All things gun season thread
Contributors to this thread:Wisconsin
From: Crusader dad
18-Nov-17
Post your pics, stories and whatever else you have pertaining to gun season right here. Good luck out there!
From: Bigfoot
18-Nov-17
for the 1st time i can remember the 1st gunshots this morning were AFTER LEGAL opened(i'm talking 9 whole minutes after).......usually it's 15-20 BEFORE LEGAL when the shooting starts
From: Crusader dad
18-Nov-17
My bro in law already missed two. He's probably so hungover he's still seeing double. His buddy had a spike and four point in range but didn't shoot.
From: Jg
18-Nov-17
Son shot a 6. Bl shot 8 times don’t if he got anything but probably was making sure he shot up hindquarters and front shoulders. Hasn’t come looking for me to gut it so guessing he missed
From: deerslayer
18-Nov-17
Haven't seen a thing. Lots of shots around, but haven't seen brown
From: deerslayer
18-Nov-17
Haven't seen a thing. Lots of shots around, but haven't seen brown
From: BW
18-Nov-17
Nothing yet
From: Cheif
18-Nov-17
Saw 1 fawn didn't shoot, wife and I came in for early lunch not too much activity around us
From: Drop Tine
18-Nov-17
This tells it all LOL
From: Bigfoot
18-Nov-17
saw 4 while i was out.......currently at 1:06pm their's 8 does and fawns in the front yard.....so their not in hiding just yet
From: Rookie
18-Nov-17
After getting my bow buck last Sunday, I went out this morning for a few hours. Just had lunch of oak smoked venison chops in the weber now back out for the evening!
From: deerslayer
18-Nov-17
I've been sitting all day. Still haven't seen anything. Been a weird year for both seasons for sure
From: Hoot
18-Nov-17
Shot a crippled doe. I saw a dz deer between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Very few gunshots around me this morning and first shot was close to a 1/2 hour after opening.
From: smokey
18-Nov-17
I went out this morning catchin' deers but around 0900 it occurred to me that I had not vacuumed the living room carpet yet today. I went back and got that done. After some chili for lunch and a quick nap, I went back out. Passed up a couple of bucks. The wind was the wrong direction for dragging ;-)
From: Crusader dad
18-Nov-17
Smokey, you have the perfect mindset for gun season. Just takin it easy!
From: Crusader dad
18-Nov-17
Big Brian and I were planning on sitting this evening but the wind was blowing ridiculously hard so we are heading out in the am. I have never owned a 3x anything in my life so I went to the store today and got him a blaze orange camo hoodie to wear on our hunts the next two weeks. While you guys are up north playing with guns we will be down here trying to stick an arrow in a bigun.
From: ground hunter
18-Nov-17
pretty crazy around my house today,,, my buddy who does not gun hunt, picked me up, I put on the orange, and he drove me around the N Kettle area, and my house area..... saw quite a few doe fawns shot..... saw a big 8, at the gas station.....
At a waterfowl production area, guys 3 of them, hunted it, like they were bird hunting, jumped a big buck in the grass..... 3 tines were broken off from fighting, it still had 8 tines left, it was a beauty,,,, like to see the buck he was fighting with.....
seemed like everyone was having a good time,,,,
From: BW
18-Nov-17
From: BW
18-Nov-17
Not sure why they're showing up sideways. They're portrait pictures. Anyways, shot him at 50 yards. Hunting between some fields waiting for my dad and brother to come back to go home for lunch. Didn't see him come out. He surprised me. I was shaking so much, my scope went everywhere from his head to the boiler room. Finally pulled the trigger on his shoulder. Prefer a heart/lung shot, but that wasn't going you happen because I was shaking so much. Dropped him in his tracks. Couldn't find any blood or bullet holes until we hung him up. Thought he might have died of a heart attack since there was no blood or bullet holes lol.
From: BW
18-Nov-17
From: BW
18-Nov-17
Shot just right of the oak tree on that little ridge. 50 yards broadside. Came from a 4 or 5 acre woods to the left. Probably a good thing that oak tree was there otherwise he would have seen med long before I saw him
From: RutnStrut
18-Nov-17
Three of us sat all day in Pierce county. My son missed a doe early afternoon. I passed one doe. My buddy passed the same doe. Very little shooting around us. I'd say 20 shots at the most all day in a mile or so vicinity. Used to be that in the first hour. Usually the second day is a better day for me for buck action. So I'm still optimistic.
From: Jeff in MN
18-Nov-17
Sat first 3 hours and last 3 hours with the TC encore with 20 ga rifled slug barrel. Heard one deer busting me as I was gathering up my stuff at quitting time. Heard 2 shots a ways off southwest. About 7 spaced out shots farther off west. Probably a drive. Two shots not far east, I knew there were hunters going to be on that property.
My plan tomorrow is hunt about 2-3 hours early. Then slowly treat buckthorn with the gun over my shoulder, sort of like still hunting. (hope the guys to my east don't get pissed and shoot at me but the wind direction will be such that I should start on their side and work into the wind.) Then back to stand for the last few hours. Plan to wear an old blaze coat while treating the bt.
From: Fletch
18-Nov-17
The Wienstien family did well today!!! Public land bucks!! We worked hard for them.
From: Cheif
18-Nov-17
Nice deer... Where is your orange? Just kidding and very jealous
From: Crusader dad
18-Nov-17
Nice job Harvey, I heard you could have had a few more does but they were able to climb the fence and get away to tell their stories :-))))
From: BW
18-Nov-17
WOW!!!!!
With three of us hunting, my buck was the only deer seen all day. That's just unreal foropening day. 10 years ago that use to be 20
From: BW
18-Nov-17
From: GoJakesGo
18-Nov-17
Brother #1 shot a doe. Marathon Co-public Brother #2 shot a busted unicorn and his wife shot a spike. Lincoln Co-public I sat till 11. No deer Marathon Co-private.
Been assisting some register deer. Lots of giants rolling in.
