New week November 5-11.
Wisconsin
Contributors to this thread:
Good luck guys and gals. I'm feeling better so I'll be in a funnel between bedding areas for an all day sit tomorrow.
With the whole next week off, I'll be in a stand for as long as it takes. Except Wed when I get a crown put on a bum tooth. Hoping I'll (we'll all) have a pic to post.
I'm off the upcoming week.
Me too! This is my first "rutcation".
Few more cups of coffee and I'm outta here!
I can't get a vacation but collin and I are up and going to head to the same spot he killed his buck last year. I would have chosen the conservancy but it's his hunt. I'm just the camera guy.
This week looks better than the past for the vacation guys. Good luck
Our 1st morning hunt of the year and collin decided to sleep in. No worries, now I'm in the conservancy. Blue dot on the pic. I already had a possum come within a foot of me.
7:03 I hear something coming from my left, look up and it's a guy in camo with a bow. It turns out he's the owner of the woods to the southwest of me and shot a big buck at last light last night and the deer ran into the conservancy land. Last blood was 20yds from the spot I chose to sit this morning. He says the shot was high and after gridding the 10 acre conservancy we found no more blood and no buck. I think the shot was above the spine and the buck will live. It was nice to meet the neighbor as well. Nice guy.
Haven't seen a thing moving this morning. Last weekend through this last week saw a lot of young bucks and does. Friday passed on a 2.5 yr old 8 but that's been the biggest so far. Not sure if the drop in doe sightings is due to them hiding from the young guys or if they are in bedding areas by the bigger bucks now? Hopefully things get busy again this week.
A nubbin and a spikeso far by 11. Haven't seen a decent buck in 3 days now.
Just got in the stand in Pierce co. Several scrapes have been freshened up. It is early, but no sightings yet. My friends in Northern Missouri and Buffalo co. have been saying it has been slow the last few days. Tomorrow morning, my wife is coming in the stand to see what the hype is about. Going to dress her warm and go into my #1 spot on the farm. Havnt hunted it yet this fall. Praying for a bunch of sightings to get her hooked on sitting in a tree!?? She loves helping with food plots. Great to spend time in the woods with family! Good luck everybody!
Trying a new chunk of public in OZ. County. At the edge of a marsh where it meets hardwoods. Found some scrapes and rubs and found a tree to blend in to on the ground.
Hey Crusader Dad, what app are you using with the maps that you have shared? It looks good.
I use ScoutLook and HuntStand but I prefer ScoutLook because of the scent cone feature.
Reggie, looks like you also fund a good size buckthorn 'tree'.
Not much of a day for me. Drizzle, wind, and cold kept me inside all morning. I headed to a valley I had not been in for several years. The landowner had asked if I had any tree stands in there from past years, I assured him I took all mine out after each season that I hunted there. I did a lot of walking looking for a spot that I could effectively hunt from the ground with no luck. Always too much brush and I had not brought my pruning shear along. Found 5 old tree stands, some so old the chain broke on 2 of them caused by tree growth. The ones I saw are ones that I remember seeing in the past too. All I saw was a doe and fawn that I busted and another that I think was a doe. I did see lots of deer sign.
had a small button buck....then a slightly bigger anterless(still looked like a fawn).......and then with 15-20 minutes left i had what i think was a spike walk in (starting to get a little dark in the woods with the cloud cover) who showed no interest in the other 2 deer
I saw 7 does last night and one this morning on stand. One small 8 last night as well. No chasing, no dogging....wired? November 5 has always been a "hot" day on stand for sightings and shots - this afternoon - it got so windy, I was blown out of the stand to the confines of the house.
Back out in the morning. I've only seen one buck I would definitely shoot.
Very slow here in Pierce county, on stand from 230 till dark perfect wind and two fawns at 5 yards for 30 min then a big doe, jumped one doe on the way out, no shooters yet. Still nice to be in the woods.
Pierce county. Sat my best rut funnel between 2 bedding areas. Sat all day dark to dark. One 2.5 yr old 7 point cruising at 1:45. This is a weird year. I can't see any does from the stand at any of my 13 stand sites. I see bucks almost every hunt. But they sure aren't acting rutty. Other than the cruiser today. I'll be hunting tomorrow morning. Then home until Thursday for some family and work stuff.
You know what's weird Rut? I have 13 stands, and never once saw a doe in the woods. Not once! Every single time, it was on alfalfa. The bucks I was seeing in October, sort of disappeared? I have a hunch, the bucks are indeed cruising still, and for the most part, peak estrus, simply hasn't happened. I still think you are where you want to be, but maybe hunt that stand that's looking at the field instead? I hunted 6 sits and didn't see a deer, and it wasn't until I hunted the food itself, before I started seeing deer. Odd year indeed. I'm hoping Nocturnal's moon post holds true, because according to those prediction dates, the best is yet to come. Last year it was warm weather, and a South wind which was terrible for daytime activities. I saw three does get bred mid October last year, and haven't seen anything that looks like rutting behavior so far this year.
Spent the last 10 days hunting Buffalo County. We have seen almost all good rut activity in the middle of the day. Kept notes all week on deer sightings, along with checking cameras, never seen it more obvious.
One doe and one basket rack 6 or 8 so far. He was downwind of her but didn’t really care much for her. Hope the big guy I have pics of steps out.
My week off starts today. All day grinding for me until I get it done. I’m sitting a good funnel between bedding areas. Might move to edge of standing bean field mid afternoon. Good luck fellas!
Scratch that, they just both went running back through the marsh and he could have cared less for my grunts
Those is an extremely weird year for bow hunting. Wind directions are crazy, we always have does, and haven't seen virtually any. Sadly, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one struggling
Been rattling and grunting and bleating like crazy with no success
Completely dead for me....for the last 5 days have seen ZERO. What is really strange is the ag field across the cabin ALWAYS has deer in it and it doesn`t get hunted. Deer have not been seen in that field for the last 10 days???? I personally believe the 3rd week in Oct. is the best week to hunt big bucks in the last 5 years.
I believe what happens is you have a flurry of chasing activity and then the doe's get sick of it and start laying low til they are close to breading. The bucks move around still, but not as much as the does aren't moving. Lockdown, pre-lockdown? What ever you want to call it, usually this time of year the sightings have always' dropped for me. When the does are ready, they will be either with a buck or looking for a buck. Then the activity seems to pick up again. I have rattled in does before, the goofiest animals you could ever see in the woods when they must be ready to be bred.
While everyone is saying how it's a weird year. I agree a bit. But every year we always get a dry spell. The last two years we were able to blame the warm weather the first week of November. Ill be hitting the bigwoods 12-18 for that's been my best time to see the oldest bucks up searching during daylight.
I've been hunting some extreme heavily pressure public land in south eastern wi and the pheasant hunters seem to be overly abundant this year. Most properties they shut down pheasant hunting at 2 but this place guys are out at 5:30 and that's kept the deer bedded until last light. So I've had to set up very close to beds. Most of my sightings have been mid morning. I'm on my 6th all day sit today and enjoying every min of every day I'm out here. Deer or no deer it doesn't matter. Any min can change for any of us. Good luck fellas! Keep grinding!!
Just finished my 2 day sit in Pierce country. Terrible. Usually see 12 to 20 deer a day. Yesterday, 2 bucks 2 does. Not paying attention to each other. Decent 8pt did come into rattling. Today 1 small 6pt and 2 does. Never had good luck with full moon week. Next weekend should be better I hope!
Just finished my 2 day sit in Pierce country. Terrible. Usually see 12 to 20 deer a day. Yesterday, 2 bucks 2 does. Not paying attention to each other. Decent 8pt did come into rattling. Today 1 small 6pt and 2 does. Never had good luck with full moon week. Every picture on my 3 cameras were in the middle of the night except 1 doe. Many bucks but no daytime activity at all. no hunting pressure on the farm except me 1 day a week. Next weekend should be better I hope!
I saw 16 deer Friday and zero Saturday in Richland County. Most of those sightings were doe. Frustrating, as I won't get back in the woods until after gun season. Every buck I had on camera was at night.
The morning started out like a true cluster F---. But it ended very well. Details later gotta go get him out of the woods.
Good Luck Jeff! Congrats!
I saw a buck work a licking branch at 25 yards Sunday morning at 8:00 then a couple of hours later his big brother comes in to work it and then at 1:00 another comes in and works the branch. All 3 of them had a death wish, but today wasn't there day.
Jeff, I sure hope it's a deer?
My wife just took me out, looking for deer,,,, she saw the big 14 pointer standing in a field to our south, coming home,,,,, We just got in now at 4:45pm and we saw 5 bucks, all were behind does,,,,, bucks just standing, does eating,,,,,,, all of them were in the middle of big fields, no where near any woods,,,,,,,,
Had a good time going out and looking,,,,, Nov 6th is always a good day
0 for collin and I tonight. Lots of geese though.
Seen a doe and yearling tonight right at shooting time. Getting cold out there so I didn't take any more pictures of doe's. Did a bow selfy while I was board sitting watching squirrels.
I had 3 bucks cruise through between 11 and 2. One was a 4 1/2 y.o. 8 point maybe 120 inches? He caught me off guard as I was getting ready to climb down and switch stands. I saw random lone fawns wandering around throughout the afternoon.
Got it done with five minutes to spare. Southeastern Wisconsin Public land. Had to leave him out there for tonight So that I can get help to drag him out in the morning
Got it done with five minutes to spare. Southeastern Wisconsin Public land. Had to leave him out there for tonight So that I can get help to drag him out in the morning
Disclaimer, this is in NE Iowa. GPS coordinates will not be provided.
I keep getting errors trying to post pics, but they posted OK in a post a little farther down.
