Live Hunt Thread
Wisconsin
Contributors to this thread:
I'm headed out this morning. High winds so I will give my ground blind a go. It is a good setup in an Island of pines I planted surrounded by cut beans and a swamp to the south. Going to decoy and try some heavy rattling this morning. I will post from on stand.
Please use this thread to post from your stand and report on your hunt. Hoping it will make the long sits a little easier on everyone and give good field information. Good hunting.
Got to my farm in Ozaukee county this morning to realize the only morning stand I could hunt with this wind direction, I would never be able to shoot out of. Way more wind then I planned on. Good luck to you!
Changed my strategy, and opted for a stand down on a little hollow. Wind died down considerably. Listened to chasing in the dark. No visuals. Pict 7:15.
Decided to call it a morning. No deer seen. Wind picked back up
2 year old 8 point this morning, came through 50 yds downwind of ridgetop bedding area on side hill. A little later a doe and fawn came from opposite direction and busted me. All 3 ran off.
Went out this morning and sat in the only stand that a W/NW wind and had a doe and fawn come through about 7:30 followed by a small 6 and then about 8:25 had a 8 point come through. Got down and checked known scape areas and saw some are starting to appear. Work the next 2 nights so mid-day hunts are in order.
Budbow, Trapper-what counties?
How about we do like old chat rooms but instead of a/s/l we do T/C/E which would stand for "time" "county" "events"
something like
"I got this buck today's morning hunt at 8:30am here in Waupaca county. He came in trailing a doe. I saw a couple other doe and one small buck on this sit."
I like info and come here looking for what is happening in the woods while I am sitting in my cubicle.....
TRi-sounds great. I started this because i like the ability to get real time information on the hunt.
Back on stand for the evening. Hunting he edge of a thicket.
Seeing very little. Had a 110" pushed from a woodlot they were pulling firewood from on Sunday I believe. He came to the grunt from forty to twenty yards. Quartering to me, and I would have passed. I suspect the neighbor shot a doe. Couple fawns seen a few times. Been hunting dark to 10, and 2 to close. Hunting every day until the 15th. All day sits when things puck up. Nothing yet! Rock County.
(Double post, didn't catch this thread. Good idea 10)
Stuck a nice 11 this morning. Hit him back. Lots of blood. Backing out until this evening
kylet hope you have a short track. I am a nosy person so I have some quick questions. time of morning? county? special circumstances...ex. chasing, scrape working, checking doe bedding area, heading from feeding to bed ect.?
Good luck kylet, make sure you give him plenty of time.
Waukesha County. Public ground. Set up in hardwood funnel between two over grown fields. Buck came through pushing a doe before light. This one cane through on their trail a couple hours later.
Thanks guys. Gonna go check out blood in a couple hours. Gotta feeling I'm going to let him lay until morning
Good luck Kylet, how its a short trail job!
Got into a stand I've had good luck at in the past. We'll see what's moving!
On the sofa stand since 2 pm. Going to give the bones a try!
Been on wood county area stand since 1230, no sign of movement yet. Been a very slow week here except for small bucks close to dark.
NE dodge county. Just a doe and fawn since 2:00.
Quite so far. Prime time is here so hopefully they move
Some chasing tonight Rock Co. Had a neighbor grunt a few times. His stand is on the edge of our property line. I'm about 250 yards from him, so I replied with a grunt to be funny. I just followed his cadence. Interestingly enough, I heard a sort of cough sound. Like a deer that has been hit in one lung and is taking its last breaths. I knew it was deer sounding, but I wasn't sure? It did it again in front of me at like 80 yards in some thick thick cover. When it did it the third time, I could see a deer tail up coming my way. That deer remained motionless for ten minutes. I thought it might have bed down, so I quietly grunted. Ten minutes later, again I grunted. Out busts a doe and a spike I saw less than a week ago. His front right leg looked broken but he was chasing. This same deer fooled me one evening. I thought it was a big doe. Maybe the neighbor thought the same, and put a poor shot on it? It has like four inch spikes.
The two run over the hill, and when she comes back, she now has three in tow. A spike, a small basket and the eight that might be 110"?
While I type this, the deer are running around me no closer than 80 yards. The spike cannot grunt. He sort of coughs. The other two are doing just fine at grunting.
Love the chase! That's why I have a hard time shooting does. Nothing I would shoot, but I started this post a half hour ago, and was interrupted ten different times as she is trying to play hard to get! 6:03, still chasing at 150 yards LOL awesome!
Once again I think it's early, but no denying it started.
Rock Co.
Had a doe come blazing in at absolute last light. I thought for sure a buck might have been pushing her, I waited in hopes of not spooking her or if something was behind her for another 15 minutes to no avail. Cameras still showing a lot of 6 am and 8 pm movement. (Northern Wood County)
As I walked across the cut bean field, two deer popped out of the standing corn. All the standing corn is really having an impact IMO.
So far we have reports from Rock in the Southwest, Ozaukee in the SE, Wood in the NW, Dane in the South Central, Dodge in the East Central, Waukesha in the South Central, Buffalo in the West, and Waupaca in the Central. Pretty Cool! Now we need the boys in the North, NW, NE and Southern to start reporting. Hope you guys are enjoying. Beats the hell out of politics in my opinion. Please continue to share pictures, they say a thousand words!
