2022/23 Hunting Thread

Didn't ever see one of these pop up this year. We're through Turkey season and rut in most of the country. How have you guys faired?

Managed to finally get a swamp buck out of Francis Marion in SC, was a whirlwind of an afternoon. About 2:30 a big 8 came to my grunts and I completely whiffed 2 shots at him. Was down in the dumps when a spike and a 5 came out right around 4:15. He didn't make another step so no track, get him back to my stuff then realize I've got a full drag by myself with a dead phone about a quarter mile in the dark. As the sun sets I figure I can just follow the thick swamp edge on my right and I'll eventually end up on the road. A few hundred yards in I unknowingly crossed the swamp and suddenly the thick edge was on my left. I got lost as hell. Luckily there were some people shooting late at the range down the road and it was just within earshot. A few 'help' calls followed by their recall shots got my bearings right and I got out of there but I left the deer. Called my wife gave her the run down told her not to worry and I went back in to finish the drag. By the time I was leaving forest property I realized no matter how fast I drove I wasn't making the processor so I stopped on for some beer and made a quick U turn to gut this thing out (which would have made the drag much more tolerable if I had just done this to begin with). All things said and done, missed a wall hanger shot a mature 4yo 5 point (body weight probably around 135 - which is a pretty solid FM buck), been sore for the past two days, absolutely will not be in there again without a buddy nearby.