Outlook for 2011

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Esox_Hunter
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2011/02/21 19:06:31 (permalink)

Outlook for 2011

I just thought I would share some recent trail cam photos I have been getting. Nothing huge yet, but plenty of bucks are around.

I am itching to get some shed hunting in, but it sure seems like the majority of the bucks in our area are still carrying racks.









What are yinz guys seeing? Throw some pics up!!
#1

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    Fisherlady2
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/21 20:17:53 (permalink)
    Great pics... looks like a good future in your area. I really like the looks of the body shape on that first photo of the young fellow with just the one antler. He's gonna be a dandy one in a couple of years I'd bet!
    #2
    S-10
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/21 20:26:02 (permalink)
    What part of the state do you live in Essox? It's no wonder you don't see any problem with HR. Apparently you don't get much snow either. I spent all day plowing and shoveling 9" of the fresh white stuff today. That's as many bucks as I've I've seen since the first day of rifle season including the one I'am feeding.
    #3
    Esox_Hunter
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/21 20:50:53 (permalink)
    Most of my hunting takes place in 2B and southern 2D.

    I will give you the fact that we have been very fortunate this year regarding the snow. This is payback for last year when we were plagued with 3'+ most of Feb/Mar. We had almost no snow for the last week until it decided to dump about 5" on us since 4pm today

    The strange thing is, and I am not suprised, is that we have more pics of bucks than we do does (not counting fawns).
    post edited by Esox_Hunter - 2011/02/21 20:57:26
    #4
    dpms
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/21 21:03:56 (permalink)
    Nice group of deer.  In my part of 2B, most still have thier antlers as well.  Usually don't start dropping till mid March. 

    My rifle is a black rifle
    #5
    S-10
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/21 21:12:33 (permalink)
    I've got relation that lives handy to where 76 and 79 meet and comparing that to where I live is night and day. Before he moved to there he came up and hunted with me every year. He hasn't been up in 15 years. Even before HR he had way better bucks than we do. Better feed and a lot more ground posted by non-hunters.
    #6
    dpms
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/21 21:51:51 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: S-10

    I've got relation that lives handy to where 76 and 79 meet and comparing that to where I live is night and day.

     
    It is.  Lots of deer, but difficult to access.  That area can be loaded with deer or devoid of deer, depending on the pressure. 
     
    Many don't like the hunt in these areas and prefer the big woods or rolling farmland.  Not for everyone but lots of deer and some mighty fine bucks. 

    My rifle is a black rifle
    #7
    Esox_Hunter
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/21 22:14:36 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: Fisherlady2

    Great pics... looks like a good future in your area. I really like the looks of the body shape on that first photo of the young fellow with just the one antler. He's gonna be a dandy one in a couple of years I'd bet!


    Thanks.

    It seems as if every year, I have a buck that likes to follow me around all season. Well, no matter where I hunted this fall, the little guy in question here always made it a point to stop by and say hello. He was very lucky that a jr didn't find him, or a car. I sure hope he wises up this winter so we can see what he looks like when he grows up

    post edited by Esox_Hunter - 2011/02/21 22:19:40
    #8
    wayne c
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/21 23:17:18 (permalink)
    Nice pics essox.

    Bucks in my area have been almost 50-50 with shed and still antlered. Have seen some and some trail cam pics where some have lost both antlers, some with one antler and a few still holding both. This is in 2-A. Through the years ive seen bucks that have shed during flintlock season fairly often, and ive once seen buck in APRIL with its antlers still attached.
    #9
    Dr. Trout
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/22 10:34:47 (permalink)
    Great pics Essox.... I wanted to reply last evening but the board was "doing one of those crazy things" again where it just sat and tried to connect...

    Nice group of bucks with some real nice racks only makes thoughts of next year even better...
    I'm jealous....

    I'm glad you mentioned about the antlerless, that's what I was wondering, it's interesting to see how even at this time the bucks seem to be grouped together and the others in a group.

    I know I have put out supplemental feed for well over 20 years and have NEVER.. that's NEVER had a racked buck visit the feeding area... just can't figure that one out ???
    #10
    rmcmillen09
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/22 10:42:31 (permalink)
    nice pics also essox 
    #11
    rmcmillen09
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/22 10:43:46 (permalink)
    does your trail cam email pics to home pc?
    #12
    Noplacelikehome
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/22 11:07:54 (permalink)
    Very nice Essox.
    #13
    Esox_Hunter
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/22 11:23:58 (permalink)
    does your trail cam email pics to home pc?

     
    No, we still do thing the "old fashioned way" and have to go physically swap out SD cards
    #14
    Esox_Hunter
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/22 11:36:16 (permalink)
    Doc, to be honest it seems like we just don't have that many does around.  My cameras and hunting records indicate that on this property it is very close to 1:1 (excluding fawns of course) for the last 4 years or so. 
     
