2021-2022 hunting thread

[Kennythetiger 9380]

30 minutes ago, deadshank said:

Nephew bagged one at #7.  First timer.  Real happy for him.  Gonna put him in an 8 point management buck now.  

That’s a nice-looking rifle. 

[deadshank 24652]

3 minutes ago, Kennythetiger said:

That’s a nice-looking rifle. 

Thanks.  Early 70s Remington .243.  

[hookemATL 11719]

31 minutes ago, deadshank said:

Thanks.  Early 70s Remington .243.  

Very cool. That’s almost the exact same rifle I use for just about everything. Congrats to the young fella!

[HOOKEM4 5036]

8 hours ago, deadshank said:

Thanks.  Early 70s Remington .243.  

I got one of those! A pig and a old ass rem 243. Awesome job uncle!

[Ted Dantzler 149]

Kstate fan here looking to soak up some longhorn tears tomorrow and checked this thread and am surprised it's all deer. Are there no pheasants or quail in TX?

My family has some shit ass land in NW Kansas that they were still giving away for free in the 1890's that has some pheasant on it. Got 6 on opening weekend 2 weeks ago.

Here are 5 of them and my German shorthaired pointer who doesn't point because I picked her up at a shelter but will jump in the nastiest weed pile there is without hesitation.

[Ted Dantzler 149]

Since there are no tree's out there I bump at least 2-3 deer a day from thick weeds where the pheasants hang.

This gal just stood there staring at me for about 20 seconds before she took off.

[Ted Dantzler 149]

I have never hunted deer but may try and grab one in early January next time I'm out there. Mix of white tail and mule deer, I've even seen a couple of antelope.

They usually come up and drink from the cattle water tanks first thing in the morning.

[fattyflattie 4639]

18 minutes ago, Ted Dantzler said:

Kstate fan here looking to soak up some longhorn tears tomorrow and checked this thread and am surprised it's all deer. Are there no pheasants or quail in TX?

Enjoy the tears, and may they keep you satisfied as you fizzle thru the new B12 and eventually land in the MAC.   Plenty of us are wing shooters who duck and quail hunt, and a few of the Yankees in the panhandle are fortunate enough to hunt pheasant.  

[deadshank 24652]

6 hours ago, Ted Dantzler said:

Kstate fan here looking to soak up some longhorn tears tomorrow and checked this thread and am surprised it's all deer. Are there no pheasants or quail in TX?

My family has some shit ass land in NW Kansas that they were still giving away for free in the 1890's that has some pheasant on it. Got 6 on opening weekend 2 weeks ago.

Here are 5 of them and my German shorthaired pointer who doesn't point because I picked her up at a shelter but will jump in the nastiest weed pile there is without hesitation.

Nice cocks.  Good looking dog. 
 

Bring a 55 gallon drum for our tears as there will be plenty.   

[deadshank 24652]

@ #2 with nephew.  Had a swing and miss yesterday.   Going to remedy that this morning.   
 

It is another great day.  

[RMac5 1551]

21 hours ago, hookemATL said:

Very cool. That’s almost the exact same rifle I use for just about everything. Congrats to the young fella!

243 is such an awesome all around caliber.

[USCATX 1078]

My tall cull Buck just won’t come back. I’ve been watching this 9 all morning but it looks like -1 yr version of the one my wife shot so I have to pass. Also some does and spikes, enough to keep things interesting at least and beats the hell out of shopping. 

[crimsonlonghorn 2306]

9 hours ago, Ted Dantzler said:

Kstate fan here looking to soak up some longhorn tears tomorrow and checked this thread and am surprised it's all deer. Are there no pheasants or quail in TX?

My family has some shit ass land in NW Kansas that they were still giving away for free in the 1890's that has some pheasant on it. Got 6 on opening weekend 2 weeks ago.

Here are 5 of them and my German shorthaired pointer who doesn't point because I picked her up at a shelter but will jump in the nastiest weed pile there is without hesitation.

There are pheasants in the panhandle but not many posters from that area in this thread. 

Quail are hit and miss but for the most part have declined just about everywhere for the past 20-30 years, just like the rest of North America. We had a few coveys appear on our place 4-5 years ago but that was an aberration and now they are gone again. Too bad, because I like shooting (at) them. 

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I am all out of tears at this point. Maybe six weeks ago, but they are gone now and have been replaced with old fashioned French style ennui. 

Edited November 26, 2021 by crimsonlonghorn

[deadshank 24652]

Bingo.   Nephew got his first buck. 4.5 year old 8 point.  Field weight 165 lbs.  .270 double-lung and heart shot.  
 

Got to track his blood trail 75 yards for the full effect.   
 

Skinned, caped, quartered and on the rocks in the box.  
 

Off to taxi after breakfast.  
 

His old man is ecstatic and my nephew is, as well.   
 

A great day!!

