Crusaders season
Wisconsin
Contributors to this thread:
First sit of the year! I'm in my urban spot. Sitting on top of a 6ft stepladder. The spot the wind is correct for is under about 12inches of water. No biggie I'm hunting there anyway! My limit for a buck is roughly 120inches. My doe tag is good for Jackson co so I'll kill a girl in a couple weeks when I head up that way. Most of my hunting will be done before and after work right here on this 10 acres.
View looking east towards the thick bedding.
View looking east towards the thick bedding.
I am sitting in the blue dot on this pic
Good for you CD..... Step ladder, who woulda thought?!? Good pic, I like the view to the East across the bedding area. During the "chase" phase of the rut have you seen bucks chasing does across it or on the edges? Keep up this thread if you will. It'll be fun to follow your adventures.
Good luck.
Case, this stepladder gets a b+ review so far. Once I figure out a better seat it will go up to an A+. It's perfect for what I need around here. Regarding the bedding, my son killed his first buck at the white spot directly across from where I am now. In the mornings the cruising or chasing bucks typically come from the SW and head NE. I don't recall ever seeing a buck in this spot on an evening hunt. Mornings have produced a shooter buck sighting roughly 25% of the time. I missed a nice thick ten pointer my first morning ever hunting here.
Can you leave the ladder there?
Yep, leave ladder. Send map & coordinates. (…..waiting for PM)
ill Be checking in on this Shane. Good luck and hope all is well.
Jeff in MN's Link
Get your hands on a cafeteria chair something like in the link. Bolt through the seat and into the top of the ladder. Might have to cut legs off or maybe not. Might have to experiment with how far forward/back you mount it to maintain some stability and ballance.
Tweed, I'm sure I could leave the ladder out there but I like to hop around that little area and it's very easy to just take with me each time.
Case, ask Tweed or Nocturnal for directions. They know where it is:-)
Jeff, I have one of those chairs in my garage. I'll experiment with it over the weekend. I want to spray paint the ladder anyway. Yesterday was just a trial run with it.
Better tag out before it snows because snow on aluminum only leads to putting a new crack in your arse!
Oct 12. 5:54 am. I'm in a hang on that has grown into a tree. It's a little sketchy but not that far of a fall if I happen to go down. Took some work getting up here because I had to cut my way through the overgrowth but I'm here now. The weather is as perfect as I could hope for. I can sit until 7:40 then it's off to work.
Be careful man and have fun.
This is my morning view. They type cross this field from my left (west) and head E/NE. It's 42 yds from me to the edge of the water.
I talked to my landowner today. He let the back half of my field grow wild so sitting on the ground is impossible. The grass and weeds are as tall as me. I'm now sitting comfortably in a freshly hung hang on stand at the in the NE corner of this property. Since the back half of this field hasn't been touched all year, they've started to bed in it as well as the thick stuff directly to my south. I'm in the blue dot in the screenshot looking west. The wind is from the SW blowing my scent over the pond into someone's backyard.
My view for the evening. I did see a fresh rub about 40 yds from where I am now while walking in.
Good luck brother. Enjoy.
26 degrees. 4-6mph wind from the west. Crystal clear skies. Absolutely ideal conditions. I can hunt until 8:20 this morning! I've been having to leave the tree by 7:30 because of work. I sprayed some tinks doe in rut pee that my wife got me for sweetest day. I've been out 7 times so far and haven't seen a deer. The sign is here so hopefully today's the day. I'll be in this area every morning for the next week and then I'm heading up north!
Good luck to you Shane. Yep, seems like an ideal morning, wish I could have been out there! Hope you and all who ventured out do well.
"Sooo that's who sleeps in the bed I walk through to get here." "I wonder what he will look like next year." "If I leave this corner as his sanctuary will he even stick around till next year?"
As I was having these thoughts about a 7pt 20 yds to my left I didn't notice the big 8 pt come in from my right. SHOOTER! I divert my attention from the little guy to his daddy. He's unaware of my presence. 18 yds, 19, 20, I draw and at that moment I catch movement from the little guy on my left. He caught me and now my buck knows something's up. I'm locked on target and release the arrow. He dropped and whirled at the shot. My arrow hit him high. Good left right but high enough that it's possible I'm in the backstraps. SHIT:-/. He took off across the field with my arrow still in him.
I had some work to do so I snuck out and did that. Just got back home to have a cup of coffee and check my memory card. I have both bucks on my camera. I'm heading back out to see what I can find in about 25 minutes.
Ohhhh man!!! Fingers crossed. Keep us posted
This is the little guy. Heading out now.