November 6 2017's deer hunt got started late, I watched TV too long, hobby drag races. Not something I usually watch but I was bored and hunting just was not in me as I had hunted for many days straight. Then I could not find my rattling antlers or my can-call. I just was not focused. I look and look and decide to go without them. I think I left them on the last spot I sat at for a while yesterday. Then in and out of the house to the truck because I kept thinking of things I forgot. I just wasn't focused.
I finally get out and try a different approach to get to the far stand I wanted to sit, perfect for the NW wind and I had not sat it yet this year. I had already shot at least 3 bucks with over 10 points in that stand over many years. Plus many doe. The new route meant 2 killer hills to go up (for me anyway). I get a bit sweated up and take two breaks on the way to stand. I stop by another stand to change the card in a camera. I am kneeling at the camera and when finished changing the card I straighten up, still on my knees and here is a doe fawn about 8 yards from me looking right at me. I started to talk to her, she walked right up to my backpack and bow to sniff them. I keep talking and she comes up to 3 yards from me and then walks away some. I stand up and she comes back to 3 yards on the other side of me. So I grab my pack and bow, she follows me up the hill then veers off. I get to my other stand where I plan to hunt and change the card in that camera and there she is again. I said to her, hey go find your mommy and tell her to bring daddy over to see me. What the heck, worth a try. She walks toward the center of the woods.
I get in stand, a half hour later, not sure what time two deer come my 2 O'clock direction, one is a buck the other farther out I could not tell. The closer buck stops 40 yards out and beds down. After a while I put the binos on it for a better look as he might have been a shooter. Turned out to be a 5x3, Right side had like crab pinchers, big long point about mid way between where the g2.g3 should be and a small brow tine. I thought well he is unique enough and for sure 4 years old that maybe I would shoot him if he comes closer.
Maybe 30 minutes into him being bedded a buck comes in on a steady walk from my 11'Oclock position. Instantly I decide shooter if he gives me a chance. I see 6 points on one side, decent lengths and spread. I am ready when he gets to 40 yards he turns and goes straight toward that other buck. That buck gets up and walks back to where he came from with the shooter right behind him. I grunt a couple times to no avail. Gone.
Half hour goes by and I happen to look behind me and on the horizon of a pasture I saw movement behind the horizon, I am thinking squirrel, rabbit, bird whatever just went over the horizon. I am watching and more movement farther right, turns out it was the crab pinchers antler buck and he walks the horizon away now at 280 yards. So, now is the shooter still following, I watch to no avail. My only hope is if the big one follows the pasture fence to me which would be 40 yards. But no go. Back to my normal seating position.
Maybe 15 minutes go by and here comes a buck from the direction the other two headed to earlier. At first I thought nice buck but probably not today. at about 50 yards he is even with me but turns directly away from me. He covers about 10 yards and I figured I would play with him a little and let him have 2 grunts. He does a 180 and comes straight to me and he is that shooter that chased the other buck earlier. He keep coming at a steady walk on a trail that brings him right under me. At 15 yards out he turns right as the trail goes so now he is 12 yards broadside walking very slowly. Now I am 12 feet up the tree and he is another 4+ feet lower than the base of my tree, so 12 yards away, 16' down. I aim for about the lower third of the back strap and right at the back edge of the shoulder blade. That is about where I hit, he ran around a sink hole that was to his right as he ran, followed the crest of the hole around and folded up on the other side of the sink hole. I could see massive blood from my stand thru the binos. He is a 6x5 plus a small kicker off of each G1. I am thinking close to 200# field dressed. I am horrible at extimating score so here are some measurements, longest tine 8", beams 21 and 22", inside spread 17".
Update, I came up with 143 5/8 if I did it correctly. So CaptMike''s estimate below was pretty close.
Made it out around noon today, sat edge of Ben field I have been seeing deer in every night. Around 1:30 had a decent buck cross middle of field with nose to ground. I had him broadside in front of me but at 48yds. I don't feel comfortable at that distance so I had to watch him walk. Around 3:00 I decided to move away from bean field since there were no deer in it and it is difficult to get out after shooting hours when deer enter field. While moving to another spot had a small 6 walking down the groomed trail.
Saw a buck mounting a doe in a cut bean field this afternoon in Waukesha county.
It’s a little nerve wrecking but the marsh is crazy during the day and was going to be too tough in the dark. I’ve registered him and will probably have to quarter him out in the morning if the yotes don’t get him
Jeff n- Way to go waiting to see the picture!!!
Slow here as well - many does, NO bucks with the exception of one or two small bucks chasing a bit.
Friends reporting same to me as well.
He is laying just above center of the pic, in the Y formed by two trees.
He is laying just above center of the pic, in the Y formed by two trees.
The two yellow gloves mark where he stood when I shot.
The two yellow gloves mark where he stood when I shot.
Not sure why pics would not post above, here they are. I did not post a pic of the massive blood pool laying next to him, slick tricks do an awesome job of opening up a big hole,
My wife says, oh no, not another deer head on the wall.
