Look at the antlers on that stag!
It was a 60 pound button buck, and he and his sister came in. She ran off three times and came back. I didn’t want to take a little deer. He just stood there, and well, I thought: “What would a wolf or cougar do?”
The Rage broadhead took him quickly.
So one deer off my license for bow season.
I have found that this little blind works well with these pressured little Allegheny mountain deer:
I also weighs only 14 pounds and comes in a backpack, and it also takes 5 minutes to set up.
And you can shoot a crossbow or a compound bow inside it!
I’m not here to revel in gore. Deer populations have to be managed, and last year, the bumper white oak acorn mast meant that many more does than normal would have twins. This year’s acorn mast isn’t as impressive, which means lots of little dear like this button buck will starve to death, wind up hit by a car, or eaten by coyotes. In the dead cold of February, when the acorns are all gone, he won’t be among those starving. And his share of food will go to a more wary deer.
That’s how it’s gone on for millions of years, and humans have been hunting deer here for maybe 13,000 years.
And it will continue on.
Instead of a crossbow, shift to a gun. At least that is more humane. Takes the life more easily and doesn’t cause any animal suffering. That is, if you are a good marksmen.
Sorry, but gun season isn’t in until the third week in Nov.
This was the first year crossbows were legal in WV.
In my Facebook group, I posted photos of the entrance wound, which caused a massive bleed out and a quick death. I didn’t post it here, because I don’t think children or people with sensitive stomachs should see it.
Unfortunately firearms regulations are becoming stricter every day. Sometimes it’s because of safety near residential areas, but it’s also because of hunting pressure. Nowadays it’s becoming the norm that rifle season is only 3 days to 7 days long.
Well said. And may you harvest many more of this highly overpopulated species.
My first husband lived in West Virginia, but hailed from Maine. He said the Fall color was far more vivid than West Virginia’s. From you pictures, I see why. Even in Rhode Island in southern New England, even in the city, the colors are brighter: flaming reds, brilliant yellows, maroons, etc. But I still know that, in the Fall, in Maine, you crest a hill and all below you is a brilliantly vivid quilt composed of trees. BTW, when we were married, we lived in the then wilderness (in 1953-55). No roads even. You had to get to our cabin by canoeing down a river. I loved it. (Unfortunately, when I had my first baby, I couldn’t live there, and Harold couldn’t live in a city, so we parted ways even though we were still in love.)
elainechaika.com/dogs
ps.you might want to look at my blog on dogs.
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The forests here are dominated by oaks. Northern New England’s are dominated by beeches and maples, which turn much brighter than any oaks.
Congratulations. You’re one step closer to becoming Fred Bear!
In fact, you’re already halfway there since a few years ago you used to be anti-bow hunting based on grounds of animal cruelty. :)