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I feel conflicted...really really happy, but conflicted. Long read...pic heavy.
Allyn T:
Alright so to your original question. I think it's hard to know for sure what I would do unless I was actually in it but here is what I think I would feel. I would have definitely continued to hunt that deer this year because you can't rely on him being there next year. As far as using a rifle I really don't know but if I did I would assume I'd end up regretting it and feel like I let myself down. Idk how many tags you get where your from but if your worried about meat(like I am this year) you could always shoot a doe and then wouldn't feel that pressure so you could pursue the buck on your own terms however you see fit. Either way that is a hell of a buck and I'm happy you were able to kill him.
bjrogg:
I wouldn’t feel to bad. That would be a shame to feel bad about hunting period, let alone harvesting the animal you made your goal to harvest.
Enjoy this one.
As for the selfbow Hunt. I think when you do get one, it might help you relax a little. You realize it isn’t impossible. It wouldn’t require that big rack to feel like a real trophy worthy of space on your wall.
It might ruin the rest of your hunting though. I can’t hardly make myself hunt with anything but a stick bow anymore. I don’t have any problem with anyone else hunting with whatever legal weapons they choose, but I just don’t feel the same thrill I do when hunting with my selfbow. Sometimes I wish I did.
I always really enjoy hunting fox. I really like spotting them and then stalking them. I started with a rifle. Then switch to 12 gauge to make it more challenging. I’m very seriously thinking my next stalk is going to be with my bow. I know it’s going to be really challenging, but if I succeed it would be awesome and if the Fox gets the win. Well that’s good to. I’m finding myself routing for the big bucks and the sly fox more as I get older. I don’t mind seeing them win to.
Bjrogg
ssrhythm:
--- Quote from: Allyn T on October 13, 2021, 10:32:44 pm ---I can't believe rifle season is that early. I think one of the Carolinas has rifle season all season in half the state
--- End quote ---
I’m from SC originally. In my part of the state (Midlands), archery starts Sep. 1 and rifle/gun starts Sep. 15 and runs through Jan 1. In the lower state, everything starts Aug 15 and runs through Jan 1. Mountain and Upstate starts Oct 10 ish and runs thru Jan 1.
When I first hunted Ohio, I let a doe get by me because I wouldn’t stand and get drawn due to how open it was. My Bud told me that I was nuts. I finally figured out that the deer there didn’t walk around looking up in the trees. In SC, the deer have ptsd and will literally keep their eyes up and scanning the trees. If you can kill a deer…any deer in SC with a bow, you can kill one anywhere with a bow. It’s ridiculous.
I don’t feel bad at all about killing the deer. I know that come rut, that deer woulda chased does all over and through open ground where someone with a type 3 tag woulda likely killed him with a rifle. Had he avoided that, he’d have to survive the winter and EHD. The second time I saw him, I heard him cough just prior to seeing him. I don’t know what that is about, but I’ve never heard a deer cough in my 53 years, so I don’t think that could be a good thing. I do wish I had maintained my feet and put an arrow in him that first afternoon, but it didn’t happen that way. I’ll be in good shape to stick with the bow next year.
ssrhythm:
Oh…I hunted Aug 15 opener once for about 20 minutes. 97 degrees with 95% humidity and mosquitoes that try to kill you and fly you to an optimal location to finish eating you simply is NOT what deer hunting is about.
Pappy:
Beautiful buck for sure. Congrats, As for him not making it through gun season , not sure about that, he has made it a pretty good while it looks like and they usually only get wiser as they get older. I only hunt with a self bow and have for years but I do understand my limits and am good with the fact that most every year I see nice Bucks that I never see again or get killed on the next farm or 2 over, [not many as good as yours] ;) :) not sure how to explain it but if you can't except that you will never stay with it. I just decide years ago that this is what I hunt with and have to make the best of it, not much of a horn hunter anyway so I guess that helps. Again congrats very nice Buck.
Pappy
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