2006 Deer Hunting Update #1.

Yes I know its already 3 1/2 weeks into the season but I have been too busy killing deer to post anything about it yet. Last weekend I killed my third, a four point buck that I wish I had passed up. The week before I killed a big doe across the train tracks from my neighborhood, near the Ocmulgee River. Opening day I shot what I thought was a doe that turned out to be a messed up buck with some gnarly looking blobs of antler. Good thing we got rid of him.

Now, for the hunters reading this I bet your asking yourself, "Hey, I thought you could only kill one little buck and the other had to be over... blah blah blah." And you would be absolutely correct. Although I could have probably tagged my first buck as an antlerless deer I didn't and so my friend Tim used his small buck tag for the four pointer. He kept the meat also as we already have a freezer full from my first two. Anything else I shoot now will either be donated or given to friends, many of which have requested meat since the beginning of deer season. Either way I am probably just trophy hunting at this point.

The surprising thing about this season is that:
1. We are seeing way more males than females.
2. Even the little (antlered) bucks are big bodied.
3. Our fall food plots are ridiculous!

We have spent the better part of the last few off seasons putting in two big food plots which, coupled with taking a lot of does, has apparently had a big impact on our bucks. They are bigger, healthier and there are more of them. At least, we're seeing more of them anyway. Now, if we could just get the REALLY big ones to step out in front of the stands. The next few weeks will be key as the rut (mating season) is starting and this is the best time of the season to see and harvest a big buck. Hopefully my next update will include a picture of one!

M@tt