AU-dandy buck. Congrats on public too. No way I could of left him there. Hell or high water he's coming out. Hope the yotes don't get him.
Jeff--awesome buck! Hope to see one like that myself. I enjoyed the story. Sounds like a great spot
Nice job AU and Jeff! Great work.
Got into my stand at 11 this morning, ready to sit all day. Only deer was a fork buck that walked by at 4:15. Grabbed my bow as soon as I saw him, and stopped him in a shooting lane at 14yds. For the 1st time in my life, I passed on a legal deer. With only 1 deer taken bowhunting, and an empty freezer, it took some restraint to not send an arrow through him. Waiting for something bigger....
Great bucks Jeff and AU!!! hope the coyotes don't get yours. I wouldn't be able to sleep
Sounds like everyone is complaining that deer activity is slow and would agree, but then again I have never had good deer activity during a full moon in 30 years of hunting, unless there is cold weather, which we have not had. If we were having forecasts of highs in the low 30s and low temps in the teens, I'm sure the reports would look drastically different. I'm not that surprised given the circumstances.
Nice bucks everyone. We have had temps in the teens and 20s and deer sightings for me are few. I usually have better luck Nov 9-12 so hoping that is the case. I went to sit all day Monday, sunrise to sunset. I arrived at my stand later than I wanted so it was already light out. I then realized that I forgot my safety harness so I made the trek back to the truck. Maybe that messed up a few m morning hours but it is better to be safe. I won't get out until around ten today then sit until dark but after today until Sunday, it will be all day sits.
Didn't even have my bow pulled up into my stand this morning and a nice 8 comes in at 35 yards. Thought he bedded down, so I tried calling him, no response. He might have left. I'll pass him up this year, next year he should he'll be a no doubter
Nice bucks Jeff and Autiger. Generally once you have touched or worked on an animal the yoets and stuff will not touch it for a couple days. I saw this in the snow in Idaho with two bull elk. We had skinned and quartered them the one evening and came back in the next morning. In the snow you could see the yote tracks circling the elk about 30 yards out but they would not come all the way in.
Very nice Jeff and autiger. I'm nervous for you about him in the marsh, if your talking Sheboygan marsh there's a lot of yotes this year. I had camera pictures between shooting and returning(2 hours later) to track and drag last week of 2 yotes, never had them on that trail this year until the smell of blood was in the air
Sat 2-close last night. Saw 11 deer, all after 4 -- no horns that I could tell.
Jeff, I'm not very good at scoring either but if I had to guess, mid 130's to just under 140? No matter, nice deer and congrats!
Nice bucks Jeff & AU. Saw some chasing this morning 3 younger bucks. I got antsy and shot a doe. Hit her a bit back, she walked 20 yds and bedded down. She died about 15 mins after bedding down. Gutted her out, it was a liver shot. I’m back in the stand now with another arrow nocked.
Good news! The coyotes didn’t get him. I went back out with the girlfriend last night to try and hoist him up in a tree, that was a fail. After we heard the yotes in the distance, she wanted to get out of there so we took every log in the area and covered him up. It took my dad, brother and me 3hrs to get him out. He won’t score much especially with the missing crab claw and brow tine, but I don’t care. He’s the biggest deer if ever seen on the hoof and will be going up on the wall!
So I shot this buck coming through the brush on Saturday at 2:30. I shot him on the first day of a 9 day hunt. I thought he was bigger. Seeing bigger deer but got too excited and didn’t look close enough. Still nice deer and the slick trick created a blood trail that was so massive it is really unbelievable. Good luck to everyone still out there. Looking for some does away from where others are hunting is now my plan.
Awesome job guys, congrats on some great deer and experience's no matter what they score.
Good looking buck bowhuntdoug.
St. Croix County: Last night around 7:30pm, I had to slam on my brakes, as I 125-130" buck ran right in front of my car on the very edge of town. It was within 300 yards of a big box retailer parking lot, and the lights from the lot prevented me from seeing the buck until he was directly in my headlights. Scary, as the car behind me, wasn't paying attention, and damn near rear-ended me.
Dunn County: This morning on my commute, I saw a huge buck easily 150" trotting across the middle of a picked cornfield. It was about 7:30am. I did not see a doe ahead of him, but he sure was acting like he was dogging a doe.
Sadly, I won't be in a tree stand again, until the gun season. So all I can report is what I see on my daily 150 mile round trip commutes.
This year, decided on two long 4 day weekends. Logged about 30 hours in stand between last Friday and yesterday in Dunn and Eau Claire counties. A lot of buck sightings, all alone and strolling/cruising. Good action mid-day. Didn't see many does, but ones we did were alone. I think in this neck of the woods, the best is yet to come. Now to just make it through a 3 day work week for another long weekend of hunting.