From: FredBear76
18-Nov-17
Father-in-law shot this monster this morning. Richland County
From: GoJakesGo
18-Nov-17
Marathon Co 15 points
From: Jeff in MN
19-Nov-17
WOW, unbelievable bucks taken. I didn't go out this morning. Woke up too darn tired and 20 degrees is a little cold for me. Hard to believe when years ago -20 was quite tollerable. I will be out there later when it warms up.
From: OmroHunter
19-Nov-17
Hunted all day yesterday - one spotted fawn, one basket rack 1.5 y/o. Not still alive. Saw another small doe this morning. Heard a total of 17 shots yesterday, 11 so far today. Slowest hunting I’ve ever seen here (near Wild Rose, WI).
From: Novice
19-Nov-17
Saw 6 antlerless yesterday morning and none the rest of the day. Tons of shooting in the morning. Neighbors decided to joy ride their 4 wheeler too for a long time.
From: YZF-88
19-Nov-17
My buddy shot an absolute beast of a 20 point in Richland County. Picture isn't mine to share but it is awesome.
From: ground hunter
19-Nov-17
Fletch, what county?
From: smokey
19-Nov-17
Just Google the images from Fletch's' post and you will see they are from other States and other years. Seems Fletch has a sense of humor :-)
From: Bigfoot
19-Nov-17
was suspicious that people would lose their orange and get dressed in head to toe camo for a buck they shot in gun season
From: Cheif
19-Nov-17
Well my first year on this site, guess I'm not that smart just assumed people that would care enough about hunting would post about deer they "actually" shot not crap they found on the inter webs
From: Bloodtrail
19-Nov-17
Oh Chief - no disrespect - but you have a lot to learn about the Wisconsin Bowsite site my friend. Strap yourself in if ya think this is bad. :^)
From: Fletch
19-Nov-17
Those bucks are strait up legit! Taken opening day in Iron County!!! We had to pass some smaller 160's to get these. I think the herd is on the rebound.
From: MrBones
19-Nov-17
Yeah Chief, what Bloodtrail said. It actually has seemed to calm down some. I saw those pics and said NOPE.
From: Cheif
19-Nov-17
Thanks now I know better
From: casekiska
19-Nov-17
Fletch's four photos,...three photos with hunters,...one photo without a hunter,...you can see an arrow sticking out of the throat of the buck (in the pic without a hunter),...about 6-7" of arrow with fletching & nock,...blood on fletching & nock,...looks like yellow fletching,...
From: raspy old hen
19-Nov-17
Never saw a deer on Saturday on our 80 acres. My neighbors did very well going 3 for 3 on bucks. Slept in this morning and went out at noon. Still hunted and sat in the stand for the last hour. I saw two yearling does, one buck, one adult doe and heard one unknown in the cattails. No clear shots offered except for the yearlings at 5 yards right before closing.
From: Fletch
19-Nov-17
Yeah, we used bows that's legal now. Were not gun hunters but we used the gun tag to put on our bow kills. We were supersized at how well Iron County is coming back. There is a good crop of 160's so I think next year is going to be goooood!
From: Jeff in MN
19-Nov-17
OK, back to reality. I got out late because I was tired and it was cold. Got to the area I was hunting and started treating buckthron around 9:30 and treated buckthorn till after 2:00. Used up a gallon of diesel mix and killed a lot of it but LOTS more to go. Got on stand about 3:00, probably 200 yards up wind from where I was treating buckthorn. Had one button buck under me for 15 minutes, literally I could look thru my tree stand to see him. About half hour before quitting there was a gunshot maybe 100 yards from me. Guessing he shot away from me as I heard echo's come back at me after the shot.
From: Cheif
19-Nov-17
Slow going here, didn't see a single deer all day only heard maybe 5 shots
From: ground hunter
19-Nov-17
Fletch since there has been no entries from Iron Co, have our Buck and Bear club score them, so they can go into the next book.... going to send them to my buddy, I winter trap with, he lives on long lake, outside of Mercer, he needs to see those...
From: RutnStrut
19-Nov-17
Same here chief. Another dark to dark sit and no deer seen. Only 7 shots in what I would call the near vicinity. Tomorrow we will have a SSE wind which is good for a ridge top stand I have that's right in bedding.
From: Novice
19-Nov-17
1 fawn this morning on an all day sit today for me. Our youngest hunter scored on his first buck ever and 2 others got does.
From: Cheif
19-Nov-17
Well fletch, guess nobody here believes you, better go back to telling stories at the bar....
From: Fletch
19-Nov-17
Books are for girls! We cut them up made some jerky and hot sticks and threw the antlers away at the dump. We had to throat punch that one buck because he would not turn broadside.
From: Huntcell
20-Nov-17
Horn porn from Harvey Weinstein from Wisconsin Bowsite Handle: "Fletch"
From: slimm21
20-Nov-17
Sat all but 40 minutes Saturday (lunch break). Saw a 6 pointer in the morning and a few small antlerless deer during the day. The wind wasn't real good for where I was set up. Didn't get a chance to hunt Sunday, but will be hunting some most everyday the rest of the week. There is still a few good deer that we've had on camera, maybe can get a crack at one.
A buddy of mine runs a lot of cameras and shot a 10 pointer that he had never seen on camera before -- so you never know what is out there!
From: xtroutx
20-Nov-17
very slow by me. Had my granddaughter out opening morning and seen 1 doe.To far for her to shot. My sons were out and seen nothing. Oldest son hit a deer with car yesterday afternoon. They are all gone home now. I got some butchering to do this week and will be back out after gun season with my bow.
From: B2K
20-Nov-17
If you right click Fletch's pictures and then select "Search Google for Image" it will tell you where they came from.
From: CaptMike
20-Nov-17
Saw a total of 21 deer for the weekend, 6 different bucks but all smaller ones. Only deer taken by our 6 hunters was a decent 9 pt by my brother from FL. Collectively we saw in excess of 40 deer. Neighbors on both sides took multiple shots and killed multiple deer. One of them bragged that he never buys beef. I had to luck out and get a neighbor like him. :(
From: smokey
20-Nov-17
B2K, that is what I said in previous post.