Camp 2 that is the best stand location posted so far. IMO
Tracked the buck 75 yards or so across an old hay field. Good blood. Jumped a deer just inside the wood line. I assume it was him. Sounded like he made it about 40 yards and then a loud crash then nothing. Backed out until morning
Good idea. Sounds like liver or gut hit (or both). Do you know where you hit him? There may be no blood from his last bed. Slow and small circles getting bigger. If he's heading a direction focus on what he would want to go to, then head that direction like a beagle.
Good luck kylet, plenty cold enough tonight; hope to see the photo tomorrow!
Camp, perfect setting in general.
Kylet, I killed this one back in 08 with a liver shot. 800 yards and a day later found him. Lots of dark blood but, traveled a long way.
Unfortunately I've had two tracks like that. Luckily after I backed I they were both laying were I last heard them. Good choice to wait til the morning. I didn't see a deer this evening.
Camp 2 you can call the picture the toilet paper buck. It was a big help in tracking him the next day.
Snow on ground in wood county. Been here since 2 am and appears it may last most of the day on ground. Good luck today all
Little snow fell this morning here in Rock Co. A bit windy lol. I tried to talk myself into sleeping in, but couldn't do it after last night's chasing. Try to sit until 10......try lol.
4 to 5 here this morn. Windy Ashland Co.
Camp2 that's a great looking stand...my favorite type of spot for sure! Blown away byu how much snow in Ashland- I'm stuck in the cities and we have non here. Heard Langlade county got a dusting (1/2"-3/4") in places. I'll be sitting all day tomorrow...good luck guys
Had a 6 pointer come strutting to the antlers at 845, nothing since.
Working today will be out for the evening hunt. beauty arrow-1 my kind of hunting conditions. Thanks for posting.
Two bucks so far this morning, both small. Noses to ground the entire way through, things are picking up in central wi
No one is hunting tonight?
Been in the stand since about 430. No action yet.
I opted to error on the side of caution and stay in tonight. Have had one fall in my hunting life that was broke by a barbed wire fence. Sustained a few scratches but, that was all the falling out of trees I ever want. Not as steady as I used to be.
BS looks pretty quiet out there?
As far as deer go yes. The wind is still whipping around pretty good. I forgot to mention this is Columbia County.
Found him well into the ninth hour of searching
Way to stay at it congrats
Nice buck kylet. Congrats man!
Kylet, awesome man! Great looking buck. Big bodied. How far did he travel? You have the distinction of being the first to score on this live thread. It has to feel fantastic.
Hunted this afternoon on the ground, moved quite a bit as winds were 25-35mph until dusk. Dane County. Public land, nothing seen or heard, no sign either. Out early tomorrow, should be good conditions - I hope. Good luck all and congrats kylet, nice buck and nice recovery.
Very nice buck and photo kylet, congratulations!
Headed out early. Good luck to all
Nice and chilly! How we like it! Shoot straight everyone! Let's see some antlers by day's end!
Thanks guys.
I was happy to say the least when I walked up on him. He was probably 400 yards from where we bumped him. Had a decent blood trail going away from where we jumped him. He wouldn't go in a straight line. Walking where there were no trails. He made it to the bottom of a hill and layed down but not for long as the bed was wet. From the bed he headed straight back towards where I shot him and that is where we lost blood. Started grid searching the sea of buck thorn and wild rose in the direction he was originally headed and found him about 150 yards from his last bed
Here is a pic of entrance. Exit was maybe an inch back and an inch lower.
Action fast and furious this morning. 3 bucks all cruising. Two in the dark. Ozaukee county
Checking in from south west Manitowoc county. Bumped a deer walking in, hopefully it doesn't cost me. Hunting the side of a big ridge in the timber. Hope to see deer cruising through.
Waukesha county. Bumped several going in, buck came to scrape I'm near in dark...
Good luck all, due to work/ family stuff I can't get up north again until next Friday. My brother in law is hunting my best spot all day today so I'm hoping he has good luck. I convinced him to sit that spot instead of his normal area so I'm sure I'll either get a "BBD" text, or a "dude, you suck" text. I'll post a pick from the last time I was up there.
Here is a different pic of the pine tree stand he may have chosen instead. In the first pick, you can look across the feild and Crp and see the pines from my oaks. This is near fairchild. This is also the spot that a trespasser took a 172 a few years ago.
Been quiet thus far here in Eastern Dodge. Beautiful morning though!!!
Two of the three were in near dark and also bumped deer on way in. Very quiet right now. All three bucks were drive by's.
Got three in trees and one next to me
One buck at 735 came near bow range to grunt tube. 2 year old 8 point so he got a pass. His hair was all frosted up which was cool to see, been quiet since
945 and dead silent here except shots from bird hunters in distance. Ozaukee cty
Anyone have anything moving? Dead here since 8 am
Just got in blind with my 7 yr old boy. Hunting a food plot in ozaukee county. Honing to try some midday rattling
Awesome, Camp, happy birthday to your daughter.
120ish 10 point at 8:30. Two fawns. No chasing even in dark. Grant... Good friend shot a 4.5 year old yesterday
Headed into my sons game at Concordia. Will be back out mid afternoon.
This albino doe isn't feeling any rut pressure
Cool shot, you take that today? What county?
Had a couple does come through directly under my stand. Was hoping a buck was chasing them. Didn't have a good angle on either of them, though. I was happy to see some action and will sit again this afternoon
Anyone else still on stand? Warm now, tough to stay focused
I pulled my card on the way out. Two questions, is this the same deer? Do I get on him right away? The first is from late winter.
