2016 Deer season thread

[EddieWalker]

I just got in from helping the neighbor pull in a 9 point buck from the woods out back. A healthy animal, might go 180#
It was at dusk when taken.
The phone rang as I was sitting down to supper, but the call didn't go through. I figured if it was important, he would call back. After supper, I returned the call thinking it was not like Bill to call in the evening.

Sure enough, when he got on the phone, he was short of breath and quite animate. Saying "I got a buck and I'll call if I need help". Well, I couldn't contain myself after the supper dishes were put up, So I dressed for out doors and clipped a flash light to my pocket and headed out into the woods, not really knowing where, but out back...... somewhere. I started into the woods.
Fortunately the "super moon" made enough light to negotiate the forest even though the overcast clouds were coming in..Well, it's a steep grade up hill to anywhere out there, so as I came to one of the several old stone walls that run through the area, I just headed UP with an all fours uphill scramble. It was good fortune that I saw a flash light less than 80 yards ahead. (That's still UP
A hoot confirmed it was the neighbor, and when I arrived (winded from the climb ;-) . He was still quite excited to show me his prize and the position he had taken for the hunt.
The buck was a good one, 9 points. Already gutted and ready to drag.... the half mile back! It was up hill all the way there, so downhill dragging back, But I might have forgotten to mention all the dead falls and grape vines and thorns on the way. Hard work in the dark!!
Well, the clouds came in and shut down the light of the moon. But we got the animal back to his place and neither of us perished in the effort (*though one man sure might have).
I went home and got the Hurlimann so we could have a loader to lift and hang the carcass. There was a bit of clean up to do in the body cavity and so we needed to hang the animal first head up and then head down. I quickly made a "hock spreader " out of a 1X3 with a couple of cuts on the band saw to aid the work.

All went well, the carcase is hanging, It's 39 degrees air temp just now, good for cooling meat. The neighbor will check his deer with the local game warden in the morning. There is a family in need that welcomes the meat and a processor all lined up.

We had a couple fingers of good scotch to mark the occasion, then, the Hurlimann went back in the shed ;-)

I enjoyed the entire episode,

That from the perspective of someone who has not eaten meat in over 40 years ;-)

Outstanding adventure. What a great way to end your day!!!!

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

Looks like one of those genetically modified pen raised deer that escaped from a high fence hunt club.

I live about 4 miles (as the crow flies) from where that deer was killed. He definitely is not a pen raised deer from behind a high fence. There are no such hunt clubs in this area.

Although Tennessee isn't known to be a big deer state like the midwestern states, some really large ones do come from this area. The current state record non typical also came from Sumner County, killed about 3 miles apart. The two deer must share some genetics that lead to huge non typicals.

A couple of interesting facts about the deer; he only weighed about 150 so not a big bodied deer. The wildlife agency aged him at only 3.5 years old.

The rack is currently in a bank vault awaiting the required 60 day drying period prior to being officially measured for a potential world record. A five member team will do the measurements. As you might expect, the team will be a who's who of deer hunting including the lead measuring expert from the Boone and Crockett Club.

 

[Toyboy]

Wisconsin gun season starts this Saturday and runs for 9 days. Predicting rain/snow and wind..yuck!
I hunt the county and state forests and scouting the last couple weeks, have seen lots of deer sign. The problem we have is all the baiting and recreational feeding in the northern part of the state. The deer get smart real quick and after the opening weekend go nocturnal. They'll feed at nite and loaf around all day.
Every now and then you'll have some hunters moving about and get 'em moving, but it's tough sledding otherwise. But I enjoy being out there, and you never know what might mosey by.

 

[Snobdds]

I've been watching this guy for a few years now. He's been the dominant bull for the past couple of years. I know his pattern and when he leaves the river canyon and heads to the upper meadows to feed. I have one road through the canyon so I set up on a small clearing in the timber along it. He came right on time and I shot him 10 feet from the road. Went and got the truck and was done.

 

[roadhunter]

Wow. That is a perfectly planned elk hunt. Nice work. That will fill the freezer!

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I've been watching this guy for a few years now. He's been the dominant bull for the past couple of years. I know his pattern and when he leaves the river canyon and heads to the upper meadows to feed. I have one road through the canyon so I set up on a small clearing in the timber along it. He came right on time and I shot him 10 feet from the road. Went and got the truck and was done.
View attachment 488040

Where in WY do you live Snobdds? Nice elk.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've been watching this guy for a few years now. He's been the dominant bull for the past couple of years. I know his pattern and when he leaves the river canyon and heads to the upper meadows to feed. I have one road through the canyon so I set up on a small clearing in the timber along it. He came right on time and I shot him 10 feet from the road. Went and got the truck and was done.
View attachment 488040

Beautiful. Nothing like elk hunting!!!!

 

[Snobdds]

Where in WY do you live Snobdds? Nice elk.

I live in Cheyenne, but this was taken at my cabin in the Snowy Range Mountains. In the summer I go down to the river and watch the moose and Elk while sipping coffee. It's relaxing before I start working on my new cabin. I don't really take many elk and I like to watch them, but this guy was so big I wanted to take him before some other hunter got him. I am having him mounted and even the taxidermist said this is one of the biggest he's ever seen. I had four guys and we could not get him into the back of the truck even with a come-a-long. I had to quarter him up even being right next to the truck.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

I've been watching this guy for a few years now. He's been the dominant bull for the past couple of years. I know his pattern and when he leaves the river canyon and heads to the upper meadows to feed. I have one road through the canyon so I set up on a small clearing in the timber along it. He came right on time and I shot him 10 feet from the road. Went and got the truck and was done. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=488040"/>

I wouldn't know what to do with myself. What a beast.

 

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I went home and got the Hurliman[/oQUOTE]
Gonna show my ignorance, but gotta know. What is Hurliman?

Great story by the way.