Recent Harvest History of Deer Hunting in the Swamp
Season Dates:
Bow: Oct. 15th to Jan. 31st
Gun: Nov. 22th to Jan. 31st
2008-2009 Deer Season
The 2008-09 season witnessed another bumper crop of acorns following a more normal summer of rainfall. We had more hogs in the Swamp than in recent years, killing 40 during deer season. Only three bucks were killed this season, two of which are pictured above.
2007-2008 Deer Season
The 2007-08 season witnessed a bumper crop of acorns at the end of a near record summer drought. The fall started with all the ponds and low areas of the swamp completely dry.
2006-2007 Deer Season
2005-2006 Deer Season
The 2005-2006 was a good one for the Swamp. We took three fine bucks, one by bow and two by gun.
Randy Chastain with a 135 B&C 10 point killed in the January rut.
Will Reaves and a 120 B&C Bow Kill
Dane Tilley with a typical 9 pt with heavy bases and old age.
2004-2005 Deer Season
The season was memorable for primarily two things---the destruction left by Hurricane Ivan in September and a record warm spell in both December and January. The first half of December was very warm and was followed by a cold second half. The first half of January saw record warmth with a string of 14 days reaching into the mid 70s. The second half of January turned cooler.
We killed 7 bucks and 7 does in the Swamp, including these two nice bucks. Approximately 20 hogs were taken and many more were seen during the course of the season.
2003-2004 Deer Season
A bumper acorn crop really helped to fatten up the deer during the winter of 03-04. Our harvest showed signs of a herd in much better condition than what we were seeing several years ago. The biggest rack recovered was from a deer that died from unknown causes a few hours prior to being found in December. He was a typical 8 point with forked brow tines and two additional points coming from the base of his left antler. He grossed 137 B&C points. We ended the season with a harvest of 18 does and 7 bucks from the Swamp.
2002-2003 Deer Season We had another light harvest this year. We took 11 does, 9 of these while bowhunting. Some nice bucks were seen by bowhunters but not shot. Little rutting action was seen prior to January 6 but it began soon thereafter. At that point scrapes were just beginning to show up. Some really nice bucks were seen running does the last two weekends of the season.
2001-2002 Deer Season The 2002 season was another memorable one. The hardwoods produced an abundant acorn crop and deer fed there rather than the greenfields. Less activity was seen in the greenfields than in recent years. Five bucks were harvested along with 10 does. We saw more early rutting activity this season than we had in decades. Numerous bucks were seen chasing does as early as late November. This continued into December and January.
2000-2001 Deer Season Six bucks taken during the season. See the NEWS ARCHIVES page for all the details.
1999-2000 Deer Season Twelve bucks and 23 does were taken in the Swamp. Of the twelve, there was one 6 point, one 7 point, seven 8 points, and three 9 points. Three were tagged the "wallhanger" status. This season was the best in recent years.
1998-1999 Deer Season In the fall and winter of 1998-99 bowhunters took 12 deer in the Swamp. Gun hunters harvested 10 deer. There were 14 does and 8 bucks harvested, total. Two mature bucks were taken. The best buck was an 8-point with a 17 1/2 inch spread, bagged by Tommy Malone. The season was characterized by warm weather. After an unseasonably warm November and early December that kept deer movement to a minimum, cold winter weather finally arrived for the first two weeks of January. Then the mercury climbed again to above normal temperatures. It was the warmest winter in decades. The last weekend of season witnessed nearly 7 inches of rain fall in the Swamp.
1997-1998 Deer Season Resulting from a poor acorn crop in the fall of 1997, bowseason in the Swamp was not as productive as usual. Nevertheless, archery hunters harvested nine does and one buck. Including deer killed during gun season, a total of 39 deer were killed in the Swamp. Twelve of the 39 were bucks. The best buck, an 8-point, was taken by Jim Smith of College Station, TX.