Hunt'em up! Hope you find him
Good luck crusader. Arrow still in him says high hit, and likely in his vertebrae at some level. I only hope you got lucky and hit that artery.
Bad news/good news. We found some blood but not much at all. Just a few spots where he brushed up against the long grass. we grid searched the entire area of his general direction and never did find him or my arrow and that concerns me. I hate the idea of him running through someone's yard with that sticking out of him. Hopefully the arrow came/comes out soon. Based on my recollection of the shot and the sign we found I'd give him a 95% survival chance. 98% if he was able to throw the arrow quickly. I've made this shot before and I know they usually live. It's definitely disheartening to say the least.
It sucks to wound a deer. This is the second time I've screwed up a shot on a mature deer in this same area. I will not be "punching my tag". I'll be getting back out there and hoping he shows back up again. Sorry if some of you think that's wrong.
Good luck CD. Hope you get him.
Nope, no reason to punch your tag in my opinion. If you learned anything from it, that's what's most important. Go get a better one. Maybe even this one. Had a buddy in North Carolina get a second chance 2 weeks later on a deer he hit high. Complete pass through just below the spine. The was only scar tissue and the deer came to the same stand. It seems crazy impossible what they can live through, but they do.
So what mistakes did you learn?
I wouldn't really say I feel like I'd do anything differently. He dropped more than any deer I've ever seen. When the little guy caught me drawing the big one went on immediate alert. I felt like it was then or never. I knew the yardage. I don't feel like I rushed the shot but it's possible. He was exactly at 20 yds so I put my 25yd pin at the bottom of his chest. That puts my 15yd pin right at the crease. Maybe I pulled up at the shot but I don't know. It felt good. I feel terrible about it but I think I just have to chalk it up to shit happens. I am happy knowing that I've seen very positive results from a wound like that. I'd rather have done what I did than shoot him in the guts. Hopefully fate brings him back in front of me again.
"I will not be "punching my tag". I'll be getting back out there and hoping he shows back up again. Sorry if some of you think that's wrong." Who in their right mind would be mad that you didn't "punch your tag?" No one likes to wound a deer but anyone who would make (or attempt to make) someone end their season due to a wounded deer, when deer numbers in this country are at an all time high, has their own problems to deal with.
Tough luck Shane but it has happened to most of us. We can make the perfect shot, execute everything perfectly, but the deer drops and we get a high hit. We do not like it, but it is what it is. We feel shiXy, we go on. No reason to quit. "Bowhunter up" & get ready for next time.
BTW - hope you will keep up the thread...a good one!
Sorry man.
Same thing happened to me last year. Looked for 2 days after a high hit. Didn't find any sign. I felt like puking each day.
Sorry to hear you didnt get him. Hopefully he will return or an even bigger one. Good luck on upcoming hunts. Happens to us all at one time or another.
I definitely understand that too! Lost my biggest buck in 2015 to a high shot. It happens. Fortunately you have the best time to look forward to! I have high hopes for you, Shane!
Don't hang your head brother, that's why they call it hunting deer and not killing deer...
So fellas .....how long do you think it will take for an urban/suburban buck to return in an incident like this?
Tweed, I was wondering the same thing.
He and the little guy now know exactly where I was. I'm going right back out there to hunt again in the morning. After that I won't be back until the following Monday.
This buck makes 3 that I've wounded. I also have 2 wounds on does. Of those 5, 3 are backstrap shots and two for sure died but I never found them. this is my 17th year bowhunting. I've killed 5 bucks and 6 does. I've missed 5 others. I'm currently feeling like I'm not as good as I thought. 50% kill rate on shots taken is pretty terrible. 21 shots in 17 years tells me I'm at least putting myself in a good position. I guess I'm just having a bit of a pity party for myself right now.
Go ahead and punch your tag.
Then go to your printer and get another. Life is good.
"Punching the tag" only accounts for when you find the deer a week later....that`s when the discussion comes in. Right now you have nothing to "punch" it on. Do you have other stand locations nearby....because chances are that is where you might see him again. Especially after the grid search.
That's hunting, if it were easy it wouldn't be half as exciting. The bad experiences make the successful one that much better.
It's early. If you have doe's the boys will be around even if they've been tickled. How many deer have been struck by cars yet still cross roads?
Shane, it happens. Get back in the saddle and work on relaxing when the shot presents itself. You might be putting yourself under more pressure than you realize when a older buck is there. When not hunting, take some time to act out the shot and try to think about relaxing with concentrating on picking the spot and follow through.
I decided to just stay completely away for the week and hope things settle back down.
Franklin, this is my area. It's only ten acres total. They used to let me hunt the whole 50 but cut me back to just the "farmco" 10 acres this year so I'm pretty limited.
Smokey, I think you're right. I don't realize it at the time but i think I may still be struggling with a bit of TP.
What??? I had to push my trip back again because of work? This is becoming a frustrating trend. I have to keep reminding myself about the end goal but I currently feel like I’m working my life away. Eventually I’ll get to head up to the in-laws for a hunt.
End rant. Good luck out there boys!
Sorry, you didn't get the deer, but glad you're back at it.
Dad, you have to pay your dues early in life. Just the way it is. I do wish it was the other way around. Actually not now that I am retired. I hunted a big buck that was hit high by a neighbor. I won't mention what kind of equipment he used as it just don't matter. He never stopped rutting. If you have does he will follow where ever they go. I'm guessing every case is different. I just could not get a good shot at him & he made it through. I found both sheds laying about 6 feet apart. I guessed a spread & measured him at about 160. I was amazed the next year when his rack was better as they usually are screwed up after a hit. You could see the scar but he was still smarter than me. I hunted him again until the other neighbor hit him with a real bad shot from the other kind of bow. I guess it don't matter as they both can miss. The problem is I wait for a perfect shot & they both took poor shots from bad angles. The Buck was never recovered & never came back. I know first hand that stuff happens even when you do get that high average shot. I do have a tendency to hit higher than I want but my average shot is 13 yards. I read that article that was on here about sighting in 2 inches low & am trying that this year. So with your shot there is a good chance he will be ok & come back. I will see if I can find some pics.
I jumped on that advice at an early age joined the Army, retired after 20 years.... Now I do what I want until I kick the bucket
I found a couple from Nov. The one shows the hit. It didn't look that high in person. I think it was like a bug bite to him. He got hit about Oct. 24th. I will see if I can find one from the next season.
Chief, Fantastic plan. Thanks for your service. Only one pic posted. I will do the other.
I know I have better pics of his scar but I have thousands of pics from every year.
Sorry to take up so much room but as you can see they do make it & are very tough animals. One more pic. you can't see his scar from this side but a great pic of him just coming out of velvet the year after. He recovered well.
Albino, that’s a great buck!
Chief, I joined the army at 18 but failed my drug test so they wouldn’t let me in.
Anyway, HAPPY HALLOWEEN BOYS! Nows the time to get your ass in a tree anytime you have a spare little while. I’ll be sitting from 6-8 this morning. I know that’s only an hour of good light but that’s all the time I have. I’ll be back out there to sit the last hour of light today as well. Same thing for tomorrow.
I have enough of my rush jobs done that I can finally take the boy up north this weekend! We leave Friday after work.
This is spot #1 to check out. We call it prospect.
This is spot #1 to check out. We call it prospect.
Today’s the day boys! I’m leaving work at 2 and heading up to my bro in laws. We will be hunting public land behind his house. I’ve aerial scouted and found two spots to check out. The first one is 806yds from my bros back door. We will get to that spot an hour before light tomorrow morning. I’ll get my son set up on the ground and then move a short distance from him to hang a lockon at first light. We will sit there until 8:30 and then still hunt our way to check out the second location. It’s 800 yds to the southeast right along a river. We have never stepped foot in this area and my bro in law is afraid of the woods so he has not walked past his backyard since he bought the place. It’s at the end of a dead end road so I’m hoping pressure is light.
This is spot #2. We call it riverbend. I’ve always liked the idea of hunting right next to a beautiful river like this one!
This is spot #2. We call it riverbend. I’ve always liked the idea of hunting right next to a beautiful river like this one!
Early start to my hunting trip. My landowner just called and said one of the horse riders saw a wounde buck. I’m going to look for it right now.
Have fun! Hopefully that land is untouched
Well, I found the buck. A small spike that had been gut shot. I needed two or three more steps for a clear shot and he got up and limped his way to the neighbors land. It was just too thick for me to release an arrow. He will surely die but not by my hands. I left him as he bedded again 35yds on the wrong side of the fence.
In hindsight I should have just used a gun and done the deed that way. I feel pretty bad for him. I’ve never seen a gutshot deer alive and it was clear he’s in bad shape.
It wouldn't be legal to use a gun. Sad but true. Be careful hanging a stand at first light in a new tree. Good luck up North.
Looks like a great location
Albino, I know it would have been illegal but it would have been the best option and the right thing to do at that time.
Our original plan is out the window. We will instead be concentrating on a long ridge that sits between 3 clear cuts. Heading out in 20 minutes.
