[20']

It has likely been the best late season action I have ever had, but the end result is still squat!

I crowded a well know bedding area (sanctuary) that I believe to be unmolested all season, was able to gain access from a different enrty location to minimize my impact. First morning had a big shooter within 50 yards for close to an hour, but as he closed to 35 yards the lanes were just not there. I tried him a couple mornings later and nothing. Set-up about 15 yards further to the North the 3rd sit and I spied him and a couple dinks within about 60-80 yards feeding, he bedded up 40-50 yards and I was able to keep eyes on him for a couple hours and then he got up as did I, but he moved a bit closer to 30 yards and bedded with tons of brush and a big tree between us. Two hours later around 1230 they got up as did I and they feed off, then a dink headed my way into my patch to about 8-10 yards away, I was up and ready, but no signs of the shooter, about 2-3 minutes later here he comes, bad news is the dink has me pegged.....shooter walks right to him, but there is no way to draw without blowing the area and even if I wanted to chance drawing as he approached (knowing the dink would reupt) they stop in 10-20 yards the area is too thick for fast acting holes to shoot through. Shooter calmly walks into thick stuff a few yards away and the dink walks back the way he came and the shooter follows. Good news is the 150 class 10 will be likely be a giant this Fall, assuming he doesn't perish this Winter, get poached, break up, blue tongue, CWD, etc.......hunted a different piece maybe 3/4 mile if that and busted him out with his crew easing in an afternoon sit!!!! Oh well, seemed to learn some things watching him for 5 hours bedded, more related to wind and how they chose their beds and directions they face!!!

Had a recent afternoon sit at a completely different area and sure enough the mini buck parade started about 20 minutes before dark, 2.5, 2.5, 3.5 busted 10 I have had two close encounters with and then here comes a bigger 8 I am thinking it is on.....binos say he is my guy, but I put the binos down and give him the eye test and i decide shooting this 125-130' buck would just be selfish, and as he walks through my 3rd window at 20 yards I spy more movement and I am like yes here we go.....well not so fast, another damn 2.5 yo buck!!!! Solid sit anytime, but really good for the last couple days of the season!

This afternoon is not happening for me, so I am down to the final two days to get it done....I have a feeling some does are going to get the business!

Good luck to anyone getting out!

I only slightly wish there was more time, but there isn't!

 

[20']

A 150" class 10 point can't become a booner if you kill him when he's a 150" Class 10 pt.
For years on here, you have lamented not having a booner. If that is truly your goal, you have got to pass on 150" deer, unless you just "luck" into one.

I personally, have no desire to ever pass on a 150" and will leave the booner to dumb luck some day.

I passed him

You honestly don't think I understand what he would likely grow to next year???? Some of you cannot comprehend (and try and deflect/slander ) that l want more MATURE bucks for EVERYONE to HUNT, period! The byproduct of having more mature bucks in the Missouri woods...sure,would be more booners, but more magnum, TOP END studs, like 200+ - 230" inch deer.

 

[20']

This especially true for a 150" deer that has lasted until Jan13 without getting itself killed....

He just might be the buck of your dreams, but not this year.

He won't be the buck of my dreams next year either (but he would certainly be awesome and likely be 168ish), although he would be my biggest!!!! But this year or next he would be one I would be extremely happy to give a truck ride! I am not hunting Drury controlled type ground, nor are most deer hunters in North America. Maybe I am wrong, maybe deer hunters don't like the idea of having more top end or even world class deer around and are just happy killing a forky and never think anything bigger is possible.

 

[20']

My comment was meant to be construtive criticism, and provide to you and example how all of us as hunters can make the hunting better all on our own, I don't need MDC to mandate what everyone else does, when the best thing I can do, is take care of my own business.

If the 150" had presented a shot, would you have taken it?

100% I was going to shoot him and zero qualms about it!!! The fact he left unscathed bothers me a little, but not too bad since he only needs to survive 1 week from that encounter. 4.5 yo+ bucks are a go for me every time, unless I have pictures of a hammer.

MDC already mandates everything we do as hunters, a little better byproduct or effort with their season decisions is all many would like to see! Unlike the MDC, many hunters don't consider a 2.5 yo mature, but many firearms hunters consider it a trophy, especially those NR from the southern states!

I will give the MDC credit, when they okie doked archery hunters eliminating a 3rd any deer possibily, they knew what they were doing when including crossbows for any able-bodied hack,! Although, for the best conservation organization in the country, they were not upfront and honest with the why!

 

[20']

again, there aren't a bunch of regs that need to be changed!

The point of this post was not further share my disdain for the spinless and seemingly incompetent MDC decision makers!

It was to merely to share that deer are moving during daylight.

 

[20']

You've put in the time to deserve a good one, time to kill someting!

does will be on the menu! You have put in the time as well, does not always workout, it certainly is sometimes aggravating, but always fun!!!