Neighbor had one jump into the Pit yesterday. Sh!tty situation but he is roaming free again with a little help. If he doesn't get rained off or soaks himself in the river, the guy who shoots him with a gun will have a rude awakening.
I will be heading up to the Cabin (Northern Waupaca county) tonight, this is where I will be spending most of my time providing good winds. It is a pretty good rut funnel.
Hey Trapper! I always heard bucks like to hide in the thickest sh*t they can find!
First deer of the day cruising at 2. A awesome 2 yr 8 maybe 17 wide walked through just like we want them too. These last 2 days have been slooowwww. Congrats to all the recent kills. Jeff you did it again. Not reall surprised to see you in the kill thread. Was that Iowa public or private?
Since 1:00 this afternoon have only seen one doe. First time in over a week that I've seen a doe with no buck's following.
Big zippo for collin and I tonight. 4 sits so far 0 deer. I'm going to put in a quick hour before work tomorrow morning.
"First time in over a week that I've seen a doe with no buck's following."
I would LOVE to see a doe by herself. We have tons of does on camera at night, but they have been really laying low for almost 2 weeks. I rally want a doe for the freezer, of course I wouldn't complain about a mature buck either.
I had some business in town this morning and on the way home at 0930 I see a deer run out of the woods into a large field. When I get up there he is following a doe way on the other end. Could not tell points but very large rack visible from a long distance.
I got into the stand at 1100, one small buck at noon then a doe with a buck in tow, half rack two-year-old. Twenty minutes of video on them. She peed and he later wnt an enjoyed a snow cone! Then he rubbed licking branch and made two scrapes. Fi=nally they walked off. Holding out for one of the bigger guys but my birthday is Thursday so if he comes around I might have to... Later I had a forky follow through and another forky 20 minutes later that walked up and enjoyed the same snow cone.
I will post the video later when I get more time.
Hunted again tonight just north of Richland Center. Passed on a nice 8 who will be great next year if he makes it. I think the bucks are starting to pair up with does (especially the big ones). The 8 was searching hard (5pm). It's going to be tough in this last week but I am going to try to get out to hunt hard. I still haven't seen the 10 I passed on about a month ago, however I am good with the decision and am optimistic. Good luck to all, the days are limited...
Had another all day hunt today. As previously posted, had a nice 8 point come in before I even pulled my bow up into the stand. Wasn't able to call him back. Still holding out for a 10 that I saw, but I might be settling soon. Rattled in a MONSTER buck....oh wait, no, that was just a fork. Tried a different stand this afternoon. A neighbor put up a new food plot this year, and I was about 100 yards away. Saw 3 bucks. Looked like a fork, an 8 and probably another 8 just at dark. Both 8's ignored my grunts and rattles, which is too bad. Still have yet to have a doe come in. Weirdest rut in my short bow hunting history (about 6 years)
Sat from 10:30 until just after 5 this evening. Started dozing off around 2:15, as I was leaning forward I figured I'd rather wake up than test my harness. 10 minutes later I hear splashing in the creek, a 1/2 rack 8 had just jumped a tree laying across the creek less than 20yds from me. He walks right upstream 2yds behind my tree, jumps up the bank and stops right where I cross the creek, sniffs around for a minute & then walks away right on my path. Had 3 freezer queens walk the trail in front of me at 4:15 & all 3 broke off trail into the corn without offering a shot. What possesses a buck to walk up a creek instead of the trail(with shooting lanes)? Back at it Thursday.
BW - Keep the faith for that 10!
Jumped a deer in the woods on the way to my stand....first time....that's usually normal. Think it was a doe. 15 minutes later, buck chases a doe 50 yards away. Think there will be a lot of movement today!! Happy hunting
Last night leaving work right before dark on the south side of my buildings parking lot a doe pops up over the berm, then a nice 10pt comes over and chases her. I work in the suburbs of Woodbury, MN and my building is right next to some new housing developments. I watched as he chased her through several new home construction sites. Reports from my son's friends in St. Croix County say it's been slow in their spots.
Monroe County, the most rutting activity I've ever seen! Started on Oct. 26 and hasn't stopped. I am hearing a lot of the same, except on the thread. Wow, what a shock! Day time photos of 3.5+ year olds, all times of the day. Great activity in the morning, somewhat less in the evening. My brother shot a 196lb 10 pointer yesterday morning, 8:20. 3.5 or maybe a 4.5 yr old. I pull the teeth and will look at the jawbone for aging.
I don't know if it can get any better for us. If it does, hold on!!! BC
Amazed to not see a single deer on my commute thru St. Croix, Dunn and Eau Claire Counties this morning between 6:45-8am. Such a beautiful morning, I figured I would see a bunch. But zippo.
I was just on my way to pick up more paint and saw this guy chase a doe across the road. If speed limits apply to deer he would get a ticket as fast as he was running.
