North Carolina Deer Season Prep and Highlights 2012

[Rick Richard]

Could have done it again this morning, but another year will make him much better.

I was sitting in the same stand that I took the 8 point from last weekend when this really nice 4 point showed up at about the same time and stopped in the same spot as the buck last week.  He presented me with a 12 yard broadside shot.  I drew back on him and concentrated on the spot and visioned it happening. I let down and watched him walk off...what a thrill.

[Bud B.]

[Cory Mattson]

I got another doe Tuesday - they came by late almost  last light - time to settle down and do some buck hunting. I heard coyotes yelling back at geese like crazy the other evening - loud like Texas coyotes - this was Chatham County. Good job guys and I saw Wallys buck - beautiful! Muzzleloosers start this Saturday with another week stolen from bowhunters - we will keep bowhunting.

[far rider]

I wouldn't have believed it, but as I was looking for a new stand/blind area for my dad, I quite by accident stumbled upon a very fresh scrape in between two VERY thrased saplings. I was standing looking over some fallen timber, and kept smelling that familiar musk. I walked a few yards and there it was. Very fresh, very used, and very close to my normal ground stand. All indications are that he's a young one, but the ladies might not care. Guess where I'll be tomorow?

[smokin joe]

Went out this morning and someone else was in the patch of woods I hunt, so I backed out and came home. I don't want to mess up someone else's morning, and he was there before I got there. Now I'll have to spend the day doing chores instead of hunting. Grrrrr.

I need to find a few new farms to hunt here in NC.

[LCH]

I shot a big 7pt yesterday evening. I had taken Ben Graham (Hummingbirds Bows) hunting. I took him where Todd killed his buck a few weeks ago there are several bucks in there and the place is littered with scrapes. There are a lot of acorns on the ground.
He came in around 1850 (6:50) eating acorns I started not to shoot him because he won't score that well but upon further inspection he was an older deer and had long G2's and was wider than his ears. He came under my stand and then walked straight away from me not offering the shot I wanted. Finally after what seemed like for ever he quartered slightly away and I put a Simmon's Tigershark through the good stuff. He didn't go 50 yards. Ben was so happy (glad he brought his cart mine is broke).
I will get some better pics today and try to get them on here Bud you may have to help me with that.

[The Night Stalker]

I just can not catcha break. I had several shot opputunities on small bucks and non shooters right  underneath the stand. I am trying to shoot some of the larger does. Last night I hunted my only stand set up for a south east wind. That means I have to walk through my area that holds deer in order to get situated. I got there early and set up without busting any deer. Hour later, still early, two large does come out with one fawn and walk up through the woods. I set that stand in a V 'ed pine on edge of a old fence line. Its a perfect edge. Instead of walking the edge, they headed up the mountain and got down wind of me. I watched there reaction because I knew what was immenent. One doe, stopped got on alert and took off up the mountain taking the other two deer with her.
I little later I had 4 deer come out of the thicket and walked up the mountain on the other side of the stand about 30yards away. Wrong side of the tree and to much brush in the way of a safe shot. I see a squirrel running around in the open woods at about 20yards, By the time I got set, he was about 30yards. Out of frustration, I launched one at him. I have to check that judo, it had to skim him.
Close to dark, I look behind me and a huge doe by herself was walking down the edge with the wind in my favor. I slowly got into position shooting between the V. Tight shot but doable. She comes in and stops with her head behind a pine at 15yds. The is one pine branch about the thickness of your thumb going horizonally through her vitals. She comes around the tree forcing me to get the bow on the other side of the tree. I opted to pull it in close to me and flip my safety line over my head. She stops in the open 5 yards from the base of the tree and my upper limb has not cleared the safety line and making a slight noise. She caught a little movement and she was gone. I was not moving much but it was enough. She ran about 20yards and stopped, then slowly walked away. So close

[T-D]

LCH email me the pics I'll post them for you brother! Congratulations! We'll  be home tomorrow afternoon so maybe we can hunt sometime soon!

[postman]

Old gray face 4pt, have let a few nice 6pts walk, hopefully they will make it and be bigger next year, did this a few years ago letting 6pts walk and rifle hunter shot them. These gun hunters around here in eastern n.c. shoot everything they see then complain that there are no big bucks. Wish they would go to the 2 bucks a year rule instead of 4. Heading to Ohio next week, going to be nice getting away from dog hunters.

[Bud B.]

My wife is in Pollocksville for her family reunion today James. Wish I could've gone down.

Good luck in Ohio.

[adkarcher]

I wish I had all of the problems of passing on small bucks to let them grow.  One day a week on public game with fox hounds, dove hunters and small game hunters makes the bowhunting pretty worthless so far this year.  I even had small game hunters literally park within 20 yards of my truck and walk in on my sit.  I realize the land is there for everyone, but really?  As Smokin Joe stated above, I usually turn around and leave or go somewhere else.  NY state land hunting looks pretty good right now and I thought I would never utter those words.  Anyhow, enough ranting for now.  Still a couple of months left.

[postman]

Thanks Bud, Ohio is my favorite place to hunt. It has to be the most bowhunting friendly state in the country. Almost got my wife talked into moving there and buy a farm. Never seen a state with so much public land to bowhunt.

[NC BowBender]

My daughter and I sat all day today.
Finally at 1800 2 does came in, but would come any closer than 25 yards, and her self imposed limit is 20 and under.
So we watched them feed off, and watched a beautiful red sky sunset.
Evening hunt scheduled for tomorrow.

[Bud B.]

adk....pm me. I'll let you hunt the tiny 21 acres I'm hunting. Plus, there's Uwharrie a mile down from my driveway. We can stump-n-hunt there and have a blast. Even if no deer are harmed. We can certainly scare the bejeebers out of some squirrels.

I really need two sets of eyes on that 21 acres though.

[The Night Stalker]

Seen several does again tonight with the wind swirling, started feeding my way but ran out of daylight.

[smokin joe]

Adk,
Send me a PM. Since we live so close to each other maybe we could team up and develop a plan to get access to some better places to hunt. My spot is not very good any more.
Joe

[longrifle346]

Sandy's keeping me inside today, I'd sure love to be out there! I took my backyard groundblind down to keep the heiffer from destroying it....

[agtex42]

Good on you for letting the young ones walk Jimmy!  Running dogs and shooting everything that moves makes hunting coastal Carolina interesting to say the least.  Good luck in Ohio next week, I'll be looking for some pictures and a story the next time I see ya!

[far rider]

Nothing yesterday evening. Sat and watched the approach to the scrape line for 4 hours with 0 luck. Wind really swirling though, so I feel sure that had at least something to do with it. Going to back out and wait until at least Monday evening, maybe Tuesday depending on the wind.

Looking for number 1,
Tim

[hunt4life]

Debating whether to go out tonight or not. Wind is really blowing here in the SE part of the state. I still haven't seen a deer this year while bowhunting, though hunting on base isn't the greatest.