried telling me he had permission and a bunch of BS and they started swearing and calling me some ethnic names and threatening to beat my ass! He went so far as to put down his Xbow take of his coat and come at me fists up...As much as I'd have liked to lay him out I didn't... he was an 80 yr old man and I'd of likely ended him and then have an assault or worse charge.

Anyways always some crap but handled it and he won't be back.
The reason I was there as I mentioned was to hang a stand in a location I hope to intercept one of the shooters that I have pictures of. I have a stand in the area but it's just a bit too far from where I'm seeing them travel last year and this year. After all the yelling and walking around with LE and poacher I figured I might as well get it done which I did
Cameras have been getting very active again mostly smaller buck and doe but some mature buck are just beginning to surface again
After all the noise and people on the property the shooter I got pictures of the night prior came out in daylight right in front of the camera I caught the poacher on!

Enough of the drama and back to the good stuff....weather warms into the 70's the rest of this week so I will just monitor cams and proceed accordingly. This weekend temps drop again and it will be go hard time

Well that was an eventful day.

Sorry you had to deal with that and hope you get this feller in range, broadside, and looking the other way when stopped. 💪🏼

Scary stuff. Old [bleep] could have shot you

Necks are getting swollen, rubs and scrapes all over. It's fixin to go.

Still have very warm temps little activity a couple doe and small buck but that will change in the next couple days and things will start rocking I predict and I'll finally get this candle lit

Sunday or Monday will be my first day out this season. Finally weather may cooperate.

-Ken

After being MIA for a couple weeks this guy just showed up again at my close to home archery only property!

The moon has them up at mid day.

Not where I've been. LOL

Nothing moving here this morning. This is opening morning of youth rifle season and have only heard one shot.

Windy and very warm here today, heavy rain moving in tomorrow.

Finally got in the woods no movement this morning just a hen turkey but last night a lot of bucks cruising and hitting scrapes

Keep after em. Want to see a big boy on the ground.

Ok finally got started this weekend, Saturday morning was uneventful saw no deer after having good activity the night before on my cameras. The afternoon hunt was better I saw what looked to be a good buck in the brush 100yds from me but he went directly away from me. Then saw a doe 10 yds behind my stand she started acting fun thought maybe she winded me but then she ran off and a spike and a 4 pt half heartedly chased her.

Sunday mourning was pouring rain so I waited till 9:30 am when it let up to hunt. I sat till noon and saw 1 doe
Sunday afternoon I went to different property the one I kick poacher off, Sat in rear kill stand which is the stand I shot the RailRoad buck from 2 years ago.
I had a doe come out and stay 80yds away in the thick stuff. She worked parallel with me never getting closer. Then her fawn showed up and they crossed into the next property. Just then I heard grunting and scanned to see what it was. I caught the buck again in the thick stuff following near where the doe had traveled. I was only seeing bits and pieces of his rack but he looked good.
He turned to go away and I hit the grunt tube and he stopped and turned and started to walk back my way. I had bow in hand and release locked on so I know burp grunted with my mouth and he came right in on a string, crossed right behind me stand and stopped at 15 yds and had a perfect quartering away shot!
I looked and looked and thought should I ? And in that instant I knew I wasn't gonna fill my tag. I know what else is here and If I have to decide should I or shouldn't I its a no.

Pouring rain again this morning as I type so weather will depend if and when I get out today

Sage advice.
And that learning only comes from a time or two of experiencing regret afterward.

The games are beginning it seems

That is because I'm working until Wednesday. Which is also when the switch will promptly shut off.

Still raining and windy here, should blow through by morning....then I'm hitting it hard for 2 weeks or so, got 2 states to hit.

Rain let up got in my stand wasn’t 5 minutes and I passed on another 8 pt
Deer have been on their feet all day
Hopefully one of the big guys graces me with his presence
At archery only spot near my home…

🤞🤞🤞

That was the only deer for the sit also saw some turkey and a red fox
tomorrow morning I'll hit it again

This was the deer I passed yesterday...He's just not there yet

Hang in there George is that cold front blowing thru up there?

This guys a maybe...

Tomorrow morning no rain and 34 degrees

A doe and 2 fawns and a 6 pt this morning heading back out shortly

I bob they weave. I zig and they zag, Cat and mouse time with stands but over all wind direction dictates a large piece of the puzzle on where I sit
I Had a 5 pt 5 yds from me a doe busting through the woods but nobody following her and that was it for the afternoon sit while there I had large buck showing up at the other 2 properties and while at one of those properties in the morning I had a good buck show where I hunted the afternoon

Morning ...Not there





Afternoon...Not there





Afternoon...Not there

Was just leaving hose and camera went off on archery only property near my home. I was going to a different property but wind has shifter NW and that isn't good for that property. I have localized snow falling here too and not other properties so I'm back in house for a few minutes as it only takes me 2 minutes to get to property and in less than 15 minutes I'm in stand
This is the buck I passed 2 days ago but there is a big 8pt and 9pt there so I'll give it a go

Saw the same 5 pt from yesterday and doe and fawns, the 5pt came by twice 2nd grunting and following a small doe
Of course my change of plan was another wrong call stand I sat yesterday morning and started to head to this am

Heading to that property he's obviously on the prowl


Just now

A small buck pestering a doe in the thickets and a 6 pt was all for this afternoon's sit
Back at it tomorrow

This buck came by at dark on my lease

Slow morning sat till 10:30 am saw 1 doe, back at this afternoon

Saw no deer from stand in afternoon sit....cameras have gone dead for the most part, Early breeding happening right now and things are locked down
Have to wait it out and hope stings start perking again

About 9.days ago in Central Texas, Rio..

That's the right side



That's the left. Just got here. It's gorgeous out tonight.

Had a decent buck run a doe past me this morning.
But I had a blueberry donut in my hand.

Youngest son Tony will be here in the AM tomorrow hoping for some meat.

Can't blame you on that one Pat.

Started this past weekend and saw deer each sit. By Monday had a bad cold and chills but sat in the tree in 20 degrees and snowing. Got lucky and connected half hour before legal sunset.

-Ken

Well I report the good and the bad...I took yesterday off to regroup got in my stand early this morning and had buck patrolling saw 3 different buck one was a good one but no good shot. The other 2 where small buck. I stayed in stand and at 10:30 I heard gravel falling from the rail road bed and knew it was a deer crossing and coming down the bank and a few seconds later I saw him a big big shooter!!! Can't say if it is one I have pictures of or not but the type of deer you take one glance and know he's a shooter! I got ready and waited for him to hit my window and released...I then watched the lighted nock of my arrow flying true right towards the boiler room only to see it go right under the brisket. I'm disgusted and sick right now, off he jumped into the thick brush and away he went. I literally had a couple of pieces of hair mixed in with the mud after I retrieved the arrow. He was 33 yds and I held too low...disgusted is an understatement right now but I need to shake it off

well the good thing Dan is he probably had no idea or care what that was. At least you didn’t wound him and there’s always a chance he comes back. Stay on them!

Pity party is over I’m back in same stand
While I was home I got pictures of 2 small buck that cruised through here
I’m thinking a hot doe must have passed though here at some point

Saw no deer from stand yesterday afternoon just a coyote

had the same thing happen on Nov 2nd to me slight twist because mine was a clean miss, was a big 10 point in the 150 class that neighbor found sheds to last winter, know the feeling, still early in the season, hang in there.

Wow wild morning got it done 10 pt
Story to follow later have to get him out of the woods

Congratulations, pretty deer!

Saw a nice 10 pt. Yesterday at 4:30 he was looking for does but at 50yrds out, dud have a lone doe come into the food plot, hoping a buck would follow, no go tho!

