Karma and hunting

[z7]

yesterday I was able to fill my tag in Kentucky, it was the last day of the season and I had not scouted or hunted hardly at all. The land is a lease my dad has, about 300 acres and is a reliable property for killing a few does for meat and a buck or three every year. Nothing overly special, mainly basket rack 2yr old deer and occasionally a 3yr old “nice” 8pt, 16” wide etc

This year between my work, dad working and my siblings in college we have not hunted hardly at all, but I did get a day in the woods.

Yesterday morning about 10am a the first deer I saw was a spike walking up a ridge at 50 yds. I considered letting him walk and would have if I could come up here for archery season, but it was my last hunt so I smoked him

As I was dragging him out I came to the edge of a small field and saw what looked like a mule with a rack trotting down the edge of the field working scrapes. As I watched, the rack shrank revealing a typical 16” 8pt with nice G2 length as he was working scrapes heading my way, instead of grabbing the rifle, I grabbed my iPhone and took a video as he came about 8yds away before he saw me a snorted and ran, he went about 50yds away and tried to figure out what I was then ran off up the hill.

If I had passed on the spike, I would have shot the 8pt because he was heading towards the ridge I was sitting on, but I would have not seen the 8 working the scrape line or gotten the video. It was a cool experience, hopefully he makes it through muzzleloader season and is around next year, these KY deer turn into freaks of they live long enough

I will try and upload the video, but it says it is too big, I will come up with something

 

[z7]

Here are pics, poor quality but if you look close you can see the 8

 

[Armored farmer]

That' s what makes hunting so fun.
If you had passed on the spike you would have likely not even seen the 8pt.
Am I right?
Congrats on your buck.
Enjoy your steaks. You earned them.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Nothing wrong with getting a nice tender spike. Good shooting.

 

[MidRoad]

Can't eat them antlers anyways!

 

[z7]

nope you can't eat antlers, and 90lb spikes make for a few good meals. I found it ironic that as I drag out a dead deer, making lots of noise and not really caring how many sticks i break I walk into a nice buck. if I never try to slip through these KY woods because of all the leaves, it seems like you can't walk around without deer in the next county running the opposite direction.

 

[Patocazador]

I found it ironic that as I drag out a dead deer, making lots of noise and not really caring how many sticks i break I walk into a nice buck.

That's the truth. I was dragging out a nice buck and turned to look at him because I heard something behind me. There was a young spike 20 yards behind smelling the ground where the dead buck had dragged. We are allowed 2 bucks/day but I was bushed from dragging so I just said, "Hello" .. he bugged.

 

[Saddlebag Preacher]

Must be in my area of Kentucky. My farm is in Breckenridge County and our hunt ended Monday. Across the field in Hardin County, they get an extra week. Can't understand bureaucrats.

 

[Armored farmer]

I park my old jeep 1/4 mile from my deer stand and walk in.
It' not uncommon for me to sit in my stand and watch deer graze and frolic mere yards from my jeep.

 

[Bfh_auto]

nope you can't eat antlers, and 90lb spikes make for a few good meals. I found it ironic that as I drag out a dead deer, making lots of noise and not really caring how many sticks i break I walk into a nice buck. if I never try to slip through these KY woods because of all the leaves, it seems like you can't walk around without deer in the next county running the opposite direction.

I learned to walk like a drunk person who has nowhere to go. Deer just stand there and watch. Works best if you are just meat hunting.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I learned to walk like a drunk person who has nowhere to go. Deer just stand there and watch. Works best if you are just meat hunting.

What's funny is this year I decided to "hike with my rifle" instead of "hunt". Granted, this is in PA so hunting is normally a waiting game. After 1 day of going out in the morning and evening, I saw 4 deer. I was bumbling around in the woods and taking my time walking around. I didn't take a shot on any of them because they were either small or I couldn't ID them through the brush, but it's more wildlife than I've seen after sitting and waiting randomly over the years.

I think there is something to be said for just aimlessly walking around.

 

[Armored farmer]

If the rut isn't on....deer have nowhere to go....and no time to be there.

I have always said that what we do is deer waiting. ...not deer hunting.

I'm waiting for one right now

 

[caribou]

''A spike in hand is better than an 8 point in the bush......''

Thats an internet hunting slogan.......