Trying to get excited about opening day.

[Edwardteach72]

So opening day of gun season is Saturday. And for the last couple of months I have been super excited and really all I cared about doing..

But as of a week or so ago I've kinda just been meh. Hell I dont have any of my gear together (the gf yelled at me yesterday and told me i have to get everything ready today, Thursday,)

Between the rifle I wanted to take out this year not shooting anywhere near acceptable, and my other rifle (300blk) not really putting up the numbers I'd like to see as a minimum to use I didnt even get that ready to use for this season or change it over to the 6.5 or 6.8 offering.

I will be going back to using my Swiss K-31 which is what I used to drop my first deer with 2 years ago. I love this rifle, the trigger is amazing, it's very similar to a .308, but the safety is a complete pain in the ass.


So here we are a 2-3 days away from opening day, supposed to have a snow storm today and get anywhere from 3-5 inches of snow (some rumors of calling up to 11inch) and I'm trying to get myself to that excited point of opening day

 

[Deplorable Me]

Part of the DEC game identification program:

 

[kev74]

Part of the DEC game identification program:

Its a doe, right? If there aren't any horns its a doe!

 

[1911guy]

Is the "O" for bullseye?

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Kind of the same thing for me. I wanted to try a couple new/different guns and was looking forward to it, but for some reason now I could really take it or leave it. Shit I didn't even get my license yet.
My GF keeps theatening to leave me though, if I don't get a deer, lol.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Kind of the same thing for me. I wanted to try a couple new/different guns and was looking forward to it, but for some reason now I could really take it or leave it. Shit I didn't even get my license yet.
My GF keeps theatening to leave me though, if I don't get a deer, lol.

Right. Like yeah I am going out, yea I hope to tag a deer to fill the freezer but in the last 7 years this is probably the first year I haven't obsessed over it this and last week. I was earlier in September and October.

Just really hope to see something opening day, maybe that will spark something

 

[Blimey]

I can never seem to get on deer during gun season so I basically gave up a couple years ago. I have taken 1-3 deer/season with bow since I started a few years back, so I always have meat in the freezer when gun starts. But the places I hunt the deer just damn well disappear opening morning. I'll go out a few times this year just to say I did.

I use a muzzleloader, which drives tacks, so will take that out all gun season.

 

[Edwardteach72]

@ArmedCorgi what are you using this year?

 

[Edwardteach72]

I can never seem to get on deer during gun season so I basically gave up a couple years ago. I have taken 1-3 deer/season with bow since I started a few years back, so I always have meat in the freezer when gun starts. But the places I hunt the deer just damn well disappear opening morning. I'll go out a few times this year just to say I did.

I use a muzzleloader, which drives tacks, so will take that out all gun season.

I would like to bow hunt (hell my girl was making fun of me recently because I dont bow hunt) but I hunt on my dad's friends land during gun season, real nice guy but I dont want to impose any more than I already kind of am. Plus hes more of a bow hunter I believe

 

[Blimey]

I would like to bow hunt (hell my girl was making fun of me recently because I dont bow hunt) but I hunt on my dad's friends land during gun season, real nice guy but I dont want to impose any more than I already kind of am. Plus hes more of a bow hunter I believe

By far my biggest frustration with hunting is getting land.

 

[ArmedCorgi]

Right. Like yeah I am going out, yea I hope to tag a deer to fill the freezer but in the last 7 years this is probably the first year I haven't obsessed over it this and last week. I was earlier in September and October.

Just really hope to see something opening day, maybe that will spark something

I enjoy being out there and even if I don't get anything (I haven't bagged a deer since my first time out back in '98). Even just seeing something usually makes it worth while. Last year I was hunting out in Schoharie county on state land. There ended up being another hunter maybe 2 or 3 hundred yards away, got an 11 pointer. If that guy hadn't been there the buck would have walked my way. Heard the shot but didn't realize what the guy got until we crossed paths on the way out of the woods. He was bringing a cart to pull the buck out. He was an older guy so we ended up helping him drag it out of the woods. The guy got that 11 pointer with....you guessed it, a mini 14! One well placed shot to the heart/lung area. Being able to help that guy out (because there was no way he was getting that buck out on his own) and seeing that 11 pointer, made my season.

@ArmedCorgi what are you using this year?

