Closing out the 2018 season

I know there is a month left of deer season for most of the state, but I start earlier than hunters here in Texas and therefore typically finish sooner. I will probably do a couple of day hunts ( where I hunt either the morning or evening at a place I have access too within an hour of my house) but my hunting trips are over for the season.


Coming off a stellar year last year ( Record book sika and a Big Bull Elk ) I had high hopes that this season would be great. Started off Sept. 1st in Arizona for Mule Deer, Bear and Coues deer. Had opportunities on small bucks of both species and got to within 50 yards of a big black bear, but could not close the deal with archery tackle and I came home tags in hand.



End of October found me back in Colorado at the place I killed my elk last year. Saw a huge mule deer buck at 290 yards but the state saw fit to deny me a deer tag so I had to watch him walk out of my dreams. No elk were sighted within range and again I came home with a expensive tag.



After thanksgiving I went to my usual Trans-Pecos spot with high hopes. I normally split it into two trips of 4-5 days with a couple of days in between. We came upon a nice 160 class buck the 3rd day which my partner dispatched after a short stalk.....after that it was crickets. I have never seen such few deer on a hunting trip there. Days would pass by without a sighting. One pasture was holding a lot of does and young bucks, the others were almost devoid of game.
A few hunters harvested smaller bucks, I got so unmotivated I came home half a day early.



Got to see some beautiful country and made some great memories ( the Colorado trip was one of the best trips Ive had in years) but failed to put an animal on the wall.



Next year gonna re-evaluate my hunting program.....


Will post pictures in the proper section....stay tuned

Just the opportunity to be in the field and "in pursuit" is a success in my book. Yes, a trophy to go along with it is even better. Tag soup isn't very tasty.

I sat out this year. The ranch I was on sold, so lease was lost. I didn't draw a tag for NM and on top of that my brother's back went out and he's currently waiting for surgery to correct it. He generally puts in for NM tags as a resident but didn't his year due to his back.

Hopefully next year I'll be back in the swing of things. Luckily I got 4 deer in the freezer last year and I'm still eating on them.

Yeah man, lots of guys would love the opportunity to experience that level of "failure" hahaha

The first two hunts were public land, I more or less have realistic expectations on those hunts. But when you see more and bigger deer in the national forest than on your deer lease, it can get a bit aggravating!