Yes she was bedded near our farm. Ozaukee county
This second picture is from the card I just pulled. He is in a different area. If I do hunt him in this spot he will certainly go off property when arrowed or if he feels some pressure.
The winter date is wrong because i was having trouble with my crap Moultrie cameras and had to reset to the default setting.
That's cool Alder.
10, sure looks like it could be the same buck. I've got a number of spots like that, where an arrowed deer could run onto adjacent, fragmented, small-tract properties, and it's a tough call. Best to get advance permission or at least have the phone numbers and an ok to call and have them come with if necessary. Would never hunt a spot with arrow where neighboring group wouldn't allow tracking of a mortally-wounded deer.
Just came in for a bit to get some food. Checked a couple cameras and this guy was on there a couple days ago. I have the camera on scrape on the edge of our bean food plot. I had a picture of him a few weeks ago about 1/2 mile away. Due to the crunchiness of the leaves I'm going to hunt our food plot this afternoon and maybe put out a buck decoy.
Naz it is on my 40 so I do not have much choice. It is a adversarial situation unfortunately.
Been on stand an hour and just had a young buck drive by
Been on stand an hour and just had a young buck drive by
Giving it a go with the half rack deke tonight. Lots of scraping along the field edge. Hoping the wind will calm down a little!!!
Been in stand 30 minutes, had 3 bucks come by. One was a small 4 pointer. Snapped this pic of the big one, he was out of range.
Gotcha 10, though 40 is pretty good size as long as you're not hunting the edge and shooting deer that want to go back to the neighbor's due to habitat, etc. I've hunted smaller tracts than that with success but only if I "knew" which direction they'd run (in other words, 90+ percent sure a wounded deer would stay on property where I had permission due to the cover it had).
Tons of action tonight...awesome. Walworth county.
Naz, that is the problem with my 40. It is great this time of year because it is a natural funnel between a swamp and a feeding area. The only way the deer can get to either is through the 40. Not a core area for bucks but, when the rut hits it is golden. I do keep the west side of the property as a bedding area. There is a small group of does that use it and the neighbors don't like that I never hunt it. They shoot everything that moves and the deer are starting to favor the little thicket I have created. I doubt you would find a buck bedded in there but, a good number of does use it,(4 to 6). I try to allow the bucks to grow but, reality is that 8 is about as big as any deer will get because of off property pressure. The picture was on the north edge of the property. Not good. I actually opted to sit for him tonight. Would never shoot across property boundary !
Had a doe and two doe fawns come out and feed in the soybean food plot. Was just waiting for something to follow them but nothing ever materialized. Not sure where to hunt in the a.m.
Had 4 doe's around me most if the night while in stand behind my house. No boyfriends with them. Lincoln Cty.
In the stand 1.5 before hunt time, nothing seen or heard till noon. Some rubs on the 10 acres I hunt, no scrapes. I have three shooters, and more bucks than does, on my three cameras. Have to go east for three weeks of work. Hope some decent deer are still around when I get back 21 NOV. Dane County. Good luck all.
Hope everyone remembered day light savings! Very calm and crisp in stand again this morning. 6:00 am, a bunch of chasing last night just before dark. Hopefully it continues in day light today. Wood county- out
Good luck today all
Got on 1 hour early this morning. More chasing in the dark..that is getting old. Can hearchasingin the corn too.frostymorning. Good luck today.
Good luck fellas, this is the kind of morning we all wish for. Your posts are about the only thing keeping me sane since I cannot be out there myself. I'm looking forward to seeing some new picks today. Things are heating up in racine county. A buddy shot a nice 8 down here yesterday. It was the third one he saw. No reports from Fairchild area as my bro in law had a sick baby and couldn't get out yesterday.
Nothing much two small buck and doe. Out of range anyway.
1 small 8 point and nothing since
Getting out. Three small bucks, 2 does and two fawns. Nothing since 9:15. Grant co... Buddy has seen 2 deer in three days.
Neighbor shot a 150 inch 10 pointer yesterday. It had its nose under a does ass, and he shot it a 10 feet below his stand. I measured it, and forgot to take a picture lol. 21.5 inch inside spread 5.5 inch bases. Sort of short tined, but none of us would have passed it. I'll try to get a picture.
This morning I park my truck, and a 150 inch buck, super mass, very tall tined, runs not ten feet from my truck and heads down the lane I walk in on. Needless to say, I took the long long way in to a stand that might give me a chance with the dreaded south wind. I got blown at at first light, but did not see the deer. I grunted three times, and a deer I believe was bedded 60 yards from me ran off and blew. Very deep, unlike a doe.
Besides that, I've seen very little. Got blown at yesterday morning walking in as well, but that deer heard me due to crunchy leaves. I raked my approach after today's hunt....you dig it 10!?
Sorry, it's just a tailgate pic, but it is a fine deer nonetheless. Not mine, but same block of woods. By the way, his green score gross was 151 5/8ths. Very little deductions. He was very even.
I edited the score. I measured, I did not do the math originally. 6 inches was missed in the addition. I can't wait to tell him lol.
Headed back out for the evening hunt with the decoy and a GoPro mounted on it. I'll have one in the stand and two others on shooting sticks. Control all of the cameras with a single wireless remote. Been doing it all year with not much luck. When I don't have cameras they tend to show up. LOL Good luck all
On stand with bob on the ground
Winnebago Co. yesterday evening saw 3 bucks harassing a doe from 5pm til dark, couple small ones and one decent 8pt. This morning saw a decent 8pt at 7am just walking in the hardwoods, then 2 forks around 9am.