From: Crusader dad
20-Nov-17
I have to confess. I golfed today instead of hunting. It was great and I saw 11 deer. Eat your heart out Lame Crowndip;;--)) I hope you like those expensive new titlelists.
From: BB81
20-Nov-17
CaptMike sounds like it doesn't matter if you are seeing 40 deer :)
From: PolkCoHunter
20-Nov-17
From: PolkCoHunter
20-Nov-17
My buddy found these this morning.. biggest sheds we have ever found.
From: Cheif
20-Nov-17
Haven't seen a deer since saturday, heard exactly zero shots from legal open to close... Sad, I was looking to restock the venison summer sausage
From: Pete-pec
20-Nov-17
Captain, I have a neighbor who said those exact words to me. He's a 3 time POS 3 time violator....those are the ones he got caught on. It saddens me to hear those words, and I've heard that exact comment (I don't even buy beef) numerous times.
From: CaptMike
20-Nov-17
BB, that is for 6 people over a weekend. If we did not limit what we shoot, it would be a lot worse. All we do it save deer so the neighbors can slaughter them. When I see a pickup with 6 does and a little 6 point that I've seen numerous times, it makes me sick. Those guys would not enjoy the hunting they do if we acted the same as them.
From: CaptMike
20-Nov-17
Pete, it is very disheartening but if we act the same it will hurt the herd while making no difference to those guys. They are takers with no regard for the big picture.
From: casekiska
20-Nov-17
Sat., 7:10 a.m. 50 yards to my south a 16 -17" eight point is walking toward me. I bring the rifle up, center the crosshairs of the scope and watch him walk closer. He passes 12 yards behind me and walks off onto the neighbor's land. This took about a minute and all the while I was talking myself into not squeezing the trigger. I distinctly recall saying to myself, "I don't need another 17" eight point" and, " this is too easy." By dark on Saturday I had seen 30 plus deer and scoped 3 different bucks. Neither my wife or I hunted Sunday. Rifle hunting is really starting to loose it's shine and appeal for me, it's just not the same as it was years ago. We will go out again this weekend and try to take a nicer buck or perhaps a good sized doe. I have a buddy who will hunt with Bonnie and I, and will bring his sons along. Last year they did well during rifle season on our property and I hope they can get a repeat. It gives me greater pleasure to see my guests get a deer, than me. I really like when one of them scores. Over the years at least a dozen hunters have taken their first deer from one of my stands. To all who do get out this weekend, be safe and good luck.
From: Jeff in MN
20-Nov-17
Sat the first 3 hours, then treated buckthorn for 4.5 hours. I used up 2 gallons of diesel mix using an ultra low volume spray wand so those of you who have done this you will know I killed a LOT of buckthorn. Much of it 3+ inches diameter. Then I sat till quitting time and saw the same 3 button bucks I have seen before. Nice sitting with 45 degree temp at quitting time.
I did the buckthorn treating all around my stand and the fawns walked right through it like they didn't care. I won't be able to see much if any green when in that stand next October. Sad part is I could do another 20 gallons and it still wouldn't be enough to finish out the 100+ acres of that woods.
From: BB81
20-Nov-17
Capt... that's no good. Grow the cover really good on your place and add a food plot, then hope that it keeps them there more than the neighbors.
CaseKiska, I will be adopting your mantra startingnext year. I had it for bow season this year, but then of course ended with another 17" buck this year... I do realize a LOT of guys would love those bucks, but if I want the really big ones, these guys need to be left to grow. That and now I regret the season being over...depression setting in.
Good luck next weekend!
From: RutnStrut
20-Nov-17
Well I'm puzzled. We have good land, in a great county (Pierce) and have only seen 1 deer so far. only hunted from noon till close today, otherwise all day sits. We could stand to do a little logging in our hardwoods. But we still have a ton of thick cover in pines and thick underbrush. We don't do foodplots being in an ag area. Have never baited. We hunt extremely low pressure style, alternating stands per wind direction and have solid entry/exit routes. I do agree with the other thread about people sitting more resulting in less deer movement.
From: Franklin
20-Nov-17
Capt. Mike....I was hoping those days of hunting like your neighbor were over in Wisc.
From: CaptMike
20-Nov-17
BB, lots of good cover and good plots. Bottom line is it is still only 140 acres. Not nearly enough to make a big difference.
Franklin, I sure wish that was true but unfortunately, that mindset is still alive with some.
From: Jeff in MN
21-Nov-17
Sustained winds of 23 gusts to 38 till around 2:00 today, then is slowly tapers down to 16/25 at quitting time. Sounds like they are right too. Guess if I go out I will be on the ground spraying buckthorn.
From: MNBowAddict
21-Nov-17
Capt, do you think your neighbors are poaching? I guess from my perspective, someone saying they never buy beef doesn't immediately scream an issue. I personally haven't bought beef, minus the occasional hamburgers or steak for a change, in probably 3 years. Between my dad an I, if we get 3 deer, its usually plenty to last the whole year. This year he got a nice 11 point, and I got a couple does. We have a herd of approximately 30 deer I would estimate that frequent the property, so by no means hurting the numbers. However if they are shooting more than the limit, or out of season....that is a big problem.
From: CaptMike
21-Nov-17
Nope, do not think they poach. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking deer if the population is sufficient for it. My point is, I do not think the local population would support all of us in the area doing what they do. I think it is greed or ignorance. And, I will add that they do not live there, nor do they own the land. They are friends of the non-hunting family that does own and live there.
From: MNBowAddict
21-Nov-17
Ok I gotcha, yeah it is definitely important to have an understanding of the deer herd in relation to how many are taken every year. Obviously since it is not their land to manage, they do not care one way or another. The owners normally would be the ones to keep them in check, seeing as they don't hunt, they obviously don't have a opinion one way or another. Sticky situation.