Right now I'm figuring to give my American Ranch in 5.56 or my GF's late father's model 70 in 30-06 a try.

 

[MilesTeg]

I'm trying to be excited about it also, but it's not working.

From the move/house build all of my stuff is scattered about. I think I will be able to pull it all together before opening morning. With two small children I don't get much free time so who know how much time I will actually be able to hunt.

And top all that off my brother isn't coming in to town this year. This will be a first. He has some good bucks hes been chasing with a bow in Western NY and wants to get them with the rifle. Its too bad he wont be around because it always makes for a good time. He usually will shoot something hes not suppose to i.e. small buck, doe. Then he gets the fuck it attitude and will start dropping deer left and right no matter what they are. Hey it's one way to fill the tags, but always a good laugh.

 

[Robin]

Right. Like yeah I am going out, yea I hope to tag a deer to fill the freezer but in the last 7 years this is probably the first year I haven't obsessed over it this and last week. I was earlier in September and October.

Just really hope to see something opening day, maybe that will spark something

I've had years like that, a few times I thought maybe it was all over for me. but I went out anyway because I knew, for me anyway, it is some kind of renewal. I don't go out there thinking golly gee I got to renew myself, I just hunt, and some how at the end of the season, I have always felt like a better man, better husband, better father. Not something I shoot for, it just happens and I call it a renewal. Maybe everything else about me springs from some primal nature deep within.
Good luck, on both counts.
Robin

 

[camper4lyfe]

I've had, and still have, so much shit going on, 1) I forgot to get doe tags, and 2) I don't have a free weekend, and the chances of getting out at all this season are slim to none.

It's frustrating. But, I may end up taking my 5 year old out squirrel hunting for the first time, if we get a nice weekend, so it's not a total loss.

 

[camper4lyfe]

I've had years like that, a few times I thought maybe it was all over for me. but I went out anyway because I knew, for me anyway, it is some kind of renewal. I don't go out there thinking golly gee I got to renew myself, I just hunt, and some how at the end of the season, I have always felt like a better man, better husband, better father. Not something I shoot for, it just happens and I call it a renewal. Maybe everything else about me springs from some primal nature deep within.
Good luck, on both counts.
Robin

It's the time away from all your other duties. It gives you time to be yourself, by yourself.

 

[dubleuhb]

I got bored with it several years back, or should I say there was just no enjoyment maybe. Took a nice buck opening day on my land that I bought for hunting, 130 acres and after walking up to it I wasn't excited and it now felt like work. Sold the land and didn't hunt for 3 seasons. I used to hunt EVERY day of bow season and all but a couple of regular and muzzleloader. Most years I would fill every tag.

I started going again 3 years ago, hunt state land mostly, my buddies still say I got a horseshoe up my ass because I go drive an hour to the state land and have taken a buck the last three years.

I still use my Remmy 1100, though 2 years ago I took an iron sighted Remmy 700 in .270 out and got a buck but the way I hunt my shots are 50 yards or less.

Not excited for opening day anymore, my dad will come down, get in the blind out behind my house where it's warm and dry, I might get up and wander across the road. Looked out the back window a bit ago and they are combining the corn , crap not good for dad, I was hoping they wouldn't get to it for another week, oh well, I did get one with my truck already...

 

[Criticalt]

Im never all that excited.
Its almost a job anymore but we like the meat.
Being out in the snowy wood with a gun is almost a spiritual thing with me.
The "job" part comes after the shot.
I have never had a deer processed by anyone else, ive always done it myself.
I have a decent slaughter house which has a wood stove, so I can take my time.
Most years I process 3 deer, but this year I only have 2 tags.
Luckily I have plenty of good land with plenty of shooter bucks and plenty of does.
Last year I only got a doe because I was using a new scoped rifle.
I found I dont like hunting deer with a scope.
So, this year Im going back to the Mossberg 500 12 gauge.
Ive always used just regular lead slugs but this year I bought some Winchester XP3 300 grain, 2 3/4 slugs.
Ive shot 10 rounds through my gun and dammit if they arent amazing.
At 75 yards they hit spot on POA and hit hard.

 

[Blimey]

I got bored with it several years back, or should I say there was just no enjoyment maybe. Took a nice buck opening day on my land that I bought for hunting, 130 acres and after walking up to it I wasn't excited and it now felt like work. Sold the land and didn't hunt for 3 seasons. I used to hunt EVERY day of bow season and all but a couple of regular and muzzleloader. Most years I would fill every tag.