Shane where's that at? Guy I know killed a giant not 3 miles from us. Gross around 200"
Noc, I was heading east on 7mile and between east river and foley rd. The buck the neighbor wounded on sat night will score at least 170. He showed me the trail cam pic and had pics of the big 11 I'd seen a few times. There are definitely some big boys around us. He also had pics of a big 8 and I think that may be the same buck as above since it's only about a mile northwest of where I hunt. I didn't see anything again this morning though.
tomorrow i'm taking a lawn chair and setting up shop right in the middle of our driveway as their has been more buck activity back and forth their than the last 2 weeks combined out in the woods
Speaking of driveways...took this morning off to work on gun stands. Driving home and look down neighbors driveway - HUGE buck walking down the blacktop towards the road ...10:30 AM.
Marathon Co. After seeing squat yesterday I slept in. This stranger walks past 2 of my empty stands at 9, then again at 11. This evening I had 3 fawns, 2 does, and a unknown buck slowly following a doe 70yrds off. How old is he and rough score? Beam length puzzles me
Well, I punched my Iowa doe tag tonight. (last tag) Big one too, probably 150+ dressed. I sat (on the ground) in a little 4 acre woods adjacent to set-aside grass on 3 sides and adjacent to brushy crap on the south side which is the only neighboring property near me. Modest hills forming a dry waterway. West wind was good but I did get busted by a deer east of me in the 7' high weeds that way. Figured that was a strong possibility. Then as the sun hits the horizon, wind quits and it starts to cool down and caused a draft going down the valley right where I expected deer to come from. Sure enough more snorts from down there when that down draft started. Well, 10 minutes left to hunt and this doe comes up out of the thick stuff down from me in the valley walking exactly where I expected deer would walk, up that dry run. No more than 14 yards, bingo. She piled up in plain sight about 30 yards from where I shot her. Lifted her head a couple of times but that was it. I sure like slick tricks but then any broadhead would work fine when you hit lungs. That is the exit hole in the pic.
I also bumped a nice buck and doe walking into the area. They were bedded in the set aside grass/weeds.
Mid 20's temp and winds 18 and gusts to 28 tomorrow. Glad I will be pulling cameras and butchering instead of hunting.
Another angle. Seems young and not rutted up?
Gojakes, it's your hunt so you do what you want but fwiw I personally would shoot him if I had the chance. I don't think he'll score super high but he is a nice buck.
Jeff, you are a killer man!! Congrats.
Jeff what bow weight and arrow weight are you using?
Dreaded this write up from yesterday. Things really heated up by me (Shawano co). Saw a couple of 1.5 yr old bucks cruising. Then a nice 10 pt chasing. And a 3.5 yr (at least, but a guessl old seeking. Can called to him and he came straight at me. I had to adjust my sight twice and thought I'd be fine at 20. I drew and had to hold on for quite a while. After he cleared some trees I released. He was at like 12 yds. Right over his back! Saw 1 other doe all day yesterday. Smh
Oh Novice, that sucks...... I did just the opposite a few weeks ago.... thought he was 40, and put the arrow just below him, as he was 45 yards.
That is why it is so satisfying when we do everything right, and make a clean kill!
Saw zero deer this morning during commute (St. Croix, Dunn & Eau Claire counties) Light Snow in Dunn & Eau Claire falling.
I heard from my farmer that Northern Polk county got snow last night, and that the deer were feeding heavily on green fields (Triticale) before dark.
Yesterday was quiet, I sat from dawn to 2:00, saw 2 fawns. I just got in my stand at 10:00 this morning, late night of cutting up my doe from Tuesday, planning on sitting here until dark. I’m in the bottom of a ravine sheltered from the strong winds. I saw 3 bucks cruise through here on Monday, one was a 4 1/2 y.o. 8 point that didn’t give me a shot.
GJG, his neck is straight out. That IS rut!
Sat 12-close yesterday and saw one small deer and sat this morning until 11 and didn't see anything. It's like a switch has been flipped and all of a sudden they've disappeared.
GJG, I'm going to go with 128 gross, 3 1/2 years old
My wife just called,,,, big buck on top of doe, at her sisters house in Mequon,,,, guess its on
Been seeing some bucks by food sources. Nothing in the woods though. Trying to decide if I should go out tonight with a decoy in a bean field. It's like 20-30 mph winds out there.
Been battling this wind since dawn. It's nasty. Dang decoy has fallen over 3 times piss me off. Already changed stands once to try and cut the wind. Now i have the decoy by a tree to help support it if it tries tipping again. Who needs amusement parks when you can sit in a tree with 25mph winds whew. 0 deer seen so far hoping that changes very soon
GoJakes--im betting that buck is at least 3 1/2 with that beam length. Looks like a shooter to me. Good luck getting on him
Six bucks 8 does today. Cold and windy. Minus 0 windchill. My Birthday. Nothing better than bowhunting on your Birthday. Well, the arrow hit a branch and got a bad hit. That was not so good. Heading out in the AM to locate him. Camera angle on the shot was blocked by a tree so I could not review it.