    Guys can get unlimited doe tags and have 5 months to kill a doe so I am not suprised.  Many people I speak to who hunt in the same general areas come to shoot as many deer as possible and seem to lack the patience to wait for a buck.  If they only knew
     
     
    #15
    rmcmillen09
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/22 21:12:09 (permalink)
    my nephew was looking at a couple models that had the email feature to them might be good anti theft. ya know catch em in the act!
    #16
    jkrunningdeer
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/23 08:18:52 (permalink)
    Nice pics Esox. The deer on my side of the water are still carrying too. Maybe after this snow melts off I'll take a walk for sheds.
    #17
    S-10
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/23 08:46:43 (permalink)
    I had a 5 point coming in that lost his headgear three weeks ago and had a new older buck come in last night that appeared to have lost his quite awhile ago. I've never seen one where I live that had antlers after about the 2nd week in Feb.
    #18
    deerfly
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/28 17:50:16 (permalink)
    Your very nice pics explain why you can't relate to what many other hunters are experiencing. Since the close of the late ML I have seen a grand total of 4 deer on our property. I've been cutting trees for firewood just about every day so there is lots of browse available, but I often go two or 3 days without seeing a fresh deer track in the snow and when I do it is the same doe and 2 fawns.

    Based on your pics , I can understand why you would be satisfied with the quality of hunting in your area and if we had half as many buck as you have we probably have an entirely different attitude.
    #19
    Dr. Trout
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/28 21:44:57 (permalink)
    I have seen a grand total of 4 deer on our property


    cutting fire wood everyday may not be the best thing to do to attract deer while you are there cutting...especially on a property of only 50 acres. Plus what is there to eat there naturally... is there better "deer yard" areas on adjourning property what about food on other land nearby, creek or stream, conifers ,deer will travel further in the early part of winter for better food..???

    Even here I had several times the deer did not travel up to the feeders... about 4 straight days has been the limit though since Januray..
    #20
    dpms
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/28 21:54:30 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: deerfly

    Based on your pics , I can understand why you would be satisfied with the quality of hunting in your area and if we had half as many buck as you have we probably have an entirely different attitude.

     
    He is fortunate to have a good area just as you, unfortunately, have a bad area.  His good area is not the norm just as your bad area is not the norm. 
     
    There are many areas close to his with few deer and there are many areas close to you with many deer. 
     
     

    My rifle is a black rifle
    #21
    Esox_Hunter
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/28 22:14:32 (permalink)
    Thank you dpms, you said it better than I could.

    This small property always holds more deer in the late winter, which I believe is primarily because it has far more cover to offer than any of the adjacent properties.  We will not see most of these deer next hunting season as they will either be pushed off the property or head back to some of the "protected" posted areas.  Doe numbers are still low here as the orange army comes in to put a hurtin on them every fall.    

    While this area might be my best for buck numbers, it also gets hunted harder than any other property I have ever seen.  I have spend plenty of deerless days perched in my stand here, especially in the last few years.
    #22
    Ironhed
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/02/28 22:39:55 (permalink)
    Esox,
    Leave em a note and tell em to stay off the roads.  I pert near got one thursday night...1.5 yo 8 pt.
     
    Ironhed

    Blacktop Charters
    #23
    deerfly
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/03/01 07:51:23 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: dpms

    ORIGINAL: deerfly

    Based on your pics , I can understand why you would be satisfied with the quality of hunting in your area and if we had half as many buck as you have we probably have an entirely different attitude.


    He is fortunate to have a good area just as you, unfortunately, have a bad area.  His good area is not the norm just as your bad area is not the norm. 

    There are many areas close to his with few deer and there are many areas close to you with many deer. 




    That may or may not be true, but it doesn't negate the fact that the average hunters is seeing 50% fewer deer than he did in 2000 or that we harvested 47% fewer buck in 2009 than in 2000. Nor does it negate the fact that the DMP, which resulted in the overkill Alt wanted, has not produced the predicted results of better herd and forest health.
    #24
    deerfly
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/03/01 08:01:00 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: Dr. Trout

    I have seen a grand total of 4 deer on our property


    cutting fire wood everyday may not be the best thing to do to attract deer while you are there cutting...especially on a property of only 50 acres. Plus what is there to eat there naturally... is there better "deer yard" areas on adjourning property what about food on other land nearby, creek or stream, conifers ,deer will travel further in the early part of winter for better food..???

    Even here I had several times the deer did not travel up to the feeders... about 4 straight days has been the limit though since Januray..


    The deer adapt to the disturbance of cutting firewood just like they adapt to living in developments. They know they aren't being pursued and a doe and two fawns stayed bedded as I passed by within 20 yds. Those deer spent the whole day in an area of about 100/X100' while I worked around them within 50 yds.

    Since I was the only one cutting in the area while we had a heavy snow cover our property had better food and cover than the surrounding properties. Furthermore ,the adjacent woodlots that weren't disturbed by my cutting also held very few deer even though there was adequate food and cover.
    #25
    rmcmillen09
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    RE: Outlook for 2011 2011/03/01 10:08:07 (permalink)
    Not whining and I do get my share of scouting in pre season but were not seeing the deer here 1-B Albion area had a buck come by me in fall turkey that was juvenile and nothing 4-1 side  at all in rifle.skipped hunting Pa. 09.and am not going to hunt again this year, just go for spring gobbler to finish out tag and call it quits. 
    #26
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