bigbendmarine
5 year old buck +
Few forum members might recall my share of two bucks in velvet this past summer, one named "Lucky" due to REALLY wonky antlers he had his first three to four years (and that were still somewhat wonky) as well as "Split Ear" named for a pretty obvious reason. Split Ear was a fighter from his earliest days, busting up his rack each year. Lucky on the other hand had a more reclusive and sneaky disposition and whereas Split Ear would really muscle-up going into rut, Lucky always looked to have the thinner-bodied / long back-legged look of a 2.5 year old.
On a quick habitat note, as our gun season November 7th opening approached I planted my primary plot in mid-October.
By opening day, the plot was already fairly green...
During my first few sits of the season I was seeing a fair number of does and junior bucks, but the big boys were giving me the slip. Didn't surprise me too much, as it seemed prime rut didn't really kick in this year until the week of Thanksgiving. Thankfully my plot growth was pretty much peaking at the same time.
Split Ear was at the top of my list, BUT... only saw him twice from the house chasing does just days before Thanksgiving as I was getting dressed for work / wasn't in the stand. Actually got this picture of him in my plot Thanksgiving morning, the morning after I had just made an evening sit.
The next picture share of Split Ear came from the neighbor. One of his two grandsons who visits each Thanksgiving Day was blessed to harvest him. Ever the fighter, he broke his left G3 just a few days earlier. While I felt no hard feelings toward the neighbor at all, it did feel a bit unlucky having let it walk multiple times in previous years and having filmed it multiple times across the years only to have him dodge me in 2020.
Interestingly, though I'd had camera captures of Split Ear and sightings from the house, I had not seen Lucky since season opening and wondered if he might have been harvested as well.
Finally, in early December our paths crossed. He followed a doe into the far edge of my plot, but didn't run in, instead doing so warily and without presenting me a broadside shot. The doe he was following actually ran out of the plot and he followed her and I thought for sure my chance at him had passed, but a few minutes later she jogged back in and she began feeding fairly close to me / about 50 yards away. A minute or so later Lucky started warrily working his way into the plot again, hugging the brush filled edge to the point that I didn't feel comfortable taking a shot . Only after what felt like an eternity did he inch out into the open enough I was given a clear shot.
Freezer is now full (LOTS of pork in it going into deer season) and I'm thankful to have been able to follow these two bucks for multiple years thanks to their distinguishing characteristics and character. My season is likely over unless a really ancient grizzled warrior shows up before season ends January 24th. Not that I think I'll get much pity from those of you who live in much colder climates, but I'm honestly ready for a break from the "no-see-um" biting midges. Despite having had three hard frosts now, and with two of those frosts resulting from temps in the mid-20s, the no-see-ums are still alive and unfortunately well as I share this season update. Still, as Florida goes can't help but feel mightily blessed.
On a quick habitat note, as our gun season November 7th opening approached I planted my primary plot in mid-October.
By opening day, the plot was already fairly green...
During my first few sits of the season I was seeing a fair number of does and junior bucks, but the big boys were giving me the slip. Didn't surprise me too much, as it seemed prime rut didn't really kick in this year until the week of Thanksgiving. Thankfully my plot growth was pretty much peaking at the same time.
Split Ear was at the top of my list, BUT... only saw him twice from the house chasing does just days before Thanksgiving as I was getting dressed for work / wasn't in the stand. Actually got this picture of him in my plot Thanksgiving morning, the morning after I had just made an evening sit.
The next picture share of Split Ear came from the neighbor. One of his two grandsons who visits each Thanksgiving Day was blessed to harvest him. Ever the fighter, he broke his left G3 just a few days earlier. While I felt no hard feelings toward the neighbor at all, it did feel a bit unlucky having let it walk multiple times in previous years and having filmed it multiple times across the years only to have him dodge me in 2020.
Interestingly, though I'd had camera captures of Split Ear and sightings from the house, I had not seen Lucky since season opening and wondered if he might have been harvested as well.
Finally, in early December our paths crossed. He followed a doe into the far edge of my plot, but didn't run in, instead doing so warily and without presenting me a broadside shot. The doe he was following actually ran out of the plot and he followed her and I thought for sure my chance at him had passed, but a few minutes later she jogged back in and she began feeding fairly close to me / about 50 yards away. A minute or so later Lucky started warrily working his way into the plot again, hugging the brush filled edge to the point that I didn't feel comfortable taking a shot . Only after what felt like an eternity did he inch out into the open enough I was given a clear shot.
Freezer is now full (LOTS of pork in it going into deer season) and I'm thankful to have been able to follow these two bucks for multiple years thanks to their distinguishing characteristics and character. My season is likely over unless a really ancient grizzled warrior shows up before season ends January 24th. Not that I think I'll get much pity from those of you who live in much colder climates, but I'm honestly ready for a break from the "no-see-um" biting midges. Despite having had three hard frosts now, and with two of those frosts resulting from temps in the mid-20s, the no-see-ums are still alive and unfortunately well as I share this season update. Still, as Florida goes can't help but feel mightily blessed.
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