Post by grassi25 on Sept 29, 2010 11:14:46 GMT -5
For the past five years this has been my baby. We are now on the 6 th season and expectations are pretty high. It is only 500 acres, so when we started out I didn't have high expectations. We were just happy to have out own place, where we made the rules. (We is me and my Dad). We now have 10 members which inlclude my brother, one of my dad's buddies, and 6 of my friends.
The first year started out with not much management in mind just shoot what you want and see what kind of quality we have.
Opening day one of my buddies killed about a 115 in 8pt. And another one of m buddies missed a buck that he said was the same size. Then I killed what I called a cull buck, but not so sure now. It was a basket 8, but it had golf ball size tumors all over it.. Turns out it was not anything bad.
Year 2 I really wanted to start pushing letting younger bucks walk. Also, got my first couple trail cams. I then started learning that there are alot more big bucks out there than we thought. The only issue we were facing is my brother and friends were had not hunted alot and many never killed deer. So, there were a few young bucks killed as their first deer or buck. No wall hangers killed though.
Year 3 was pretty much the same, just a couple small bucks killed, but really started catching up the buck to doe ratio. Seasons 2, 3, 4, and 5 we have shot twice as many does as bucks. And still no wall hangers killed. Except a decent two yr old buck that was my brothers first deer.
Year 4 started out great with alot of good bucks on trail camera. But, none were seen through bow season. Then opening weekend of rifle and I let a bunch of small bucks walk and was getting dissapointed then rattled up a nice young 9 pt. and shot him. I wished later that I hadn't but it did help give me the patience later to let some other nice bucks walk.
So, most of the season had passed with still no wall hangers. Besides the good trail cam pics, I just thought we would never kill another big buck. Then Dec. 2 a guest shot a 140 13 pt. I was a little upset about it being a guest at first, but I am ok now.
So, Season 5 2009. Again the season starts out with alot of good trail cam pics. But there is only one decent buck seen in bow season. Then opening weekend I kill my the big 137 in 9 pt. And my Dad killed a young nice 8pt. Later in the season a buddy kills a big young 7pt. , my youngest bro (10yrs old) kills his first deer a nice 8pt wall hanger. And lastly, one of my buddies misses a real big 8 pt I had on trail cam.
Season 6 is underway. And I have never had this many bucks on cam this early. Especially three shooters (Bucks 3.5 yrs or older)
Here are some pics of Gopher Hill Hunting Club.
The first year started out with not much management in mind just shoot what you want and see what kind of quality we have.
Opening day one of my buddies killed about a 115 in 8pt. And another one of m buddies missed a buck that he said was the same size. Then I killed what I called a cull buck, but not so sure now. It was a basket 8, but it had golf ball size tumors all over it.. Turns out it was not anything bad.
Year 2 I really wanted to start pushing letting younger bucks walk. Also, got my first couple trail cams. I then started learning that there are alot more big bucks out there than we thought. The only issue we were facing is my brother and friends were had not hunted alot and many never killed deer. So, there were a few young bucks killed as their first deer or buck. No wall hangers killed though.
Year 3 was pretty much the same, just a couple small bucks killed, but really started catching up the buck to doe ratio. Seasons 2, 3, 4, and 5 we have shot twice as many does as bucks. And still no wall hangers killed. Except a decent two yr old buck that was my brothers first deer.
Year 4 started out great with alot of good bucks on trail camera. But, none were seen through bow season. Then opening weekend of rifle and I let a bunch of small bucks walk and was getting dissapointed then rattled up a nice young 9 pt. and shot him. I wished later that I hadn't but it did help give me the patience later to let some other nice bucks walk.
So, most of the season had passed with still no wall hangers. Besides the good trail cam pics, I just thought we would never kill another big buck. Then Dec. 2 a guest shot a 140 13 pt. I was a little upset about it being a guest at first, but I am ok now.
So, Season 5 2009. Again the season starts out with alot of good trail cam pics. But there is only one decent buck seen in bow season. Then opening weekend I kill my the big 137 in 9 pt. And my Dad killed a young nice 8pt. Later in the season a buddy kills a big young 7pt. , my youngest bro (10yrs old) kills his first deer a nice 8pt wall hanger. And lastly, one of my buddies misses a real big 8 pt I had on trail cam.
Season 6 is underway. And I have never had this many bucks on cam this early. Especially three shooters (Bucks 3.5 yrs or older)
Here are some pics of Gopher Hill Hunting Club.
