great seeing  new generation starting
 
Cant do mornings this year takes a long time to get moving in the am. 
Now and then go to one close field blind not far from the truck and have some family who said they would
drag.
Nothing better than getting out doing what ya thought was only in the past.
Surgery cant come soon enough.

This is my grandsons 2nd year during rifle. He's been bow and xbow for 5 years . . He's 9 years old .
It's the fun stuff that keeps me interested otherwise I'd just open the window from my breakfast table when I need food.

Understand Rich--its an outdoors thing that the woke yuppies will never understand or know the joy of.
Some of my best memories of hunts and fishing trips have nothing to do with the harvest but of the experience.

Today I pushed the big heavy 10pt but to the person that tagged out on antlers yesterday.
Tough conditions in cold very windy weather.
Tomorrow we will call it a good season regardless of the outcome.
Discussions about next year's fun stuff are taking place around the table..

So as our season of hunting closed today after 165 hrs in the woods, it seems another is just beginning.
I got word today that some of my early ice fishing spots are ready.
There's no rest for the weary here for sure.

5 years back saw a huge mature rack on the small farm I hunt- 
Spent the past seasons looking for him and ended up with 3 fine late season shooters there and another deer elsewhere but never saw Mr Big again- his track was there though on occasion. 
Kind of figured his time was up by now and with a Spinal surgery upcoming only sat on a field edge 3 times this year early and hadda quit
A cousin was near my spot on Thanksgiving morning and saw the beast bed in a swamp about 50 yards from my spot lol
Cousin missed Thanksgiving dinner waiting out Mr big and took him clean in the neck when he finally stood
They told me that he is easily a 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 year old with a great rack that may have been a bit greater in the past as is common when they get real old.
Kudos to my young cousin for waiting him out instead of going home for dinner full knowing his family was waiting for him.
Cant wait to see that rack again
 
 

I don't know about that age range, we seem to lose track of time as we grow older, lol.
Most mature bucks go way downhill after 5.5. The rut and environments take their toll.
7.5 is far exception but not impossible.
I'd like to see a picture of that animal.

I got news the 10pt we've been haunting met his demise last night by a vehicle.
Our estimate is 3.5-4.5 age. We've been watching him hard on camera or seldom seen in person this season

figured that too Rich but my hard huntin cousin Fred is a retired warden who worked deer for years said this was about the oldest he had ever seen and 7s and 8ts wernt common place but common enough that he  had seen a few and this guy was the oldest yet--at any rate a real story that the kid will likely never repeat sooooo GREAT
Perhaps the one I had seen -although I too had figured him dead by now - or at least a son of his
Alyays seems to be  a good shooter on that little place.
Dr says I should be good to go next season fish and fur==cant wait

Dr  says after the spinal  fusion in a few weeks I can fish this spring and do yard work this summer but not to hunt for at least 6 mos.
Feel like he is giving my life back to me
HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here’s to that plan working to perfection.