The extended Fields family found success during the 2025 deer seasons

I received an update from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and according to their latest information, there was a total of 131,203 deer taken during the 2025-2026 deer seasons. I have talked with several people who consider that a high number, and many doubt their integrity. But I have never been one to question or criticize their efforts.

It is required that all deer taken during the hunting seasons be checked in, and to my knowledge, most serious deer hunters check in their harvested deer online or at a deer check-in station. Granted, it can sometimes be a hassle with internet bugs and gremlins, but it is required.

I have asked several close friends how they would rate their deer hunting success this past season, and many graded their hunts averaging about C-. Several folks who did not harvest a deer rated their hunts much lower, but I would say many were C or slightly higher. Some people have to harvest a deer to rate their hunts a success, while others consider the camaraderie and excitement of just being out there and making memories with family and friends more important.

I started the season out harvesting a big doe on opening morning. Then, I didn’t get to hunt for a few days. The next trip out, I shot a decent buck. I had a deer bundle tag that allowed me to take one buck and two does during the entire seasons. I hadn’t even had the opportunity to hunt with my grandsons yet, so I decided to stop hunting until the firearms and muzzleloader season started. Little did I know, my grandsons were already hunting and were enjoying their own success in several Indiana counties.

My oldest grandson Colton Zeck now lives in Batesville, Indiana, with his family. He does a lot of farming, and his hunting was severely limited. He managed to make one afternoon and one morning hunt with me and his brother. He saw several deer but nothing close enough for a high-percentage shot.

My other grandson Conner, hunting on different properties, got a great start by getting a very impressive buck, and then putting two does in his freezer. Conner and I hunted together maybe three times after he got off work.

Conner and I were talking, and he asked if I cared if he took his girlfriend’s oldest son hunting for the first time. I suggested he take Parker up and both of them get in my two-man ladder stand. Over the years, I had hunted that ladder stand with Conner when he was first starting to deer hunt, and he and I had taken several nice deer at that spot. I felt confident they would at least see deer.

They made the trip, and they entered the stand shortly after 4:00 p.m. At 4:45 p.m., Conner sent me a picture of Parker kneeling with a nice, nine-point buck. Needless to say, our “extended” family has gained another deer hunter.

My youngest grandson Caden Zeck has always been an avid angler but never had the desire to deer hunt. Well, this year, he decided to give it a try. He took a very impressive buck and two does, so he is now a dedicated deer hunter.

You know I am very proud of my grandsons, and I am also proud of my “bonus” great-grandson Parker Rayl taking his first deer. Needless to say, I would be proud of them whether they get a deer or not, but I can recall when the boys were younger and I sometimes carried them in and out of the woods on my back because they got tired of walking.

Of course, those days are long gone, but they have been very instrumental in helping me get things done in the woods since I have become older.

Overall, I probably hunted less this year because I had success early, and my plans of hunting during firearms and muzzleloader season were derailed because of sickness. I estimate I hunted less than 10 times, but with putting two deer in the freezer and seeing the success my extended family enjoyed, I have to rate my deer season this year at least a B+.

It might never happen again, but as long as I am physically able to get in and out of the woods, I will be out there trying to outsmart those Whitetail deer.