I've been gone for a while

Well guys I'm sorry I've been gone for a while. It is the fall though, so we all are quit a bit busier than normal. Alot of you know I recently moved to Florida and wasn't expecting much for whitetail hunting, "Small swamp deer" is what I was told. Well I'm here to tell ya there are a few good deer in this state. I found a piece of walk in only public land and me and my bud put our time in scouting. Found tons of sign from deer and plenty from creepy crawlys. I was in the woods not expecting much more than some meat for the freezer, opening day was extremely hot and miserable. Two days later the temp dropped from high 70s at night to high 50s. Man the deer started moving!!! I did some light grunting on the 4th day, mostly to satisfy my boredom, and ten minutes later this Florida Bruiser came in to 10 yds and ran away after one of my "almost perfectly placed" shots zipped through him. When I say almost perfect, I mean it was way back and a very steep angle, luckily got his liver. Had to track him over a mile and a half through Florida jungle and swamp. It was an experience for a yankee like me. Shot him at 9 in the morning and recovered him at 3 the next morning. My personal best with a bow. I couldn't be happier about hunting whitetails in FLorida. Oh I forgot to mention, the  night before I let one doe walk and shot another at 17 yards. This state is fine by me     I apologize if the picture doesn't come through.

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Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

Welcome back, ko' ... and that's a DECENT deer ... particularly with a bow ... every responsible hunter I know will applaud your perseverance in keeping on with the search ... WTG!

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

I would have to agree with "O" on that one ko. Not a bad deer for your first time in a foreign state. Congrat's bud and way to stick with it to find your animal.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Yep; good going!  We all owe the animals we hunt the respect to do what you did.  Kudos!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I know he's no pope and young buck, but from the stories I heard about the deer down here I almost fell out of the stand when he stepped out. I think he would have bedded down and died alot earlier but judging from the tracks he linked up with a couple of does and headed way back in the swamp. As long as I got a track or a drop of blood I'll keep following 'em. The weather has turned back into the 90s here and hunting is pretty boring and sweaty now. I sure picked the right week to take time off and get in the woods.

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

ko:
 
Nice job and welcome back!
 
Congrats!  Thanks for sharing!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Welcome back KO!  Glad you got to experience some good FL hunting.  You will love the Osceola hunting next spring.  A bit smaller than other turkeys but the beautiful fans and good spurs will get you hooked quickly!

They got plenty of hogs down there too.  No license and no limit!!!

Love playing that string music and sending a Muzzy flying!

Thanks Bowman, I could've got a turkey on the way out of the woods today if I wasn't staring down at the road watching the sweat drip off my face. Came around a bend and there was about 8 of them standing in the road. Oh well, calling them in is way more exciting anyways.

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

Sorry, missed your post Steve. thank you and as always, it's good to be checking in.

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

  Nice "come back," KO!!  Nice deer!!

Jeff

Kraig:
 
No worries, bud.  Glad to have you back.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve