mca90guitar
.357 mag
Cousin took this one opening day.
2021-2022 Hunting Season
- Thread starter 1075tech
- Start date
Xae289
.223 Rem
Like many of you, opening day was very slow for me. I saw a tiny yearling doe in the morning. Changed stands and then saw what I think was the same doe in the evening. My hunting buddies were in the same boat. They saw a few spikes, small does, one saw a small bear, but nothing that would be right to shoot, especially not on opening day.
Today was also really slow for the most part. My hunting buddies saw nothing but small does again. But I got lucky. One of my hunting buddies in a stand down the trail (the one who saw the bear) passed on this buck because he thought it was small and heard something making big noise behind him. So he let it go and waited for what he thought would be a 10-pointer or a big bear. My friend later found out that the noise he held out for was two turkeys. So this buck moseys on down to me. I think he's a 4-pt basket, but I can only hunt about 4 days this year, so I'll take what I can get. He steps into a clearing and I pull the trigger. He trots off about 40 yards and lays down where I can still barely see him.
Turns out he's a 6-pointer (2 small tines) and has a very dense, beefy body, probably between 3-4 years old. This was my first time hunting with handloads. I used my most accurate load to date with my .270 Win – a 140 grain bullet doing a mild 2700 fps. Complete pass-through with a solid blood trail from where I shot him to his final resting place. Shot was double-lung right through the center of the lungs. The tenderloins were delicious.
Today was also really slow for the most part. My hunting buddies saw nothing but small does again. But I got lucky. One of my hunting buddies in a stand down the trail (the one who saw the bear) passed on this buck because he thought it was small and heard something making big noise behind him. So he let it go and waited for what he thought would be a 10-pointer or a big bear. My friend later found out that the noise he held out for was two turkeys. So this buck moseys on down to me. I think he's a 4-pt basket, but I can only hunt about 4 days this year, so I'll take what I can get. He steps into a clearing and I pull the trigger. He trots off about 40 yards and lays down where I can still barely see him.
Turns out he's a 6-pointer (2 small tines) and has a very dense, beefy body, probably between 3-4 years old. This was my first time hunting with handloads. I used my most accurate load to date with my .270 Win – a 140 grain bullet doing a mild 2700 fps. Complete pass-through with a solid blood trail from where I shot him to his final resting place. Shot was double-lung right through the center of the lungs. The tenderloins were delicious.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Very shootable deer. Nice size and you don’t eat antlers.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
I called my wife’s uncle to see if I can hunt his property and got let me see who will be there. Of course it was always oh anytime just call me no problem. If the other guys are out there I’ll just let them know you’re coming. I get it and it’s a weird property honestly. He’s in the middle and the two guys on either side hunt, but he doesn’t. It’s kind of a neighborhood with long thin property. He has like 3-4 acres, but it’s like 150’ wide by like 2000’ long or something. They are all like that. It’s a field with a pond that’s tree lined so I was thinking an afternoon hunt until dark?? I hope it pans out.
1075tech
.338 Win Mag
Almost everything I've seen in the past few weeks has been around 4 pm in open fields within 50 yards of the tree line. Good luck
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Me too. If I can get in there the entire back is lined with trees and a filled of 200-300 foot depth. I’d be up on a hill with trees behind me in my blind. There a 30-40’ circle of trees in one area. Probably 30-40’ elevation rise so I should be out of deer sight line too. No riffle area though so shotgun only!!
pjzwtl
.308 Win
Took this guy late in the day on Friday with my crossbow , had to work through the opener of firearms I’m out on stand now enjoying the cold front moving in.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Looks like I have permission. The nieghbors were even nice enough to say I can use the tripod stand. Wow! I think day one I’ll use my blind and sit by the pond/bunch of trees and see where the stand is from there. I have to get his address for the aerial view and wind direction then I’ll go from there. I’m thinking this field will be just full of freaking deer. I have a doe tag for that DMP too.
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SmallGameAddict
.308 Win
Well played sir. Well played.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
Well, it’s meat…
Nothing really went right today. I’m sitting under a tree with my new CVA Optima V2 muzzleloader looking to fill my DMP tag.
Out steps a smallish, antlerless deer. I study it through my scope trying to discern any buttons or spikes. The forehead seems completely smooth.
I make the call. It must be a small doe. I start to plan my shot. I pull back the hammer and start to aim.
*BOOM*
I pulled the trigger prematurely. My cold fingers had misjudged the trigger squeeze. I should have waited to cock hammer until I was ready to shoot.
The smoke clears and the deer is just standing there. I quickly fumbled through my pack for a reload. I pour the power down the barrel, inadvertently spill maybe 10 grains in my lap. Silently cursing, I seat the bullet.
I relax for a few moments sitting still and the deer is just moving along looking for a snack. I decide on a second shot. I retrieve a fresh primer and start to aim.
When the vitals are squarely in the cross-hairs, I gently squeeze.
*nothing*
This time I forgot to pull the hammer.
Finally, cocked and primed, I line up the shot. Pull the trigger.
*Boom*
I felt I pulled high. But the deer ran in a circle and fell down.
I took some time for a careful reload as I watched to make sure the deer did not get back up. I left my gun by the chair and went to locate the carcass.
As I walked up, I realized the deer was about 33% smaller than I thought at first. I got a thought and quickly examined the forehead. There they were, the smallest buttons, not even big enough to show through the fur. I had blown my DMP tag on a button buck.
I examined the wound. It was about the size of a half-dollar, the blood was bright a frothy.
But, the chest subtly heaved up and down. The deer was just barely alive but still trying to breath.
I retrieved my muzzleloader, set my last primer and literally blew its brains out.
It’s not a trophy buck and it’s not pretty. It should remind me to hold off my shot in the future.
I hope the meat is tasty. There won’t be much.
Nothing really went right today. I’m sitting under a tree with my new CVA Optima V2 muzzleloader looking to fill my DMP tag.
Out steps a smallish, antlerless deer. I study it through my scope trying to discern any buttons or spikes. The forehead seems completely smooth.
I make the call. It must be a small doe. I start to plan my shot. I pull back the hammer and start to aim.
*BOOM*
I pulled the trigger prematurely. My cold fingers had misjudged the trigger squeeze. I should have waited to cock hammer until I was ready to shoot.
The smoke clears and the deer is just standing there. I quickly fumbled through my pack for a reload. I pour the power down the barrel, inadvertently spill maybe 10 grains in my lap. Silently cursing, I seat the bullet.
I relax for a few moments sitting still and the deer is just moving along looking for a snack. I decide on a second shot. I retrieve a fresh primer and start to aim.
When the vitals are squarely in the cross-hairs, I gently squeeze.
*nothing*
This time I forgot to pull the hammer.
Finally, cocked and primed, I line up the shot. Pull the trigger.
*Boom*
I felt I pulled high. But the deer ran in a circle and fell down.
I took some time for a careful reload as I watched to make sure the deer did not get back up. I left my gun by the chair and went to locate the carcass.
As I walked up, I realized the deer was about 33% smaller than I thought at first. I got a thought and quickly examined the forehead. There they were, the smallest buttons, not even big enough to show through the fur. I had blown my DMP tag on a button buck.
I examined the wound. It was about the size of a half-dollar, the blood was bright a frothy.
But, the chest subtly heaved up and down. The deer was just barely alive but still trying to breath.
I retrieved my muzzleloader, set my last primer and literally blew its brains out.
It’s not a trophy buck and it’s not pretty. It should remind me to hold off my shot in the future.
I hope the meat is tasty. There won’t be much.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
You never know it might be the only meat you get all year. It is on the small side and I would have passed on it, but I just was talking to my wife and saying it’s hard to judge size when a single deer is sitting in the woods in front of you. Tis life my friend. I’ve had no shots this year so you’re ahead of me.
enjoy it and it’s easy to lift in the truck. Don’t beat yourself up over it.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
I’m okay with the size. I would have rather killed a doe. My primary purpose for hunting that property is deer management.
I’m more bummed with by poor aim. If the shot were three inches lower, the deer would but have not suffered.
Muzzleloaders aren’t the fastest shooters and my Optima is zeroed for 75 yards. I figure that put the deer at the top of the trajectory. But that should have been less than an inch. I was just a poor marksman.
Robin
.577 Tyrannosaur.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
I get that. I’ve never killed a deer so I’m not one to talk. I’ve only been hunting for about 3 years. I’m hoping this weekend is my first kill. I’m putting more and more effort into it and I’m learning a lot.
Things never seem to go as I planned. I have a very limited area to hunt that is in a valley with not favorable winds to me. I also am in an area where DMP’s are not very available. I have little food in my area but really good bedding and water. My plan is for next year to start planting food trees.
I plan to put a few mulberry, a few substantial chestnuts, a few apples, and maybe a few layer persimmons. I have so apples trees but they drop early to mid October and then the deer move to something else.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
I took my last deer in 2017. I had a shot at a great six-pointer last year but choked. I’ve seen more deer this year than the last six years combined. I have great hopes for muzzleloader season.
In New York State. The average is one harvest every 7 years. By that reckoning, some folks must never take deer. Hunting on public land is a challenge. In this neck of the woods, there are a lot of amateurs mucking up the works.
