Anyone else have the “itch”

[Savage30L]

Bow season opens in a week and I'm not even close to ready. Current weather here is temperature 92 degrees F, dew point 76, heat index officially 102 but it feels hotter . Neither I nor the deer will voluntarily move in the daytime in this weather. And I have a lot of brush and limb clearing to do before I can fix up a stand.....I just bought a new chainsaw to help....

 

[tightgroup tiger]

This is as close to hunting this year as I will get. They live in the woods behind my house and I live in TOWN. We can't shoot them.
I still get the itch but don't have the desire to do it anymore. It's just too hard to find a place to hunt here. Then it costs a fortune when you do and it's one little 10' sq area that you can put up a deer stand.
Not worth it. Maybe after I retire I will try to find an area to hunt in, no I probably won't in all seriousness.

 

[Axis II]

Scratched the itch yesterday with the Dove opener. We headed to a public land area about 10miles off the Canadian boarder. The doves are usually heavy in this area but recent storms must have pushed them further south. We arrived to about 12 guys in this little field. I found about a 1/2 acre opening right in the center of that corn and let whatever birds the guys to the left missed sail right over me. I ended up breaking in my new Beretta A300 and got 1 dove. I hit another that sailed into the corn towards a group of other hunters who were actually in the corn. I looked around but never found it. My buddies 9mo yellow lab also got her first retrieve on one of his doves. Usually people are walking out with limits but this year 1-2 per person.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

For the whole Summer I've been seeing and hearing the doves on my place. The season opened yesterday and I haven't seen one since Thursday...

 

[courtgreene]

I don’t go after doves anymore because my land is an hour and a half away. I always want to, but three hours of driving and all that guilt leaving the kids behind for that long is better spent on deer. I honestly don’t know why I hang onto my shotguns. There are no ducks near me, I don’t make time for doves, my beagle is more for warming the bed than chasing bunnies, and I’ve killed one Turkey each ten years of my hunting life.

I do enjoy reading about the success of other wing shooters, though. And that “itch” gets even itchier as I look toward deer season.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

About to scratch the itch. Going up North as September opens fall turkey season, Cougar and grouse. Just waiting for the Labor Day campers to clear out and go home. Bear has been open since August, but I'm not ready for another bear. This will be a pre-ML deer and elk season journey, but I have some new pistol loads to test on grouse, would like to get a grouse with my bow, and if I luck into a turkey I'll see if I can also hit one with the bow. Been shooting everyday for the last month. Will also scout/explore and visit some favorite far into the wilderness places with my Savage 24-V, .30WCF over 20 gauge.

 

[Hunter 08]

I'm waiting until next year to go rifle deer hunting in Nebraska. State is definitely different than Minneota when it comes to public lands to hunt with rifle, in that they are nearly non-existent.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Bow season opens in a week and I'm not even close to ready.

Our bow season opens around first of September, but I have not hunted deer with a bow for a long time. I do take it out for late turkey season, which just opened and I'll be going soon. I try to shoot the bow often, and have been shooting everyday for the last month. I think I'm ready, my groups have shrunk considerably lately. Second up from the bottom is my "main squeeze". 56# Omega. The bottom bow was my main-squeeze, but it's a 72#, and I just can't seem to get a full draw out it anymore, with accuracy. I can draw it short, but then it's slower than the 56#. Anyhow good luck, hope you get closer to ready.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I'm waiting until next year to go rifle deer hunting in Nebraska. State is definitely different than Minneota when it comes to public lands to hunt with rifle, in that they are nearly non-existent.

We have lots of public land, but since they planted the wolves on all of them, the deer and elk are becoming "nearly non-existent" !!!! They even wiped out the native woodland Caribou herd, that was up in the NorthEastern part of the state. (Washington State) But "they" blamed it on the Cougars, who never impacted them before the wolves came, and "logging" in Canada. Of course we were not allowed to hunt the Caribou, but it was nice to have them around. Oh well.

 

[Hunter 08]

We have lots of public land, but since they planted the wolves on all of them, the deer and elk are becoming "nearly non-existent" !!!! They even wiped out the native woodland Caribou herd, that was up in the NorthEastern part of the state. (Washington State) But "they" blamed it on the Cougars, who never impacted them before the wolves came, and "logging" in Canada. Of course we were not allowed to hunt the Caribou, but it was nice to have them around. Oh well.

The wolf population has pretty much gone from endangered to being back to normal, and has really exploded in the pacific north west to beyond what the states had agreed upon. Unfortunately certain groups keep advocating to ban all wolf hunts even though the packs are larger than what can be sustainable.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

The wolf population has pretty much gone from endangered to being back to normal, and has really exploded in the pacific north west to beyond what the states had agreed upon. Unfortunately certain groups keep advocating to ban all wolf hunts even though the packs are larger than what can be sustainable.

Truth, but what is really sick is that when a wolf pack gets "out of hand" here, and killing livestock, they gun the whole pack down from a helicopter, instead of issuing some limited tags, or establishing a limited hunting season on them. As much as I am against the reintroduction of the wolf, it makes me sick to think about them being gunned down from a helicopter. That is "not cool".

 

[JmacD]

I'm waiting until next year to go rifle deer hunting in Nebraska. State is definitely different than Minneota when it comes to public lands to hunt with rifle, in that they are nearly non-existent.

Definitely different. There are some, but a lot is west. So much is leased too…

 

[Gerd33]

I went and put up a few game cameras this morning.
Our Archery/crossbow season starts on the 15th. I probably won't get out until the beginning of Oct though.

