a little roving and still hunting on Saturday

[hickstick]

haven't been on board in quite a while.  so I figured I'd pop in and say hi.

it was quite warm for a mid December Saturday on the 15th...so at about 10:30a I decided to leave the blind and do some roving/stumping and a late season scout.  Walked a 3 mile loop that took the entire rest of the day. found some fantastic rubs:

and another huge old oak tree:

on the way back stalked up to about 35 yards from a doe on the other side of an old stone fence...dropped down behind a tree got an arrow out and started a low approach focussing on that does head.  every time she turned my way I froze...unfortunately, even with bino's I didn't see THE OTHER 2 doe that were with her.  lol...the busted me, got up and moved off.  all in all I call it a successful day. 

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Sounds like a great day

[ron w]

Looks like a great day !!!

[Wudstix]

Any day hunting is a great day !!!!   

[Pine]

 

[limbshaker]

Don't get no better than that. Some of my best days are spent doing just that. I'm getting real burned out on sitting half a day waiting for a deer.

Thanks for sharing the pics! Looks like you got a great spot to hunt.

[hickstick]

looks like this coming Saturday is going to be similar weather....rainy friday bringing in a warm front.   50 degrees on Saturday, Dec 22 is unusual.  Might end up in the same situation...although this time, I'll bring my saddle and steps and setup on one of these choice spots.   

[Sam McMichael]

Regarding those rubs... Does Bullwinkle live in your area, or does some little guy have delusions of grandeur? Sometimes, nothing is more enjoyable than strolling through the woods. Scouting out the rubs on my place indicates that the bucks are no good devious bums. I haven't seen many large bucks, but I find bunches of rubs and scrapes all around several of my stands. Yet, they don't come around at all when I'm in the stand. Next time we see a picture of that fine Black Widow, it will hopefully be propped up on a fine deer.

[hickstick]

hope so Sam!  I only have one trail cam out and have a bunch of doe and 1.5 yo bucks.  I've seen a bunch of does and small bucks as well while up in my saddle, but had a DANDY 8pt come in during prime rut (11/17) and muffed the shot...he was later killed by someone else during Muzzleloader season 2 miles away :(  real nice buck.  we're still under the belief that there is another nice buck back there so I'm sticking it out until the end of the season (12/31)

[Wudstix]

Tough to shoot bigger bucks if you keep taking the young ones.  Hang on!!! 

[Sam McMichael]

Wudstix, you are right about taking too many little bucks having a detrimental effect on the number of big bucks likely to be found on a property. Actually, I have no personal opinion about those who do or don't shoot young deer as long as a balanced herd is maintained. Shoot what you want as long as you do it legally and ethically . However, I bought my small property back in 2009 and took my first deer on it just this year, because I wanted a mature buck as the first kill there. It was an 8 pointer, not all that large a deer but a nice one. I have seen a few really big boys previously, but couldn't make the shot. I have seen big rubs, but those in these pictures  are bigger than any I have seen around here. Ole Hickstick seems to have found the happy hunting ground for sure.

I sympathize with him about the big deer taken by the muzzleloader hunter. A couple of years ago, on a property just up the road, a young guy took a 12 pointer and then a 14 pointer the next weekend. I feel sure this was done over bait - before baiting was legal. Fortunately, I'm still seeing bunches of scrapes and rubs.

[Wudstix]

Just saying that if you want a larger mature buck sometimes you have to wait, so go home with tag soup.  I have nothing against taking any legal deer.  A couple seasons I have filled my tag with a decent deer only to have a monster stroll by a day or two later.  If you're confident there are big bucks in the area sometimes it pays to be just a little more patient. 

[hickstick]

Wud...here in MA we get two antlered tags with the license, and have to apply for a lottery antlerless (buck under 3", or doe) tag.  I primarily consider myself a meat hunter, but understand that you can't get mature bucks if you keep shooting the little ones.  Wish the state took away the second buck tag.