Hagerman-Segment B

[ttubudd]

Texas or Oklahoma deer?



Nice deer Eric

Thanks Spencer! Glen rose, TX. You and Jeff get after em in seg C! Still a lot of bruisers who haven't been shot at this year!!

[Tex]

Here's a humbling picture of the buck I killed this year... Has nothing to do with Hagerman.

Congrats on a nice buck. I wasn't talking about you. There have been multiple references about someone who shot a nice buck and people can't get permission to post the pic. They said he was a member of TBH.
I just don't see what the big deal is about posting a pic of a good deer that was taken on public land for a drawn hunt????

[bow4my2]

Thanks Spencer! Glen rose, TX. You and Jeff get after em in seg C! Still a lot of bruisers who haven't been shot at this year!!

Fossil Rim ?

[rjet]

Here is my personal update from the worlds worst bow hunter.
Had an awesome hunt and thanks again to the refuge for making this available for us. I think I need some hunting lessons from my friends. I am proud to say that out of the last count I saw that I am either related to or friends with 3 out of the 4 buck kills this weekend.
I had two particular deer I got the crazy notion to focus on, I knew it was a stupid idea but went with it even knowing the rut would probably be on. So being hard headed took the gamble and lost.
Friday started off great. Saw a big bodied deer early that morning at 40 yards but it didnt go the direction I was expecting and never really saw what it was. Second deer was pretty much the same story but in a different direction. Then had a 6 pt and later an 8 pt walk right under me, this all before noon. So stopped second guessing my decision that this was a bad spot. Saturday as far as hunting for me sucked, but was a great day as I got to help my brother drag out the best buck he has ever taken and had what I thought was one but ended up being two buddies connect on nice deer.
Today, I was really kicking myself in the arse over what a stupid decision I made after not seeing a deer early this morning. Got text from my brother who was a few hundred yards away about seeing a chase with a good buck. Not long after I had one at 30 yards. Two doe and a very nice chocolate colored thick racked buck. They were in some thick stuff and I had a very narrow shooting lane in there. This was a hard chase and those deer were moving back and forth so couldnt keep up. When the buck came in my lane there was no way for an ethical shot on him.
After that my brother text back that his chase came back and the buck was limping and headed my way. He guessed 5 minutes as they had slowed down. Waited 30 and decided to sit for a while. Not 15 minutes later had a big doe come in from the back and right of my at 7 yards. I thought she nailed me but after a second kept coming in and walked by me. I then started to slowly scoot my arse over for a right side shot to get ready and she must have heard me and trotted off in the opposite direction. The buck cut the corner and passed my lane at around 30 yards but I could not take the shot. I believe if I would have not tried that move he would have walked right under me and would have had a good shot on him. I do not believe it was the same buck my brother saw as it had no limp at all.
This I believe was the buddy of the buck I was after who was much taller tined but same width but not as much mass. This was a very good buck, not a 200 but probably 160 plus after looking at some pics of ones taken and probably better than that.
Since evenings didnt produce much here and the frenzy was over there was an area I wanted to hunt from the ground. Made a decision at 3 this evening to tear my setup down and go over there and hunt from a cedar. I had borrowed my tow rope from my lock on to use on a different stand so went to gander and bought a new one Thursday after we setup stands. Low and behold when I was lowering my rope for the move the rope and clip separated and my bow crashed to the ground. Decided at that point to call it another great Hag hunt and be done.

Was a total blast as usual. Saw 2 awesome bucks within range just didnt get the job done....again. LOL Had a blast during the long process of scouting and hunting and hanging with some friends like my brother, Tommy (horn chaser) and Chris (bow for something) and meeting some tbhers in the process like bama and razrbck.

Yeah, I have had a few toddies. Am worn out to the bone after all day sits with the exception of dragging a deer out yesterday afternoon and my mistake at 3 today. That mile hike dragging gear (and deer) in and out and just walking in twice every day will get to ya.
Good luck segment C, I know for a fact there are two good ones left for ya.

[bow4my2]