I started going again 3 years ago, hunt state land mostly, my buddies still say I got a horseshoe up my ass because I go drive an hour to the state land and have taken a buck the last three years.

I still use my Remmy 1100, though 2 years ago I took an iron sighted Remmy 700 in .270 out and got a buck but the way I hunt my shots are 50 yards or less.

Not excited for opening day anymore, my dad will come down, get in the blind out behind my house where it's warm and dry, I might get up and wander across the road. Looked out the back window a bit ago and they are combining the corn , crap not good for dad, I was hoping they wouldn't get to it for another week, oh well, I did get one with my truck already...

What happened?!

I am seriously considering buying land, but I know myself and I have a very small fear that if I c an simplify this too much and make it too easy I'll lose interest. Why did you suddenly lose interest after spending thousands on your own land?

Personally I want to get a deer when I hunt, but I still think fondly on a day I had two years back during Thanksgiving week when we had all the storming. I went to public land. I spent all day there. Didn't see a fking thing other than some blood spots from somebody else's injured deer. I went to the car at lunch and broke out the camp stove, cooked my food and coffee and spent most of the day just randomly walking around with my gun drinking coffee from my thermos. It was good. Gonna do it again next week if the weather is good.

Being out in the snowy wood with a gun is almost a spiritual thing with me.

Yes! That's what I thought that year, and the year after. There's something about ground hunting in the snow. Even being unsuccessful every hill or glance could result in a deer coming by.

You should find a processor. Dragging the dear can be enough work. My guy skins it, bags it beautifully. It's worth the money.

 

[thegatman]

Here’s hoping on something this year. New lease. We’ll see.

 

[NirvanaFan]

It's the time away from all your other duties. It gives you time to be yourself, by yourself.

What unit do you hunt? I know they still had 8N tags as of 2 days ago. Considering that they want to gut the deer population in that unit, I seriously doubt they will run out.

 

[camper4lyfe]

What unit do you hunt? I know they still had 8N tags as of 2 days ago. Considering that they want to gut the deer population in that unit, I seriously doubt they will run out.

I hunt 8M and 8N, depending on where I go.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I hunt 8M and 8N, depending on where I go.

If you decide to grab a tag for 8N and they are out, let me know. I've got a spare you can have.

 

[dubleuhb]

What happened?!

I am seriously considering buying land, but I know myself and I have a very small fear that if I c an simplify this too much and make it too easy I'll lose interest. Why did you suddenly lose interest after spending thousands on your own land?

Personally I want to get a deer when I hunt, but I still think fondly on a day I had two years back during Thanksgiving week when we had all the storming. I went to public land. I spent all day there. Didn't see a fking thing other than some blood spots from somebody else's injured deer. I went to the car at lunch and broke out the camp stove, cooked my food and coffee and spent most of the day just randomly walking around with my gun drinking coffee from my thermos. It was good. Gonna do it again next week if the weather is good.


Yes! That's what I thought that year, and the year after. There's something about ground hunting in the snow. Even being unsuccessful every hill or glance could result in a deer coming by.

You should find a processor. Dragging the dear can be enough work. My guy skins it, bags it beautifully. It's worth the money.

When what you do for fun starts feeling like work the joy is gone. The problem was everyone called wanting to hunt but when it come time to hang stands or take them down nobody had the time. Same thing when I was putting in food plots, I could use a hand for a day but finding help.....no time this week. I just got tired of it and add to the fact it was when FUAC and his playmates screwed gun owners across the state it was my first move on getting out, yet here I am still.

I had rules when I let people hunt, wasn't much, don't shoot at running deer, get in the stand I tell you and sit still, the deer will come. I had a section that was off limits to people, deer need a place to bed down and not be bothered, kick them out of bed they find some place else, but some just can't listen. I actually had a couple friends who I haven't talked to since I wouldn't let them hunt anymore for thinking I wasn't serious.

OH, then the taxes, even though I had about half in a conservation program to ease it a bit.

 

[HighlandLofts]

I always look forward to the first day of the season. It's been that way for 45 years.

Years gone by you use to hear shots all around you.
Now just random shots here & there.
We use to hunt the state land way back then on E. Bosket Road just the other side of Damascus. If you didn't get there super early you could find a place to park.
Now you are lucky if you see more then two cars there.

