Congratulations you Hunt Talkers

[Big Fin]

After looking at some of the "2010 in review" threads that have popped up recently, I am amazed as the critters the Hunt Talk folks killed this year.

There have always been a lot of great pics posted since Moosie started this site, back when Moby Dick was a minnow, but 2010 is something for the history books.

Maybe I am biased, but I post or lurk on a lot of other hunting sites. Many of them have a lot more traffic than we do, but none of them have the collection of amazing animals that appeared on this site for the 2010 season.

And lots of just plain ol' great hunting stories, even when there was no kill. The number of guys who went the extra mile to include youngsters or new hunters was impressive.

When all the great antelope started getting posted early in the season, I thought that was the exception, as the spring bears were more than I could have ever expected. Then to see guys from different parts of the country going to new places and shooting critters that normally are reserved for locals with inside info, I thought it couldn't get much better.

Guess I was wrong. The deer and elk pics for the year are off the chart. Not just the top-end critters that are for sure, top-end, but across the board average of these animals is way, way, beyond the norm.

When one considers that the average deer killed in the US is between 1.5 and 2.5 years old and the average elk killed is usually a 2.5-3.5 year old bull, the age class of animals posted on this site for 2010 is crazy. This year, you guys were smacking lots of 4-8 year old deer and elk.

Still a few tags left, and then we will be back to being surly old codgers with cabin fever. We will argue over stupid things, a few guys will get mad and leave with their toys, and a bunch of new folks will show up and join in. And when the tags are drawn next spring and summer we will be buzzing with excitement as the process starts all over again.

My New Years toast will be that 2011 can be better than 2010, but that would require some amazing animals to hit the dirt.

So, Congrats to all the Hunt Talkers this year. What a great year it has been.

 

[Big Fin]

And if you have any 2010 pics you want to post, feel free to post them here, even if they have been posted in other threads, dead critters or other photos.

 

[174in]

1st antelope hunt for me Wyoming 2010

3.5 year old Wisconsin whitetail

 

[174in]

My buddy on the Wyoming trip

me on the second day of antelope season looking to fill a doe tag

 

[gbfan]

My hat's also off to all who were successful this year as I was 0 for 2 in 2010. Before I saw that "montana slaughter" thread, I was beginning to think MT was land of the giant elk, though. I do need to get up there to hunt deer or elk in the near future...

Here's a pic I posted on a couple other places awhile back of a deer I was chasing during archery season. Would've been a perfect shot had it not been a month before the season.

 

[Big O]

My most memorable hunt of the year, more than the elk kills and big bucks. My 10 yr old sons first deer, opening day, one shot. Great day.

 

[Big Fin]

Wish antelope season was longer.

 

[MNHunter]

Only was able to go on one hunt this year but it was memorable

 

[justdada]

2010

I don't have any real nice photos from this year, as I ended up solo for all of my kills this year, but I'll add one for a contribution to the raghorn express, and one of a muzzleloader bear; both in Colorado.
and yes, i took off my vest for the picture, it is hanging in the tree next to me...

 

[BOWUNTR]

Yes it was a good OYOA season ... Ed F

 

[Bucnutz.wis]

Yes - a fine year indeed:

1) Wisconsin Archery 8 pt
2) Wisconsin Gun 9 pt & doe

 

[Bucnutz.wis]

Part 2:

1) Our family friend Mike with a 14pt South Dakota Archery Whitetail
2) My Nephew Saywer with his first buck ever !! (9pt Wisconsin Gun)

 

[SDHNTR]

UT Elk. Local bucks eluded me this year. Off to Texas in 2 days though so 2010 aint over yet!

 

[Ben Lamb]

 

[thecrittergitter]

Well, there were no big deer in the cards for me this year but it was still a very awesome year for my family. Out of 6 people in my family, my oldest daughter was the only one that didn't take part in a kill this year Off doing 7 yr old girly things i guess:

My favorite hunts of the year were me and my boys, and getting my wife onto her first elk ever! And yep, those topped the year, even though i did kill my best bull elk to date, it comes in a far second to the blood trailing with the two boys.....

 

[Big Fin]

Anytime I help a younger hunter, I have more fun than they do.

 

[thecrittergitter]

here are couple pics from our season.

 

[nbell]

I would have to agree Big Fin. This has been one of my best seasons ever.
Started with me shooting this one with my bow at 14 yards.

Then a good friend of mine shot this big guy in Oct.

And topped it of with some late season white tails

 

[thecrittergitter]

Oh, don't want to forget about my "population control" bear............As Greenhorn calls it


Figured i'd throw a couple more on just cause i had em

Was a fun year for sure......

 

[icb12]