Here is my personal update from the worlds worst bow hunter.
Had an awesome hunt and thanks again to the refuge for making this available for us. I think I need some hunting lessons from my friends. I am proud to say that out of the last count I saw that I am either related to or friends with 3 out of the 4 buck kills this weekend.
I had two particular deer I got the crazy notion to focus on, I knew it was a stupid idea but went with it even knowing the rut would probably be on. So being hard headed took the gamble and lost.
Friday started off great. Saw a big bodied deer early that morning at 40 yards but it didnt go the direction I was expecting and never really saw what it was. Second deer was pretty much the same story but in a different direction. Then had a 6 pt and later an 8 pt walk right under me, this all before noon. So stopped second guessing my decision that this was a bad spot. Saturday as far as hunting for me sucked, but was a great day as I got to help my brother drag out the best buck he has ever taken and had what I thought was one but ended up being two buddies connect on nice deer.
Today, I was really kicking myself in the arse over what a stupid decision I made after not seeing a deer early this morning. Got text from my brother who was a few hundred yards away
about seeing a chase with a good buck. Not long after I had one at 30 yards. Two doe and a very nice chocolate colored thick racked buck. They were in some thick stuff and I had a very narrow shooting lane in there. This was a hard chase and those deer were moving back and forth so couldnt keep up. When the buck came in my lane there was no way for an ethical shot on him.
After that my brother text back that his chase came back and the buck was limping and headed my way. He guessed 5 minutes as they had slowed down. Waited 30 and decided to sit for a while. Not 15 minutes later had a big doe come in from the back and right of my at 7 yards. I thought she nailed me but after a second kept coming in and walked by me. I then started to slowly scoot my arse over for a right side shot to get ready and she must have heard me and trotted off in the opposite direction. The buck cut the corner and passed my lane at around 30 yards but I could not take the shot. I believe if I would have not tried that move he would have walked right under me and would have had a good shot on him. I do not believe it was the same buck my brother saw as it had no limp at all.
This I believe was the buddy of the buck I was after who was much taller tined but same width but not as much mass. This was a very good buck, not a 200 but probably 160 plus after looking at some pics of ones taken and probably better than that.
Since evenings didnt produce much here and the frenzy was over there was an area I wanted to hunt from the ground. Made a decision at 3 this evening to tear my setup down and go over there and hunt from a cedar. I had borrowed my tow rope from my lock on to use on a different stand so went to gander and bought a new one Thursday after we setup stands. Low and behold when I was lowering my rope for the move the rope and clip separated and my bow crashed to the ground. Decided at that point to call it another great Hag hunt and be done.

Was a total blast as usual. Saw 2 awesome bucks within range just didnt get the job done....again. LOL Had a blast during the long process of scouting and hunting and hanging with some friends like my brother, Tommy (horn chaser) and Chris (bow for something) and meeting some tbhers in the process like bama and razrbck.

Yeah, I have had a few toddies. Am worn out to the bone after all day sits with the exception of dragging a deer out yesterday afternoon and my mistake at 3 today. That mile hike dragging gear (and deer) in and out and just walking in twice every day will get to ya.
Good luck segment C, I know for a fact there are two good ones left for ya.

u da man bro! Good times

[ttubudd]

Here is my personal update from the worlds worst bow hunter.

Had an awesome hunt and thanks again to the refuge for making this available for us. I think I need some hunting lessons from my friends. I am proud to say that out of the last count I saw that I am either related to or friends with 3 out of the 4 buck kills this weekend.

I had two particular deer I got the crazy notion to focus on, I knew it was a stupid idea but went with it even knowing the rut would probably be on. So being hard headed took the gamble and lost.

Friday started off great. Saw a big bodied deer early that morning at 40 yards but it didnt go the direction I was expecting and never really saw what it was. Second deer was pretty much the same story but in a different direction. Then had a 6 pt and later an 8 pt walk right under me, this all before noon. So stopped second guessing my decision that this was a bad spot. Saturday as far as hunting for me sucked, but was a great day as I got to help my brother drag out the best buck he has ever taken and had what I thought was one but ended up being two buddies connect on nice deer.

Today, I was really kicking myself in the arse over what a stupid decision I made after not seeing a deer early this morning. Got text from my brother who was a few hundred yards away about seeing a chase with a good buck. Not long after I had one at 30 yards. Two doe and a very nice chocolate colored thick racked buck. They were in some thick stuff and I had a very narrow shooting lane in there. This was a hard chase and those deer were moving back and forth so couldnt keep up. When the buck came in my lane there was no way for an ethical shot on him.

After that my brother text back that his chase came back and the buck was limping and headed my way. He guessed 5 minutes as they had slowed down. Waited 30 and decided to sit for a while. Not 15 minutes later had a big doe come in from the back and right of my at 7 yards. I thought she nailed me but after a second kept coming in and walked by me. I then started to slowly scoot my arse over for a right side shot to get ready and she must have heard me and trotted off in the opposite direction. The buck cut the corner and passed my lane at around 30 yards but I could not take the shot. I believe if I would have not tried that move he would have walked right under me and would have had a good shot on him. I do not believe it was the same buck my brother saw as it had no limp at all.

This I believe was the buddy of the buck I was after who was much taller tined but same width but not as much mass. This was a very good buck, not a 200 but probably 160 plus after looking at some pics of ones taken and probably better than that.

