Natty Bumppo
5 year old buck +
Thought I'd do a post about the most incredible year I had here in NW Massachusetts. Many "firsts". First time I've ever tagged out in Massachusetts since 1987. First time I've ever shot 2 deer from the same stand on the same night. These 2 bucks are the first deer I've taken on my own land since I began doing food plots seriously about 15 years ago. These 2 bucks also represent the biggest buck I've ever taken...and the smallest.
I coached my high school soccer team this fall, which just takes a huge toll on the October and early Nov. bow season. When we finally got knocked out of the state tournament the first week of Nov. I could finally get in my stand. On my 4th evening hunt I small spike presented a shot in a food plot I've been working on for 15 years. It's a little hour-glass shaped plot that gets a lot of traffic during the rut. I have been hunting this plot for 15 year over the pinch point in which a scrape develops every year. I normally don't shoot small spikes or 4 pointers, but last year in 3 months of hunting I saw a single buck and maybe 3 or 4 does. We have a very low deer density in my neck of the woods. Tracking is how I do most of my hunting. I decided to take the spike to put some meat in the freezer which I enjoy. Can't takes does in my zone. Made a good shot and he ran off and crashed. It was 3:30 so I decided to sit until dark.
A half hour later I saw a nice buck feeding on my rye and oats in another small plot about 100 yards away. I grunted to him and he SLOWLY made his way over to me. Made a good shot on him and he ran off and crashed. Both double lung. Both ran no more than 80 yards. I was using the 2 blade Rage. The 9 pointer weighed 188 lbs.
A once in a lifetime hunt for me here. Went from seeing 1 deer last year in 3 months of hunting to tagging 2 in a 30 minute window this year. I know compared to some of the deer you guys are taking on your properties these deer are small beans. But here in NW Mass it feels really good to harvest a few deer in my plots.
I coached my high school soccer team this fall, which just takes a huge toll on the October and early Nov. bow season. When we finally got knocked out of the state tournament the first week of Nov. I could finally get in my stand. On my 4th evening hunt I small spike presented a shot in a food plot I've been working on for 15 years. It's a little hour-glass shaped plot that gets a lot of traffic during the rut. I have been hunting this plot for 15 year over the pinch point in which a scrape develops every year. I normally don't shoot small spikes or 4 pointers, but last year in 3 months of hunting I saw a single buck and maybe 3 or 4 does. We have a very low deer density in my neck of the woods. Tracking is how I do most of my hunting. I decided to take the spike to put some meat in the freezer which I enjoy. Can't takes does in my zone. Made a good shot and he ran off and crashed. It was 3:30 so I decided to sit until dark.
A half hour later I saw a nice buck feeding on my rye and oats in another small plot about 100 yards away. I grunted to him and he SLOWLY made his way over to me. Made a good shot on him and he ran off and crashed. Both double lung. Both ran no more than 80 yards. I was using the 2 blade Rage. The 9 pointer weighed 188 lbs.
A once in a lifetime hunt for me here. Went from seeing 1 deer last year in 3 months of hunting to tagging 2 in a 30 minute window this year. I know compared to some of the deer you guys are taking on your properties these deer are small beans. But here in NW Mass it feels really good to harvest a few deer in my plots.
