>
>Guys;
>
>I got to 13B a little
>late , but it seems
>that south east
>
>, in the unit was getting
>hit hard.
>
>The whole area , for the
>most part , had received
>a fair amount of rain,
>
>
>which scattered the deer everywhere.
>
>This made the hunt very difficult
>, to say the least.
>
>
>There were some real monsters harvested
>, but the rifle hunt
>
>
>was way more difficult than the
>archery hunt.
>
>Now, before the archery guys take
>acception , the archery hunt
>
>
>was when it was very dry
>and the deer were tied
>to water.
>
>This made for an EASY hunt
>in my opinion , way
>too easy.
>
>I realize that is the chance
>of mother nature , playing
>into the mix , but
>if you put the archery
>hunt forward a week or
>two , the buck groups
>would be broken up and
>the hunt would be much
>more than just sitting water
>, for the most part.
>
>
>The rifle hunters who were successful
>this year , earned their
>
>
>TROPHY , no matter what it
>scored.
>
>All the folks I met during
>the hunt , were having
>a great time,
>
>hated the long days and short
>nights, loved the new friends
>
>
>they made , and some commented
>on how BIG the strip
>was.
>
>I would love to hear some
>good experiences of those that
>were
>
>there and enjoyed this beautiful area!
>
>
>Steve
Steve,
I don't understand your post. Saying that the archery hunt was "way too easy" and that the rifle hunters "earned their trophy." These words almost imply that the archery hunters didn't earn their trophies. I was there 8 days and sat in a gound-blind or in a tree for probalby close to 10 hours a day...anyone that knows me knows that sitting that long just may be harder than hiking 10 miles a day, for me. Mentally it was very challenging, I have ADD, and to just sit was HARD! Too pass GREAT deer to kill a monster, was hard. I think ANYTIME you get archery close, you have done something. I decided against moving in on deer that we had beaded because I knew sooner or later, if I were patient, and sat... they would hit water. I saw a HUGE buck taken spot and stock. Are you an archery hunter?? Do you know how many things can, and in my case, often go wrong, and how hard it is to have the whole thing come together with a bow? To get a shot, you have to have 10 or 12 serious things go right, in a row.
There is no doubt that it was very fortunate, to have it dry for sitting water. But even if you pushed the hunt in any direction two weeks, and it was dry then, it would be better off for hunters who sat water. Snd if it was wet, I would of changed my tatics, So you saying that if the hunt were a different time it would of made a difference. I don't think it would of, unless it rained.
I think the biggest problem I have with what your post, is I like many other hunters waited for years to get this tag, and to work sooo hard, and to get lucky, to have someone lessen thier accomplishment, as "way too easy" by someone on a public forum, who wasn't there, is frustrating.
The greatest thing about hunting is it is NOT general, it is specific. Your specific situation, your specific goals, your specific desire, your specific skills, all come into play. You know very little of each archers specific situation, so I suggest you not make very general statements...as in all things some people who hunted archery worked hard...as well as some may have been lucky, in rifle, looked over the first ridge, and had in your words..."way too easy" of a hunt. AND VICE-VERSA. It is all specific
I for one am grateful I was drawn, and I am grateful to be lucky enough to hunt the beautiful strip, and kill an amazing deer after days of sitting, it didn't seem "way too easy" for me, but then again I may not be that great of a hunter