Out for the breezy evening hunt. Lots of scraping along the field edge. Giving the 'old half rack deke a shot tonight!!
Very quiet, no wind and lots of tree rats!
I saw the same 8 point buck I've seen morning and night since Friday. He was not aggressive at all tonight, just walking through and munching leaves. Odd period of activity lately - wood county
All in the corn. Small six came out with a doe to the open and ducked back in.
No live but a recap- Langlade county sat 11/1 rattle in a little basket 6 to 75 yards...he stayed in the thick and would not commit. Heard some chasing before first light. Cameras showing earlier activity by larger mature bucks, but no day light pics yet. Sunday morning small 6 pointer cruising does bedding runway...he stopped to smell my trail camera! Just a few rubs getting started, but HUGE scrapes opened up. Thinking action should really pick up this week and weekend.
Monday-Ozaukee County. Headed out this afternoon. I will let you know what is shaken
Just got to my stand in ozaukee county. Camera showed a 3.5yr old 8pt dogging a doe just after first light
One fork horn, really quite afternoon
Sat Ozaukee Co. 12:30 to dark. Jumped a doe going in and saw one buck (couldn't get a good look at the headgear through the trees and got busted trying to maneuver for a better look) around 1:00.
Good luck everyone out hunting - usually have whole week off.. Vacation was denied - today is usually one of my best days... But I will be in my office. Those hunting please keep posting. At least those of us not out there can know what is happening then.
In the tree right now with my dad. Eastern Jefferson County. All is quiet so far. Cameras showing plenty of does and a few shooters. They can't be far.
Good luck everyone
One red fox. I've seen him or one of his kin 9 times now. I'd lace a coyote in a second, but these fox sure are neat.
Walking out last night, a buck chased a doe passed me at 60 yards, then again at 30. I was walking down the lane, and they ran from one field to another, then back again. The doe spotted me the second time and blew then ran off. The buck stopped and stared at me for thirty seconds before taking up chase.
Bad wind, warm weather has limited my daytime sightings to a couple fawns over the last few days. Hope the cold front helps things. Day 11 of my 21 day hunting vacation, feeling a bit discouraged. I will be sitting all day for the next four to see what's really happening? I've been taking a four hour break mid day to eat and rest.
Tues afternoon saw a dandy 10 while driving to my hunting spot. He was cruising at a good clip grunting. On stand and will repot any action
So, does a guy sit where he did last Saturday and saw a small buck and a potential shooter from a distance and the wind is good or does he go nearby where he found some really smoking hot sign this morning including scrapes and rubs but is unsure of which way they approach from it still does not know how to play the wind? From a distance view there was a doe & possibly a buck nearby the second area this am too? Suggestions?
Novice, you go where you know, but taking risks can pay huge dividends. The answer is in you, and you will change your mind or second guess yourself either way you go.....unless you score, then you're a genius! ;-)
I am trying a spot I have not all year simply due to manure being spread so often. I have seen chasing in this field too many times not to give it a go. Earlier I said I was hunting all day. Had to negate 10orbetter's vote lol, so I voted and moved to this spot. Tomorrow I'll use a decoy if it seems dead tonight. Don't want to push it too much having never hunted the spot.
Going old school today fellas, home made(half ass) ground blind, sitting on my butt/knees, creek at my back, and an 80 acre corn field 40 yds through the woods in front of me. I feel like I'm either going to get busted or lucky, or maybe both but if I have action it should be exciting.
Forgot to mention. Not sure if salamanders are in rut, but I found this guy in the open field? He wasn't chasing, I can assume just looking for a hot newt? Took him to the woods so he could bury himself under a rotted log perhaps? When I sent him down, he headed straight for the bottom of this log.
On stand in ozaukee county. Hoping for an election day buck!
Hope you get one crusader. I'm in the honey hole today. Wind is making it hard to hear
Not one minute after pisting the salamander, this five pointer walked under my tree in the woods not five yards from my stand. Took me a while to close out of bowsite to get my camera on. Made a scrape and is bedded down twenty feet from this picture, and still there. Not bad, I've been here less than an hour.
Finally logged in on my phone. ..fingers crossed
Doe and fawn just hit the field briefly. ..then went back in looks like they may have caught my wind.only down wind area that isn't open field...still early
No deer, I did have a skunk at 3 ft. I let him walk:-)
Well, after reading your post pete-pec, I thought screw it, I am going to roll the dice. Maybe that's what I need to change my luck. So, at 3:50 I hear leaves & then see a deer approaching right down the logging road towards all the scrapes. Sweet! The old ticker starts going as I'm thinking here comes the big boy! Gets finally within range. ...only to find out he's a 1.5 yr old 6 pt. He did check the scrapes, stood on his hind legs & sniffed the licking branch, peed on his hocks. Great show anyway. He left & I saw nothing the rest of the night. Hope he's not the only one visiting what I thought was the hot spot and big boy hangout.
Honey hole was not so sweet tonight. Nothing came by.
I saw 2 more doe, disappointing night. I got home and check some of my camera cards and plenty of deer on the cams even a buck a nice buck running around at 11am on nov 2nd.
