Hunting Report Deer Season 2008

Fishingnerd33 · 11-23-2008, 07:52 PM

I started my season off at about 2:30pm on Thursday. Drove home from class, picked up the van from home and headed out to one of the properties I have permission on. I got parked and was walking into the trees where the deer are usually piled up and saw some movement inside the trees heading my way! I thought my season could be over rather quickly! I got down and got my bipod setup and waited for them to show themselves.
Out popped 5 does and two small bucks, I was a little bummed, usually there's some nice deer in the trees they came out of. I walked them and didn't see anything other than a bunch of cottontails and a porcupine, which scared the living daylights out of me. I think I woke him up and he fell out of the tree about 7' and hit the ground hard not very far from where I was standing.

I spent the rest of daylight scouting out some areas for in the morning. There was an incredible amount of hunting pressure in the area, with lots of deer taken opening weekend so I knew it was going to be a struggle.

The next morning I was up at 5am and after a breakfast of eggs, sausage, and pancakes, I was out to my spot by 6:15am. I was getting set up along a fenceline, to the south I have permission, to the north I don't. On the land to the north is a cornfield, not cut yet,

, that is always full of deer even when it's cut. Anyway, I was set up right along their travel route from the trees to the south into the cornfield. I ended up seeing probably 20 deer, no bucks with any size, in a matter of a couple of hours going in and out of the cornfield, trees, and milling around in between. I had one doe come within probably 25 yds, downwind, and never knew I was there. (Apparently the scent-away spray really works)

I then decided to head to a couple of windbreaks that have produced pretty well when they're pressured in the past. I was hunting alone so that made walking these a little more challenging. I walked the north one and jumped a couple of 2x2s and about 10 does. They had been hunted hard and as soon as they saw me they were high-tailing for the next county.

About 10am, I walked the second, mostly on my hands and knees, hoping to see a nice buck that I had been told about by my buddy who filled opening weekend. I was in the tree strip probably 45 minutes and saw two does, so I got ready in case he was with them. He was! I had a decent vital shot on him for about 1/2 second and then it was behind a tree.

I then proceeded to spend the next 3 1/2 hours crawling around in the trees trying to get a good shot on him. There were several times that I had a nice shot on his neck, but I just couldn't pull the trigger, risking injuring him.

Long story short...er...I didn't get him. He finally disappeared about 2pm, I have no idea where he went. He either high-tailed it out of the tree strip or he holed up in some of the thickest stuff in there and just laid down. I searched every possible place that I could get to in the tree strip and came up with nothing. He was a nice 3x4 muley, at least a 25-27" spread on him. Really good mass on him too.

So, feeling defeated, I drove home for lunch and got a gameplan for the evening. My buddy's dad and I headed for some good old pasture driving and glassing. We drove probably 2 pastures and glassed for about an hour before we decided to head to some more trees. With as windy as it was that day, we knew they would be in the trees just waiting out the wind.

We decided to walk a tree strip that I'd seen a big-bodied deer walk into the evening before during my scouting endeavor. We got no more than 100yds from the vehicle and out popped 4 does and 2 bucks. The one was a little guy and the other buck looked pretty good. Not ginormus (sp?) antlers on him, but really big-bodied. I decided to take him and I'm glad I did. I was shooting into the sun which made things a little difficult to see through the scope. So I got adjusted so I could see him and he quarters toward me, but not enough that I can get a good shot between his front legs, just enough that his vital area is completely covered. So I decided to take a neck shot and it was a perfect one!

Completely took out his artery and dropped him in his tracks, 145 yds.

about a minute after I shot him

20" spread

In the garage after skinning him

Overall, I absolutely loved this deer season! Saw probably 100+ deer in the two days, probably 90 of them does. Had a great time pursuing the big guy in the trees, as frustrated and defeated as I was when I left the trees he was in, and got a nice buck. Not my biggest, but I'm just as proud of him if he would have been a 190" buck. And the best part (IMO) I learned a lot this year by being more concerned with enjoying the time out in the woods and less concerned with filling my tag ASAP.

Skinned him that night (first time ever), donated the skin to the local Elks club. They're making gloves for disabled veterans out of the hides. I took off the backstraps and tenderloins, and took the rest of him down to North Platte for sausage

. Got my entire family's Christmas presents right there, they absolutely love the stuff!

Backstrap fever!!

wneb.fisher · 11-23-2008, 08:23 PM

Way to get back in the game after that surgery. Congrats on that deer and great story!

Hookem · 11-23-2008, 08:24 PM

Sounds like you had a great time out there!! Congrats!! Really enjoy the local color you included in your story...makes for great visualization of all you were going through!! Great weekend for you!! And I sure am

over the looks of that loin!!

Fishingnerd33 · 11-24-2008, 01:44 PM

It truely was a blessing to be able to get out and hunt after surgery. Four months ago, I was sitting in a recliner hopped up on pain meds. I figured my deer season was out, and in two days I'm going to be out bowhunting! God sure is good!!

BPbowhunter · 11-24-2008, 11:03 PM

Nice buck! It looks like you had a great time, and it's good to hear you recovered well and are gettin' back at after surgory.

tc_topshot · 11-24-2008, 11:08 PM

yummy....nice buck!

