Best December Unit

[firstcoueswas80]

Two people here have the right idea. The first is Ernesto, with whatever unit you can get a tag for.

 

 

And the second is Sundevil.... About 5 years ago, when our game management took a turn for the worse. Quoting "opportunity over quality", the December hunts, and all hunts in general took a serious downfall.

 

With the enlarged number of hunters afield, and an extra hunt added in there the quality and amount of bucks walking around has steadliy decreased.

 

I just concluded a succesful December hunt in a unit I know well.. My dad, family friend and I had this tagfe a few years ago and man what a difference! My dad killed his best buck (85") the first evening, I shot a buck (in the head) that went in the 90's on my third day, and mhe family friend shot his best buck, a low 90's buck in a whooping 12 minute hunt.

 

With high hopes and a patient trigger finger, I made it to the field this year. It took me 3 days to finally put horns on a deer. I had seen atleast 85-90 deer before seeing my first inch of antler. Not what I would call a great buck to doe ratio.

 

The fact is, in most units 2500+/- other hunters have walked all around the unit it, and shot at and killed a lot of deer. Ga$e and fish commission doesn't see this as a problem, just a very large pay check for them.

 

But, on the other hand you do have 23 days to hunt, (possibly) much cooler weather. (I was hunting in freezing sleet to mid 70* temps) and the VERY slim chance of rut.. Most likely some pre rut.

 

 

That being said, give me a December rifle tag in my favorite unit every year, and I'd be a happy camper.