Deer Hunting Journal Novenmber 9, 2024
Opening day here in Kentucky fell on my birthday. This is my Deer Hunting Journal 2024. I have killed most of my good bucks on my birthday all with my bow. Bowhunting is all I have done for more than 25 years. I always tried to kill a mature buck with a few does in the mix for the freezer. Over the past several years I have been using a gun and love it. Bow hunting is work, especially when hunting mature whitetails. I still love to bow hunt but I decided a few years ago to give up just hunting mature whitetails and just go hunting and have fun and hang up some of the seriousness that comes with chasing mature bucks. Don’t get me wrong I still try and find a good buck to shoot but just not as serious about it. This has lifted a lot of pressure that I loved in my younger days and it is replaced with just enjoying the hunt more. I always enjoyed being in the woods just as much as I do now but with some of the pressures of hunting mature whitetails lifted it is nice. If you have ever hunted mature bucks seriously you know what I am talking about.
This 2024 season started with taking my nephew Rylee for the first time. He was so excited about deer hunting with his uncle Kenny, and it felt good. Here is last years first hunt with uncle Kenny a squirrel hunt with his first gun I gave him for Christmas https://www.ramblingangler.com/rylees-first-squirrel-hunt/ I took time before the season to find a place with plenty of deer for him to see. It is like bluegill fishing when you take a kid fishing for the first time, you want there to be some action. I found a spot that was loaded, and opening morning and evening with Rylee proved exciting with two bucks and nine does, all within 60 yards. The only shot opportunity was a spike at 40 yards. I had to stop it as it trotted into view, and I knew he wasn’t staying long, so I was whispering for Rylee to take the shot.
This added to the situation a little nervousness but I think he made the one mistake I had warned him against during my deer hunting lecture the night before. I know this because while I saw the deer trot in initially and was watching it as Rylee was preparing to take the shot I never noticed that it was a spike. After Rylee missed, he turned to me and said that it was a spike. I asked him then if he shot at his antlers and laughed. He said he didn’t, but if he saw the spikes, he was more focused on whether it was a buck than making a quick shot. I told him that that’s OK, you know what you did better than me, and he should learn from that miss. It was a great hunt with lessons learned and deer seen up close two things you need to start and to continue the lifelong learning about the greatest big game species.
Deer Hunting Journal November 1o, 2024
Have you ever decided to stay home and not go hunting then wish you had? This morning was that way. I remember many over the years but with a trail camera it can really make you sick for not going on a perfect morning. Sipping hot coffee on my back porch listening to the sound of the woods as it woke up to a gorgeous sunrise and a slightly cooler temperature. I was standing there wishing I had gone hunting but I wanted to fill some orders for a couple good customers and get them in the mail for them today. So, I wasn’t that upset about going until I heard a ding on my phone and opened the spypoint trail camera app. There was two images for my viewing and it was a good little 8 pointer right where I would have been had I gone. I have to say though the first thing I thought of was how I wished Rylee could have stayed one more day so he could redeem himself from opening morning. Oh well that’s hunting and it’s all good. You can bet I will be there this evening.
Deer Hunting Journal November 11. 2024
Not much happening this evening as far as deer movement. I did have a deer standing behind me when I was leaving but too dark to tell what it was.
Deer Hunting Journal November 12, 2024
I returned to my spot this morning. It was a beautiful morning as I sat under a tree watching the woods and the area slightly below me. After an hour or two I heard something trotting in from behind me. I turned to see a buck trailing a doe, probably the same one I spooked when leaving yesterday. They were within 20 yards and coming quick. The doe would have nearly stepped on me had I not turned to get into position for a shot. I also wanted to get the hunt on video so I hit the record button and turned the camera but when the deer spooked and trotted up the hill I had to take the shot or the 8 pointer would be gone.
I made my first shot while hunting with my new 6.5 Creedmore Ruger, won in a raffle at one of our writers conference. My preference is a 30’06 for hunting all North American big game. I have shot hogs, bear and deer with my 30’06 Winchester before it was stolen. I have to say though I like the 6.5 Creedmore and am not too sure why it gets so much flak for being a sissy cartridge. Just a social media keyboard warrior thing I guess. The shot was made on the whitetail at 75 yards with no rest and it dropped where he stood. I got the 2 deer on camera just as they spooked and they went just off camera when I made the shot. I didn’t have time to turn the camera and got more of them than I thought when I checked the media.
It was a great hunt and the best public land buck I have taken in several years. I only with my nephew Rylee would have got him instead of me. This buck has his excitement through the roof and he is ready for his next weekend hunting with me here in Kentucky. I can’t wait and I have a couple more good bucks on camera and you can bet I will be sitting with Rylee next weekend teaching him about deer, hunting and respecting our resources. It feels so good to pass on a passion and a lifestyle and I encourage you to do the same. Let us work together to continue our great American traditions and the outdoor lifestyle. Good Hunting
Video of my public land 8 pointer look at right side of screen I barely had time to turn the camera on and turn it but you can see the deer spook and run up the hill.
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