Lostinthewoods
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2016
- Messages
- 800
While most seasons are coming to an end, down here in the Florida panhandle things are just starting to pick up.
Having just moved down here in October I was a bit excited and nervous to try hunting a new area. I knew I was going to be at a disadvantage coming down here 10 days before the season started, but I spent months before I came down picking out points of interest on google.
When I got down here I hit the woods running.
I spent a lot of time hiking areas the few days prior to the season starting and then spot hunted areas during the season.
Some areas were turning up dry, but one area really stuck out to me, so I really tried to learn it's ins and outs.
Within my first two walks of this area it hit me that I was in for a treat.
On the first walk I uncovered this little gem....
Before I moved down here I was told by numerous people that had hunted here before that there were no big deer.
Well this shed got my excited. It had some character and wasn't a small deer by any means.
If this is what Florida deer held on their head then I wasn't upset at all... I just wanna shoot deer!
During that first walk I found some cool areas and decided to focus hard on them my next trip.
Well on the next trip I sweep the area a little slower and more in-depth and once again, I left with a huge smile on my face.
I'll be honest with you all, when I saw this thing I almost fainted.....
My brain was able to register what it truly was well before I could comprehend it.
I nearly puked!!!!
It was that moment I realized I had found a good area. I had found a neat buck shed and then this STUD shed.
It rough scored 67".... not bad for a state that "doesn't have big deer".
After exploring this place smart and hard I found some doe bedding areas, some areas I felt held bucks, and everything in-between.
So now that I had an idea of the area, I decided to deploy some cameras and hunt smart.
I specifically left certain areas off limits because I didn't want to push anything out and wanted to keep them for when the rut pops off.
I still haven't pegged the rut time down here, but i've been told it can happen anywhere from the third week of January until early Feb.
If anyone else is like me.. staying out of areas is like waiting for christmas to happen.... I get so excited and can't wait to check cameras.
However I know how important it is to stay out and be smart about stuff like this... so I did.
Well, after my daughter was born on Jan 9th and everything calmed down, I decided to prepare for the "rut spots".
Florida has weird seasons and the next open season was Jan 21-29th and then Feb 3-14th.
I stayed out of my areas and checked them one last time before the season was coming and when the conditions were right.
Well just like I hoped the bucks started showing up. One in particular really caught my interest.
Game on! This is what I've come for and this is what I had a feeling this area held...
The old Primos guys used to always use the term "Swamp Donkey" and for the first time ever, I could say I was looking at one.
I waited and waited and waited until the 21st and it finally came...
It was the 20th and I looked at the weather before bed...... It was going to be a nasty thunder, lightning and rain storm starting at 0200 and lasting until about 1400.
I set an alarm for 0345 just in case the weather changed, but it didn't... so I decided to wait and hunt when the storm broke...
It happened a little earlier than planned, but I was ready. I loaded my truck, kissed my wife and bolted to my spot.
(I decided that it would only be right to use these two sheds as rattlers in this area...imagine how cool that would be to bring in a huge buck with local antlers)
Well in my typical fashion I decided to have some silliness happen. I got to my parking spot, grabbed my gear and ran.
About a half mile into my hike I looked down at my bow and my release wasn't there... AHHHHHH.
I always have it tied to my limb, but for some reason it wasn't there....
SO I turned around to grab my spare release in my truck. About a quarter of a mile back to my truck I found my release on the ground.
I picked a special route to my spot that would minimize scent and allow me to check two cameras.
I stopped at my first one and found plenty of does. SWEET!
I stopped at my second one that is located next to my tree that I planned to hunt and guess who was there TEN MINUTES BEFORE I SHOWED UP! GRRRR
ARGHHHHH!!!!
No worries though, it was completely bittersweet.
Sure I missed seeing a mature buck, but had I not dropped my release or checked the first camera, I could have spooked the CRAP out of that buck and possibly have pushed him out.
The good part about this is it certified all the scouting, staying out of areas, and hunting smart.
This is a mighty fine buck and I would be happy shooting him in any state!
SO here we are... Jan 22nd and I am stuck inside because of tornado warnings and lightning. The rut is near and I am losing my mind....
That's why I decided to write this. It kills a little time and amps me up even more to present you all with an end to this story.
Until then....... I'll try to keep you guys posted.