From: Trapper
21-Nov-17
I saw 9 deer, 5 bucks and 4 does in 20 hours of sitting Saturday and Sunday. No shots fired.
From: Aushegun
21-Nov-17
My camp has been keeping strict daily deer sighting records during the gun season since 1971. This opening weekend was the worst we had as a group in nearly 30 years. For me personally, it was my worst since 1996, when I saw ZERO deer opening weekend. At least this year I saw a doe fawn on Saturday, and a two doe on Sunday.
Monday we did some pushes, and I was able to put down an 8 point buck that one of our teenagers had wounded earlier. So I got to put the trigger, kill a buck, and still not have to gut it! :)
Thus far thru Monday, we only have two bucks on the pole. Deer Sightings are very very low. However yesterday, during the push, a huge buck was spotted, sneaking back behind the drivers. No one could get a shot, but we are hoping he stayed on our property. With the high winds today, I decided to come home, take a shower, wash some clothes, and head back up tonight, to hunt the rest of the week.
From: PolkCoHunter
21-Nov-17
7 in our group hunted through yesterday. We all have been seeing decent numbers lots of does and fawns. We shot 3 bucks and two does so far biggest buck is about a 125 to 130 8 pt. I saw 18 deer Sat and 2 Sunday shot one older buck on the decline Sunday morning been processing the last two nights . 4 of our crew has passed on smaller or poor shot opp bucks. The 8 point was shot with a hand gun. The pic I posted last night above in this thread of the sheds my buddy found yesterday was the most exciting thing so far.
From: Jeff in MN
21-Nov-17
Wind today turned me off. I treated buckthorn for about 5 hours. Went thru 3 gallons of diesel mix. I knew this woods that I hunt had it bad but it is even worse than I realized. The middle of the woods used to be relatively free of BT, now there are 4" diameter trees in there, scattered all over. I focused on the edges where there were plenty of them up to 12" in diameter clumps and single trunks up to probably 7". I only went thru the middle because it was a shortcut back to the truck when I needed more garlon mix. My guess is that the cattle initially brought it in. They are chewing on the small stuff so likely eating seeds too.
From: Hoot
21-Nov-17
CaptMike - There are killers and then there are hunters, you are a hunter.
From: CaptMike
21-Nov-17
Thanks Hoot, while killing is an integral part of hunting, it encompasses so much more than just the kill.
From: Novice
21-Nov-17
2 does and a fawn for me tonight. That brings my tally up to 10 deer so far for the gun hunt (includes Sat and Sun all day sits) Not one with visible antlers.
From: Live2hunt
21-Nov-17
I saw a total of 7 deer n Sat. thru today. One buck, the rest unknown (Thick stuff). My son shot his first deer, a spike. He was pretty pumped, made my whole hunt.
From: Aushegun
22-Nov-17
Such a weird season thus far. My stand is located over looking a field that has about 10 acres of standing corn. (normally it is picked before season, but too wet to harvest this year) I would have though the deer would flock to the field, but only 8 deer have been seen from this stand this gun season. and 5 of them were during a drive on Monday.
Last year opening weekend I saw 10 bucks and nearly 75 doe from the same stand, and the field was picked. Weird weird year. No shooting around the area, and everyone in my group is seeing way, way less deer.
In fact for a group of 18 opening weekend, and 13 on Monday, we have only seen 9 bucks, and this is with hard hunting.
Has to be the wolves, can't think of anything else causing this. Out bow hunting pressure was minimal, compared to past years, and we only harvest 1 deer with bow.
We have done selective logging over the last 25 years, so we have areas of thick cover, oak flats, pine bedding, swamps and overgrown pastture. The habitat is good, but the deer have suddenly vanished. Bizarre.
From: Jeff in MN
22-Nov-17
Ashegun, what general area are you in? Just curious if you are in an area with known wolf packs. Also if the area has had tons of doe tags available in recent years.
From: Novice
22-Nov-17
Sat this morning a couple hours before work. 1 doe snuck behind me. Came and went different direction than what I expected. So, not sure if there was another 1 before it. Won't be out again until tomorrow for the camp's annual Turkey day drives. While I don't really care for this method any longer, it's tradition and the landowners prefer lessee participation. I use it as exercise and scouting time. Just don't care for the pressure it adds on the property and messes with the rest of the season sightings.
From: Aushegun
22-Nov-17
Jeff,
We are in Northern Polk County, and do have a a couple known wolf packs.
We have been getting wolves on trail cameras on our property for over a decade. Multiple sightings already this fall. We have 720 acres, with good habitat. Last year we only took 4 deer off the property, and only 3 thus far this year. All bucks. Just a really weird year.
From: Crusader dad
22-Nov-17
I just bumped at least two does out of their beds on my way into the spot. They were laying too close to my spot and I didn't see them until they ran off.
From: CaptMike
22-Nov-17
Just had a little 8 walk across a winter wheat field. I guess both he and I are looking for his girlfriend!
From: RutnStrut
22-Nov-17
2017 gun 9 point.
2017 gun 9 point.
Had to add one with my ugly mug;)
Had to add one with my ugly mug;)
Been a slooooow year for me. So when this guy offered me a shot yesterday at 4:00 after yet another all day sit. I wasn't picky. Only the second deer I've seen all gun season.
From: Cheif
22-Nov-17
Well yesterday my worst nightmare came true, walking back to my truck after sitting all morning along a 4 foot wide section of CRP crap, the biggest buck of I've seen while actually hunting jumps up, I spin around and land what I thought at the time was a direct hit in the boiler room (with a 12 gauge 3" mag) the deer slowly walks over the edge of a ravine. I back out and give it about two hours because he was massive. My wife, and brother and I have been blood trailing him ever since he's gone about 1 mile and sadly made it to public land, picking up the trail tomorrow, have to put in ever effort to confirm if he clotted up or is piled up
From: Crusader dad
22-Nov-17
Hopefully you find him chief. Congrats Rut. I had what I thought was a warden but turned out to be just a concerned neighbor drive all the way up to me right at 4:30. My LO's are in vacation and he is watching things for them. At least he's doing his job. He was nice once I showed proof of my permission.