Will post it later when I get some time. Recovery more important now.
After three sits in a row with no deer seen, finally had a couple small to medium 8 points by me the PM. Sure slowed up a lot from few days ago.
Thanks for the encouragement Aushegun. Good luck Smokey. Was planning on going to one spot this morning, but while walking in I came across a huge scrape and fresh tracks (3 separate trails) in the snow. They were going in a known bedding area. So, since I had my climber I found a tree and set up. Saw 4 bucks and 3 does. Only 1 was older than 1.5 yrs. All before 11 am. Switched spots for the afternoon and saw 5 does/fawns right before dark. No bucks. Wind sucked and it was cold, but can't complain.
Good luck Smokey, I hope all ends well.
Marathon Co Sat from 8-11 and 130-dark. No deer but nasty cold toes
I just got back from my hunting/camping trip.
Complete bust in Northern Marinette after sitting for 5 days. Seen 0 deer but one large bobcat.
Sat from first light just until 830, had to come out couldn't feel my hands anymore, it was 10 degrees and 0 deer
Cheif, don't feel bad. I'm sitting in the vehicle warming up as I type this. Zero seen here as well.
Good luck Smokey with your tracking job............
My buddy shot one this morning in western Racine co. He sent me a picture but I haven't gotten the story yet.
Crusader, is it going to be that guy with the white face and black lined smile an eye's?
Heading back out in a few minutes. My hunt has turned into a venison hunt. Anything that's not a fawn is fair game. Mama is upset that the game freezer is empty. Plus I like shooting deer.
Rut, I finally gave in today and will shoot a doe. Wasn't really planning on it but I have to admit, once in a while it feels good to shoot one.
Far less activity in Richland Co. Passed on an 8, had a big one come by at first light but stayed in the brush. Also watched two bucks fight for about 30'. I am betting most of the big boys are tending in the corn fields right now.
Hopefully I can start to feel my fingers again soon...
Just left The office to head to my other place of work, saw to does rounded the corner and saw this guy standing out in the field
Marathon Co. Lone doe at 430. About 60 turkeys. Gotta find a way to make a few of them go away. They roost 50 yards from my stand every night
I saw 13 does/ fawns today and only 2 bucks. One was a shooter, but I got no response to calling and the other was a spike that was being chased by what looked like a really big house cat. I ended up taking a doe for meat that was in a group of 6 at 11 am since this was the only deer that I had an opportunity to take all season. Portage County.
I sat dark to dark today. I stayed pretty warm, except my toes got a little cold. Very slow day again, this is the third day in a row it’s been slow. A 4 pointer followed a fawn past my stand around 10. A 3 1/2 8 pointer that I’ve been seeing the last 3 days bedded down 40 yds down wind of my stand at 4:30. We both watched a bunch of turkeys roost that was neat to see.
I saw 1 doe all week, I’m glad I shot her Tuesday morning. They must be laying really tight during the daytime. I’ll be headed to a good bedding area stand tomorrow morning with the south wind forecasted.
Trail cam showed a nice buck in the soybean field Tuesday night at 6:30. They are out there, just not seeing any mature bucks from the stand.
Hey Novice....sounds like you`re using a adjustable sight. Not really needed when Whitetailing but keep that thing on 17 yrds and don`t move it. If you have a fairly modrn bow you can hold that pin out to 30 yrds and still kill a deer. Deer hunting is sometimes hot and heavy and the last thing you need is to do is be fiddling with your sight. Focus on the shot/deer.
Franklin, old habits are hard to break. I've been shooting an adjustable since the early 90's. I have a 20, 30, and 40 (mainly for practice) setting. But your right, the less we have to fiddle with, the better.
Franklin, can you explain 17 yards comment more? I use OnTarget program for my set up and it shows that if I did 17 yards on my sight I get 6.58" drop at 30.
My bow has a big drop between 20-30 yds too. If I shot my 20yd pin on a 30yd deer I'd shoot under it.
Smokey and CD same here, that's why i have different settings. I got blanked yesterday, but didn't put as many hours in. Saw 2 freshened scrapes, though.
Wonder if he meant 27 and not 17. 24 yards was the sweet spot for my single pin sight but I shoot a 10 year old bow.
I don't like single pins. But why set it at 17? Why not just set it at 20?
Just one spike this morning
Just had this nice 8 8pt come through at 10 yrs. Right at noon. Grunting big time. Hope the neighbors don't wack em with the gun!!??
My oldest sons bestie asked me today if I'd take him hunting so collin gave up his chance and bow for tonight. Today was Brian's first time ever shooting a bow. It's setup for my younger son but brian did fine with it and we will keep his shots to within 20yds. We are heading to our spot in about 20 min. Let's go big bri!!!
Mentored hunting license since he's never taken hunter safety. I don't think he's ever even taken a walk in the woods before.