Regardless I've been having a ball searching new areas and testing my skills in a whole new area.
Having just moved down here in October I was a bit excited and nervous to try hunting a new area. I knew I was going to be at a disadvantage coming down here 10 days before the season started, but I spent months before I came down picking out points of interest on google.
When I got down here I hit the woods running.
I spent a lot of time hiking areas the few days prior to the season starting and then spot hunted areas during the season.
Some areas were turning up dry, but one area really stuck out to me, so I really tried to learn it's ins and outs.
Within my first two walks of this area it hit me that I was in for a treat.
On the first walk I uncovered this little gem....
Before I moved down here I was told by numerous people that had hunted here before that there were no big deer.
Well this shed got my excited. It had some character and wasn't a small deer by any means.
If this is what Florida deer held on their head then I wasn't upset at all... I just wanna shoot deer!
During that first walk I found some cool areas and decided to focus hard on them my next trip.
Well on the next trip I sweep the area a little slower and more in-depth and once again, I left with a huge smile on my face.
I'll be honest with you all, when I saw this thing I almost fainted.....
My brain was able to register what it truly was well before I could comprehend it.
I nearly puked!!!!
It was that moment I realized I had found a good area. I had found a neat buck shed and then this STUD shed.
It rough scored 67".... not bad for a state that "doesn't have big deer".
After exploring this place smart and hard I found some doe bedding areas, some areas I felt held bucks, and everything in-between.
So now that I had an idea of the area, I decided to deploy some cameras and hunt smart.
I specifically left certain areas off limits because I didn't want to push anything out and wanted to keep them for when the rut pops off.
I still haven't pegged the rut time down here, but i've been told it can happen anywhere from the third week of January until early Feb.
If anyone else is like me.. staying out of areas is like waiting for christmas to happen.... I get so excited and can't wait to check cameras.
However I know how important it is to stay out and be smart about stuff like this... so I did.
Well, after my daughter was born on Jan 9th and everything calmed down, I decided to prepare for the "rut spots".
Florida has weird seasons and the next open season was Jan 21-29th and then Feb 3-14th.
I stayed out of my areas and checked them one last time before the season was coming and when the conditions were right.
Well just like I hoped the bucks started showing up. One in particular really caught my interest.
Game on! This is what I've come for and this is what I had a feeling this area held...
The old Primos guys used to always use the term "Swamp Donkey" and for the first time ever, I could say I was looking at one.
I waited and waited and waited until the 21st and it finally came...
It was the 20th and I looked at the weather before bed...... It was going to be a nasty thunder, lightning and rain storm starting at 0200 and lasting until about 1400.
I set an alarm for 0345 just in case the weather changed, but it didn't... so I decided to wait and hunt when the storm broke...
It happened a little earlier than planned, but I was ready. I loaded my truck, kissed my wife and bolted to my spot.
(I decided that it would only be right to use these two sheds as rattlers in this area...imagine how cool that would be to bring in a huge buck with local antlers)
Well in my typical fashion I decided to have some silliness happen. I got to my parking spot, grabbed my gear and ran.
About a half mile into my hike I looked down at my bow and my release wasn't there... AHHHHHH.
I always have it tied to my limb, but for some reason it wasn't there....
SO I turned around to grab my spare release in my truck. About a quarter of a mile back to my truck I found my release on the ground.
I picked a special route to my spot that would minimize scent and allow me to check two cameras.
I stopped at my first one and found plenty of does. SWEET!
I stopped at my second one that is located next to my tree that I planned to hunt and guess who was there TEN MINUTES BEFORE I SHOWED UP! GRRRR
ARGHHHHH!!!!
No worries though, it was completely bittersweet.
Sure I missed seeing a mature buck, but had I not dropped my release or checked the first camera, I could have spooked the CRAP out of that buck and possibly have pushed him out.
The good part about this is it certified all the scouting, staying out of areas, and hunting smart.
This is a mighty fine buck and I would be happy shooting him in any state!
SO here we are... Jan 22nd and I am stuck inside because of tornado warnings and lightning. The rut is near and I am losing my mind....
That's why I decided to write this. It kills a little time and amps me up even more to present you all with an end to this story.
Until then....... I'll try to keep you guys posted.
Regardless I've been having a ball searching new areas and testing my skills in a whole new area.