Note to self... bring earplugs next time. My wife, sister in laws and brother in laws decided it was a good idea to drink and be merry until 3am this morning. We are in a log cabin and they were right above me the whole time. I guess two hours of sleep is enough:-()
This is what it’s all about!!!! We are hunting from the ground and I’m about 150 yds from him::))
Ughhhhhhh, that'll never be forgot
My view this morning.
My view this morning.
So yes we came here to hunt but my boy and I have adventurous souls. After passing a small buck that was just out of his range he decided to come and roust me. We needed to scout anyway and Collin had his eye on a local fire tower that he figured he needed to check out.
The scouting went well and I found a nice area for myself on a knoll overlooking the edge of some alders that open up into a natural funnel between two valleys. It’s a good looking area and there is plenty of sign.
We jumped a doe as we made our way along a thin ridgetop towards the tower. Reaching the tower I knew there was no turning back so up we went. What a beautiful view! Climbing one of those towers has been on my bucket list and I’m glad I was able to cross it off with my son.
Pictures with all of the cousins together at 11am mean we had to cut that short but it was a great morning. Heading back out at 2 pm.
There were some steep ridges heading up to the tower
There were some steep ridges heading up to the tower
The view from the top was amazing!
The view from the top was amazing!
Looks like a Great Rifle stand....
Looks like heaven.....I think.
Collin and my nephew Logan Are just getting settled now. I came out at two and set the decoy up for them in the same spot Collin was earlier. I’m on the side of a hill on the very back side of the clear cut. I am up in the woods about 75 yds to the edge of the clearcut. Oaks and pines around me, my wind is blowing from my front right to my back left up the hill. There is a very thick area 100 yds to my left and a fresh rub 21 yds to my right.
sounds like a good set up!
You hunting or sight seeing??? lol.
One last cool fire tower picture.
One last cool fire tower picture.
Franklin, mostly sight seeing this weekend but that’s fine cause we had to scout our new area. We were going to still hunt and scout a different area this morning but I’m not really that interested in going out in a downpour and 20mph wind. I’m going to flip a coin and decide for sure once I post this.
My son and I will be heading right back up here on Thursday and plan to sit all day fri sat and sun. In the meantime now that the time has changed I’ll have extra daylight before work to hunt my urban spot.
Ohhh yah, last nights report. The boys watched a lone deer cross the middle of the clearcut at 4:20 yesterday. That’s it. I need this rain to wash all the stink away that we left while scouting.
No, we don't need this rain when your limited on days to hunt!!!! Sorry, a little testy today.
I did go out in the rain for a scout/still hunt. Found a nice fresh scrape line. Took the forest service road to check out one more area and found what looks like a working meth lab. Yes, I did call the sheriff.
Damn meth, there's talk the kid who hit those Girl Scouts in Chippewa was methed out. I don't understand!!!
I agree...our society has collapsed. When doing road clean up you should have 2 cars shadow the crew at a angle to prevent a vehicle from leaving the road and hitting them, a moving barricade of sorts. It`s chitty you even have to resort to this way of thinking but nowadays it`s mandatory. Good day for scouting or setting up a new stand. Noise level down and scent will be washed away.
This is the second lab I’ve found. The first one was haphazard and already abandoned in the Clark co forest. The one today was actively being used. The giveaway was the smell in the air, three empty propane tanks and misc empty plastic bottles. The camp was actually very organized and in an area that required skillful 4wd to get to. I’m guessing these guys are professionals and I hope the Jackson co sheriff actually goes out there.
The meth epidemic up there has hit my family very hard. The mother of my niece and nephews is constantly in and out of jail. She is allowed no contact with the kids. Fortunately for the kids my bro in law recognized what was happening early and got the kids out of there. He’s now with a great woman and she is a great role model for the kids. They have adjusted well. The father of my other niece and nephew is also and addict who is constantly in and out of jail. Those two kids have not fared as well as the others. They’ve had and will continue to have a hard life. I fear that those two are destined to walk in their fathers footsteps and become a drain on society.
Pat, aka Bloodtrail. This is your county. Please let me know if something comes of my find today. I don’t have your# anymore otherwise I’d have just texted you.
Back to hunting my urban spot before work tomorrow and making a plan for hunting the meth zone this coming weekend!
When I hunted Nebraska for Turkeys the Regulations said Meth labs were common in many areas & it told you what to do if you ran into a Tweaker as there is a good chance they would try to kill you.
6:20 am. I just climbed up. It’s way later than I wanted to get in but I can’t kill one from the couch. 34^ 14 mph wind from the NW. I’m in my back corner 20 yds from the little fellas bed. He must’ve decided he’s ok with sharing his area with me because he’s definitely still using the bed and I’ve been pretty intrusive back here.