Maybe next week.

[Captcurt]

Went for a ride before the storm hit last Wednesday and actually saw some deer feeding in the field. This has been a tough year. The acorn crop was huge and the deer didn't have to go far to eat. I have really had to work at it. Our late season starts Monday and I am pulling the Bergara out just in case the deer continue to hit the fields.

How has your season been?

 

[Chuck R.]

I passed on a few small bucks and does during our regular season. Still had venison from last year and the mulie from NOV taking up room in the freezer. Between the sausage we made last weekend and some burger I'm going to grind up this week I'll make some room.

We start late doe season on the 1st and whether or not I shoot something will depend on how hard of a drag it looks to be... My neighbor still wants some does gone so I'll probably shoot one or two off his place and end up giving the meat away.

 

[buck460XVR]

Holiday antlerless hunt started here today. With single digit highs and -20 wind chill, I too am waiting for next week's warm-up. Don't need the venison, but would like to see what's still around.

 

[marksman13]

This season has been pretty terrible, but we are just now entering the pre-rut. Historically, I’ve killed my biggest bucks from December 30th - January 11th, so I’ve still got plenty of time to catch a buck slipping. Numbers don’t seem to be down, but the massive acorn crop made early season hard to hunt here. Didn’t even have many pictures of deer on game cameras, so here’s hoping the rest of the acorns on the ground rot in a hurry and get the does in the food plots. Maybe they’ll even bring their boyfriends with them.

 

[Gerd33]

Overall it's been a good season.
I got two in October with the new crossbow, and my father and I each got one during the November firearms season.

I'm a bit disappointed in that our late Muzzleloader/Handgun season started today and it is just too cold and windy to go out as well as having holiday obligations. The season runs through next weekend while I'll be available, the current forecast is off and on rain Fri-Monday.

I was still hoping to connect with this guy. I've seen him three times since mid November without being able to get a shot, as well as catching him on cam at other points.

 

[Buzznrose]

All you guys without room in the freezer and hunting left to do need to learn the great value of canning deer meat. No refrigeration needed and lasts 2 years easy in a pantry or cellar. Canned venison tastes like crock pot beef, depending on seasonings used.

And it is excellent and easy to cook with. All you need is a pressure cooker and canning jars. Lots of Interwebs recipes…

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/117537/easy-canned-venison/

 

[earlthegoat2]

Best year to date for me. Saw tons of deer and more bucks than I have ever seen.

Shot 4 total this year. The freezer is chock full and I still have a Nilgai hunt Jan 10.

Probably have to buy a new freezer.

Will also look into canning. I did it growing up but don’t have a pressure cooker yet and never felt like storing jars. It’s starting to make a lot of sense more recently though.

 

[NMachine]

All you guys without room in the freezer and hunting left to do need to learn the great value of canning deer meat. No refrigeration needed and lasts 2 years easy in a pantry or cellar. Canned venison tastes like crock pot beef, depending on seasonings used.

And it is excellent and easy to cook with. All you need is a pressure cooker and canning jars. Lots of Interwebs recipes…

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/117537/easy-canned-venison/

Yep. I started canning everything I used to grind a couple of years ago. It’s so versatile to use that way. Chili, stroganoff, over noodles with gravy. Quick easy meals, always tender, and saves me lots of freezer space.

 

[Buzznrose]

Yep. I started canning everything I used to grind a couple of years ago. It’s so versatile to use that way. Chili, stroganoff, over noodles with gravy. Quick easy meals, always tender, and saves me lots of freezer space.

Agree. I don’t hunt anymore but have friends who try to can all meat except back straps from 2 deer every year. Soup, stew, made with mushrooms and onions in gravy over biscuits/rice/noodles/taters.

they can both quarts and pints.

And they are safe from power outages!

So versatile!

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Passed on shooting a doe a couple times at the beginning of the rifle season. Never saw the buck that hangs around here so won't be so "generous" if I see a doe after the first of the year.
It's still bow season but me and the wife caught the rona so staying in till we're well.

 

[MacAR]

How has your season been?

In short, it's sucked. I haven't seen any deer, at all, on my place since October when they demolished my turnips. We've been out of deer meat since August, too. Don't know what's happened to our deer, last year I killed 3 here in two days no problem. And it ain't just me, either. Lots of the boys around aren't seeing deer at all like they were last fall. Best I remember, we're pretty close to one another, you're about two hours north of me. Since season ended today I hope you did better than I did.

Mac

 

[Patocazador]

Big drought in my area resulted in no food plots making it. That plus loads of water oak acorns have kept the deer from traveling much. I got lucky earlier in the season and got 3 in a short time. Ground 2 into burger and gave one to my son.
We still have another month and I'm trying to help my grandson get his 1st deer. The 19 degree weather last week didn't help much because my old bones can't handle it well with no electricity and no fireplace at the cabin.

 

[22250Rem]

Had a pretty good season. Got my first ever crossbow deer on Nov. 9th after starting crossbow hunting a few years ago. Average size doe and then in gun season I ALMOST got a huge doe with the slug gun on opening day, Nov. 19th, while in one of my blinds. It stopped right in a clear spot just over 40 yards, broadside to me and as the 870 came into my shoulder, my eye looked into the scope just as she took 2 steps and vanished behind a wall of thick brush and saplings. Another few seconds and I would have had a very easy shot and more venison. Did a lot more crossbow hunting this year at my friends place up in the hills where I got the doe and saw quite a few deer but none within range of a crossbow. Tuesday afternoon 12/27 had a monster 8 point feeding in the snowy woods at 19 deg. F but he never came into range either. That story is told in the hunting forum here on THR in the 2022 Hunting Picture Thread as one of the "no luck" topics with a picture of the snowy woods I was sitting in. Even in years that I don't fill a tag it's great to just see deer activity around me. This year it was nice to get some venison and still see plenty of deer. Still have one more day of late muzzle loader / crossbow season left. Gonna be in that big 8 point's neighborhood.... Just in case he shows up.

 

[Captcurt]

In short, it's sucked. I haven't seen any deer, at all, on my place since October when they demolished my turnips. We've been out of deer meat since August, too. Don't know what's happened to our deer, last year I killed 3 here in two days no problem. And it ain't just me, either. Lots of the boys around aren't seeing deer at all like they were last fall. Best I remember, we're pretty close to one another, you're about two hours north of me. Since season ended today I hope you did better than I did.

Mac

I have hunted more this year than ever before. It has been tough. I took a unicorn spike that I thought was doe and a couple of does, but have worked my butt off for them. Today is our last day for gun hunting. I know where I can kill one. I scouted a place that I have never set foot in before. Deer trails, fresh tracks, rubs, scrapes, even saw 4 deer. If I shot one in there I would have to pack it out on my back and probably make 4 trips. It is one rough, steep hollow with about a 30 to 40 degree grade. Back in my prime I wouldn't have hesitated to hunt it, but it is pretty rough on this 72 year old body now. I may do it anyway.