We just returned from a great hunt in Missouri. They have their rifle season right during the rut and this makes it very interesting.   We are lucky enough to stay with good friends and hunt property that is only available through them.   The country is beautiful, big farming country with a lot of big woodlots, creek bottoms and ravines.   The deer are plentiful and BIG!   Everybody in this part of the country is into hunting and it really takes on a festive atmosphere. With all the pressure, you wonder how there are so many big deer - but they are there!

We go every year and never ceased to be amazed. We should know by now to hold out past the first day. However, we both took nice 10 pointers on the first day and that was a BIG mistake!   We hunted the rest of the time on our doe tags just to watch the rut unfold.   The rut was frantic and we saw a great many huge deer but we had no tags left. Several were B&C deer that dwarfed the big deer I got over in Illinois during bow season. One was the deer of a lifetime with points everywhere. Another would have been hard to get your hands around the main beam.   One day I saw six shooter bucks before 9 AM. Next year, we hunt opening day with no ammo!

It is hard to believe we saw what we saw and came home with what we did.   It was one of the best hunts ever. I just can't wait until next year!!