2023 Whitetail season recap....

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Well, the 2023 whitetail season is winding down here, and I'm finished up for the year. Had alot of fun, and even stumbled into a couple of deer 😉.

I mostly focused on my little place in IL. This is the 3rd year I've owned it (2nd year I have hunted it), and now have gotten to see the crop rotation effect on the deer patterns there.  Cut and dropped a BUNCH of trees over the last couple springs, and the cover is taking off, and also had an interior food plot put in early this summer to help hold the does.

There was one decent buck that hung around there alot, kind of an off pattern 8 point, who was also a resident last year. I was hoping to get a crack at him or one of the itinerant bucks that would show up during the rut.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

I saw that 8 point early in the second week of October, actually at 30 yards in the foodplot as part of a bachelor group, so that made me feel good that the land changes seemed to be holding the deer.

Fast forward to the 1st weekend in Nov and I ran over for an afternoon set as the wind was supposed to switch from "wrong" to "barely ok"....which is the wind direction I bank on for hunting bucks.  I eased into the stand early, 4 hours before dark and got settled in. Shortly thereafter I started hearing deer vocalizations on the next property probably 75 yards away. So much racket, including grunting, snort wheezing, and several 30 second long buck "growls" that I figured some guy over there must have gotten a primos video and a deer call for his birthday.

This continued on and off for a couple of hours....then I saw a doe squirt through an opening in the brush with something after her that I couldn't get a look at.....hmmm...getting more interesting.

About an hour before dark a big chase started, with deer going all over, crashing through the water in the creek and zig zagging all around. The doe ended up zipping through right past me with the off pattern 8 point on her tail.  As they got to the 15 yard mark I stopped them from a dead run....no bleat or "meehhh" like the guys on the videos....I just yelled "Hey there!" pretty loud, and when he slammed on the brakes I shot him through the chest.  He went 60 or 70 yards and crashed.. meanwhile a 2 1/2 year old buck got after the doe and chased her down through the timber.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Before this hunt I was feeling like I needed some MOJO so I broke out Dads old original Fratzke sweater...I know I have pics of him with this one since at least 1982-83. This was just the simple zip up cardigan, before they had pockets or shearling lining. That old sweater has seen alot of dead animals in its day...

[Ryan Rothhaar]

As November progressed I was hunting around home here in IN. Saw a good 4 yr old buck twice, but foolishly passed him the first time (what was I thinking 😀) then couldn't close the deal the second time.  He is another off pattern 8 point... as far as I know he is still alive, hoping he makes it thru the final weekend of muzzle loader season...

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Just before our gun season started in mid Nov I was sitting a morning stand, not seeing much, then all of a sudden here he comes! Grunting and stomping through the woods, king of the world!....I had enough time to grab an arrow and shoot him....then realized he wasn't quite the deer I thought he was....well it WAS exciting! And I made a good shot....my wife accuses me of having a hair trigger the closer we get to gun season...probably true 😉.   He was a fine young deer, should have given him a couple more years...but as they say..."You pays your money and you takes your chance..."

[kennym]

Nice job Ryan!!  Gun season puts the trigger on edge!!

[Ryan Rothhaar]

With no more buck tags in hand I hunted some after gun season, more for observation than really trying to shoot a doe. I did break out my old Wing Presentation 2 that I've had around here for a decade but have never killed anything with. This is the long riser Head Ski version, so 1968-1972ish timeframe best I understand,  and the black short limbs give a 62 inch bow, marked 51lbs.  I dug around for arrows and found 2213s shot really well, and I had a half dozen in one of Dads old arrow boxes, so decided to pack those. Man those old P2's have to be the sexiest recurve ever!

A week or so ago my neighbor told me a fellow he works with really wanted a deer and can't hunt anymore, so that gave me an excuse 😉

I had a dozen does hanging around back of the house on a rye plot I put in back there but very rarely hunt. I think I sat there once this October was all this season.  After a few days of cat and mouse a year and a half old doe zigged when she should have zagged and the P2 sent a big Snuffer right through her ribs and into the dirt from 10 yards.   Good way to finish out a deer season!

R

[Iowabowhunter]

Congrats!

[Wudstix]

Great reading, Ryan.  Good to hear you did well.
 

[Mike Bolin]

Congratulations on a fine season Ryan! We need to get together sometime after the holidays. Our group that shoots and hunts together, the Grumpy Old Archers, get together for bull sessions and deer chili every so often. I'll let you know when we plan to meet up next time.

[Gun]

Congrats on a good season! Thanks for sharing

[KAZ]

That’s a fine Season Ryan, stated as it is…Well done

[JR Chambers]

Very Nice buddy. Thanks for the story and the pics. Love the old sweater. I had one too that I wore out. Would love to find another one. Classic.

[Gib]

Thanks so much for the recap!!! Awesome animals!!! Sent you a pm, and happy holidays, gib

[Wild Bill MCP 808]

Good season for sure Congratulations!

[Orion]

Thanks for sharing.  Nice deer, all.   

[DGW]

You had a great season, you look like your dad in that sweater with a good buck!!

[Terry Green]

Congrats Ryan! 

[vaguely]

Good job Ryan!! Thanks for sharing!!

[supernaut]

Great season sir. Congrats on some beautiful animals and thanks for the pictures and the recaps.