Since evenings didnt produce much here and the frenzy was over there was an area I wanted to hunt from the ground. Made a decision at 3 this evening to tear my setup down and go over there and hunt from a cedar. I had borrowed my tow rope from my lock on to use on a different stand so went to gander and bought a new one Thursday after we setup stands. Low and behold when I was lowering my rope for the move the rope and clip separated and my bow crashed to the ground. Decided at that point to call it another great Hag hunt and be done.



Was a total blast as usual. Saw 2 awesome bucks within range just didnt get the job done....again. LOL Had a blast during the long process of scouting and hunting and hanging with some friends like my brother, Tommy (horn chaser) and Chris (bow for something) and meeting some tbhers in the process like bama and razrbck.



Yeah, I have had a few toddies. Am worn out to the bone after all day sits with the exception of dragging a deer out yesterday afternoon and my mistake at 3 today. That mile hike dragging gear (and deer) in and out and just walking in twice every day will get to ya.

Good luck segment C, I know for a fact there are two good ones left for ya.

Good for you not taking an unethical shot when presented with an opportunity on a good deer.

[Booner Sooner]

Great write up, Richard. Thanks for the detail!

[BTLowry]

rjet it sounds like you had an awesome hunt (other than your bow falling )

[Graysonhogs]

Here is my personal update from the worlds worst bow hunter.

Had an awesome hunt and thanks again to the refuge for making this available for us. I think I need some hunting lessons from my friends. I am proud to say that out of the last count I saw that I am either related to or friends with 3 out of the 4 buck kills this weekend.

I had two particular deer I got the crazy notion to focus on, I knew it was a stupid idea but went with it even knowing the rut would probably be on. So being hard headed took the gamble and lost.

Friday started off great. Saw a big bodied deer early that morning at 40 yards but it didnt go the direction I was expecting and never really saw what it was. Second deer was pretty much the same story but in a different direction. Then had a 6 pt and later an 8 pt walk right under me, this all before noon. So stopped second guessing my decision that this was a bad spot. Saturday as far as hunting for me sucked, but was a great day as I got to help my brother drag out the best buck he has ever taken and had what I thought was one but ended up being two buddies connect on nice deer.

Today, I was really kicking myself in the arse over what a stupid decision I made after not seeing a deer early this morning. Got text from my brother who was a few hundred yards away about seeing a chase with a good buck. Not long after I had one at 30 yards. Two doe and a very nice chocolate colored thick racked buck. They were in some thick stuff and I had a very narrow shooting lane in there. This was a hard chase and those deer were moving back and forth so couldnt keep up. When the buck came in my lane there was no way for an ethical shot on him.

After that my brother text back that his chase came back and the buck was limping and headed my way. He guessed 5 minutes as they had slowed down. Waited 30 and decided to sit for a while. Not 15 minutes later had a big doe come in from the back and right of my at 7 yards. I thought she nailed me but after a second kept coming in and walked by me. I then started to slowly scoot my arse over for a right side shot to get ready and she must have heard me and trotted off in the opposite direction. The buck cut the corner and passed my lane at around 30 yards but I could not take the shot. I believe if I would have not tried that move he would have walked right under me and would have had a good shot on him. I do not believe it was the same buck my brother saw as it had no limp at all.

This I believe was the buddy of the buck I was after who was much taller tined but same width but not as much mass. This was a very good buck, not a 200 but probably 160 plus after looking at some pics of ones taken and probably better than that.

Since evenings didnt produce much here and the frenzy was over there was an area I wanted to hunt from the ground. Made a decision at 3 this evening to tear my setup down and go over there and hunt from a cedar. I had borrowed my tow rope from my lock on to use on a different stand so went to gander and bought a new one Thursday after we setup stands. Low and behold when I was lowering my rope for the move the rope and clip separated and my bow crashed to the ground. Decided at that point to call it another great Hag hunt and be done.



Was a total blast as usual. Saw 2 awesome bucks within range just didnt get the job done....again. LOL Had a blast during the long process of scouting and hunting and hanging with some friends like my brother, Tommy (horn chaser) and Chris (bow for something) and meeting some tbhers in the process like bama and razrbck.



Yeah, I have had a few toddies. Am worn out to the bone after all day sits with the exception of dragging a deer out yesterday afternoon and my mistake at 3 today. That mile hike dragging gear (and deer) in and out and just walking in twice every day will get to ya.

Good luck segment C, I know for a fact there are two good ones left for ya.

That's some crap luck for sure. Well, doe weekend in Fannin county this weekend, if it doesn't flood.

[Arrowsmith]

Not everyone is on tbh and not everyone wants to show pics. It's each persons choice and I respect that. Hagerman is not an easy trophy hunt like some people believe the average harvest rate is 10% after spending 3 14 hour days there.

I agree Dan. It's up to the hunter if they want their picture publicized and most of the hunters are either not TBH members or could care less if their picture is publicized.

Hagerman is definitely not your "walk 200 yards to the stand and stare at a feeder hunt."