First buck
First buck
My boys Chris's first buck. Shot today at 11:08am . Shot at 40 yards quartering away, shot went through the left hindquarter all the way to the right shoulder, took out one lung almost completely. 10 pt buck went 80 yards from his stand. What an exciting day for him , myself and my other boy Brandon. I think he's hooked for sure now. Thank you muzzy broadheads!!
First year, first deer, first buck all in one day.
Congrats to your son Ram. Brian and I had a good time, he's not exactly my size and doesn't own any camo so we just went with it. About 4:30 we had a doe at 6yds so that was pretty exciting. He must've had fun because he's meeting me at the spot at 5:30 tomorrow morning.
Well done fellas. Good first year Ram Man!
today's action sums up my season so far........had a doe and buck fawn around for about 30 minutes today,the whole time the does tail is straight out where even her buck fawn "tries" a couple times.....meanwhile i just keep staring in the direction they came from and nothing......really.....REALLY
Crusader Dad, very admirable that's the way to get folks into the sport!
Haven't hunted since Friday am, however I have been driving around getting ready for gun season and have seen bucks and does both evenings in the picked corn fields and hay all over pierce county, might be of interest to rutnstrut I think your in pierce as well.
Sat all day today. It was a good day. Perfect temp, cloudy and spitting snow. No where else I'd rather be but in a tree. Saw 4 different chases, which is a record for me. Prob saw 15 deer. All the bucks were small but I couldn't help but put the binos on all of em several times. It was alot of fun to watch those does tear ass around the woods. Just hoping a big boy would hear the commotion or smell the sweet scent of love in the air and take up the trail. Not today. Tomorrow is another day. Good luck gents
3 does, 2 fawns at last light. With the amount of snow we have it was easy to see well past shooting hours. Not even a lil horn. Marathon Co
Hunted all day yesterday in Pierce county. Nothing in the morning but cold. Was going to sit all day but wore the wrong boots. I went to the truck at 9 or so and was back out at 11. I had made up my mind that if given the opportunity I would shoot a 1.5 year old buck for meat. I know, I know, shoot a doe. That's all fine and good, but I haven't seen a doe from the stand in weeks. We have an overabundance of young bucks. So I shot a nice, young 8 pointer last night. I seen him go down but wasn't 100% sure. Of course 10 minutes after I shot him a nice 3.5 year old 8 prances around at 15 yards. I wouldn't have shot the 3.5 year old anyway. I either want my handicapped buddy or my son to get him during gun season. I have passed him a lot this year. I hunted a few hours this morning hoping for a doe. seen 3 different bucks 2 1.5's and the 3.5 8. At 9 walked to where I last seen my buck last night and there he was. Buddy and I spent the rest of the day prepping gun stands and hauling my buck out. We did see 7 does while prepping gun stands but the nearest cornfield was picked last night and I think that's where they have been lately. For those that care. Yup I used the crossbow, it was bleh. I'll be sticking with my bow.
Wrong wind for the tree today, headed for my ground blind with the camera next to it. Thought the blind looked a little funky, had 1 leg that was splintering when I set it up & it broke in the strong winds Thurs. Most recent pics were a coyote, a guy on an ATV with a dog running along, and a Yukon. Neither are the land owner. I packed up my broken blind. Back to the tree tomorrow, then work again on Mon.
This is my favorite kind of morning. Cold and calm. My hope for this morning is that my buddy Brian will get to at least see his first buck. A shot opportunity on only his second sit would probably spoil him but he deserves to get spoiled a little bit.
We just had a doe come in. She came in at 15 yds and I coaxed her in to 3 yds with some soft tending grunts. Cool encounter
Cut firewood most of the afternoon stinking up the woods. Tonight I had 4 does and 4 fawns in the yard; no horns. I should count my blessings im seeing deer. 2/3 of my sits have come up empty and I hqve yet to have a shot opportunity.
Crusader, your one hellva guy for taking that young man out with you! If half the guys that hunted did that our world would be a better place and our sport more secure for future generations who will follow. My hat is tipped to you!
Hey Rut - shoot a doe! Kidding of course - congrads on your kill! Sounds like you gents had fun today!
No buck for me yet, passed 8 bucks so far and might have to kiss early season good-bye....sure am looking forward to late season. Good luck everyone!
My partner returned from the new land in Vernon County and said today, that for the last 12 days he had only seen 3 does,,,,, however he saw 11 bucks,,,, he could have shot a few small ones, and passed on a big 10, because the shot was 35 yards and too far for him, on such a nice buck......
He said this winter a land plan will have to be developed to improve bedding areas.... he is going back out Tuesday,,,, said the weather was good, lots of rutting bucks running around
Kudos CD and congrats to the other successful hunters. Sat am was crazy and saw most deer in one sit all season. 9 total. 7 does/fawns (with 4 around me at one time within 20 yds each in a semi circle. ) 2 small bucks individually cruising. Didn't hunt pm myself due to family bday party. But my favorite young hunting partner shot his first largest antlered buck. Made for a great Sat night!