Hard to make out his rack in the pic, but this was a 16inch wide two year old 8, that gave me a broadside at 22 yards. Buck number two this morning. The other I watched with binoculars at 200 yards. He was a little taller but another estimated 2 year old. Both checking scrapes and rubbing their preorbital glands on a licking branch. Both got on their hind legs for a cool show.
By the time I put my bow down and got my phone out, he was at 40. Cell phone has only so much zoom, but he is closer than he appears.
Just had a spike come out to the field and head towards an island woods where the 8 pointer was last seen. They are obviously looking for a hot doe. I know this spike. Seen him at another stand in a different 80 I hunt. Same property.
I've seen nothing so far and have to head out for work soon. Nice morning, pretty sunrise, no deer.
7 pointer from last night just walked by again. These scrapes are community scrapes. All the deer are sharing them. Hope there's a good buck who is part of this community lol. They sure are looking for a hot doe to hit their scrapes though. Haven't seen a doe during daylight hours in quite a while.
Monrose county .... Moved here from Clark county 3 weeks ago .... Been in stand since 6 am 26 degrees beautiful sunrise ! ....hunting public land , little sign of deer and lots of corn standing ! Never hunted this many consecutive hours (20) without seeing a deer ! Someone encourage me !
Words of encouragement?
I was pretty down myself up until I made the move to this stand. It only takes one hot doe and it's on. You already know that.
I don't have any does either, but I can report just having a 5 x 4 run past at 100 yards that I would have shot, given the opportunity. 18 wide, good mass, decent length. I'm itching to pull the bow on a deer. Would like some meat in the freezer as well.
Awesome .... Thought this was a good spot but time to do some more scouting and likely move my stand ! I love the outdoors no matter what but what I love more is the outdoors with some white tail action !
Just had buck number 6 ears laid back big big six pointer headed to island where all the deer have gone. He's pissed off!
There is some fighting going on in that island 200 yards away as I type this. Can't imagine what a hot doe would do to this spot?
Finally made it up from Racine to Jackson County yesterday. Saw no deer last night. This morning I have had 3 little bucks and one doe at 15 yards. So far I have not seen any chasing. But I am sure I will over the next week.
Hang in there everyone. Standing corn is definitely having an impact. I'm told the farmers have no plans to take it out soon with the possibility of it still being there come gun season. Not good for now but, makes the prospect of the future brighter.
In my opinion, it seems like hunting scrapes might be the hot ticket. If you can approach without detection, and scent is avoided, I'd be hunting known field edges where you know scraping exists. I feel a bit silly for not hunting this spot sooner. 8 bucks in three hunts. Not one doe, but these boys were leaving their scent behind, and hoping the does left their scent behind. Two deer were shooters. Hoping one a bit bigger shows up, and offers a shot. Hunting farmland, deer are certainly used to activity. I really got to see deer and how little they care about vehicles on the road, or dogs barking, or chainsaws running, or any random stuff that you might think would "spook" a deer. You know what spooks them? You stinking, and you standing in the open where you don't belong. This approach is so awesome for scent, because it's damp cow shit, and the deer don't mind one bit!
Wow, Pete I have eight different scrapes and have not seen any activity near them since I first discovered them. I must have really polluted the area around them. That is about all I can figure.
Hunting Jackson County and seeing good movement in the afternoon. Saw a couple shooters with more chasing the last few days. Most the deer I'm seeing are my local deer we have pictures of so I don't think they're covering much ground yet. It'll be nice to start seeing some visitors.
10, I did that exact thing (poluted) a different spot. I hunt 960 acres on this farm, and two other small farms I don't frequent as often as I should. I believe my go-to spot was not necessarily poluted by me alone, but a neighbor as well who hunts his property line. Completely legal, but I was sort of there first, hunting those groomed trails that have my favorite stand sites on them. I was however hunting where they pass from bedding to feeding which was 250 yards from that 40 he owns, which was completely logged off before he bought it last year, and was (with all those tangled treetops), the bedding area I counted on. He, and too many other hunters (in my opinion) sort of hunt where they sleep. So with him taking three does and a 151 inch buck, sort of blew this year's deer out of there.
I simply moved.....very reluctantly. I may not shoot a deer this year, but I've decided to limit myself to deer I would be proud of, and have a hard time shooting does that have the potential to attract bucks during this time of year. I have passed 21 deer at 30 and under. Nothing caught my eye.....YET!
I moved to an open field. I used to hunt fencelines and field edges exclusively through all my growing years. Went to the woods and love it, but it's nice getting back to all that visibility.
Headed out this morning for an all day sit in a stand I have not hunted. Bring on some snow!
Snow on the ground this Morn. in Ashland Co.
This morning walking in, I must have been seen by a deer in a peninsula I walk past. I get to my stand and proceed to get dressed in the rest of my warm gear, and I have a deer in the field about 15 yards away. A bit spooky considering he must have followed me in. It was dark walking in, so I imagine it just saw an object, and didn't make out the shape as human versus deer. It was directly downwind when I was below my tree stand, but it acted like it didn't smell me? Cow shit....the perfect cover scent lol.
Windy wet and cold. Two ddrive by's at first light . So much for cabelas dry lok rain gear. Soaked to the bone.
Warm & dry in my bed this morning LOL I know I can't kill one from home but I needed a morning off anyway.Now that I'm a grandpa I can use the excuse that I'm getting older & wiser.Good morning to run some errands.Hope to get back out this afternoon. Off of work all of next week too. I give you guys credit for going out this morning. Good luck everyone. RR
Lots of deer moving where I am at in Jackson County. Seen 6 so far just out of range. No chasing. Little bucks were by themselves as were the does.
