Who else is going or has gone deer hunting this year?

I'm giving my stand the final tweak tomorrow. Season starts Saturday, the 13th, for modern firearms in KY. Black powder and archery are both over for now (I didn't do either one.)

I've got my eye on a couple of good eating does and a very nice 10 point buck - that's ten if I counted it right through my spotting scope.

I'll be in some thick brush this year so I'll dial back to either the old trusty Marlin 30-30 or the Ruger .44 Mag carbine (it's the pre-10/44 carbine). I won't have a shot over 40 yards, so the 30-06 will be a little much unless I load up to a 220 gr. RN or something similar. I'm not in the mood to load anything special, so the 06 stays home in the safe.

Some of you are aware that I got offerd a job I can't refuse on Guam that will last for a couple of years. If I end up going in January or February, I may be giving away venison for the asking. I'll keep you posted on that. I know that mosin and Fatslob are close enough for a treat if I run off to the islands - especially since I'll be heading up to Cincy before I leave. Who else is close enough to Louisville for a handout before I go - if all of this pans out? Heck, there are a couple here that I'll even pack some in styrofoam and dry ice and ship next day air to if I go to Guam. Let me know.

BTW I'm confident of getting the deer. I haven't missed getting my share since the '70's.

We had several deer hunt threads here last year.

Also, almost every time "gun" is mentioned in any contexy=t, it ends up here in the gungeon.

The Lounge apparently doesn't take kindly to all the blood and gore involved in some folks' hobbies, so those with a taste for Justice and Public Safety get all the juicy details.

Lucky us, eh?

Or just stopping in on your way through it would be deeply appreciated.

BTW I love my 1963 vintage Ruger "Deerstalker" carbine. It was an ugly duckling I got for a song at a gun store. It was filthy - Looked like someone died and the person who inherited it shot it until it stopped cycling then sold it. I had to take out the double roll-pin that holds the gas cylinder in place, soak the assembly in brake cleaner for a long time, then finally beat the piston into motion with a brass drift. The bore was literally black, but after a good cleaning it's almost mirror bright with sharp rifling.

Happy hunting! Without enough wolves and cougars to control their population it's our solemn duty to keep the deer in check.

Also let me know which cuts you prefer unless you trust me with a sampler.

Whether I go or not, I'll be sure you get a care package. If I find I'm coming your way for sure, I'll deliver in person.

I'll PM you shortly.

I am heading out to hunt deer.

Next Friday I am leaving to take a hide tanning course.

I don't envy you at all. My granddad taught me how to tan hides. The reward is wonderful, but the tanning is a pain.

FYI, groundhog hides make killer banjo heads.

are worth the work.

I am sure the work will be agonizing at times, but I have a lot of ideas of what I can make with the buckskin.

Additionally, if I take an animals life, I want to use as much of the animal as I can. They are a natural resource, even if people don't know how to harvest it.

My wife scrims the antlers for jewelry, knife handles, etc. I give the hides to a friend who uses them. I've tanned several and have no desire to tan any more.

BTW IF you want smooth leather and you can get 35% hydrogen peroxide fairly inexpensively from a local chemical distributor, it will dissolve the hair quickly. You just have to dilute it a bit. NEVER dilute it in the container. Dilute in an open bucket. Impurities in the water, unless you have access to de-ionized water will cause a sealed container to explode. 35% will cause combustion if you're not careful.

I didn't know that about using hydrogen peroxide. You can buy it at the drug store...would that be too dilute?

BTW, H-O-O-H is unstable even without the addition of water. The O-O bond is highly unstable and breaks easily...ordinary sunlight can do it. When being stored, the cap of the container should never be tightened unless absolutely necessary...leave it loose so gases can escape and prevent a pressure build up in the bottle.

Archer from 12 Oct to 31 Dec. We are allowed two that way. Then Firearms, antlerless, and blackpowder(w/ scopes, if you like). Up to seven deer, only two which must be antlered(and it may not be but one).

Our deer laws are almost as bad as firearms laws for simplicity and understandability.

147 typical
158 non-typical
144 non-typical
The 158 was taken by a 13yr old girl from LA. Her father took the 144. Both of these were taken with a bow, while rattling.
147 was taken with a handgun, while rattling. I guided all three hunts.

sounds like a productive week.

My brother in-law took about 4 months to recover from his surgery. They had to crack his chest. He had a Quadruple. Mine was much simpler. Plus the style hunting i do doesn't require much walking.

:thumbsup:

just took the hunter safety class this past weekend.

I may go to PA w/shotgun in Dec. to some land the in-laws own, but most likely will have to sit out this year to practice with my new bow and get ready for next year's archery season.

Nice little 4 point, good and tender. Butchered out to 48 pounds, minus 2 steaks and the loins that I cut fresh. My son still has an opportunity but his hunting season is entirely dependant upon his grades the next 3 weeks.

