Team 4 The Win!

[Tim0712]

The public I hunt in the FL panhandle has given me fits all year, to the point of not even drawing my bow in 9 days of hunting. It was one of those years when I felt like every choice I made ended up being the wrong move. So that brings us to last week, which was the end of the "quota permit" phase of the gun season. I had a quota permit AND an antlerless deer (doe) tag for this property so I drove up Wednesday to hunt Thursday, Saturday and Sunday (no hunting on Mon, Wed or Fri!). Wednesday night a front went through with some rain but only dropped the temps about 10-15 degrees. Another front on Friday dropped the lows to about 30 and highs in the 50s. My plan was to try and shoot a doe Thursday morning and spend the rest of the day scouting to find a good spot for the weekend's cold weather, which should have the bucks actively chasing on here. The peak of the rut is usually between Christmas and New Years!

Well fellas, I had one of the best days I've ever had in the hunting woods last Thursday. I got set up low in a pine with lots of cover overlooking a recently chopped area in graylight and saw a couple does about 100 yards out a couple minutes before sunrise and dropped the biggest with a single shot from my 20 gauge shotgun.
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After getting the doe cleaned up, I checked a few cameras and had a late lunch to decide what to do next. I decided to go back to the same area I had been in that morning but take my climber (which I haven't used in 3 years) to one of a few tall pines that overlooked the chopped area as well as some unchopped that would make great bedding and movement cover. I was only about 75 yards from my truck when I saw a THICK 4 foot moccasin sunning on the path I was on. After a minute or 2 deciding it's fate, I took a wide berth around it. About 40 steps later, a buck stands up facing me from about 60 yards out. In order to be legal, bucks must have 3 points on one beam or a beam measuring 10" or more. As soon as I see the buck in the scope, all I see are long white beams so I place the crosshairs on the chest and fire. The buck stumbles towards me but gets in thick brush where I can't shoot any more. A few seconds later I heard the buck crash through some thick brush and then silence. A buddy and his wife helped me find the buck which made it 75 yards after the shot and not bleeding until about 60 yards. The shot went in the center of the chest and I found the slug just under the skin on the far shoulder.
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This is my biggest buck and should make the Florida Registry by being at or above 100". Won't be any help to the team though but wanted to share it with yall anyways! Made me chuckle that if I shot the moccasin, I'd likely never seen this buck. And the fact that I had a climber on my back when I shot it..... You never know!!!! The rest of the weekend was fun with the cold and helping others drag out bucks but I didn't see any other legal bucks!

Stout day in the deer woods! One you soon won’t forget! Congrats buddy!

 

[mathhunter]

I made one last attempt at a buck this morning. It was nice and cold (10°) with snow on the ground, so I was really hopeful but nothing came by. I had fun doing the competition with everyone this year.

 

[MattMan81]

Didn't do any hunting over break as I was on call for the first half, freezer mostly full, to much going on with Christmas, then went to see family after Christmas.
S.E. Michigan here has deer season thru the end of the month. Hopen for some snow so I can go out and try to find one on public. I got a tag left. Still looking for my first public land deer. Any good size deer will do. Maybe I can get us another 5pts.

This competition is fun. Glade to get to talking hunting with guys. Team 4 FTW!!

 

[Chrighton]

Buck hunting is done for me, but late anterless firearm in my county until the 12th. Hoping for a freezer queen and another 5 points for the team prior to then.

 

[Dope on a Rope]

All wrapped up here. Had fun following your successes, bummed I couldn’t get it done this year and throw some points on the board but best of luck to you guys that still have some time on the clock

 

[Horn]

I may still get out, if it's not so cold. Yup , wimping out. I have all of January for antlerless, mostly bow. Been great sharing with y'all teammates!

 

[MattMan81]

Took my beast sticks for a nice long walk. Saw some deer. Never saw anything I wanted to set up on.

 

[Horn]

Took my beast sticks for a nice long walk. Saw some deer. Never saw anything I wanted to set up on.

Public?

 

[MattMan81]

Public?

Yeah.

 

[Horn]

Yeah.

Was it busy? I'm hoping for tolerable weather and make it out once more. I'll be honest, watching sports is pretty high up on my priorities this time of year, and my freezer is looking good - not that no freezer space would stop me lol

 

[MattMan81]

Was it busy? I'm hoping for tolerable weather and make it out once more. I'll be honest, watching sports is pretty high up on my priorities this time of year, and my freezer is looking good - not that no freezer space would stop me lol

Didn't see anyone when I went to out. Went out to the little island I wanted to check out. Blew all the deer off. Not sure what they where. Kept creeping, should have set up. But went some more. Bumped same? Or another. Turned went back. Was walking the edge of the marsh looking for big buck tracks. Lot of small doe tracks. Saw a deer on the side of a hill on the way back. Tried to get closer as I had my bow. I was getting closer to the road, so would have settle for a decent doe. Wasn't going to shoot a doe in deep. Worked in closer. Bumped them off again. Tried to work around. Apparently they bolted after I lost sight. Heard some shooting little while later? Maybe I sent them to someone else. Was after 5 at that point, so took the trail back to the truck. There was a few other trucks parked out there. I guess they were hunting. That's it for gun season. So imagine their will be even less. Weather was manageable.