What do you do with only 2 full days left before the MN gun season, you pull out all the stops and put 'dolly' out in the pond.
I shot my first 10 pointer with Dolly's help out of a stand that is just 80 yards to the left of where she is in this picture. That was a long time ago. I think about that success every time I sit those two stands.
Even if light rain is predicted all afternoon, you still sit there with 'dolly' and setup the umbrella. It did rain off an on all afternoon and I stayed nice and dry. Neither did any good, only thing that drank from the pond that afternoon were about a dozen squirrels.
I did have 11 toms walk by on their way to the picked bean field.
Saw a doe+fawn @ 7:15 and small buck on the move 7:35..had to move to my ground blind because I was just soaked to the bone.heating up and back in the game now..
Another buck 120 yards definitely looking for scent...he went into corn. Not huge but not small
Got blown out of the tree. Headed to my ground blind for the afternoon with PAT. Got him/her at a yard sale for 20.00 as a ready doe. Put a pair of antlers on him/her and changed the name to PAT.
Changed to pat given she is mixed gender. Here is my set up.
Saturday winds 17 to 30 mph so are people hunting valleys or still trying ridges. Good news west to northwest winds but thT is high winds.
Three adult does came out of the swamp at last light. They saw PAT and wanted nothing to do with it/her/him. Haha I had five GoPro cameras set with one on PAT between the ears. Checking to see if any of them picked up the does.
One of the does kept an eye to the road the entire time. That tells me they must be getting harassed at night. They were very spooky as well. It is great to have a couple of true trophy bucks visiting your area but, it is equally a curse. I've been told by a few guys that the biggest buck in the area is on my property. What they fail to understand is it is not on the property 24/7. In fact I would be lucky if he is there 10% of the time. However, all it takes is one guy to see him and the fever begins. Probably 20 cars a night drive by and slow down to check the field. It is not enjoyable. I almost wish someone would kill him just so people would stop. I think it really has impacted deer movement. Made them more nocturnal. I'll be back out again in the morning. Good luck tomorrow guys.
Yup, doe do not like decoys and don't think it matters what gender the deek is.
So true about big ones and where they live. The big 8 I saw several days I do not think was local. He chased that doe to the woods I was in across 400-800 yards of picked beans. This time of year he could have easily traveled 3 miles to where I saw him. Why are people so stupid to talk about where they saw nice ones.
I saw 3 bucks 1 doe and 2 fawns tonight. Nothing in range and none of the bucks were shooters.
I walk past this going to some of my stands on this property. Been tempted to sit here but just seems too much like baiting. This year was a super bumper crop of Haralson apples on these trees.
Good luck this morning boys, this is the one year anniversary of my last buck, I'm hoping history repeats itself today. I'm headed back to my ground blind on Racine/Kenosha border. I sure wish I was up north at my "real" hunting spot, but, at least I'll be out there giving it a shot. No telling what might walk past this time of year!
Here we go, it's my self professed golden day. I probably just jinxed myself. I'm hoping for a little divine intervention today. Good luck guys.
Good luck everyone!! Just got in the stand, hunting over a soybean food plot just off a bedding area. Went shining last night and saw plenty of bucks chasing. Hunting in Manitowoc county. Shoot straight and be safe!!
Before legal hours, a buck walked past me at fifty yards into a thick bedding area. Could here what sounded like chasing. Out cam a fawn, a minute later a doe. The buck must have winded me. He stayed behind and blew a couple times. Almost too calm today. It will be tough to get away with any movement or the slightest noise.
Little 6 pt along field edge. Grunting heard early... Waukesha county
Rattled a bit...min later nice 2.5 yr 8 pt came looking.
Just befor light buck cruised thruough. Just had a rack buck dogging a doe followed by a little for k. Young doe wandering around looking lost. This is more like it.
I have a doe and a buck (can't really see his rack) bedded behind me in the woods at about 80 yards. They've been there for about 45 minutes. Heard them coming behind me. He was grunting behind her, thought they'd come out to the corner of the field? So I'd say he's tending her, rather than chasing. Not knowing what he is has my curiosity flowing? Only saw a glimse of his rack with binos. Can barely focus my binoculars on them amongst the thick choke cherry.
Marathon county no deer activity so far this morning.
Racine/Kenosha county border, one mature doe at 8 am, she came in to about 3 yds from where I was sitting in my ground blind. She looked at me for about 30 seconds and just walked away. There was no buck following so I'm guessing she is not ready yet. That was my first deer sighting from that location all year.
Word is, a polar vortex is approaching fast and should drop temps severely.
6 Different Bucks (1 Shooter), 2 Does, and a lone fawn. Shooter was following a doe w/in 30 yards of my stand, I was at full draw but he didn't step into a window. They bedded down about 75yrds behind me, never saw him again. Lots of action, frustrated but great morning. Polk County
Farmer harvested the corn on mypropertyabout an hour a go. Two big bucks came blasting by and headed straight into the swamp. They were bedded in it.
Nothing moving in Marathon county all day.
Lucky buck, that is awesome.
