In some ways it’s really hard to believe that the season is over. I can remember all those days when I was a kid when I sat in the picture window and waited for my dad to get home from hunting. I couldn’t wait to see if he had a deer. Hunting season seemed like it would never end. Now, it seems like it’s here and gone in the snap of a finger. I never understood the saying, “the older you get the quicker the time goes.” Now, it’s perfectly clear.
This hunting season was one of my best. For the first time in a long time I found my drive to hunt in the Adirondacks again. I was on a mission to kill a buck that I found sign from at the end of last season. That dream didn’t last too terribly long since I didn’t find any link to him still being in the area. I’m not sure if he died of old age, a hard winter or if he just relocated for a season. When I got a few trail-cam pictures of the buck I named “Tank” I began to think that the buck from last year probably died and “Tank” moved into the area as the dominant buck.
Before this year I had limited experience with trail cameras. While I didn’t use mine in very many places this year I put it in a variety of spots on a flat that I’ve been very successful over the years. I was surprised at how many bucks I got on film, but I was also highly disappointed that I never got a picture of what I would consider a dandy. While “Tank” was a big, mature Adirondack buck, he didn’t have a rack to correspond with his age.
I hunted the southern Adirondacks a lot this season. I had a few opportunities that I messed up and a few where I chose to let the bucks walk.
I’ve realized over the last couple of years how hard it is to kill a good Adirondack buck if you’re not in the woods during the middle weeks of November. I would like to to full force again, but the time isn’t now. I’m really enjoying my trips to other states. I enjoy pursuing giant whitetails and I’ve learned a lot about deer in different habitats which will only help me in the future. I’m certain of one thing……….anyone who can consistently kill a mature Adirondack whitetail on a one-on-one basis can kill a mature buck no matter where they choose to hunt.
That thought brings me to my next topic. I could have killed quite a few mature deer on my trips to other states, but I’ve been looking for something larger than anything I’ve taken. The buck from Ohio was a good one, but he still wasn’t what I would define as a real eye-opener.
I’ve been lucky enough to hunt a lot of places in the last 20 years. My heart has always been in the Adirondacks. I love hearing the gun shot echo of the surrounding mountains after I pull the trigger on a big buck. I love the small of the freshly burnt gun powder. I also love knowing that I’m in the middle of nowhere and it will be an all day job to get the deer back to the tent……………….and from there it will be another full day to get him back to the road where the vehicle awaits. I really miss those days.
Now, my heart is in Kansas. I’ve seen a couple of beautiful bucks out there. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to hunt there. You never know what turns your life will take, but I know I would like to have the opportunity to hunt out there for a few more years. I learned a little last year, but I learned an awful lot this year. They say that the third year is usually the year that everything c0mes together when you’re hunting a new area. I can only hope that I will have the opportunity to go back again next year.
I’m not sure how many bucks I’ve passed over the last few years, but I know that it’s well over a hundred. Twenty years ago I never would have imagined that I could do that. Now, it seems so easy that I don’t even care if I shoot a deer. When I look at my collection of deer heads I’m completely satisfied as a deer hunter, especially and Adirondack deer hunter. It’s something that nobody could truly understand unless they’ve logged multiple seasons hunting in the Adirondack mountains.
I’ll leave you with a picture of mine and dad’s collection. Most of these deer come from a lot of hard work. Many of these deer were taken in the middle of God’s country………..miles from nowhere. I’m glad I was introduced to hunting that type of country because it makes me appreciate everything else so much more. Good luck until next year. I feel another book coming on and I hope to start it shortly. We’ll see how long it takes to finish.
Our Adirondack Home for Hunting Season
Maybe you will learn about a few more of these deer in the next book.