I have a place scouted out that I’ve been hunting October. I get out there 1 hour before sunrise on Saturday and there are six dudes from Jersey that drove up together in a white van set up right in my spot.
I hit my backup spot today.
I’ve got another DMP for 3M. But, the state land in 3M can be really crowded early on. I’ll hit those places later in the season. The closer you get to city, the worse it gets. I don‘t hate those dudes for filling up the woods here. But, I wish they were smarter about it. I do have the advantage of being local and can hunt a couple of weekday mornings.
Carlos Hathcock
.450/400 Nitro Ex
3 scored on opening morning. Heard plenty of shots all around......just none from my gun. My buddy started with a small 8 and his nephew bagged a MONSTER 8 point 20 minutes later. Thing was freakishly huge.
Made my buddy's 8 point look like a dwarf.
My buddy's dad got a doe bigger than his 8 point. Buddy's brother, in well known fashion, took a miniature spike buck just so he could say he "got one".
I of course came up empty but the scenery was nice and conditions were good for the most part.
Back for another try this weekend.
Made my buddy's 8 point look like a dwarf.
My buddy's dad got a doe bigger than his 8 point. Buddy's brother, in well known fashion, took a miniature spike buck just so he could say he "got one".
I of course came up empty but the scenery was nice and conditions were good for the most part.
Back for another try this weekend.
1075tech
.338 Win Mag
Eh... Don't beat yourself up about it. It happens. Hard to judge size when they're by themselves. I got a button buck a few years ago. ~185 +/- yard shot. Looked bigger in the scope. My butcher sent me a picture of a mangled shoulder. He said the next time I shoot a 50# deer, use something smaller than a howitzer
Study the shape of the head and it's proportion to the body. A lone deer is often a buck.
It will be good eating though.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
That is a big deer.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Thanks and now I don’t feel so bad. I have 4-5 more years since 3 years ago I only started hunting and hit only a few days out of the season. I need to get more game cameras and some food there. Right now the deer only pass through to bed down. It’s very brushy so walking and stalking doesn’t work well. Lots of hills so they can suck you too. I need to get a better handle on their movements. I like one spot for a stand, but bad wind direction so I won’t.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Nice job. Big deer.
pjzwtl
.308 Win
Took this around 7AM this morning. I’m down to doe only here on out. It’s been a few years since that’s happened
Hillbilly77
6.5 Creedmoor
My 14 year old daughter got a 6 point this morning! He's been showing up on my trail camera in the mornings, every couple days. I've been hoping she'd get a shot at him. He showed up right on cue, about 1 1/2 hrs. after daylight.
It's her second year of hunting and her second buck. Last year's buck was a spike.
It's her second year of hunting and her second buck. Last year's buck was a spike.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
Seems like more deer taken this weekend than any all year. Maybe Friday for me.
SmallGameAddict
.308 Win
Sat from 6am-10am today. Fresh snowfall yesterday, this morning was 23 degrees and cemetery still. Saw nothing, not even a bird.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
That looks like a Savage Axis. What caliber is she running? I restocked a Youth Axis 2 in 243 Winchester to make a compact general purpose rifle. I plan to take it out on Friday.
Hillbilly77
6.5 Creedmoor
Yes, its a Savage Axis. Good eye.
It’s chambered in .308 and topped with a Leupold VX Freedom 3-9x50. She’s shooting hand loads that I worked up with 165gr Nosler bullets over 42.5gr of IMR 4064.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
I love the Leopoldo VX freedom series. Great scopes for the price.
Saltwater60
.950 JDJ
That’s a cold shitty morning. Sorry.
Kent Goldings
.357 mag
The Savage have a unique profile. It could have been a Savage 110, but the lack of accutrigger and synthetic stock said axis to me. I think the modular trigger guard is unique to the Axis and Axis 2. I also have an Axis 2 in 223 Remington. Some Axis have problems with extraction. But, you can get aftermarket extractors pretty cheap.
I bet the 308 is lights out.
I did notice the Leupold scope. The gold band and bronze medallion are distinctive. I own a 2-7x28 VX 1 Rimfire scope and it has the clearest glass off all my scopes. I’m a bit of a glass junky from camera hobby. I bet the 50mm objective looks great in the early morning light.
Most of my hunting guns mount Nikon. Well, the Ruger American Rimfire 22 LR with aforementioned VX1 is the only one that doesn’t. I went Nikon in the whole Nikon/Canon feud. So, brand loyalty bled into my rifle scopes.
I‘m kinda bummed that Nikon isn’t in that business anymore.