Wind change had me hunting on opposite side of thick bedding area today
I saw a couple small buck early sniffing around. I started thinking mature bucks were locked up again.
Shortly after a doe runs by and heads into thickets I look back and see the big shooter from the day before!
He runs after her but further away and gives me no shot. Soon after a parade of small bucks coming from all different directions ( now is the time to be hunting doe bedrooms)
I didn’t plan on sitting all day but I said to myself “you are not leaving the woods today!”
Shortly after the big shooter from earlier works back though the thickets
Too far and thick for any kind of shot.
I grunt to him and get his attention and for a split seconds it looks like he’s going to come! But that was fleeting he headed away nose to ground. 30 seconds later a 2 1/2 year old buck follows him.
Im thinking I just can’t catch a break.
I settle back in and start to watch the football game on my phone.
After Chiefs 1st TD I hear rustling and look to my left and hear comes the 10 pt I’ve got pictures off. Big bodied mature buck but not real wide.
I said he keeps coming I’m gonna take him. He came in on a string and stopped then turned broadside at 15 yds. The rest is history . I saw the arrow hit and knew he was done,he ran off through the woods hung a right and I lost sight of him but heard him crash. I waited 20 minutes got down didn’t even look for blood just through the woods to where I heard him crash to see the white belly dead as a door nail. He is now hung in my shed, my cousin and I dragged him out whole as I didn’t want to leave guts in the area especially with coyotes running around. He weights 170lbs gutted so he went over 200lbs live weight

Congrats, Dan!

Nice buck!

Good job Dan.
Nice buck!

Got it done,congrats

Congrats, good deer👍

Congrads Dan on the big 10pt. He'll of buck!

Hell ya 👍👍👍👍

Good going Dan, congratulations.

Picture of buck from back in September

Congratulations Dan!

Very nice animal.

Congrats.

-Ken

Very cool!

🦫

He's still hanging around, right through spot I missed him Saturday. I'll have a buck tag again on Nov 18th

Seem to be in search mode again RR track stand on lease around corner from where I killed buck
I have a stand less than 20 yds from where he's walking

Well done Dan !!

Get that guy, with the next tag.

Yesterday was a good day for big buck movement

Some great choices for you. Good luck.

Congrats Dan!

Back at it Saturday gun opener...Big guy showed himself again and the 9pt on the archery only property also surface with a broken brow tine
Coyotes also showed up on that property 3 passed my one stand today and this one has a meal in his mouth

Hope you get a crack at that buck! And the coyote(s).

Great thread.

People need to rig up some of those paint bombs to spray those poachers.

Y'all have a great hunting season.

Good luck George

Yesterday was pretty uneventful, deer seem to be locked down again. I saw a doe and fawn in the morning and 2 doe and 2 fawn in the afternoon
Cameras have gone dead since Thursday. Looks like I'm in it for the long haul. As soon as the 9pt starts showing back up I'll hunt the archery only property with my bow

Post rut lock-down is in full affect.

Saw 1 small buck in the morning, neighboring property owner shot a buck at 6:45 am was a 2 1/2 yr old 8pt something I would have passed on
The afternoon I sat front of property looking for the big buck that I've got pictures of in the "corn field" just scrub field now. I saw 9 doe but no buck in that sit
A lot of shooting in adjacent areas so now I play the wonder if I'm hunting a ghost game

Lock down here as well

Really weird year here too.
Earliest our gun season can begin and every buck spotted was on a doe in heavy cover - no chasing, just locked down.

How long is the season there, Dan? If he hasn't already met his fate, he'll likely show soon.

Gun season runs 3 weeks then 10 day muzzleloader then closes a few days and opens up day after Christmas till New years...have a long time to grind I guess

I’ve hunted the last 3 days I’ve seen 1 possum 1 house cat and a spike buck

Things are still locked down saw some doe and 2 4 pt buck yesterday

Well today was the day luck was in my favor. Front was coming in late morning and heavy rain for cast for next couple days so even though I wasn't feeling confident I made myself go knowing I wouldn't be hunting after this morning with the bad weather.
I decided to hunt a stand I had not hunted this year and with a SE wind it seemed one of my only options.
I had a single doe come through at 7:10 am too far and too thick to shoot even if I wanted to.
45 minutes later I caught movement and pulled up the bino's to see it was the 4 pt I saw yesterday afternoon. I started to video him with my phone when I noticed another deer behind him. I dropped the phone into my pocket and pulled up the glass again to see an 8pt buck, couldn't tell if he was a shooter as they and got into some thick slashings. I figured that was the end of it but they both were sniffing around at the ground like bird dogs. They worked around I think smelling the doe that had passed earlier figuring she must be hot. Another glance with the bino's and still wasn't sure but figured better get the gun ready just incase. The 8 pt hit and opening for a brief moment and I got a going away view and said hmmm looks good. I didn't have a shot and again they seemed to be going away. They kept sniffing the ground and headed towards where I had seen the doe. I had one opening and the buck crossed into it at 90 yds and I put the cross hairs on his shoulder and he was still moving and squeezed the trigger of my custom 20 ga Tarhunt slug gun. He kicked his bask legs up like a mule and turned and started running straight back at me ! I was picking an opening to shoot him again when he dropped in some high weeds and down falls 40 yds from me. I waited 15 minutes but I knew he was done. He's not the monster buck I was after but a good one and I don't even know if my target buck survived the weekends shooting fest on the neighboring properties?
Both buck tags are now punched I have some doe tags and may hunt later in the season if the urge strikes me.
Thanks for following along on another years hunting journey with me!