( but his hunting season is entirely dependant upon his grades the next 3 weeks.)
Loved it to much to get a bad grade.
At least waited until season closed.

Turned my son into a vegetable, almost. He'd rather play games than get outside. My other boys, thankfully, escaped the computer age successfully and get out as often as I do. This one is enamored by the games and the chat and all the BS that goes with it. I guess he takes his lead from me with the computer thing but, at least I make money in the process. I have an excuse :)

He has more at stake than just hunting too. Driver's license, car, insurance, freedom, .... his teeth, everything is in play at this point. Get the grades up or else ;)

That poor man!

:dunce:

Had it taken a few more steps and I could have poked a hole in it. Much to its benefit it decided to turn and go the other way. x( Sigh. Such is deer hunting. I'll be back at it tomorrow.

I've been out a few times kinda all half assed (live in the woods, so it's not like I need to make a special trip or anything).

I think I might go out today. There's this buck back there who almost ran me over one day. Huge bugger. My freezer is almost empty and if I want meat this winter, I better get working.

It's a 10-12 hour drive to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from my neck of the woods, but I'll be up there all next week with my in-laws at their deer camp. I look forward to it every year -- but it's the first time I've gone without my father-in-law, who is recuperating from a stem cell transplant this summer. He's doing all right now, but missing deer season is a real disappointment for him.

And if you're still looking to unload some venison, count me as interested. I'll even come fetch it.

Let us know how it goes! You'll have to share pictures of the 10 point buck if you get it. :)

Have you ever felt sorry for a deer after you shot it?

Have you ever wounded and lost a deer?

For #33: No. I've never felt sorry for a deer I've taken. I've never felt sorry about taking a deer. I have felt sorry that I've taken a smaller one when a larger one presents itself - which, when it happens, usually occurs while I'm field dressing the smaller of the two. I hunt for meat so it's ususally "the bigger the better."

For #34: I have never shot and lost a deer. I make certain that I have a good shot before I squeeze the trigger. If I can't be certain of a clean shot, I don't shoot. I've passed on many shots, including some monster bucks, because I refuse to take the chance. I also match my firearm to the ground I'm hunting. If I'm in thick cover I use either a 30-30 or a .44 mag. I've even been known to use a 45-70. Those calibers and several others are far less likely to deviate from their trajectory greatly if the hit a small twig I don't see. The shots I take in thick brush are usually 100'-150' or less so there's not much room for a slight deviation to have much affect. If I'm in open country I'll opt for a .270, 30-06, or .300 WBY mag with loads appropriate to the range and terrain and ranges I expect to get a shot. I've taken three deer this year - hopefully I'll get another one or two - 2 with neck shots and one through the chest. All three dropped where they were shot because of careful shot placement. I've never had to track a deer more than 100 yds. Sometimes a deer shot through the heart will still run a bit on adrenalin.

:(

Personally I would rather eat than be eaten

having trouble find a place to hunt.
I took up traditional archery and I'm not confident enough to hunt with a recurve yet.
I do have a Ruger M77 .280 Rem on standby in case the need arises.

Use to hunt alot, but not much in the last 10 years. The guy next door went out Monday, 1st day, and sat all day. I went out for 2hrs in the morning and went back out at dusk. He left at 5:00pm and 10 minutes later the woods were crawling with deer. I let a couple of does go, then the nice 7 pointer came in range of my 00buckshot and went right down.
We usually get a lot of fresh roadkill donated for my wifes bobcat. Got a huge 8 pointer, 250lbs dressed out and a year and a half doe, so this ones for us.
I love the meat and don't mind butchering and cooking, just not all that excited about the kill anymore. We invite a few folks over to hunt our farm and I'm always happy when some one gets one.

Another .280 fan! Remember when it was the "7mm Express"?

That's what got me interested in the .280. Was too poor then (in the late 70's early 80's... Reaganomics) to afford a decent rifle. When the funds became available the RugerM77 .280 was the first rifle I purchased.

On occasion I get out the loading dies and cook up some different loads for it, just to have an excuse to shoot it.

but smoothed up and lightened by a local smith. Breaks at a clean 3lbs. Tried a Timney replacement, but figured out I'm not a Gunsmith!!!

Got a 93 pound doe on Oct. 30 using a TC muzzleloader. Will try to get another the last few days of this year which are a special "doe only" season in the deep woods of eastern OK.

an 8 pointer with a 16 inch beam and a meat doe.

I know that rack doesn't sound like much to those of you from Texas and Michigan, but for this area of Virginia that's a decent buck. Biggest one I've ever shot. I was going to get him mounted but most of the taxidermists around quoted $400!!! Seems like it was only $250 a couple of years ago.

Let it dry well, than get a kit. It's an easy DIY project.

they sell the kits everywhere, but I've got a couple of nice pieces of board that would probably suffice.