From: Ram Man
22-Nov-17
Good luck cheif keep us posted.
From: RutnStrut
22-Nov-17
Good luck Chief. I really hope things turn out well for you.
From: casekiska
22-Nov-17
Go get him Chief - good luck to you. I am sure all of us here hope you find him.
From: Fletch
22-Nov-17
Fletch's Link
From: Jeff in MN
22-Nov-17
I had family stuff all morning today, Got to the woods before 2:00 and guess what... I treated buckthorn for about 2 hours. Killed a ton of it before I used up my gallon of spray, lots of it 3" and bigger. Seems strange to carry a shotgun over my shoulder while treating BT. I found a good spot to just stand up behind a double tree for the last hour of shooting time. Saw turkey going up to roost but that is it. I am accumulating lots of brownie points with the land owners.
I failed to mention that yesterday I bumped a doe and probably a small 8 point while going in to treat buckthorn at another location. Buck was too small and too far for any chance at a shot.
From: Drop Tine
23-Nov-17
Hope you find him.
From: CaptMike
23-Nov-17
Been waiting for a doe and with 14 or 15 minutes left of shooting time, 5 of them walk into the winter wheat field I am watching. Gun up, scope on one of the mature ones.... and I decide not to shoot. Family visiting, and I have diner to make so this evening they get a pass.
From: Aushegun
23-Nov-17
The hunting has been so bad, that I gave the farmer permission to harvest the corn today. I figured it can't make things any worse. I checked my trail cameras on the corn field, and one that normally has 100+ pictures every night, had ZERO pictures from Friday the 17th, thru yesterday afternoon. Then a Wolf picture last night.
Just the most frustrating season for us in over 30 years.
From: Franklin
23-Nov-17
A neighbor took a 20 pt....26" out to out buck in VELVET this morning in N. Richland County.....his nuts were up inside his body. Almost like a cactus rack.
From: Aushegun
23-Nov-17
Hearing rumors (bar talk) about a massive buck taken in Pepin County. No other details. Anyone hear anything more?
From: Jeff in MN
23-Nov-17
Sat the last 2 hours, very nice weather, perfect wind. Saw a few squirrels, that's it. Tomorrow's temps will be even warmer. Did about 2 hours of buckthorn, got lots of them. No wolfs around here so can't blame them, well I could but I wouldn't help. Guess I can blame the smell of diesel fuel and triclopyr 4.
From: smokey
23-Nov-17
Camp 2 Dukes. Apparently, you don't get out much. I have a lot of trail cam pics with wolves on cam and within 30- minutes deer on cam.
From: Nocturnal
23-Nov-17
Agree with smokey on this one too. I have had trail cam pictures proving this too. Wolf comes through and 10 minutes later a group of does.
From: Novice
23-Nov-17
Saw 1 small buck this morning on a drive. Sightings were hard to come by even in the usually productive spots. 1 of our group got a healthy doe on the last attempt. Got out for the last 1.5 hrs and had a small doe rummaging around in standing corn for awhile. Later a nice doe (presumably her mom) stepped out of the brush for a second. She went right back in, however, staying just inside the woods until the little one ran over by her. Then they took off like a shot and I saw another set of legs behind them. Not sure what that one was.
From: Franklin
24-Nov-17
There is NO denying the Wolf population is destroying deer herd in the Northern part of the state. Deer numbers are down in areas where there are no wolves. I know people with property North of me that don`t even buy a tag anymore.
From: Crusader dad
24-Nov-17
Two years ago today at about 6:55 am I arrowed my biggest buck so far. The wind is the same, temp is the same. I'm hoping for an anniversary buck this morning.
From: smokey
24-Nov-17
Good luck Crusader dad.
Franklin, if the deer numbers are down and there are no wolves, how can you blame it on wolves? Fact is, deer numbers are up in the north just not to the all-time high from a few years ago. Wolf numbers are not down so the change in deer numbers is more influenced by severe winter weather. Yes, wolves have some impact but nothing like harsh winters.
From: ground hunter
24-Nov-17
Another observation of the north,,, this was reported to me last night via phone... my friend put on food plots on his land,,,, this is north of Hwy 8,,,, I mean he really did some nice work, over the spring and summer,,,,,, he was amazed at the amount of deer he sucked out of the NF onto those areas......
He has had as many as 50 deer on the plots,,,,, it showed him, how many deer were in the NF, he did not believe it, however, with his plots and neighbors plots, they hold a lot of deer in the area,,,,,,
again, just an observation and this was Florence Co
From: retro
24-Nov-17
If the wolves destroyed the deer herd in Wisconsin, how come Canada still has deer? How come people pay big money to still go up there and hunt? Northern Wisconsins deer herd will always be determined by winter severity as smokey said. Chances are your neighbors have more of an effect on your deer hunting than the wolves do.
From: Tweed
24-Nov-17
As others have said....every Tom Dick and Harry sitting over a pile of corn is creating a secure food source making them nocturnal/invisible.
From: RutnStrut
24-Nov-17
For those that don't think bait hurts. Our land is in Pierce county. Agricultural fields everywhere around us. If you've been reading my bow and gun season reports. You'll note how I've said many times we are having a very down season. Especially for seeing does, which we had all spring and summer. I found out the other day that the neighbor that doesn't hunt. But has relatives, friends, etc that are. Not only that, but they are baiting. They have also set up 3 shooting houses within 5 yards of our line. The buck I shot this week died 10 yards on their side of the fence. With permission I retrieved it. That's when I noticed all these things on our line. This is all new intrusion along the backside of a bedding area I never go into during season. The way their shacks are set up. They hunt them when their scent is blowing into my bedding. It makes sense that, with this kind of careless weekend warrior activity. Why my doe bedding has basically dried up. Which is why I had virtually no bucks cruising those bedding areas. Looks like I need to try to lease that 60 acres. More money spent to get away from the corn dumping slob hunters.