 

[20']

"able bodied hack".....is there any other ethical and legal ways to hunt you want to gripe about or people you'd like to insult?

I mean, as long as you're on your high horse, might as well go for the long haul.

nope, IMO (and I said IMO) crossbows are as etchical for archery as ARs are for traditional season!

Just in case you missed it over the years.....I was against full inclusion, supported an age to for crossbow inclusion - pick and age for crossbow use during archery 55-60???? bodies wear out and I have NEVER suggested anyone not be allowed to participate in archery, as the MDC allowed medical releases! I even supported them after firearms for everyone!

If I live long enough there will be a time when I need a crossbow during archery, but it certainly won't be because I was too much of a hack to participate because it was too difficult to actually use a bow!

I would also support a traditional archery season, be great Sept 1-15th!!!!

Don't be so sensitive Steelman

 

[20']

So, my son has harvested 3 deer in the last two years, 2 doe last year and this year a 10pt buck, using his AR-10 in .308 that he built himself, with a 5 shot magazine all with 1 shot each. He is rightfully proud of himself and I'm proud of him too. I'd say one shot kills are pretty ethical.
I'm curious, what do you find unethical about this?

What's the difference between a semi-automatic AR rifle and a semi-auto hunting rifle? The actions are the same.

You're right you will need to use a crossbow someday, I'm living proof. IMO

Don't be such an a--hat 20'

that is awesome, he built it and used it to kill the deer!!!!!!!!! The ARs in traditions is silly

 

[20']

Good tone tone getting out this final weekend! I’m hoping to thin a few does.

 

[20']

Best solution in my opinion is 1 buck tag per year good for any leagal weapon approved for the season you’re hunting. Pick your poison. When you punch your buck tag you’re done unless you want to help control the population by harvesting does. Problem solved.

Yup, if the firearms season is moved to December bring it on, otherwise don’t piss on my back and tell it is raining!

 

[20']

I’m taking my chances on the dink busting and drawing on him, time it right and if the big boy hesitates at all he’s dead

That thought was 100% going through my mind, but there were no goo windows of any size and the dink was looking at me, they were close enough that maybe the bust it 10-15 yards, but again there were almost no windows to that side that were bigger than soccer balls. I really wanted to draw as he was walking towards the dink, and likely he would have hesitated a moment, but lack of openings had me thinking otherwise.

since it absolutely did NOT work outand I didn’t get him in range again drawing May have worked???

 

[20']

Not without moving that firearms season outta the peak rut, no thanks

 

[20']

I think moving the season would be a harder sell than the 1 buck rule so I would take a victory with that if I could get it. I would also support moving the rifle season back at least a week but there seems to an awful lot of pushback on moving rifle. If the ultimate goal is to improve buck age structure, I believe the 1 buck rule would accomplish that.

Do it right or don’t do it!

 

[20']

I know that a big part of the draw for NR coming to MO are the relatively cheap over the counter tags and the timing of the bow/gun season (rut) allows the possibility of taking two bucks home. If a hunter has 2 weeks to dedicate to hunting the last week of archery and the 1st week of rifle, odds are pretty good that 2 bucks can be harvested on a good lease. Not too many NR are willing to go home with tag soup so maybe harvest a couple of 125 in 3 yr old deer. How many nonresidents contribute significantly to doe harvest? I would venture to say 97% don't. At the very least, I think changing NR tags to 1 buck and 1 doe good for any legal weapon allowed for the season makes sense. If I only have one buck tag in my pocket, I get a lot more picky about what I shoot. I venture to say 97% of other hunters would be more picky too.

I would be for the NR going to OBR!!!! I would even be willing to something along the lines of only 1 buck through the end of firearms season, so if I killed one in archery I could not shoot another until after firearms, especially if they moved the season a week or so, but even if they did not move the season. But honestly, MDC has already taken opportunity from archery hunters, I am not looking to take any opportunity from anyone, rather just tweak the firearms season placement! Start the firearms season the Monday of the week BEFORE thanksgiving, and run it to the Sunday of thankgiving weekend.....that would be an additional 2 days, 14 days total, two weekends, the 2nd weeekend would LIKELY allow families to hunt together and maybe more relatives that moved away to hunt with family. It would also allow many to save a day or two of vacation. Key is starting the firearms season on a MONDAY!!

MDC should also get rid of the 2 turkey tags that come with the archery tags. If you wanted a chance at a turkey purchase a separate turkey tag and make some more revenue for the MDC.

