Hunting can be challenging or downright frustrating at times. If you are expecting to shoot a big buck every season, you may be in for a rude awakening.
It seems that if you don't harvest a trophy buck the first couple years, you will likely be in for a long wait. Beginner’s luck seems to bless many of us, unfortunately, it is typically followed by a dry spell. Call it fate or luck, either way, many first-timers harvest a nice buck. Their next reaction is to expect more of the same the following season. Many will realize their expectations to be a bit far-fetched. Some believe harvesting a big buck by your second season is a blessing, while others may learn to view it as a curse.
I can speak from experience on this topic. My first season was successful, although it was only a one-horn buck. I wanted to harvest a deer, and wasn't worried about size at this point. The plan changed a bit my second season. I learned to rattle and grunt deer in over the summer, and set my sights on a bigger deer.
My next buck was taken the following year, which was the winter of 1995. We had been hit by a substantial snow fall with accumulations reaching nearly three feet. I remember trudging through nearly waist-deep snow on my way into the woods. I wondered whether I would even see deer in such conditions. Experience now tells me these are the best conditions to hunt. Deer tend to break trails in deep snow; they then repeatedly use these trails to conserve energy. My dad and I split up at the wood line, and headed to our spots. Around 10 a.m., my dad made his way over to me to see how I was dealing with the cold. I was fine, so he headed back out. He only made it a few hundred yards before he spotted a deer. He took the shot and downed the small buck. I made my way toward him to find heavily used criscrossing trail systems. I made my mind up to sit in the spot the following morning. We dragged his deer to the truck, which was nearly a quarter mile away. To this day, I don’t recall a more exhausting drag.
I barely slept that night. I kept envisioning the heavily used trails with high expectations. We headed out before sunrise, but decided to sit together. I sat on one side of the tree with my dad on the other side. I let it get light out before I made my first rattling sequence. We waited and listened for about half an hour before the next sequence. After I finished, we both thought deer were heard walking out of sight just below us. I waited about 15 minutes and rattled once again. I barely had set down the horns when movement was spotted. The deer was coming right at me about 75 yards away, but it was too thick to see what it was. I told my dad to turn around so he could see the deer. It continued in our direction, which led it into a much less cluttered area. My next recollection was seeing horns on both sides of a large tree. I told my dad it was a huge buck, but he was unable to spot it. When he finally spotted it, the deer was only 50 yards away. I remember him stuttering to simply try to get the word “shoot” him out. At this poin,t I didn't have a clear shot, so I replied I can't. There was an opening at 40 yards, which was where the deer was headed. I steadied my sights in the opening, and let the deer walk into it. The deer bucked on the shot, but my gun jammed. Luckily I made a good shot, and the large eight-point was seen going down less than 50 yards away.
I expected to harvest a big deer every year after such an experience. This was further from reality than I had anticipated. It took 10 seasons before I was able to harvest a deer bigger than him. I shot a few small eight-points in between, but nothing to brag about. I took my second large buck with a bow, and I don't expect to top it anytime soon.
On the other hand, there are the hunters that have paid their dues, but have yet to get a wall-hanger. I know people that have hunted for 20-plus years, but have never harvested a trophy. The only words of wisdom you can offer is to keep going out, sooner or later one will cross your path.
On Thanksgiving day this year, that happened for my hunting buddy, Jared Meek. We hung a stand up together early in the fall, which was in a pinch point between a large woodlot and an apple thicket. It was a great spot to sit, but an even better place to push deer through. Jared’s father, Ron, began his push into the hard woods in hopes a deer would run his way. To their surprise, what exited the woods to escape into the apple thicket was the biggest buck either of them had ever shot. When all was said and done, Jared had harvested a monster buck the likes of which he had never seen. This was his 16th year hunting deer, and he stated was well worth the wait.
Congratulations Jared, and to those who stuck it out until they were able to handle their first set of antlers. This is likely to happen only a few times in your life, so take a lot of pictures and be truly proud of your efforts.
Regular season for deer ends Sunday, Dec. 8. Muzzleloader and bow season runs from Dec. 9-17. Good wishes and don't expect a yearly trophy.