Edited November 26, 2021 by deadshank
He used my .270 and not the .243

[hookemATL 11719]

Good on ya for helping him have that experience. Great looking deer.
 

on another note, If you are interested in adopting a needy nephew (that you aren’t related to and may have a slight BO problem), let me know. 
 

(Im talking about myself)

[Herbie Hancock 7345]

The amibiguity of the acronym BO has provided me with a small chuckle that is much needed given the impending shitshow that’s about to commence at 11

[686 3448]

Bingo.   Nephew got his first buck. 4.5 year old 8 point.  Field weight 165 lbs.  .243 double-lung and heart shot.  
 
Got to track his blood trail 75 yards for the full effect.   
 
Skinned, caped, quartered and on the rocks in the box.  
 
Off to taxi after breakfast.  
 
His old man is ecstatic and my nephew is, as well.   
 
A great day!!

Nice! That custom rifle setup looks great.

[RMac5 1551]

Grilled backstrap and eggs? Congrats to the nephew, great deer.

[Both Tacos 1806]

Real treat hunt this morning. I shot my uncle's Franchi o/u that he left to me on his passing this year. It was just brought to me yesterday and couldn't wait to get it out. I won't be taking it on many duck hunts but will make an excellent dove gun.

[deadshank 24652]

[RMac5 1551]

Sung that lil diddy myself.

[hornmpa96 2618]

View from my blind this afternoon 

[deadshank 24652]

4 minutes ago, hornmpa96 said:

View from my blind this afternoon 

Nice looking joint. What county?  

[hornmpa96 2618]

Zavala

[deadshank 24652]

38 minutes ago, hornmpa96 said:

Zavala

Hey, neighbor!!

[hookemATL 11719]

They were rutting hard in Bastrop County this morning. 5-6 different times there were does at the feeder and a buck came in and chased them down. Had a decent look at an 8 pt but he was too horny and wouldn’t stop to eat. Hope he is back next time. Hope everyone is staying dry and warm🤘

[Anastasis 23469]

Boy just dropped his first deer with one on my ARs. He is in cloud nine right now trying to get out of the blind to go see where he hit it. It made it about 30 yds. Making him ride out a few more minutes cause a couple more deer popped out. But doesn’t look like anything I was to take a shot at. 

[686 3448]

We’ve got a big flock of resident turkeys this year that like to hit the ranch house feeder.

[fattyflattie 4639]

2 hours ago, 686 said:

We’ve got a big flock of resident turkeys this year that like to hit the ranch house feeder.

That looks like my stand.  Deer go bye bye immediately. 

[686 3448]

That looks like my stand.  Deer go bye bye immediately. 

Some of our deer will chase the turkeys off this feeder if they show up too soon.

[HOOKEM4 5036]

We have a solid turkey population but they are not interested in the corn. I have turkey/racoon feeders full of milo they stay on. Our turkeys are crazy skiddish. They are hard to see other than on camera. Cray to see that pic.

Edited November 28, 2021 by HOOKEM4

[fattyflattie 4639]

33 minutes ago, HOOKEM4 said:

They are hard to see other than on camera. Cray to see that pic.

I’m not joking when I say I see ~15 every single day. Maybe not at blind, but if not they’ll be somewhere between where I’m at and where I’m going.  What I haven’t seen lately are any hogs or javelinas.  

[Kennythetiger 9380]

14 hours ago, Anastasis said:

Boy just dropped his first deer with one on my ARs. He is in cloud nine right now trying to get out of the blind to go see where he hit it. It made it about 30 yds. Making him ride out a few more minutes cause a couple more deer popped out. But doesn’t look like anything I was to take a shot at. 

Pic?  

[deadshank 24652]

Wife popped this gnarled old 6.5 year old management buck this morn.  176 lbs. field weight   

 

[deadshank 24652]

A November to dismember 

[deadshank 24652]

[Kennythetiger 9380]

Wife needs to step a little closer to the camera…!

Looks like you set up your nephew for a repeat request to his folks next year. I haven’t killed a deer for about ten years. Traded hunting for guiding new hunters- more fun for me. 

[hornmpa96 2618]

Finally joined the ranks of bow hunters today. This deer went 1000 yards with an arrow through both lungs and his liver but we found him with some hounds.

[Anastasis 23469]

9 hours ago, Kennythetiger said:

Pic?  

"Doe" ended up being a yearling spike in the field.  Boy seem non-phased, didn't phase his smile. I'm a little disappointed in his spotter though.  Took a buck this morning to round out the trip. Didn't make it a yard from his spot.

 

 

 

 

 

[workswithseed 2103]

48 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

"Doe" ended up being a yearling spike in the field.  Boy seem non-phased, didn't phase his smile. I'm a little disappointed in his spotter though.  Took a buck this morning to round out the trip. Didn't make it a yard from his spot.

 

 

 

 

 

You're white?

[hornmpa96 2618]

1 hour ago, Anastasis said:

"Doe" ended up being a yearling spike in the field.  Boy seem non-phased, didn't phase his smile. I'm a little disappointed in his spotter though.  Took a buck this morning to round out the trip. Didn't make it a yard from his spot.

 

 

 

 

 

My first deer was a spike that was originally thought a doe. I still have those tiny antlers in my home office 30 years later.

[Brisketexan 105098]

Neighborhood buck - 9 points with a weird kicker to the side. He’s got a belly injury, though - don’t know if he’ll make it.

[CHIEF 5080]

CHIEF Jr. told me he really wanted my Book Auodad more than a 170+ WT. So yesterday morning we saw the biggest one (Number One) with the herd. Number two might be a little bit longer, but doesn't have as much mass. So we made a trade. I get to shoot whatever trophy whitetail we see, this year. The big bastard was still behind a mesquite tree when CHIEF Jr. let it rip. I wasn't ready, didn't see which way it went. He was pretty confident on the shot, he had aimed for the heart between an 8 inch fork in the tree. We went down, he climbed into the pen to look for blood. I immediately put down our weiner dog and followed him straight behind the pen about 30 yards, where this sonuvabitch laid dead, with a heart and double lung shot.

 

CHIEF

[Handcruser 2805]

Question:
I’m not really a deer hunter. Hogs and coyotes are more my speed.

Does a whitetail always remain a 4 point or 8 point or whatever? If I see a big 6 this year who is young, would he always be a six or can that change to an 8 or a 4 or a 12 or whatever?

[686 3448]

Question:
I’m not really a deer hunter. Hogs and coyotes are more my speed.

Does a whitetail always remain a 4 point or 8 point or whatever? If I see a big 6 this year who is young, would he always be a six or can that change to an 8 or a 4 or a 12 or whatever?

They will usually put on more antler mass and usually points as they mature. Most mature 4+ year old bucks in Texas will be at least an 8 point, and then more depending on nutrition, weather, genetics, etc.

[Brisketexan 105098]

CHIEF Jr. told me he really wanted my Book Auodad more than a 170+ WT. So yesterday morning we saw the biggest one (Number One) with the herd. Number two might be a little bit longer, but doesn't have as much mass. So we made a trade. I get to shoot whatever trophy whitetail we see, this year. The big bastard was still behind a mesquite tree when CHIEF Jr. let it rip. I wasn't ready, didn't see which way it went. He was pretty confident on the shot, he had aimed for the heart between an 8 inch fork in the tree. We went down, he climbed into the pen to look for blood. I immediately put down our weiner dog and followed him straight behind the pen about 30 yards, where this sonuvabitch laid dead, with a heart and double lung shot.
 

CHIEF

1 - freaking nice ram.

2 - goddamn….when did the boy become a grown-ass man? WTF? I feel old now.

[Both Tacos 1806]

You're white?

He's not but the kid is.

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4976]

2 hours ago, Handcruser said:

Question:
I’m not really a deer hunter. Hogs and coyotes are more my speed.

Does a whitetail always remain a 4 point or 8 point or whatever? If I see a big 6 this year who is young, would he always be a six or can that change to an 8 or a 4 or a 12 or whatever?

There have been lots of studies done on both wild and captive populations of deer, and the results are still controversial. Some folks believe that a deer that is inferior while it is young will be inferior when it is mature. Some folks believe that environmental factors play a bigger part in how many points it will have while it is young than genetics. Just like some kids mature later than others, some deer do the same. I dont think there is any way to really tell what their genetic potential is until they reach maturity. That said, if you need some meat for the freezer and a spike walks out and that is the only legal shot you have, smoke him. In general, shoot does unless you have a buck you would be proud to post on here, but if doe days are up and you aren't on MLD property, shoot a spike if you want the meat. Just don't be one of those folks who shoots anything with horns and is to macho to shoot a doe. Also, get a muzzleloader. You get two extra weeks and can shoot does again. Extra points if it is a traditional muzzleloader with a side lock of any variety.

[crimsonlonghorn 2306]

10 hours ago, CHIEF said:

CHIEF Jr. told me he really wanted my Book Auodad more than a 170+ WT. So yesterday morning we saw the biggest one (Number One) with the herd. Number two might be a little bit longer, but doesn't have as much mass. So we made a trade. I get to shoot whatever trophy whitetail we see, this year. The big bastard was still behind a mesquite tree when CHIEF Jr. let it rip. I wasn't ready, didn't see which way it went. He was pretty confident on the shot, he had aimed for the heart between an 8 inch fork in the tree. We went down, he climbed into the pen to look for blood. I immediately put down our weiner dog and followed him straight behind the pen about 30 yards, where this sonuvabitch laid dead, with a heart and double lung shot.

 

CHIEF

That little dog is one cocky SOB. Love it. 

I've told my son I'm at point in my life where I'd rather just eat the deer than shoot one and have to do all the attendant work, but I'd make an exception for something big and unusual like an aoudad or a nilgai.

[Herbie Hancock 7345]

Put “so I put my wiener down and let it do it’s thing” on the list of things I didn’t expect to read when opening this thread.