From: CaptMike
24-Nov-17
Of course there are multiple factors that affect the deer herd. But, wolves will move and roam for their food. Why would they stay in an area where there was none?
From: Crusader dad
24-Nov-17
No deer seen this morning but damn, this was a beautiful sunrise.
From: smokey
24-Nov-17
Captmike, wolves also eat other things such as beaver, mice, etc. They are also territorial so they are moving into another packs territory.
From: CaptMike
24-Nov-17
I don't doubt that wolves will eat anything available. What value does a new territory have if it does not have sufficient food for the pack? Still, a deer represents many more calories/effort than does a mouse, beaver or whatever else might be available.
Retro, ever been to northern Manitoba, where there used to be moose? Your northern deer herd comment ignores the 1,000's of doe that hunters took out. Any chance that might have played a part?
From: MF
24-Nov-17
I had this summer a pack of 13 wolves camp out on one of my private property areas for 8 weeks, I was still getting pictures on trail cameras of deer while the wolves were there...I believe they were more interested in the bear baits than anything else. This late October they moved in again only for a week then they moved off. While hunting one evening early November I had two does 60 yards away when a lone wolf howled not far away, the does looked up and slowly walked away in a different direction.
From: ground hunter
24-Nov-17
Retro,,,,we hunted Ontario when we were young guys who loved big country, big bucks, body wise, and tracking,,,,,, I can tell you wolves are killing machines, that is all they do, is kill, this is in their blood.... However in Ontario, they are trapped and hunted, and wolves have fear, of the sound of vehicles, and people,,,,, big time
I watched a bait for wolves, the wolf, took a long time to come into the bait, and even than it was a young one, the older ones are pretty smart, but they fall to trapping
Wolves just add to the complexity of the north, its just one more issue northern Wis did not need..... it was a feel good conservation act. that made everyone feel good except deer hunters, and that was the main reason for the push in the first place
From: ground hunter
24-Nov-17
Captain Mike also makes one excellent point,,,, The slaughter of the northern deer herd for 10 years from 2009 to 2010,,,,, 2.00 tags, fill up them food banks, and trailers, I like many of you witnessed it..... I was fumeing mad, especially the amount of deer being shot, and to me it was just to shoot........
They wanted that herd knocked down, because it was too big for the forest to sustain it, and than on top of that you had, wolves and winter severity, it was the perfect storm..... 2013 to2015 again, not only rough winters but tough springs,,,, a forest that is not managed for deer, during those times, and its a disaster,,,,, Costs commerce thousands of loss revenue......
But I see a bright side to it, and if I was a young guy, I would take advantage of the land prices right now, that have fallen, and camps and cabins, that are for sale, due to the problem.... The USFS, after years of litigation, are turning things around, and mgt is getting better all the time,,,,, There is no doubt in my mind, that Walker is going to sign the new bill, to disband wolf mgt, and force the Feds hands to put it back in state control,,,,,
With that, the herd will do well,,, weather you can not change,,,,,,,,,,
The only detriment, is the way hunting is done today, but that is a social issue
From: CaptMike
24-Nov-17
GH, a very good post!
From: BW
24-Nov-17
So, I slept in on Wednesday and was going to walk through a cornfield in the afternoon with my Dad. That was suddenly ruined when he called in the morning and said they were picking it right now. Thought that was going to ruin my day, but it's amazing how God can change things for the better. So, I hunted a different part of the woods. Got out about 1:30 pm. Brought rattling antlers because I was hoping to draw some bucks from other properties since it was pretty nice out. The way our land works is that we have a good 300 acre field to the west, we have a 20ish acre woods that's split down the middle by a ridge (north and south). The western half there isn't a lot of bedding, but the eastern half there is, and that's where obviously most of the movement is. I got up towards the ridge, and was standing, trying to cool off so I wouldn't sweat. Then after a good 10 seconds I start smelling manure. So, I wait a minute or two, then give out a couple of grunts....nothing. So I drop my antlers and go investigate. Didn't find anything. Get back to the antlers, pack them back up, and proceed. I'm only 10-15 yards from the ridge. I get about 3 yards past this ridge, and I see antlers moving about 70 yards from me. It's at least a 10 point...very nice for where we hunt. I'm literally 3 feet from a large tree so I got to the other side of the tree from him and wait. Obviously, a million things are going through my mind as I'm waiting for him to appear. First was, I'm holding this large antler, he'll pick that out, so I very slowly drop it. Then I hear the leaves crunching off to my left (on the other side of the tree). I'm thinking crap...how do I look without moving much. My rifle is on the right side of the tree, and if I look and it's him, I'm going to lose precious time. Well, I look anyways....it was a stupid squirrel. So back to the buck. I have my rifle most of the way up to my eye...just enough so I can see him first and then bring up the rifle another couple inches to shoot. After an eternity (probably 10 seconds), he appears. Nice rack! He's walking in a valley within a valley. I raise the scope, and he has no idea I'm there. Just perfect! I look through the scope, it's completely fogged up! I had been breathing into the scope the entire time. I've got about 5-10 seconds before he disappears and I likely can't catch up walking on crunchy leaves. He disappears for a second, then reappears (as he's walking). I raise the scope again. Still really fogged up, but I can make out his face and antlers. Knowing this is probably my last chance, I see the antlers, the face, and move down and left to about where his neck is and pull the trigger. He drops. I quick reload and sprint up to the deer, in case I stun him. Ended up being a perfect shot in the neck! As I grab his antlers to look, I only saw one side! I thought he must have broke off his other side. Somehow, it got buried and I had to pull pretty hard to free it from the ground, which I thought was weird. That's exactly how I found him. That was some of the best 40 minutes of hunting I've ever had. Gun hunting isn't the same as bow hunting, and bow hunting is vastly more enjoyable if you ask me, but this was an extremely exciting and event filled outing. Sorry if this was boring or too long, but thought some might enjoy it. Buck #2 this gun season. Oh, I should mention. Hunting opening weekend and Wednesday afternoon...only seen 2 bucks, and they're both in the freezer. Jumped 2 doe out yesterday...that's it.