Around 3:30 a nice doe came through and I popped her. Maybe the best shot I've ever made. Paced it at just under 30 yards. I watched her for a good 20 minutes to 30 minutes. Double lung and she dropped right on the spot. Didn't even go a foot. I have never had that before. Got one for the freezer and now I can focus solely on the big boys. I waited until dark and after a spike buck came through to get her out. Got my sled and dragged her to the truck backed the truck into the ditch and slid her in. Gutted her at home to keep the coyotes away from the farm. Rejuvenated and excited for tomorrow.
"Probably 20 cars a night drive by and slow down to check the field"
Sounds like it's time to plant some screening cover.
Congrats 10. I know you have been putting your time in. Sounds like it worked out great. Nice feeling knowing you can relax & can focus on a buck.
Yeah Rut, I've offered to do it with the owner. Said I would do all the planting if they were to buy the trees. It would solve the problem. I don't push it because it is unique situation and I am very blessed/lucky to have it. I helped out their son, and they gave me notarized exclusive rights to the property for as long as they have it. Literally, I can do what I want. I'm very low key about anything and always ask. It's like having your own 40 without the expense. And, having hunted public land for most of my life, I am very cognizant that it could disappear in the blink of an eye.
Thanks Novice, I must finally be getting good at making venison because even my wife has been bugging me about when I was going to get some meat for the freezer. LOL Actually probably has more to do with the price of steak these days.
Headed out fellas, temps are dropping for the coming week and hopefully the action will go more to day light. Good luck all and be safe on those wet tree stands.
In the stand gentleman and it feels great. A little windy for my liking. Trying a new spot today. Sitting on an active scrape on an inside corner in a low pressure woods at my in laws. Northern Columbia county. Good luck everyone. Shoot straight!
Congrats on the doe ten, u deserve it, seems like you've been putting the most time in anyway. Good luck this morning everyone, don't get blown out of the tree.
Well got one yesterday in Jackson county. He was chasing doe pretty good. I passed him the first couple times he came by and then later in the day couldn't resist. With the high winds forecasted for today and having to return to work Monday. I'm glad a got some venison. This was the 12th buck I saw yesterday. By far the most action I've seen this season. Good luck to all.. it's going to happen in the next day or so
Jackson county is HoT right now, my brother in law just texted me, already seen three bucks and a doe, two small ones right under him and a shooter following the doe about 45 yds out. He is on the leaward side of a big hill overlooking a green field.
Real nice buck rob. Nothing shaken this morning. Swirling wind, can't figure out which direction. My rain gear sounds like a potato chip bag. Lol good luck and hang in there
Fork horn at a range so close, I think I'm higher in my stand at 22 feet than he was away from the base of my tree. Small body.
That spike just pushed a doe fawn past me at 25 yards. She caught my wind. Even at her young age, still very tough to fool a doe's nose. Maybe a cigarette would have covered my scent lol?
Saw a nice 6 or 8 pointer this morning at about 8 nothing else this morning.
Nothing so far today moving - grant co
Got out of the stand to go register my doe. Talked to the lady at the grafton station. They have had ten incidents of guys trying to pass a buck off as a doe to get the bonus tag. Dumb and dumber! One guy tried to take an extra buck bonus tag. Haha, did anyone not see this coming. Sorry I had to share because it made me laugh. The deer by me in Ozaukee county have not been vocal or responded much to any calling. I'll be back on stand around 2 pm
Nothing moving yet tonight...what are you guys seeing??
Been in the swamp stand since 2. Plenty of wind.
Been in the swamp stand since 2. Plenty of wind.
No action yet just Tony waiting for a fight.
Saw three tonight. A doe and fawn and a large bodied deer trotting across a field with its nose to the ground.
Getting ready to head out this morning. Winds out of the WSW and temps in the thirty's here in Ozaukee County. I've gone from plenty of time mode to got to get it done in the next few days. After Wednesday, I will shut it down for gun season. Give my areas an opportunity to cool down and let the deer settle. Good luck everyone. Be aware of possible frost on those stands. For what it is worth, I think the rut might be starting to tapper off here. I hope I am wrong. Seeing does back with fawns.
I would love for that to happen right now.
I almost wish I had taken a doe early on for meat in the freezer. I haven't had a doe in nearly a month. May rethink that next year, and take the first doe without fawns I see?
Passed up shot 24 and 25 this morning at around 18 yards. spike and a five pointer. Noticed both tarsal glands on each deer were jet black.
Neighbor who shot that 151" just drove by and gave me the good luck wave as we looked at each other with our binoculars. I might need new camo. He spotted me pretty easy at 400 yards lol.
This is turning out to be a tough year. I will have to reevaluate how I did things.
One 4 point ad 7 am nothing since. Lots of new rubs and scrapes are open. Wind and full moon are my go to excuse right now. Last night saw 9 all in last 5 minutes all very spooky in wind and over 200 yards or more away. No bucks last night. Grant county
Keep the faith ten, all it takes is 30 seconds out of all them hrs you've been putting in. It will come together for you. I've had a tough go of it myself this year w/O being able to go to my up north spot and only having one spot down here and a heavily hunted area to boot. But, we can't kill them sitting at the house. I'll be out again this aft. I'm hoping the oncoming weather front will get them on their feet.
Keep the faith ten, all it takes is 30 seconds out of all them hrs you've been putting in. It will come together for you. I've had a tough go of it myself this year w/O being able to go to my up north spot and only having one spot down here and a heavily hunted area to boot. But, we can't kill them sitting at the house. I'll be out again this aft. I'm hoping the oncoming weather front will get them on their feet.
