View Full Version : Deer & heat whipped us
Call me (us) a sissy. 88 deg. daytime and 70 deg at night with no breeze got to us. Apparently the deer too; they just weren't moving. Between the 3 of us we saw just one buck and he wasn't legal for us to shoot (theres an 8pt minimum). After stewing in our own personal sauna bath we decided to pack it in. Maybe it will get cooler in a few days and then we can hunt. Hated to quit but even a fanatic hunter has to be reasonable.
Hope y'all bagged some nice trophys.
RIKA
Aslan
11-07-2005, 06:40 PM
Had it been legal to shoot a doe, I would have my choice of several really nice big ones (big for coues).
We also did some coyote hunting. I harvested two, and missed a third. We called up a total of nine coyotes. Six actually came in, the other three we saw on the approach but they didn't come in at all.
We also called in one bobcat.
For most of the stands, it was way too thick, but we called anyway. I saw the bobcat for less than a second in a gap in the brush. I never saw it again.
was a fun hunt, all in all.
Oh yeah, we shot two rabbits. I hit one with a .223 and my friend Rob hit one with a 300mag. I was on a hill across from Rob. The rabbit was behind a desert spoon plant from where I was sitting. when Rob shot, there was a nice symmetrical explosion of vaporized rabbit that sprayed from behind the bush.
The rabbit and the coyotes I shot were hit with 40gr ballistic tips at about 3200fps. If I load em any faster the group opens up considerably. Most satisfying. (not a good wind bucking round - way too light)
One of the coyote shots I was particularly happy with. It wasn't quite off hand, but it wasn't well supported either. because of the way the coyote came in and the way IU was sitting, I couldn't get an elbow on a knee to steady the rifle. So, I sucked in the elbows real tight, target shooter style. Hit the coyote at about 180yds, give or take. I was happy with the shot considering how I had to twist around in an uncomfortable position to take it.
it weighed about 25lbs (used fish scale to weigh) which is pretty respectable for AZ.
will post some pictures from the hunt when I get a chance.
:devil:
Aslan, I'm glad that you had a good hunt. :beer:
RIKA
Terry G
11-07-2005, 07:38 PM
The season here is still two weeks away, but it better cool down quick. Jump shooting duck's isn't even much fun when your sweating like mad and the mosquitoes are still biting. Strange weather for sure. I wouldn't want to shoot a deer in this weather unless I could get it butchered up quick. I had one go bad on me when the weather was in the mid fifties I didn't spot it and was sick for two day's. I have never figured out why one hind quarter spoiled and none of the other meat did.
BigEd63
11-08-2005, 02:11 AM
Too hot for my taste to hunt for fun here also.
I need to check and see what if they have a late gun season here in AR maybe catch that.
Too hot here, too. We had decided not to shoot any hogs unless it was RIGHT before we were leaving the stands! I did get a deer, but sweated for him. My owner didn't, but saw one too small to shoot by lease rules. Still, I'm about to fry up some "breakfast" chops. I was too tired to cook any last night after finishing processing the guy. Couple more weeks of doe season here, and THAT is what I was really after harvesting!
It's never too hot, too cold, too wet, too many bugs, etc. to be out hunting - you just might have to switch your targeted game.....lol. I still don't think it is ethical to shoot something FOR PLEASURE that I'm not going to eat, so that narows down my "other 'game'" opportunities greatly.
Deer hasn't started yet here. Been out a half dozen or so times for pheasant and been skunked each time.
Yesterday, however, I saw a nice sized doe, was able to get within 20 yards of her, smoking and talking before she noticed me (still being ignored by women, reminds me of being single). Was happy to see her though. Half an hour later, I was sitting on a rock having a cigarette, and I had a flock of turkeys come by within 10 yards.
No camo, no scent control, no stealth (I was pheasant hunting after all), making noise, smoking....I think I may be on to something here...
BigJon
11-09-2005, 10:32 AM
I feel for y'all, but I'll tell you - that's the NORMAL situation down here in Central Alabama when bow season starts in mid-October. Usually, I am in shorts and a t-shirt and moccasins and then covered by a bug suit! I usually end up climbin' a little higher so that I can douse myself with Deet to ward off the "skeeters" and noseeums (ouch!)
Once the deer is down, we field dress it immediately and then pack it full of bags of ice. Some of the places we hunt have the back ends of old milk trucks set up on blocks and with the refrigeration units runnin' off electricity. When we are in a place that doesn't have one of those, we head off post haste to the processor, who has a refrigerated cooler.
Folks just don't realize how quickly game can spoil if not properly handled, especially down here in our climate.
Best,
Jon
I feel for y'all, but I'll tell you - that's the NORMAL situation down here in Central Alabama when bow season starts in mid-October. Usually, I am in shorts and a t-shirt and moccasins and then covered by a bug suit! I usually end up climbin' a little higher so that I can douse myself with Deet to ward off the "skeeters" and noseeums (ouch!)
You still ain't got nothing on the bow season (starts in the beginning of October) in south Louisiana. If you can put up with that, you can hunt ANYWHERE ANYTIME IMO....lol. We do the "tricks" to get it home (usually have a minimum 30 minute boat road to the house) good, too. Then skin, quarter, ice and drain for a day or three, then process. I never let anyone else touch my deer meat. I've used a processor to make gator sausage twice and there will NEVER be a thrice. The screw-up rate is just too dang high in my experience. That is one profession I wish would be driven out of business. I can't see how people don't process their own game - it is too big of a part of the hunt to me to voluntarily give it up.
KJ
Chili Willi
11-12-2005, 06:18 AM
Rifle season is still a week away, and wer're expectin 6-8 inches of snow on monday, and a high of 31 on wednesday. Perfect!!!!!(And the rut started.)
BigJon
11-12-2005, 08:51 AM
Rifle season is still a week away, and wer're expectin 6-8 inches of snow on monday, and a high of 31 on wednesday. Perfect!!!!!(And the rut started.)
Man, that must be nice. When we get snow here in central Alabama it is a mighty rare commodity. My son and I had fun yesterday, though - bow season is still in, and I havent (and won't) have time to go bow hunting. I have one little spot down at the very back of the property that has never been hunted. I judiciously cleared a some shooting lanes in the summer, and yesterday, my 7-year-old son, Hollis, and I went back there and put in some very tiny food plots. This is a corner, and I'm sure a travel lane for bucks based on where and how the corner lies and the vegetation in it. Ought to be a good spot. It has never been hunted before.
The REALLY fun thing, though, that Hollis took his BB gun along and was able to hit everything he wanted to, so I jumped him WAY up the ladder - for the rest of his life, he will now be able to tell folks that he shot - and hit the target with - a .45 government model when he was only 7!
Best,
Jon
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