Whitetail deer season 2023-2024

How has everyone's deer season been so far? Let's see some pics and hear some stories.

Our season opened here in Texoma this past Saturday. We have a lease that is about a section (600+ acres) in size. It's just me and Mama and anyone we invite which makes it nice. The entire area is made up of low fence ranches. I had a few nice bucks (several 140's and a couple that will probably make 150+) on cameras regularly. For this area, those are great bucks and for me they are super. Season breaks out and they go underground. One of the big ones comes in really early on opening day and takes off after a doe 5 minutes before legal shooting time.

I have nothing against shooting off the feeders. Have done it many times and will do it again. It is a legal and accepted method of hunting here. I have been practicing regularly using the irons and peep sight on my Rigby Highland Stalker in 30-06. Every time I can take an animal by spot and stalk using the irons it is special for me. This morning after sitting for one hour, I decided it was time to go for it. I had been seeing a lot of movement through the mesquite, so I removed the scope, got off the stand and started easing around the area using the trails. I spotted this 9 pt buck and eased to within 40 yards to get a clear shot. He doesn't look like anything special, but he gave me a memory to log into my mental trophy book. I am happy with him.







A few details for those that are interested:
Rifle: Rigby Highland Stalker in 30-06 using bolt peep sight
Ammo: my handload using a Nosler Partition 200gr bullet moving around 2450fps
Rest: my favorite "old man" walking stick
Weather: oddly warm (70's) for this time of year with winds gusting to 20+
Watch: Rolex
Boots: Courtney Selous
Rifle was not carried via "Africa carry"


Safe hunting

Nice deer, a beautiful rifle and a proper walking stick! Congratulations! Our rifle season opens Saturday and I’ll be tree-sitting for sure!

Doug3006 said:

Nice deer, a beautiful rifle and a proper walking stick! Congratulations! Our rifle season opens Saturday and I’ll be tree-sitting for sure!

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Good luck and I hope to see some pics and read a story.

Safe hunting

Well my season is over.

Nice buck!

Safe hunting

Took a decent doe this morning at our little place in Cass County TX (Big Piney Woods).. we’re finally seeing some nice big bodied mature bucks come in (biggest is maybe a 130-135 I’d guess) but they’re still very nocturnal.. they haven’t hit a camera before 10pm or after about 3am yet.. some of the younger ones are sneaking around right at the beginning of the day or close to last light… but that’s it…

Following suit with the OP:

Rifle used: Rem 600 .308 with a Resonator K suppressor attached (brings recoil down to about 30-30 levels and reasonably hearing safe levels of noise…

Ammo: hand loads.. Barnes 168gr ttsx over an IMR 4064 charge that pushes them about 2750fps…

Optic: Leupold VX3 3.5x10

Rest: cabelas branded tripod shooting sticks

Weather: warm.. 72 degrees this AM

Watch: $60 Casio g-shock

Boots: 5.11 6” brown leather hikers

I didn’t Africa carry this morning either

Not a wall hanger… but, she’ll be delicious in the crock pot

wesheltonj said:

Well my season is over.
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Ok details:

Rifle: SAKO 85 Classic in .308
Scope: Leica ER 2.5-10x42, set at 6 power
Ammo: Norma Oryx 180 grain
Rest: Protector elbow bag
Watch: Rolex
Boots: Sperry Top Siders
Weather: 89 f

wesheltonj said:

Ok details:

Rifle: SAKO 85 Classic in .308
Scope: Leica ER 2.5-10x42, set at 6 power
Ammo: Norma Oryx 180 grain
Rest: Protector elbow bag
Watch: Rolex
Boots: Sperry Top Siders
Weather: 89 f

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Down jacket or fiber filled?

Great post I’ve got a similar outfit and I just love shooting her with the iron sights. I have not chased any deer with her yet but I will. I’ve only used 180 grain projectiles in mine, so far. But I have a few boxes of 200 grain partitions sitting on the shelf so I think I’ll give them a try.
I can’t fault the Rigby.

R eight said:

Great post I’ve got a similar outfit and I just love shooting her with the iron sights. I have not chased any deer with her yet but I will. I’ve only used 180 grain projectiles in mine, so far. But I have a few boxes of 200 grain partitions sitting on the shelf so I think I’ll give them a try.
I can’t fault the Rigby.

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Pretty wood on that one. I ordered mine with a bolt peep for the reason I used above. I normally just use 180gr bullets. Barnes more than anything. I decided to start using more conventional bullets. I have been playing more with the 200 and 220 lately. It just seems right when I am using the iron sights.

Safe hunting

Been slow here in my corner of Illinois. Hot weather made things weird, but the action has steadily picked up here lately. Hunting as much as I can and working when I have to just to not get in trouble!

I let a nice little 1.5 year old buck walk this evening bowhunting. I'll be cramming some bowhunting in through the weekend, IL gun season opens next Friday.

wesheltonj said:

Well my season is over.
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Beautiful buck!

Doug3006 said:

Down jacket or fiber filled?

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With Top Siders, Down of course.

Just scored 142 1/8

DPHunter4570 said:

I let a nice little 1.5 year old buck walk this evening bowhunting. I'll be cramming some bowhunting in through the weekend, IL gun season opens next Friday.

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I had a little 1.5 year old walk in on me in this afternoon’s hunt as well… awkward little 3 point… I let him pass on by…

2 big girls came out shortly after the awkward buck… I was tempted to punch my second doe tag.. but they were about 350 yards away and pretty close to the property line…so they got a pass too..

A storm has moved in now and the temp is dropping about 20 degrees over night.. it’s supposed to stop raining about an hour before first light… I’ve got high hopes for tomorrow mornings hunt..

mdwest said:

I had a little 1.5 year old walk in on me in this afternoon’s hunt as well… awkward little 3 point… I let him pass on by…

2 big girls came out shortly after the awkward buck… I was tempted to punch my second doe tag.. but they were about 350 yards away and pretty close to the property line…so they got a pass too..

A storm has moved in now and the temp is dropping about 20 degrees over night.. it’s supposed to stop raining about an hour before first light… I’ve got high hopes for tomorrow mornings hunt..

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Temps are dropping here as well. But then going back up early next week?? Why cant it just be fall!

I've been waiting for a big girl to come out. Not much meat on a baby doe or a button buck!

I stepped on a 4 foot rattlesnake while retrieving this guy earlier this year!!

DPHunter4570 said:

Temps are dropping here as well. But then going back up early next week?? Why cant it just be fall!

I've been waiting for a big girl to come out. Not much meat on a baby doe or a button buck!

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It's been really warm here in southern Maine so far this whitetail deer season, hopefully will cool down soon to get them moving.

A friend of mine shot this nice 10 pointer with his crossbow October 2nd, 206 lbs. dressed, in southern MidCoast Maine.

Another friend of mine got this whitetail deer during firearm season last year in MidCoast Maine too with his .308 rifle.
It was the 2nd biggest non-typical rack in the state last year.
Second picture is of the same deer mount on his wall.

We had a guy from Maine get this one with us in Colorado. Not sure of the score yet. Same guy got a 165 with us last year.