The average 10% success rate was dead on for segment B. 75 hunters and 8 deer. For some hunts the success rate is slightly higher but the increase is normally due to more does killed.

A friend hunting Hagerman for the first time texted me Friday morning saying he had passed a really nice heavy ten point at 17 yards because it was the first morning. [emoji26] I told him you should have shot him. I told him your chances of seeing anything better were miniscule. He seemed to think he was going to see bucks like that all weekend and be able to pick and choose.[emoji3] That buck was the only deer he saw in 3 days. Live and learn. Hagerman usually makes you learn the HARD way.

There are some great bucks on Hagerman but they are few and far between. Most hunters get only fleeting glimpses of them if they see one at all. In 9 years of hunting Hagerman I have had fleeting glimpes of 4 trophy bucks are was fortunate to shoot one of them.

[bbbuck]

Day one started with seeing a decent 8pt 12yds early in the morning and ending seeing the same deer late in the evening, draw and decided too small. The day ended seeing one doe and 7 different bucks, two of which were shooters. The doe had 4 bucks chasing her and they proceeded to go behind me running 30yds with no shot. They came back several hours later again no shot. Day over.

Day two I was in Abilene at my Nephew's wedding.

Day three ended seeing three different bucks and one doe, which I ended up taking at 12ydrs. Golden ticket.

My homemade deer cart worked great, it would easily carry two deer at the same time. The cart is well balanced and all the weight is on the tire in the middle, couldn't be happier with the cart. Overall this was one of my favorite hunts even though no buck was taken. Words cannot express my thanks to the best hunting partner one could have "killer" my brother in law. Thanks Danny! Well let the scouting begin in the three segments I am least familiar with.

[rgb]

I hunted Segment B this weekend. This was my 4th Hagerman hunt, and as always was a great experience. I didn’t kill anything, but for the first time felt like Hagerman did not kick my butt. At least not mentally; physically yes I am worn out!

In contrast to my previous hunts there, this weekend I saw lots of deer….10 on Friday, 11 Saturday, and 11 Sunday. Hunted from first-light to last-light all three days. I was just off a big creek bottom in Sandy, and had visibility for long distances. Many of the deer I saw were far away. However, several were within bow range as well. Only thing with these was, I had the wrong deer in the right places, and right deer in the wrong places. A few were legal bucks, but were not the type you hope to take at Hagerman. So I didn’t get to shoot a deer, but really have nothing to complain about. I successfully scouted a good spot, and had activity, but things didn’t quite line up. That’s bowhunting.

I shot at a large hog Sunday morning but missed; he was walking up the hill across from me. Had a narrow window at 45 yds and shot as he crossed it, but hit just under him. In my four hunts at Hagerman, that’s the only arrow I’ve released.

I’ve sometimes wondered, why do I go to all the trouble to hunt at Hagerman? My family has a ranch in San Saba with plenty of deer, and I shoot several there each year. So I don’t “need” a deer from Hagerman. But as my friend Arrowsmith said above, this is not a “stare at a feeder” hunt. If you hunt hard at Hagerman, it’s a unique adventure, with possibility of great reward. And I think it makes me a better hunter – Hagerman is like a deer-hunting laboratory - I have learned a lot there, even without harvesting anything. But I still have plenty to learn, and can’t wait for my next chance to hunt there!

[DavidH44]

Congrats Bbbuck on the golden ticket and thanks everyone for sharing a great hunt

[XBowHunter]

Day one started with seeing a decent 8pt 12yds early in the morning and ending seeing the same deer late in the evening, draw and decided too small. The day ended seeing one doe and 7 different bucks, two of which were shooters. The doe had 4 bucks chasing her and they proceeded to go behind me running 30yds with no shot. They came back several hours later again no shot. Day over.

Day two I was in Abilene at my Nephew's wedding.

Day three ended seeing three different bucks and one doe, which I ended up taking at 12ydrs. Golden ticket.

My homemade deer cart worked great, it would easily carry two deer at the same time. The cart is well balanced and all the weight is on the tire in the middle, couldn't be happier with the cart. Overall this was one of my favorite hunts even though no buck was taken. Words cannot express my thanks to the best hunting partner one could have "killer" my brother in law. Thanks Danny! Well let the scouting begin in the three segments I am least familiar with.

congrats again on your golden ticket...

have a picture of your cart?

[blide]

Thanks for sharing everyone!

I commend you guys for testing yourselves out there nature and for making some good choices. This type of hunting really tests your spirit/soul because when you strip out all the worldly things (leases, feeders, scents, ATV's, high fences, and etc.) you're left with nature, skill, and your true heart which is authentic hunting. Sure there was the potential giant buck out there, but most of us were following along because deep down we know the authenticity of Hagerman hunt.

God speed to you guys and the others given this opportunity.