Ok guys and gals here I sit amongst my fellow co-workers here on our tow boat thinking about what I gotta drop by Wally World and pick up before I get to the lease.... So I've made my list (very short one), checked it twice, lol. So my Dad and his 3rd cousin were up at the lease fiddling around, checking things out, sighting in guns, doing last minute repairs on the camphouse and they call me up on my cell phone.... Dad says "Son I went to you feeders to check your batteries for ya and I don't know if you know, but I saw some very heavy and big buck tracks". I said "Yea Dad I know about him, he is a heavy 10pt that I saw one day while walking to my stand and I almost walked up right behind him, lol". I watched him for about 10mins then he slowly left to go bed down about 150yds from where my stand is (hence the reason why I put my stand where I did, lol). Anyway Dad, there is also either a nice 6-8pt that has been coming to my feeders and I am hopimg to get a shot on em while I'm hunting.
Now that conversation had me all excited that someone other than me has seen the tracks, knows thier there and I am Amp'd up..... I put a lot of work into this spot and did quite a bit of scouting prior to doing so. I know where the deer bed at, no hunter pressure, just lil ole me waiting for em and gun season is just around the corner....Yee Haw.... Who else is amp'd up and what are some of your thoughts as gun season gets closer and closer?

Yeah this week is gonna suck. I was bowhunting this weekend and got to watch 3 of the 3 bucks on my hitlist milling around just out of range together yesterday evening for about a hour. Then I watch the tall wide 10 (biggest of the 3) he will be 140-150" at less than 20 yards but as I started to draw back on him a doe behind (never knew she was there) bust me and watched him walk off. Luckily he didn't spook to bad. I just hope he comes in next Sat. the same way. It willl be a little differnt since I will have ole faithful with me instead of my bow.

I am we have not harvested any deer, on purpose for the last four years and it has really payed off. I am more excited then I have been in a long time about deer hunting.

I'll be in my stand at 4am

I'm stoked but I'm stuck in El Paso with no lease. And it really sucks.

I will be at the lease for 5 days go back to work for 2 then back to the lease for 3 days!!! What a tough schedule. That is the reason I save all my vacation for this

I got blood from about 20 deer on my boots this weekend and saw several really nice bucks killed so now I am really excited, even more than I was, for next weekend

I can't wait for the season to kick off

I am. In the North Sea right now but will be back to Texas on Wed. and be at the deer lease on Thur. to check everything out and start cooking on Fri morning. Got to get the brisket done before the crowd arrives that night. Cant wait

I had a very "blah" attitude about it until today. There was a buck I watched for three years. Last year, I decided I was going to take him as I figured he was 5.5 and wouldn't get past any neighbors.

He disappeared once the season started, showing up on camera maybe once a week and always at night (the rest of the year he'd hit that feeder almost daily and had for years). As it got colder, we got some snow, and he started moving more.

The day after Christmas there was 18 inches of snow on the ground as I hunted. It's amazing how much you see moving when the world is covered in white. Deer were everywhere and very visible. I had two deer I wanted to kill last year: My "big" buck and a massive spike who had evaded me for 4 years.

About 9am December 26th, they both came out.... at the same time. I was beside myself and trying to make a decision. I finally decided I'd pull the trigger on the spike and did. I figured my big buddy would get bigger with another year of growth and with only a week left in the season and him pretty much staying on my property, I figured he'd make it.

The last pictures I have ever had of him were December 28th last year. After over three years of pictures, he disappeared. I figured a neighbor might have got him, but no one admitted that they had. Then I thought the worst: Poachers! We had two arrests on our place last year for poaching and I was sick thinking he'd been a victim as well.

I was discussing this as I drove out to check cameras this morning with my father. There's a stock tank near the feeder he liked most and we decided to walk around it and look at tracks.

There were some of the largest, heaviest tracks I've ever seen on my property. I quickly went to go pull the card from the camera so I could get back to Cowtown to see if my buddy had returned.

When I got to the camera, I could only laugh. Last week I had to do some work on that feeder and had turned off the camera. I guess I was so tired when I finished that I forgot to turn it back on.

My excitement had grown a good bit at that point, but grew a great deal more about a half hour later. While driving home, I got a call from a good person who watches after our place occasionally. He had been by lately and wanted to tell me about a buck he had seen in my pasture.

Described him as easily 155 and maybe bigger. Very tall, wide, and heavy. Could even be bigger, but wasn't sure.

Last years pictures of "Big Boy" had me thinking he was 155+/- at the time. When I posted him on this forum, people guessed 145-170. Given this description, I can only figure that he is back and is either just as big as last year or bigger.

