Went out on Perdidior River Wildlife Management Area today. The places I normally hunt there are inaccessable this year due to the river being high from all the rain. So, I've been doing a lot of walking along old roads and firebrakes, trying to get a feel for some new places. Until yestrday, I really hadn't found much sign and had only seen a couple yearlings. But yesterday afternoon, I found the motherlode.
An old road that has been closed for years and is nearly overgrown. I almost walked by it but noticed it at the last minute. About 100 yards up, it got just spooky covered with fresh tracks. Watched it til dark last night and saw a total of 7 deer, including 2 bucks, one of which was really, really nice. Couldn't get a shot because they were crossing in a place I couldn't cover from where I was and I didn't want to shift positions and blow them out of there. Needless to say, I made sure I was positioned so I was able to cover it this morning.
Started seeing deer right off this morning. There is a storm headed this way and they were really moving, but they were all does and yearlings. Right at 9:00 I saw another deer headed into a small clearing and when I put the binos on it, I saw antlers. Not big ones, mind you, but antlers. I wasn't interested in a big rack anyways. Mama wanted me to fill the freezer, so this buck looked good to me. Lined up on him and waited for him to turn broadside. One shot, one deer. He was only a 3 pt, spike on one side and a fork on the other, but that was okay. He had a decent sized body and was in really good shape. He should eat just fine.
I really had to work for this buck. I've been hunting everyday of the quota hunt with the exception of Sunday when it rained hard all day. 6 days of hunting hard, sun up to dark except one day I left early when I found a buck that had been wasted by a slob hunter. And he hit the ground a little over 2 miles from the truck. Thankfully I always carry a collapsible pack frame when I hunt way back in. I boned him out and had him back at the truck by 12:30.
Used my old Remington 7mm Rem Mag. I use a handloaded 160 gr Nosler Accubond. Distance for the shot was about 150 yards or so. The rifle is really accurate and I've been using it for well over 30 years now. It's a little too much gun for a southern whitetail, but it sure untracks them when it connects. Life is good. Tenderloin and eggs for breakfast tomorrow.
Perdido River has been good to me. That makes 3 bucks in the last 2 years off a piece of public ground pretty close to town. :cowboy
Cheers Y'all
Flags
I hunted that place once and really liked it. Wish I was closer to it. Congrats. Im looking forward to muzzleloader season in a couple weeks
I hunted that place once and really liked it. Wish I was closer to it. Congrats. Im looking forward to muzzleloader season in a couple weeks
I love that WMA. It's less than 3 miles from my driveway to one of the entrance points. I can go in there year round and keep an eye on things. Rain up north last week kind of blew my plans with the river being high, but that's okay. It all worked out in the end.
Don't think I'll make the late muzzleloader season. Work will take most of Feb up. But adding this buck to the 2 antelope I took in Wy in Sept means Mama and Me don't have to buy meat this year. :cowboy
Cheers
Good time in the woods. :toast
Congratulations on the meat! Since most seasons I only get one or two chances to hunt, my first thought is to get a deer or two for the freezer, then worry about a rack! I'm hoping 2010 season will be different and that I can hunt more often.
I had a trip planned into Perdido back about 12 years ago when I lived in Ft Walton. Once of my customers lived in Milton and invited me to go out there with him. He killed at least 2 deer there each year, sometimes more, and had hunted it all his life. Unfortunately, his wife got killed in a car accident on I-10 just 3 days before the planned hunt, so I ended up at a funeral instead of in the woods. I moved down here before the next season and haven't had a chance to get back up there.
Enjoy your venison, it was well-earned!
