October 9, 2007
Cooler weather should make hunting more bearable
A reader sent in this trail cam shot of a pretty eight-pointer at his hunting spot in Roanoke County. It would be nice to know you have this guy around, huh?
I haven't been out since opening day, when I hunted both in the morning and afternoon.
The morning hunt wasn't too bad. I was actually shocked when I walked out of my house and it was raining. I don't like to bowhunt in the rain but had a feeling that was just an isolated shower. Sure enough the roads were dry within a mile of my house.
About 7:30 a.m. I had two yearling bucks come by. They were focused on the white oak near my stand. A spike got to within 5 yards and I could have shot him. The four-pointer didn't get as close. He eventually winded me and they both got out of there. That was it for the morning.
I am not a trophy snob and I hate to think I might sound like one when I say I'm not shooting yearling bucks. We get three buck tags and I've never used more than one in a season. Actually, I've killed only two bucks in Virginia heading into my 10th season of serious hunting. So it's not like using a tag on a yearling is going to force me to lose a later opportunity at a monster.
But, where I hunt the deer populations tend to be pretty strong. The way you manage those herds is to shoot does. But, hey, I admit I'd rather shoot a mature buck than a yearling. Every time I pass up a yearling, that deer has a chance of reaching 2 or 3 years old, or older. But I have no problem with someone shooting a young buck, especially if that hunter has limited opportunities. My buddy shot a four-pointer Saturday morning and it was great. For a guy like him who doesn't get to hunt much, any deer with a bow is something to be proud of.
Anyway, that evening I hunted another stand. I had a co-worker with me, videoing the hunt. It was a bust. It was brutally hot and we had mosquitos buzzing all around us. Plus we were covered up with cattle. Still, we were in a stand of three big white oaks and they were raining nuts so I figured we had a chance. We didn't.
I hope to get out Thursday evening, when we're finally supposed to get a break on this weather.
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