Finally going to get a few days hunting.

[Ron M.]

Now that my wife is on the up swing and will soon be able to be alone for a few days, I'm planning to get some deer hunting in. I plan to hunt from the 26th to the 30th.  My son, son-in-law, brother, niece and nephews have all gotten their deer and used up the trophy tags for our land. I have 1 spike/cull buck and a doe tag to fill. My son sent me photos of a huge buck with tiny 10 point antlers, perfect for me to shoot as a cull deer. Don't want him passing those small antler genes along any longer. He looked to be at least 5 years old based on body size and shape.

[Wiley Coyote]

Good news about the wife. Both me and mine are down so no hunting and a range trip's a commodity.

Good luck with the hunt. I'll be a perfect way to end 2018. Again, Good Luck.

[Tyerone]

Great that wife is recovering and you'll hopefully have a chance to reset the mind in nature, participating in THE way of life.

I totally wrote off the prospect of hunting this season, focused on a plan to rehab after bilateral hip replacement surgery.  With the good Lord's blessing, I made a miraculously quick recovery and was able to enjoy a couple of weekends on the property, including traversing rugged terrain up and down a steep hill with snow hidden branches, brambles and blow down obstacles along the way during the muzzle loader season in NW Lower Peninsula of MI.  Its a great feeling to be alive in the woods.

When asked if I got anything, I answer that indeed, I brought back venison for the freezer.  2 of my guests/friends scored bucks, one of them giving me practically all of the meat!

[Ron M.]

Didn't hunt on the 26th rainy, cold, windy and just miserable weather. The front blew through overnight, hail and heavy rain. The 27th and 28th were gorgeous days, clear sunny, COLD, and a light North wind. Got a decent doe just after sunrise on the 27th and a cull buck in the evening of the 28th. The buck had what we call "Don King" antlers, straight up and no spread past the ears. I saw a few trophy class bucks, but let them go. Shot 5 hogs, most were too big to bother with, just picked them up with the tractor and buried them. I did keep a 35 pound one for sausage. The 29th was cold and mixed rain and sleet, didn't hunt, just walked the property and glassed a few deer and turkeys.

Planning the spring turkey hunt already, saw lots of hens and 4 good toms.

The deer are hanging in a friend's butcher shop meat locker, I'll be grinding and smoking sausage on New Years day.

Going to make osso bucco for New Years eve with the shanks and neck from the doe.

[Tyerone]

I guess that's why an old friend in East TX used to dog down those big boars, rope 'em up and pen them up, purge them on corn for a couple weeks before slaughtering.  Get the taste of the meat right!

I can certainly understand composting those pests, though.  They definitely wreak havot to the habitat and one can only expend so much risk and energy in rope and purge work, Fo'Sho!
 

[GeneticallySwiss]

Best of luck bringing home venison.

GS