I've gone from "blah" to "can't wait!!!!" today. I had been considering skipping opening day next Saturday to attend a birthday party for my nephew. I'll just send him a card telling him I'll take him hunting once he's old enough and know that one day he'll understand and appreciate that!

This is going to be one LOOOOONNNNNGGGGGG week!

I am geeeed up like crazy this yr. Ive seen three really nice bucks 1 that scores to high for me to count and two over 160. I took a doe thursday and 300+ hog and 2 yotes this weekend. I got a good feeling this yr going to be great.

I am still offshore and have no idea whats going on in Rusk county. I read on another post the the bucks wern't chasing as of yet. I should be home in a couple of weeks. Picking up a new 270 win, (stoked). Actually hope to get a Mountain lion with all the traffic about'em. With pictures of course! lol.

Yeah I'd have to say we are all "down with the sickness", lol!!! There's no season like Deer Season!!! Keep em coming guys...let's hear from everyone their level of anticipation and how their nerves are rattling, lol! I work on the water for 20 days at a time so it's rough during season, but it's my passion and what I look forward to!!! When I'm going down the banks along the Colorado River I see deer running and playing and I break out the field glasses and begin looking for Mr. Big.....out of every herd there is a mr. big!!! Anyway, keep it going guys!!!

I haven't had a chance to hunt at all so far, (work), and should be home Thursday and start hunting Friday morning!!!

aLl I can say is this week is really going to suck untill Friday . Good hunting to all of yall .

Yep I have been working too and have not had the chance to hunt yet so the build up to this weekend is killin' me, lol. Good Luck to you all and I hope everyone has a good season!!!
Frank

This year is VERY exciting for me. I hunted on a lease in Junction for nearly 18 years...ending in 2006...thats the LAST time I've been able to hunt. Ive been in the mortgage business since 1992...and when the mortgage market began to crash in 06', it's been EXTREMELY tough to make a living. I owned a mortgage company for 7 years...had to shut its doors in 07'...after that, went to to work as a Sr. Manager for WaMu....it failed in 08'....then, went to work as a Sr. Analyst for another company based in Bethesda MD....it closed its doors in 09'....So since the end of 06' it's been a tough run for me as security and pay dwindled...so much, I had to make a career change. That was the most DIFFICULT time I've ever faced in my life. Having to choose a different career path after 18 years in the mortgage biz....with most of them as a Sr. Manager or owner...it was incredibly difficult. I could not find ANYONE to hire me. Over qualified....you won't be happy with what we can pay you...is all I heard. Finally, with God's grace, I found someone willing to allow me to come on board....AND I inherited some land down in Freer. This has ALL come about in the last 3 months. Getting on a deer lease for THIS season was WAY DOWN LOW on my priority list as funds were just not going to be available....THEN a new career path opened....I have some prime land to hunt...So long story short....this Saturday, I will be sitting in a stand....watching an awesome sunrise and just looking...being in AWE of whats before me. Having something to harvest will be a bonus....but just to be able to do what I love most will be reward enough for me this season....

Wow! Bobby G its been a rough few years for ya! Glad to hear that things are turning around for ya! You deserve a good buck this year! Make sure you share some pics with us!

This is going to be a long week boys and girls! My dad and I are on a new place this year and by the pics we've got this place has alot of potential!

I'll start packing and gathering things tonight.

Yes it has been....but I had a great run for many years. Unfortunately my industry went hog wild when then President Clinton started the "let's get ANYONE and EVERYONE in a home no matter what" initiative while he was in office. It was a great idea, but there were no safety nets in place to stop the greed and dishonesty that came with it. It was an industry debacle! Now the real estate and mortgage markets are reaping what they sowed....but enough of that....

I am grateful for the good years in the industry and am now firmly grounded with an awesome company. Now that I have my own land to hunt, I couldn't be happier. The smile on my face Saturday morning just might scare any animals off

This week will drag I'm sure....

I'll be missing the opener but out the next weekend. Someone scheduled a pre-paid fishing trip on the opener... I was on highway 190 to Madisonville and then 45 to Dallas on Saturday and there were a ton of deer along both roads. I have never seen deer like that on I-45 just feeding next to the interstate.

I can't wait for rifle season to open. Boy did I get buck fever this weekend. Too bad I'm not a kid anymore. Getting old just sucks in more then one way. LOL Everything is set at the stand and the feeders are going and cameras are up. Marking the days on the calendar.

Bobby G your situation is inspiring as much as it is well deserved! One can only hope that you will be sitting with a smile upon your face while the wildlife before you gets your heart pumping like we all long for! Good luck man, God Bless and glad to hear things are looking positive for you!!!

Ready Ready Ready Ready

X2!!!