Hot weather puts damper on weekend hunting.

After going back and forth between trying to decide whether or not to hit the woods this Saturday, I decided I would just stay home.

I did not want to hit the woods and sweat myself to death.

The deer are moving moderately, but the mature bucks are staying near water and not moving during the day.

I did not want to risk losing meat to the heat after shooting one either.

Instead of hunting, I checked cameras and spent some time in the woods hoping to thin up the hog population.

Apparently, they went to every spot that I did not go to so I came up empty handed.

Hopefully, I can try again this weekend and succeed.

I am seeing a lot of young bucks but most need at least two more years to mature to full potential.

If you want a big buck, you have to let the young ones walk.

I would rather not use a buck tag this year and get a chance at nice buck next year.

You hate to let a legal buck walk, but you know he will look even better next year, especially if other people are smart enough to let young bucks walk.

I can remember in past years letting a six-point or small seven-point buck walk because he needs to reach maturity.

A few days later, you see the deer on Facebook or on someone's phone showing off this buck they tagged.

You know they shot it just so they can say that they filled a tag.

That same person is one that says they never see big bucks.

You want to slap them in the face and tell them if you never let them live past 2 1/2-years-old then you never see their max potential.

Big bucks do not appear magically.

Every big buck was once a small five-point buck.

That big 10-point that your buddy shot was probably a small sixpoint buck that he let go for two years.

His patience gave him something to be proud of in the long run.

I hope that if it cools off enough this weekend, I may just climb a tree and see what the deer movement looks like.

I'll take my bow in case a hog comes through.

The cool front may even get a buck to move a little in early morning or late evening.

Highs in the low 70s and lows in the 50s would be so wonderful right now.

Cooler weather needs to come on because Cooper wants to go hunting.

He agrees that it is too hot as well.

He is ready for muzzleloader and modern gun so he can go to a blind with me.

He wants to go on a bow hunt but he knows there isn't room for two people in my bow stands.

He told me that he wants to have his own bow one day and he wants to kill a deer with one.

I guess I better get ready for a little bow hunter in a few years once he can pull 35 pounds!

Congratulations to everyone that took a deer this weekend.