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opening day kills?

muddy

muddy

Well-Known Member
Anyone else have that dream of tagging "the big one" on opening day? I've shot a few does but never had the fortune of popping on a short haired slick looking caped buck early in season.

If you have post some pics, count the days down till opening day! :way:
 
I've done it on out of state hunts for hogs and muleys but never at home on a whitetail. I used to try hard to go after a buck on opening day. Now it seems I never hunt the opener due to hunts with my kids. Well worth the trade off. Actually, I've never killed a mature whitetail in October at all. I don't know what I would do if my tag was filled and the rut was still on ahead. I think it would feel like being dateless at the senior prom!:eek:

So, not a whitetail.....but my best all time opening day harvest.

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Probably, but I much rather kill one in November. It's a better time to take a harvest picture.

I don't like hunting when theres a whole lot of green left on the trees.
 
Never had, and I'm not sue I would want to. I don't like the idea of being tagged out before the rut.
 
I make sure not to even buy my buck tag until mid october. The thought of being done on the first day scares me. I dont mind shooting does though.
 
Not October 1st, but it was my first day hunting in 2009 on Oct 13. I had my buck tag filled in under an hour. 163" 13 point with a super slick cape. I was like a lost puppy during the rut. It sucked, I had no excuse not to rake the leaves in my yard or spend "quality" time with the girlfriend. She made me go antiquing.....antiquing dammit!
2009buck.jpg
 
I haven't hunted opening day in a long time. I think if our opening day was at a similar time to like MO., I would try and see if one of my bucks was still on a feeding pattern, but no reason to scent up an area and risk anything before late Oct. in my opinion.

On the otherhand, like I stated, if you are still getting regular daytime photos you should of course be out there!
 
I hope for that to happen all of the time. Wouldnt mind hunting the rut with only a dow tag in my pocket knowing I have already shot a nice buck.
 
I killed a 160" non-typical on Oct 5th one year. It sucked being done so early, but you never know when it will happen. That's why I always try to at least get out the first few days of the season. I would rather kill one in November though.
 
Earliest I've tagged a buck is Oct. 20. I've always wanted to poke one the first week, but never wanted to be tagged out early!

I'd love to this year because I have some buddies that I can hop in the tree with the camera... it's almost as much fun shooting them with a lens... almost.
 
I dont miss opening day with the high hopes of tagging out, but have never even taken a doe. The earliest I've taken a buck is Nov. 1.
 
I killed my 5 largest bucks on these dates
Oct. 4, Oct. 7, Oct. 9 Oct. 9 and Oct. 17

That said, I've never killed one on opening day. Even though we can get out in Sept. I never get too excited to be out there as often as I can until Oct. 1.
 
I shot my largest buck oct. 7 th 5 o'clock on the afternoon checking does. The land Had not been hunted in 15 years.

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Went out with a buddy to his spot opening morning of 2006 hoping to shoot a few does, but ended up with this guy. He was actually the first deer I saw that day/year.
Taped out at 153ish. Too bad he forgot to grow his G2s....
His short, slick cape is one of the favorites of my mounts.

 
This is my second season bow hunting, took a decent buck on my first sit last year{nov. 5th}. I have a decent ten hitting my mock scrape almost daily between 7 and 10am. Hes not the biggest buck on camera but hes mature and i will be in Montana chasing elk, mulies, and black bear the first ten days of November so if i get a south wind could be over early.
 
Man there's a lot of Oct. 5th's on here. Last two years in a row I killed on Oct. 5th. A 160 and a 164.
 
i always wish i would get one early! i can always go sit in my stand with the camera or camcorder during the rut, just about as much fun!
 
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