 

[Hunter 08]

Definitely different. There are some, but a lot is west. So much is leased too…

I'm on the outer edge of Seward county. I think Harlan county has a few places by the lake that's open for rifle. But that's a 2 hour drive.

 

[JmacD]

I'm on the outer edge of Seward county. I think Harlan county has a few places by the lake that's open for rifle. But that's a 2 hour drive.

Ya. I’m dead center in Lincoln, and i drive clear out into republican unit to hunt. 3 hours. Good hunting though.

 

[22250Rem]

Had no plans at all for Labor Day. Wife & I were planning a quiet, relaxing day, except I thought about scratching the squirrel hunting itch for the first time this season. Was planning on a morning only squirrel hunt until I got a text from a Lake Ontario fishing guide I know, who had a Labor Day cancellation. Four of us had been scheduled to go out with him last Wed., but he had to call it off due to high seas from a north westerly wind. Offshore waves were 6 feet and more so he told me he would keep me posted if he had some free time during better weather. So now we leave at 6 a.m. tomorrow with a nice forecast which calls for a high of 90 degrees. Mile or two offshore will be cooler for sure except we return early afternoon to the heat. I'm just glad to get a bit more time in on the water, as the season is winding down and squirrel is open until the end of Feb. He says he's hitting the King Salmon pretty good now. So I will postpone the hunting itch for what will be one last fishing trip of the season on his 33 ft. Trojan. .. This must be the overlap period. My fishing is winding down just as hunting begins. E.T.A. Never hunted squirrels on a 90 degree day. Are they even active in that kind of heat? Perhaps I wouldn't even see a squirrel? Maybe fishing is the better choice for tomorrow.

 

[JmacD]

I scratched the itch at the range doing load work up… two 3 shot groups on the opposite ends of the ladder. I learned
1) I HATE the cheap bipod I tried!!!!
2) rifles falling of the sandbags can ruin a beautiful bughole group and can raise a bruise when the collarbone catches the recoil.
3) I’m still VERY allergic to ragweed
& 4) 100 gr of blackHorn 209 while prone HURTS!

 

[Hunter 08]

What bipod, so I can avoid it in the future?

 

[JmacD]

What bipod, so I can avoid it in the future?

It’s a Caldwell model, but I don’t recall which. I had another of theirs that was ok. I got it cheap, and for a reason. I believe another, and possibly a tripod, are on the agenda before season.

 

[md7]

Yes. I’ve got the itch. Staring at a new hunting rifle, running ballistic charts on what I expect MV to be, and eager to site in and run some rounds through a chrono.

I want very badly to put a round through Muy Grande’s boiler room with it.

 

[Hookeye]

Slowly starting to itch.
Got new hood foam and gripper for my old bow quiver (Delta).
Haven't taken this bow hunting yet (2022 Blackwidow PSA2).

 

[gwpercle]

I got that other itch ... caused by hot humid weather ... Heat Rash !

Discovered a cure ... Anti- Monkey Butt Powder .... Soooo Sooothing .

If you got "that" itch , AMBP is the best , it has a little calamine in the powder that soothes and heals .

You use it once and you will be hooked on the stuff , can also put it on the baby's bottom too .
Gary

 

[Hookeye]

Ive been breaking out in hives about every other time I pick tomatoes in the garden.
No spraying.
Either im too close to the neighbors Morning Glory or Im starting to become allergic to ' maters.

Am allergic to corn and leaf mold so yeah, i start the daily antihistamines before bow season.

Wanted to pick pawpaws this weekend but felt too blah. My deer hunting spot has a bunch of em

 

[courtgreene]

Taking my son for youth day Saturday. It’ll be all about him but I’m definitely thinking that’ll scratch the itch. It’ll be the coolest day we’ve had so far. I hope he finally gets one.

 

[22250Rem]

Back in my post #22 of this thread I mentioned going to South Carolina with a buddy for a hunt. Had to do something to scratch that itch. Got back from there 2 days ago, and it was a good hunt in that I filled both a buck and a doe tag. Did that in the last two days, as I was seeing deer daily but from a long way off. Brought the Savage Model 10 in 300 WSM that launches 150 gr. Nosler Accubonds at an average 3208 FPS in case I had to reach way out there. The hunting was done from elevated blind boxes along a right of way for power lines and an underground gas line. Saw deer so distant along that right of way that all I could do was dream of seeing one within my immediate vicinity. . So what happens? Second last day a small buck walks out at a lasered 60 yards. Put a round through the front shoulder to anchor it in place. Didn't want it to make its way into the woods, as they are thick and thorny. Got folks back home telling me they want venison so I filled their order. . Had the Kimber sporterized Mod. 96 Mauser in 6.5x55 along as a backup rifle and the last day I took it out because the blind I was going to be in offered a chance where the shooting distances were generally closer. Wound up getting a small doe at a lasered 152 yards, again holding on the front shoulder to try and keep it from dying in the woods. One Hornady .264" 129 Gr. Spire point finished that job with the doe dropping 10 yards from the edge of the forest. I'm a happy camper and have managed to scratch the itch for now. Finished handing out the meat today, to my son, my two sisters and my step-daughter. Next thing on the to-do list is squirrel hunt. The season opened Sept 1st and between the salmon & lake trout fishing on Lake Ontario and South Carolina deer hunting I just haven't been able to squirrel hunt so far this season. It's rough when fishing & deer hunting keep me so busy, LOL. Gotta stay busy in retirement. Good thing squirrel runs until the end of February. Feels good not being so itchy anymore.