 

[20']

And I don’t feel sorry for someone who posts 3.5 year olds that they have killed multiple times,preaching about banning this and banning that to try an make hunting better for themselves. And I’m not talking about you but I’m sure they know who they are if they feel guilty lol.
[/QUOTE]

You must be one of the inbred southern folk people speak of, because I have NEVER said ban this or ban that, I have pushed for moving the 12-day firearms season out of the peak rut, keep archery season to bows, an keeping traditional season to weapons that are not semi autos (oh the horror)!!!!!! But bumping the firearms back would put more MATURE deer for EVERYONE to hunt, not just ONE person (I can't help you understand that), and still allow hunters to kill what they want!! You are likely better at aging deer you shoot .....than you are at some others you may see. I don't know if the buck i shot this year was 3.5 or 4.5, I was leaning 3.5 and couple others said likely 4.5, don't care there was no one more pissed off than I was whether he was 3.5 or 4.5 or even if he was 8.5!!!! You may think the southern boys don't shoot 2.5 year bucks, but they most certainly do in Missouri if my buddies that hunt public know what a 110' deer looks like piled in trucks with MS, LA, AL, FL plates.

 

[20']

But I’m not somebody who thinks

you could have just typed this![/QUOTE]

 

[20']

Awww you feeling guilty I see. Funny I didn’t name anybody but you spoke up lol. Nope you never said ban crossbows and you didn’t say making NR have 1 buck tag you would support lol. And like I said but you fail to understand math. If every non resident killed nothing but 2.5 year olds do you know how many amounts of deer that age and younger than that has to be killed by residents to make the average harvest for the entire state to be 1.5-2.5 year old bucks. It’s not even close. And since you are feeling guilty you must be owning up to shooting some 3.5 year olds so apparently you aren’t even willing to pass a good young deer to begin with so when your dream utopia happens and there is more big deer to shoot are you going to pass a 150” 3.5 year old?What about a 170” 3.5 year old?If you would shoot a big 3.5 year old then someone shooting what you would call a dink that’s 3.5 you are no better than them. My buddies and me must be the greatest hunters alive since we kill and see lots of big deer that apparently don’t exist lol

Guilty, nah, I don't feel guilty at all, I feel bad that I wanted to kick dirt on the buck i killed when any southern deer hunter would have paraded him around the town square! Understand this, I will glady shoot a 150" or 170" 1.5yo much less a 3.5yo buck!! I warms my heart how good some of you think you can age a deer on the hoof, 170" free range 3.5yo ....we will just leave it at that!! Those dream utopias already happen in KS, IA, IL, OH, WI and other states that don't have a 12-day OTC tags firearms season smack in the peak of the peak rut! Plus, some of those states limit OOS hunter numbers and put their residents first. You mention the MDC could make easy changes to alleviate NR pressure on public ground (and I agree). That same MDC could make much needed and easy tweaks to the firearms season that would allow for a better age structure and still allow anyone to shoot what they choose; I mean they have not been trying to grow the herd for a couple decades and still have the same management plan!

Feel free to show me one, just one place where I ever said ban crossbows? Again, I can't help you understand things as simple as a better age structure allows more mature deer, for everyone to hunt.

 

[20']

Personally, I've never understood the logic behind dislike of someone hunting in your state, just because they don't live there. But, we see it in every state where hunting occurs, some more than others, IL for instance is a very much anti-NR state.

I hunt in several other states, and don't want them hating on me, although some do.... I just don't understand it, we're all Americans in my book, just because I live here or there really don't matter to me. I welcome NR hunters to MO, the same I welcome residents. Get out there, enjoy your time in the woods. If hunting is negatively impacting game numbers, that's where limits and season length come in to play. If there is public land getting too much pressure, put it into a draw quota format. But biiitching about someone because they live across some arbitrary line is silly in my book.

I also don't believe anyone should ever have to pay more than $100 for a freak'n whitetail tag. But hey, that's just me.

I honestly don't have an issue with NR hunters, but I don't think for a minute they should get the same opportunity/tags as the residents of that state! I have mentioned it before, there is no-way NR should take a managed hunt spot from a resident that has applied. I do like the thought of NR fees being reciprocal with what their home state charges NR.

I do believe that Iowa does it right not guaranteeing NR tags and it helps keep leases prices down and resident opportunities open!

 

[20']

So, you would like it if IL treated you like an alien as well.... NR Tags is not an issue in this State....

I believe you may think otherwise in regard to NR is you hunted public! NR tags are driving up lease prices as well...and who is going to these outfitters?? Not saying NR are bad, but to imply they do not impact hunting opportunities and access to land is not accurate.

I have to apply for tags every year in IL and I am not guaranteed a tag, yes it sucks, but residents should come first, JMO. Not sure how that is being treated like an alien.

 

[20']

So, you would like it if IL treated you like an alien as well.... NR Tags is not an issue in this State....

What is the issue in MO? MO is fine and a good hunting state, just not what we COULD be, notice I said could. Just a few tweaks could vault MO to #1 and these tweaks would not take away opportunity! I do think that the APR helped change some hunters mentality