From: Franklin
24-Nov-17
The point was that Wisc. deer numbers are DOWN....I don`t care what the DNR tries to say. Outdoorsmen KNOW what is going on in their woods. Now COUPLE this with a predator and you have a disaster. Have you ever hunted in Canada??? You can sit for a week straight 10 hrs a day and see 5 deer....and if it wasn`t for baiting you may never see a deer. Where I live nothing has changed in the valley in 25 years....but the number of deer sure have.
From: ground hunter
24-Nov-17
You need a paragraph or 2, but I enjoyed it, nice buck
From: BW
24-Nov-17
Haha...sorry. For some reason, I skip paragraphs on forums.
From: RUGER1022
24-Nov-17
Getting ready to head out . 56 degrees . I put the 6.5 back . grabbed 2 walleye rigs & headed for the river .
From: ground hunter
24-Nov-17
Franklin you make some valid points, and I do not think the DNR has the handle on the deer herd anymore, like they use too.... BUT hunting has changed in style so much,,,, right or wrong, its a fact...... The northwoods are invaded by hunters, at least a week or so, prior to the gun opener,,,, vehicles and atv's, baits are all over the place, ladder stands are on every ridge, and pop up blinds, off all the logging roads,,,,,,
Everyone just sits,,,, from dawn to dusk,,,,, no one still hunts anymore, not big driving groups anymore, deer hunker down, no reason to move, unless bumped up,,,,,
Private land is in better shape, always will be, less pressure, good bedding grounds, food available,,,,,,,,,,,,
My friend has now hunted Vernon county Private and Florence Co public, this season so far,,,, waiting for late archery now..... on private, passed 5 bucks , no pressure, controls the land, all tree stand sits....... On public up north, he hits the woods, and walks and walks,,,, He saw a fork, a six, and what he thought was a 10.... He saw 2 spikes, one of them, he shot, his choice......
other than stand sitters, he saw no one in the NF once he was 100 yards off of a road,,,, he thought the deer herd was fair, saw more does, than usual,,,,,
just another perspective
From: RutnStrut
24-Nov-17
Great deer and nice story of the hunt BW.
From: CaptMike
24-Nov-17
Good story BW, congrats.
From: Grunter
24-Nov-17
BW-dandy buck right there, I enjoyed your story. I have 2 questions....so you shot 2 bucks during gun season? And do you always aim for the neck? I understand your fogging issue, but why not aim for the shoulder?
From: Bloodtrail
24-Nov-17
BW - Great story and picture - I for one would like to see more pictures and MORE stories. Many post a pic but fail to tell the story - which is ALWAYS interesting!
From: smokey
24-Nov-17
BW, nice buck and story. Franklin, I have been at this a while, good deer numbers. My observation, not the DNR.
While I don't see a steady stream of deer parading past my stands, I see enough and read good sign to know what is there. Also, I only need one buck to fill my tag. My success is not in how high the sighting numbers are.
From: Cheif
24-Nov-17
Well all I have is the story of the giant that got away, I've been beating myself up for the last few days I never found the buck I hit, I trailed him for over 2 miles always trying to convince myself the hit was good but going back and looking at the blood it was tiny drops and luck that I was able to follow him that far, he entered public land with about 20 trucks parked on 10 acres with the loss of blood trail I gave up, something like that deflates your season I've been drowning my disappointment in turkey and gravy ever since
From: retro
24-Nov-17
In the north you can have a rebuilding herd for several years, and one wicked winter will put you right back to square one. Overharvest and predators can surely have a short term effect, but in the north long term deer numbers will always be controlled by winters.
Guys keep talking about how many wolves there are. Well if there wasnt anything to eat, how would they survive? Why would they stick around? If you have a lot of wolves, you have a lot of prey. If predator populations get to high, starvation or disease will set in and bring them back in check. Prey populations will recover. And so the cycle goes. Its always been that way. As stated above, the way people are hunting has a lot to do with them not seeing any deer.
From: casekiska
24-Nov-17
BW - Congratulations. Good buck and good story! Way to go!
From: OmroHunter
24-Nov-17
Just found out that the monster 12 pointer that I’ve been hunting all year was killed by a 1st timer on opening weekend. Happy for the young lady...bummed for my son as we have been close on him. Only one of our “big 3” is left. I attached his pic.
From: Franklin
24-Nov-17
Maybe that`s why the wolves are eating pets now...ha This week looks like a rough one....really mild temps.
From: Jeff in MN
25-Nov-17
BW, good story, great buck. Bucks taken under unusual circumstances like yours are the ones you remember, especially when they are big.
From: Jeff in MN
25-Nov-17
Got out late yesterday, had to help the wife with some black friday shopping. grrrr.... Anyway I did manage to use up another gallon of buckthorn diesel mix. Then I sat the last 1.5 hours. When I got in the ladder stand I sat about 5 minutes and then saw the white of a deer tail twiching in a little thicket of buckthorn 40 yards from me. Saw it twice more in the same spot with the binos. I never saw the actual deer although the area around the thicket was open enough that I should have seen him come and go so I think he had been bedded there the whole time, standing up only to stretch and wave his tail at me, as if to say I can hide better than you can.
Family coming for thanksgiving dinner so no hunting today unless I can slip out into the back yard without being noticed.
From: Drop Tine
25-Nov-17
I don’t know what it is?? I can go out back and sit and see deer. Take my wife out and see deer. Take my grandson out and we see squat. Granted he does move around a bit but in a ground blind that shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Today is another day though.
From: Cheif
25-Nov-17
Any thoughts one the best way to shoot a deer on the last day (wife is hunting today I get tomorrow), all day sit, walking through crp or corn maybe just glassing hill sides?