Beautiful am. Too bad no deer.
Novice, my kind of weather for hunting. Crusader, I am! Just roll with however it turns out this year. The good thing, my season goes until 1/31/2015 in 77M. I am grateful to, with a doe in the freezer.
Hunted all day Friday, saw 4 bucks. 3 yearlings and 2.5 year old 8 point. None of which were chasing does. Saw a doe and two fawns as well. Saturday morning saw a 130 inch 10 point that the neighbor drew back on 10 minutes prior to me seeing him but the buck winded him and when I saw him he was a little skidish. Last night around 3:45 had a 120 inch 8 point at 50 yards just crusin. This morning shot at 110 inch 10 point and shot under him. Ranged after I shot and was out there at 45 thought he was at 40. But I have yet to see a buck following a doe. Tonight I'm going to sit over a bean field with a buck decoy out and see what happens. Hunting in Manitowoc county.
Back on stand for theeveninghunt. Fresh cut cornfield. Place where ikledmy biggest buck to date. Field is littered with cobs. Who needs bait? Lol
That is a good looking spot ten, I'm back out on the ground, trying out that tinks doe in rut mist. I saw about a145 with a doe in a field along the interstate on my way here.
" Talked to the lady at the grafton station. They have had ten incidents of guys trying to pass a buck off as a doe to get the bonus tag. Dumb and dumber! One guy tried to take an extra buck bonus tag. Haha, did anyone not see this coming"
That's the ones that were caught, I'm sure there have been many that have gotten away with cheating the system.
Here is what is so dumb. They still have to register it. Crusader, to much activity near that stand. Switched it up and moved to a ground spot. Looks out over the corn. The other was too close to the road. Rolling the dice tonight.
I just shot a doe! Nice mature one, no buck behind her, from the ground!!! Just some sticks for a blind! 15 yds. I'm going to check for the arrow now, it's been about 25 min
Last half hour had a doe with her fawns at 10 feet from the ground. Slipped in and did a make-shift ground blind. She presented me with 3 different shot opportunities. Lucky her, I've got one hanging already. Coolest hunt I've had in some time!
Congratulations Crusader. hope you find it. soon.
Had action 20 minutes after getting into stand. Seen 3 doe's early and nothing after that. Was hoping a cruzing buck would cross their track and follow. All 3 were within 10 - 25 yards of my stand but no luck. Lincoln Cty.
I waited for my wife to bring my 11 yr old out and let him lead the track. He found her about 40 yds from where I shot her. It looks like she jumped the string just a hair but still got both lungs and hit the off shoulder, no exit and the broadhead came off inside her. Deer # 5 with a bow and # 7 total.
Congratulations Crusader. Nice deer.
ShopKo has the Food Saver Vacuum Sealer for 39.95 down from 79.95. I used it for the first time and will never go back to freezer paper. I butchered and my wife sealed and poured the pops.
Headed back out in the morning for the first couple of hours. Looking for Mr. Big.
Another Bear Beat down! Go Pack
Decided to stay in. BAAD wind. That E/NE wind is no good.
Good luck fellas, I'll be working hard the next few days. Hoping to get back out on wed or thurs.
Would you put your tag on a lame deer? Shot a little pisser this morning that was severely limping on his right front leg. I don't really gun hunt any longer and my vacation ends Saturday, so I feel did the right thing. I wanted venison in the freezer, and the deer was not well. Turned out a broken front leg. I'm sure I could have passed on him and he may have survived the winter, but it felt right. The shot I wasn't sure about, so I left him until a buddy got off work. He was long dead in the edge of the woods not 90 yards from where I shot him. Tomorrow I grind burger. No regets, there's always next year!
Outstanding Pete! Congratulations. You don't owe anyone an explanation. We would all love a Monster every year but, shockingly that is not reality. That is a big accomplishment with any bow, any year, at any age. Especially how tough this year has been. I've logged more hours this year already, hunted harder than any recent year, and I'm grateful to have a doe in the freezer.
Congrats Pete-Pec.. Tough call I would have done the same thing. Better to be food for you then the yotes!
Congrats! Nice gesture. I wonder what happened to his leg.
Turns out his leg is basically broken at the blade? You can bend his leg away from his body as if he blew it out? No wound that you can see. He looked healthy with exception to a blown shoulder? Almost looks like he slipped and inverted his leg outwardly, the way it was not designed? He was trailing a little doe, and having a difficult time keeping up with her.
You're right guys. A deer that should have been consumed by my family instead of dying a death that could be much crueler. It was best to leave him, but he was dead pretty quickly. Quartering away. One lung, liver, gut. Barely got the lung. I imagine the liver is what killed him. Bled internally, with very poor blood trail. I found him 30 yards from where he left the field and entered the woods.
Best thing is.....I can sleep in tomorrow and start some bird taxidermy for the remainder of the week. VERY VERY TIRED!
Just picked up my son from Concordia U. Big buck chased a doe right across the road in front of us.
Bowhuntdoug just started a new live hunt thread for the week of 11/11/2014. This one is taking too long to load. Everyone switch over. Thanks for your participation.
Well done Pete. Tough call. You never know. I have seen deer live a few years after a broken leg. I also know I wouldn't feel well if I saw a live one live a slow painful death or be ripped apart by a predator. Have killed deer to put them out of misery as well. Rest assured you have meat for the freezer & he ain't suffering now!