👍👍

Right on, Dan !

Nice Buck!

We need to thank you for letting us enjoy the hunt. Already looking forward to next year.

Congrats sir.

Great season Dan, congratulations.

Congrads Dan, thanks for taking us along again! Always enjoy it!

Beauty. I used to hunt a place I owned in Alma. Where are you?

Rochester

My cousin scored yesterday afternoon. His Property is across the street from my lease. I had got a few pictures of this buck on my side of the road but I knew he was mainly living on my cousins property.

Nice deer Dan. Your cousin's too.

-Ken

Keeping tabs on things here are two survivors
The big 9 pt from archery only area he paid a visit during day light on Thanksgiving, I've watched him now for 2 yrs hoping he makes it and we match wits next fall
One of the big guys still around on property I killed both bucks

It's up in the air but I may be losing the property I killed my 2 buck on this year...I'm still keeping tabs and hopeful I will get to hunt this guy next season as he's still alive

Last day of muzzleloader season yesterday. I could have killed a nice 8 pt but no doe in range then last half hour of the season I finally layed eyes on the Big Guy! He looks bigger in person than the pictures he followed a doe out of a thick area I had him at 50 yds but couldn't have killed him if I wanted to had branches and brush in the way but that made my season just seeing his old gray face and heavy antlers!

Something to look forward to next year! Thanks for bringing us along again this year.

Not sure what Dan’s plans are for 12/26/2023-1/1/2024 but we have a newer (3rd year) hunt called the “Holiday Hunt”. Unfilled tags are good with archery, Xbow or ML’r implements. I’ll try and fill a tag or two for sure.

Lawdwaz - that'd be alright too.

I may slip out a couple times ...season is way too long

It’s long alright but I have some time to sneak off and maybe, just maybe a skiff of snow for the end of next week.

I agree Dan. 3 full months when you figure in the Early September season and the holiday hunt. It's amazing there's a deer alive at this point. Of course that's want the DEC wants.

Agreed

4 months here.

Basically 1 month worth for the different firearms seasons.

Still plenty of deer. After that regular firearms season the pressure drops way off. I think there are more deer out in the wild than people realize.

Estimates in Missouri are 1.4 million deer and we kill about 300k every year.

1st pictures of buck that started to drop antlers

Our season starts on private land August 15, public land September 15. Both run through January 1st. Anyone who had a license last year automatically gets a starter set of 5 tags (3 any antlered buck, 2 does) right before the season starts. If you want more, you can get two more buck tags (with antler restrictions 4 pts one side or minimum 12" spread) and 4 more doe tags for $5.00 each. If you choose to buy all four of your additional doe tags at once, you get two "bonus" tags free. Additionally, if you get drawn for lottery hunts in certain wildlife management areas, you get three more tags for that. I could have killed 19 deer legally in SC this year, as it was I only killed seven here (and one in NY bigger than any of them.) I know a guy who hunts with a dog group and he said last year they killed 30 deer the last weekend of the season. He's in his 40's says as near as he can figure, he's killed between 800 and 900 deer in his lifetime. He told me they didn't used to have a limit and his group used to take a lot of them to a children's home where they had a whole deer processing facility set up to feed the orphans.

We still have an awful lot of deer down here.

up till a few years ago in FL you could kill 2 deer a day from mid Sep to mid Jan with no tags two does a day with a bow two 1in spikes or better bucks a day with BP or general gun season plus a 7 day doe season in gun season

This guy showed up on my lease property never saw him before