11-23-2008, 07:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fishingnerd33 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chadron, NE Posts: 981 Thanks: 92 Thanked 25 Times in 18 Posts	Deer Season 2008 I started my season off at about 2:30pm on Thursday. Drove home from class, picked up the van from home and headed out to one of the properties I have permission on. I got parked and was walking into the trees where the deer are usually piled up and saw some movement inside the trees heading my way! I thought my season could be over rather quickly! I got down and got my bipod setup and waited for them to show themselves. Out popped 5 does and two small bucks, I was a little bummed, usually there's some nice deer in the trees they came out of. I walked them and didn't see anything other than a bunch of cottontails and a porcupine, which scared the living daylights out of me. I think I woke him up and he fell out of the tree about 7' and hit the ground hard not very far from where I was standing. I spent the rest of daylight scouting out some areas for in the morning. There was an incredible amount of hunting pressure in the area, with lots of deer taken opening weekend so I knew it was going to be a struggle. The next morning I was up at 5am and after a breakfast of eggs, sausage, and pancakes, I was out to my spot by 6:15am. I was getting set up along a fenceline, to the south I have permission, to the north I don't. On the land to the north is a cornfield, not cut yet, , that is always full of deer even when it's cut. Anyway, I was set up right along their travel route from the trees to the south into the cornfield. I ended up seeing probably 20 deer, no bucks with any size, in a matter of a couple of hours going in and out of the cornfield, trees, and milling around in between. I had one doe come within probably 25 yds, downwind, and never knew I was there. (Apparently the scent-away spray really works) I then decided to head to a couple of windbreaks that have produced pretty well when they're pressured in the past. I was hunting alone so that made walking these a little more challenging. I walked the north one and jumped a couple of 2x2s and about 10 does. They had been hunted hard and as soon as they saw me they were high-tailing for the next county. About 10am, I walked the second, mostly on my hands and knees, hoping to see a nice buck that I had been told about by my buddy who filled opening weekend. I was in the tree strip probably 45 minutes and saw two does, so I got ready in case he was with them. He was! I had a decent vital shot on him for about 1/2 second and then it was behind a tree. I then proceeded to spend the next 3 1/2 hours crawling around in the trees trying to get a good shot on him. There were several times that I had a nice shot on his neck, but I just couldn't pull the trigger, risking injuring him. Long story short...er...I didn't get him. He finally disappeared about 2pm, I have no idea where he went. He either high-tailed it out of the tree strip or he holed up in some of the thickest stuff in there and just laid down. I searched every possible place that I could get to in the tree strip and came up with nothing. He was a nice 3x4 muley, at least a 25-27" spread on him. Really good mass on him too. So, feeling defeated, I drove home for lunch and got a gameplan for the evening. My buddy's dad and I headed for some good old pasture driving and glassing. We drove probably 2 pastures and glassed for about an hour before we decided to head to some more trees. With as windy as it was that day, we knew they would be in the trees just waiting out the wind. We decided to walk a tree strip that I'd seen a big-bodied deer walk into the evening before during my scouting endeavor. We got no more than 100yds from the vehicle and out popped 4 does and 2 bucks. The one was a little guy and the other buck looked pretty good. Not ginormus (sp?) antlers on him, but really big-bodied. I decided to take him and I'm glad I did. I was shooting into the sun which made things a little difficult to see through the scope. So I got adjusted so I could see him and he quarters toward me, but not enough that I can get a good shot between his front legs, just enough that his vital area is completely covered. So I decided to take a neck shot and it was a perfect one! Completely took out his artery and dropped him in his tracks, 145 yds. about a minute after I shot him 20" spread In the garage after skinning him Overall, I absolutely loved this deer season! Saw probably 100+ deer in the two days, probably 90 of them does. Had a great time pursuing the big guy in the trees, as frustrated and defeated as I was when I left the trees he was in, and got a nice buck. Not my biggest, but I'm just as proud of him if he would have been a 190" buck. And the best part (IMO) I learned a lot this year by being more concerned with enjoying the time out in the woods and less concerned with filling my tag ASAP. Skinned him that night (first time ever), donated the skin to the local Elks club. They're making gloves for disabled veterans out of the hides. I took off the backstraps and tenderloins, and took the rest of him down to North Platte for sausage. Got my entire family's Christmas presents right there, they absolutely love the stuff! Backstrap fever!! __________________ In Christ alone I place my trust, And find my glory In the power of the cross. In every victory, Let it be said of me, My source of strength, My source of hope, Is Christ alone.

11-23-2008, 08:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hookem Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Central ne Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 277 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Sounds like you had a great time out there!! Congrats!! Really enjoy the local color you included in your story...makes for great visualization of all you were going through!! Great weekend for you!! And I sure am over the looks of that loin!! __________________ Dreaming is my reality...fishing my passion A goal yet to be realized is to sit quietly at night in the Rockies listening to the wolves howl.........

11-24-2008, 01:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Fishingnerd33 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chadron, NE Posts: 981 Thanks: 92 Thanked 25 Times in 18 Posts	It truely was a blessing to be able to get out and hunt after surgery. Four months ago, I was sitting in a recliner hopped up on pain meds. I figured my deer season was out, and in two days I'm going to be out bowhunting! God sure is good!! __________________ In Christ alone I place my trust, And find my glory In the power of the cross. In every victory, Let it be said of me, My source of strength, My source of hope, Is Christ alone.

11-24-2008, 11:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
BPbowhunter 2007 NEFGA Outdoorsman Of The Year Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Broken Bow Posts: 2,512 Thanks: 8 Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts	Nice buck! It looks like you had a great time, and it's good to hear you recovered well and are gettin' back at after surgory. __________________ Whackin' Woodies Waterfowl Crew "Look, a pair of singles!"

11-24-2008, 11:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
tc_topshot Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Broken Bow/Lincoln Posts: 385 Thanks: 6 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts	yummy....nice buck! __________________ Whackin' Woodies Waterfowl Crew "If it's stupid but it works, it isn't stupid." - Murphy's Laws of Combat

11-23-2008, 08:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
wneb.fisher Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chadron, NE Posts: 161 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 6 Posts	Way to get back in the game after that surgery. Congrats on that deer and great story!

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