Savvy Jack Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 My first year hunting in North Carolina since I moved here nearly eight years ago. I had been hunting in SC with my brother-in-law, dad and nephew. My brother-in-law passed away last year and my nephew lost the hunting land so I figured I'd start hunting the gamelands here. I decided this well into the season this year so I just decided to chalk it up to a scouting year. I think I found my spot so hope to improve for next year. Better concealment, scent deterrent....you know the drill. On my fourth (last) day out, I saw this guy come out. Thought it was a doe so I put the rifle down and got the camera. Once it got close I saw it was a spike but decided to let it go. He did finally spot me up the 30 degree slope but he eased backwards and headed off to the right. Once nearly out of sight, he got a whiff of me downwind, snorted and shot off like a bolt of lightning. Now that I found my spot, I'll be ready next year. Uberti Winchester 73, Malcom scope with some custom hunting loads. Video1.mp4 Video2.mp4 Video3.mp4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 Keep on hitting the woods and you will get the freezer full. I got my mule deer buck last month here in Colorado. Nice, fat deer and has been great eating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Cord Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 I let a nice spike go this year too. The hunt was still a grand adventure in God’s great outdoors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 Persistence trumps skill. Spend enough time out there and eventually you will get a shot that you like! I’m proof; not skillful, just persistent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 Well done. Kaya and I have been passing on spikes and forkies all season. We both took young does for the freezer. That cover looks awful thick! Perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 I thought you were s'posed to leave the little ones and let them grow ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 22 minutes ago, Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 said: I thought you were s'posed to leave the little ones and let them grow ..... No better eating than a young doe. And there's more deer than people where we hunt so taking a doe once in a bit is a good thing here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus McGillicuddy Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 What’s your hunting load for that 73? Seamus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smuteye John SASS#24774 Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 37 minutes ago, Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 said: I thought you were s'posed to leave the little ones and let them grow ..... Depends on if you're hunting for meat or bragging rights. Young does and spikes eat better than the old mossy horns. Best venison I ever had came from a little button head (antlers are just showing above the hair line). The neck steaks- cut thin, breaded and fried in butter- cut with a fork and literally melted in your mouth. In contrast, a buddy of mine took a 10 pointer that he'd been chasing for 2 seasons and it was the worst venison I've ever had. Tough as shoe leather, gamey tasting and stringy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 1 hour ago, Smuteye John SASS#24774 said: Depends on if you're hunting for meat or bragging rights. Young does and spikes eat better than the old mossy horns. Best venison I ever had came from a little button head (antlers are just showing above the hair line). The neck steaks- cut thin, breaded and fried in butter- cut with a fork and literally melted in your mouth. In contrast, a buddy of mine took a 10 pointer that he'd been chasing for 2 seasons and it was the worst venison I've ever had. Tough as shoe leather, gamey tasting and stringy. One is steaks, roasts and chops that melt in your mouth and the other is burger, sausage and jerky. But I will say that hunting with my daughter, I'll never shoot another "cute" buck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 We can apply for and sometimes get antlerless deer tags here. Just too many in some WMU's and they need to be culled back. A few years ago, I took both of these, a day apart, with my 1866 from the same stand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 Big bodied deer up there. Always wanted to hunt way north. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savvy Jack Posted December 25, 2021 Author Share Posted December 25, 2021 3 hours ago, Seamus McGillicuddy said: What’s your hunting load for that 73? Seamus 25.8gr to 26gr of Reloder 7 with a .428" 220gr 43-214A with a mild crimp in a .429" bore. Pending crimp method, I load for 1,350fps to keep the pressure where I want it. If interested, start with 25gr and work up, paying attention to the powder charge and the amount of crimp used to reach 1,350fps or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Bob Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 2 hours ago, Michigan Slim said: Big bodied deer up there. Always wanted to hunt way north. Bergmans rule seems to apply to body size , but not antlers . Some of those Texas bucks don’t have really big bodies but they sure seem to have allot of antler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smuteye John SASS#24774 Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 17 hours ago, Michigan Slim said: One is steaks, roasts and chops that melt in your mouth and the other is burger, sausage and jerky. But I will say that hunting with my daughter, I'll never shoot another "cute" buck! A fella can only eat so much deer burger afore he's craving a slice of roast or a neck steak fried in butter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 34 minutes ago, Smuteye John SASS#24774 said: A fella can only eat so much deer burger afore he's craving a slice of roast or a neck steak fried in butter. A roast in the crockpot for supper right now. Venison Manhattans' for supper. Venison spaghetti last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 We eat everything I shoot. Make my own burger, breakfast sausage, brats, roasts and steaks. I butcher all my own meat, that way I can control the quality. NEVER had any bad venison, elk, antelope or moose. Ask Original Lumpy Grits about my bbq venison steaks. Fed a bunch of hungry cowboys at a shoot a couple of years ago, not a speck of leftovers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 I only shoot what I intend to eat as well. Or if it's dangerous. I was taught that by my Father. I/we now do all our own butchering as well; moose and deer. Amazing how much more meat we end up with!! I guess the butchers we used to use to cut and wrap our harvest liked game meat as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 Dear hunting …. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 Why doesn't HE have to wear orange?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474 Posted December 25, 2021 Share Posted December 25, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 I used to think bucks like that were not possible. I've shot some dandies but nothing over 175 pounds. Thought he was as big as they get. My daughter proved that wrong two years in a row! A 187 pound 8 point and a 213 pound 11. Someday I'll get that magic 200!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smuteye John SASS#24774 Posted December 26, 2021 Share Posted December 26, 2021 13 hours ago, Michigan Slim said: I used to think bucks like that were not possible. I've shot some dandies but nothing over 175 pounds. Thought he was as big as they get. My daughter proved that wrong two years in a row! A 187 pound 8 point and a 213 pound 11. Someday I'll get that magic 200!! You just keep paying attention to them lessons Kaya is giving you and, if you say your prayers and eat all of your vegetables, maybe you'll be as good a hunter as your teenage daughter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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