2014 Lunch Time Buck

[WALLEYENUTZ]

This is what happens when you go to gut your fathers deer and decide to have lunch.

Shot by my Trail cam around 12:15 opening day.

[MUSKY18]

OUCH!!!

[nofishfisherman]

I think in that case ignorance would have been bliss.  I'm sure a lot of us have missed a chance at a nice buck because we either left too early, moved to a different stand, or maybe even fell asleep in the stand.  The beauty for most of us is that we didn't have trail cams capture our missed opportunity so we can live easier in ignorance not even realizing our loss.

[Fever]

That hurts!!!!!  Once again, conformation that the best practice (if possible), is to sit all day (dark to dark) during rut as it is really the ONE time of the year that these big brutes are careless. 

The past 3 years I've shot 2 and had a crack at a 3rd during the time many people are taking naps, warming up, or grabbing a bite to eat.   A real nice 8 (mid 120's) came through in the Oak ridges where I hunt around 1pm back in 2011.  He's on my wall now after a 45 yd shot with the 30-06.  The next year, 2012, a monster of a buck (don't know exactly how big he was / was wider than ear tips, and tall) following a doe runs in at 12 noon.  She busts me as she walks into my wind at 20-25 yds.  He's oblivious and about 30 yds behind her.  But follows her up the other Ravine away from me....  5 more seconds and He'd have been done.  Then in 2013, a big brute of a 10 measuring 148 7/8 walks through on same exact trail walking in same direction as the 8 from 2011, at  2:50 pm looking for a girlfriend.  He's also on the wall.  Last year, I sat 11 hours per day on the first weekend of rifle season, Sat, Sun, Mon, tues, for a total of about 44 hours.  Didn't see a deer. Then sat 23 more hours in stand in southern Mn, saw a few but no shooters and nothing in range.  Tough to do mentally and physically, but I'm prepared to do it again as I know - it is the best way for a guy with my schedule and financial means to put myself in position to shoot a big deer.  If at all possible,  Keep your rears in your stands fellas!

[O.T.C.]

I'm shutting off all trailcams Friday 6th of November. Could tell by the wind in the trees it was opener lol, oh man and never saw him the rest of the way ? and when did you check that cam and learn the news of his hoofing by your stand ?