From: CaptMike
25-Nov-17
I'd only sit first and last hours of the day. In between, I'd walk those CRP fields and sneak across the rows of the standing corn. Peek your head through first, before your body enters the next row. I've caught them lying in that corn a few times doing this.
From: BW
25-Nov-17
Grunter, good question, but definitely not. Because of the valley, I couldn't see his body, so it was the neck or nothing. If some of his body was showing it would have been the very top of his back, buck I couldn't see, so it's what I had. Worked out well!!
From: OmroHunter
25-Nov-17
Shot a big doe for the freezer tonight - strange part though: I hit her in the neck, she went straight down and made a really strange croaking sound. 2 minutes later she got up and ran away. Minimal blood trail. So, darn, strange. The only thing I can think of is that I grazed a small piece of brush on the way?
From: Franklin
25-Nov-17
Hey good for you Smokey...you`re the best. The deer numbers are not there for some of these liberal permits...multiple and silly seasons. Why on earth would there be a antlerless only season a week after gun season. Why does Richland County issue 4 doe tags...because it was a CWD area 12 years ago??? When the QUALITY of the herd goes down you will get the "brown is down" mentality that was prevalent in Wisc. 30 years ago.
From: Crusader dad
26-Nov-17
It's time to head out for a birthday hunt. Good luck to the rest of you heading out this morning.
From: Cheif
26-Nov-17
Last day, my nephew and I are going to try to get it done! Good luck to everyone have safe last day
From: Jeff in MN
26-Nov-17
I don't know how it is possible to hunt in standing corn. The corn fields now days have such narrow rows you can't really walk the rows without you bumping stalks all the time. Plus the seeds are so close together it is really hard to find an opening where you can get to the next row. I tried it a little and figured it was useless unless it was a significantly windy day.
From: smokey
26-Nov-17
Franklin, I agree about the Dec. antlerless season not needed in some areas, mine is one of those areas. It was pushed on us by the Legislature, maybe we should tell them to fix it. The "brown is down" will always be there.
One thing that I have noticed: gun deer hunters sure whine a lot. Another reason I wish this site was used for bowhunting.
From: CaptMike
26-Nov-17
Bow hunters often do gun hunt also. As can be seen, the gun hunting threads have been fairly popular. It is not that hard to ignore those threads and even easier to not comment on them.
From: RUGER1022
26-Nov-17
Right at quitting time Saturday I get a tex informing me that a classmate & all around good guy passed away .
As I sit on my bucket reflecting a very nice 8 point walks by & stares at me . Then a Wolf howls in the distance . Life comes & go's .
From: RutnStrut
26-Nov-17
Sorry to hear about your classmate Ruger, prayers.
From: ground hunter
26-Nov-17
Sorry to hear about your friend,,,,prayers
From: CaptMike
26-Nov-17
Ruger, puts things in perspective. Sorry about your friend.
From: RUGER1022
26-Nov-17
That same Buck walked by tonite at 4:15 . Maybe late bow season. Saw 3 other bucks . There is a few hot does left .
From: RJN
26-Nov-17
I saw 2 bucks chasing a doe Wed morning , found a fresh scrape today, and pulled a card on cam today and there was 2 bucks brawling for 15 min in front of my camera.
From: Cheif
26-Nov-17
Sorry to hear Ruger.
From: Novice
26-Nov-17
11/24/16 Gun doe
11/24/16 Gun doe
Definitely puts things in perspective. Condolences. Wasn't planning on hunting Fri morning originally, but knew the week was winding down. On a hunch and for more bow season scouting, I went with my climber and set up in a funnel/ pinch point area. Saw 1 doe, which wasn't until she was already too close. Then spotted 2 other does a little while later. Not a fan of group bagging, but another buddy asked the night before if I would shoot a doe if given opportunity. The big 'ol doe and I played quite a game for close to a 1/2 hour. She lip curled and kept checking the wind being very cautious. Luckily, they were upwind. She went in and out of brushy cover, but didn't want to give a wide open view. I strained my neck and eyes as they continued to walk around me, but to the backside. Often times, I felt like she was looking right at me. I began to get double vision and my arm was fatigued from holding up the rifle. All the more I knew she was mature and special. A wiley adversary, despite no antlers. I wanted this harvest so bad. The other doe decided to mimic and lip curled a few times as well. They changed direction and behind more trees I got confused which one was which. Finally, the more gray and lighter muzzled one stepped out and there was no mistaking. Now in close range I settled the crosshairs. Don't even remember pulling the trigger, but she buckled, ran directly underneath my stand, and piled up at the edge of a small pond amidst the swamp. Truly a rewarding experience.
From: RutnStrut
26-Nov-17
Nice doe novice. The nice thing about group bagging is you had your buddy there to help drag;)
From: Novice
26-Nov-17
Thanks RnS. While I dragged and loaded by myself, the rest of the camp was already back having breakfast! Even funnier is the other doe took off after the shot and ran in plain view of one of the other's stands. He had already gotten down. Lol Fri pm I got skunked. Last night saw 2 does and 2 fawns. Called it good and spent day cleaning up camp. Late season starts tomorrow (or smoke pole depending on your preference.)
From: Tomb
26-Nov-17
A group deer hunting party must be two or more hunters who are hunting together within sight or voice contact at all times. Temporary loss of voice or visual contact for a reasonable time due to terrain or weather conditions is acceptable. Hunters may not kill deer for persons who are not out actively hunting with the party.
From: Novice
27-Nov-17
Tomb, if you're referring to my situation, I said I dragged it by myself (which occurred later.) When I was hunting and shot, there were 2 other hunters on that property. But always good to reiterate rule clarifications.
From: WausauDug
28-Nov-17
the RPG's had a good fun week. 2 bucks and one doe "that was thought to be a buck." We saw a lot of does and a racked buck about every other day. A guy got his first buck still -hunting which was great too. My son got 10 feet from a bear which was cool and a little scary for him ;) Hoping for another winter like the last couple.
