Last year I hunted an new area where I found a decent, dead 4 point on the second weekend. About 23" wide and real heavy. Anyway, 30 minutes later a real tall, wide as his ears buck gave me the slip and I never saw him again. Also never saw another hunter, or evidence of other hunters in 2 days in this area. So, I did a little scouting and went back for the opener this year. Saw one other guy hunting about a mile away from me, when he started blazing away at something. Took 5 shots. I was working in his general direction, and about an hour later I'm working down a ridge and see a buck that is limping real bad. Buggered up left front leg. Can't quite make out the antlers, but figure it has got to be the buck this guy was shooting at. At this point, I figured that if the buck is legal, I am somewhat obligated to harvest the deer and end his suffering. I watched him bed down, and circled around to get a good look at him and better shot angle. He was an 18"wide X 18" tall three point still in full velvet. He spotted me, stood up and I put him down with one shot through both lungs. Turns out he had no cajones, thus the full velvet. Found .243 bullet in leg with broken bone. Never saw the lazy SOB that did the shooting. Just love the "I guess if they don't go down, I must not have hit him" types. Give the responsible hunters a bad name. I guess I'll get a big one next year. Good luck to everyone else.
Scott/couesbitten