I like these next few weeks, I get to.visit my family, get to.hunt deer, get to shoot some squirrels, get yo.hint ducks & geese with my son and one of his dogs.
It's something i look forward to every year.
Even if i don't shoot a deer the trip is priceless.

 

[Jaywmustang]

I haven’t had time to get excited. I have two hunting leases, a local farm and my parents place. My parents are right down the road so it is the most convenient but I haven’t had time in the past two years to cut back my shooting lanes. It is super thick in where the deer are.

I was hoping to get my new browning xbolt stalker lr sighted in but the weather isn’t corporating with me. So I’ll take my tikka ctr 308 out. The tikka still needs to draw first blood.

The past two years has been busy for myself. So I think that is causing my lack of excitement. Normally I am out in my parents property 3-4 times a week check trail cam, walking the property and clearing shooting lanes. Last year was the first time I did not get a deer in the last 20 years.

 

[camper4lyfe]

I think my biggest issue is that I don't have anyone to hunt with, so it takes some of the fun out of it. I got into hunting, aside from the fact that I do enjoy it, because my brother-in-law did as well. Well, he's not my brother-in-law anymore, so I'm back to on my own.

 

[dubleuhb]

I think my biggest issue is that I don't have anyone to hunt with, so it takes some of the fun out of it. I got into hunting, aside from the fact that I do enjoy it, because my brother-in-law did as well. Well, he's not my brother-in-law anymore, so I'm back to on my own.

I go with my brother and dad but dad is in his 80's so he can't go far. That's why I built him a nice blind behind my house.

Anymore I just as soon load up my pack and go for a sloooooooooooooooooooow walk in the heavy cover, keeping the wind in my face, move about 100-150 yards in an hour. Do this from sun up to sun set, you'd be surprised at just how much you can walk past.
I got 4 DMP's this year, 9N, 9W, 9A and 8G, I'll hit up my honeyholes in each unit at least once, just hope it warms up and rains, my favorite time to hunt deer.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I think my biggest issue is that I don't have anyone to hunt with, so it takes some of the fun out of it. I got into hunting, aside from the fact that I do enjoy it, because my brother-in-law did as well. Well, he's not my brother-in-law anymore, so I'm back to on my own.

Why can't you go with him? Did you divorce him?!?! Grab a beer some Friday night and become friends again.

 

[Criticalt]

What happened?!

I am seriously considering buying land, but I know myself and I have a very small fear that if I c an simplify this too much and make it too easy I'll lose interest. Why did you suddenly lose interest after spending thousands on your own land?

Personally I want to get a deer when I hunt, but I still think fondly on a day I had two years back during Thanksgiving week when we had all the storming. I went to public land. I spent all day there. Didn't see a fking thing other than some blood spots from somebody else's injured deer. I went to the car at lunch and broke out the camp stove, cooked my food and coffee and spent most of the day just randomly walking around with my gun drinking coffee from my thermos. It was good. Gonna do it again next week if the weather is good.


Yes! That's what I thought that year, and the year after. There's something about ground hunting in the snow. Even being unsuccessful every hill or glance could result in a deer coming by.

You should find a processor. Dragging the dear can be enough work. My guy skins it, bags it beautifully. It's worth the money.

When I shoot a deer, I want to eat the deer I shot.
A guy I know has worked at 3 different deer processing places in 2 NYS counties over the last 30 years.
He says all of them just cut up deer, put the different curs in piles, then sort and wrap.
For sausage and ground venison, they make huge batches with meat from as many as 5 different deer in each batch.
So, when you get your meat back, you may have meat from 10 different deer.
I have heard of this practice in almost every deer processing house in the country.
EVEN if they tell you its your deer, it may not be.
I have my own land and know what these deer are eating. Alot of acorns and berries, very little corn.
Also, I choose my deer by size and age.
I dont want back straps from a 10 year old nag.
I process all our own cows, chickens, hogs, turkeys and goats anyways, so, its not a huge deal, im just not as excited about that than the actual hunt pripr to shooting, dressing, dragging........

 

[camper4lyfe]

Why can't you go with him? Did you divorce him?!?! Grab a beer some Friday night and become friends again.

Because he all but walked out on my sister and my nieces. I can't be in the same room as him.