I still don't have a buck down. The rut just hasn't kicked into high gear yet. I only saw one buck following a doe all week long. I did see a really good buck sneak into the hollow I was sitting above on Sunday morning after a rattleing session. He wouldn't come any closer than 65 yards. But the trip was definately not without its moments. Good friend Greg Staggs (Greg/MO) killed this buck on my farm on Halloween evening. He saw a total of 5 bucks that night in the food plots. Then the next morning I went out and killed my second ever turkey with a bow. Got this hen at 20 yards. A little later in the week Scott/IL put a nice buck down in the neighborhood. Mobow and I had to drive over and check it out. Very nice indeed. And this is the guy who challenged my to the best buck from Jersey County. He set the bar pretty high. A couple pics of the food plots which are not being used that much by the deer right now. Too many crops left in the fields and the full moon may have something to do with that. Hopefully they will be the hot item come late season. And with scenery like this, how can you not enjoy just being in the stand. But I still wanna kill me a big old buck too dammit!:D Maybe they will be running stupid this weekend.
Good luck this weekend John, I am sure you will get a whack at one if you put the time in over the next couple weeks.
Awesome post, buddy! I'm still pulling for ya!! :D I think it'll bust loose soon; I haven't seen a single deer move in the last two evenings.... it's got to!
jm sorry but the next sound you will here will be gun season. this weekend, the farmer told me today that he seen two big bucks last night heading into the standing corn where i shot mine thurs night, the deer have picked this one field to chase does in, from my stand you can watch the corn being knocked down like domino's guess you guys drive thru troy bowling green area where i am at ? also take a look at my post of my hunt if you would, please read my last post and tell me what you think.
John, you usually end up getting what your after or get damn close to It anyway. Best of luck, I think you'll get It done!!
IL gun saeson doesn't start till next Friday, so I still have this weekend to beat them to the trigger. My place is just North of Alton 20 miles or so. You're a bit farther North than I am.
John, I finally saw signs of the rut today. This morning I only had a little five pointer and later a doe but Kendall saw a medium ten pointer cruising and then a big, big 9 pointer came cruising by him. He needs to shoot another doe before he can shoot another buck.. so of course he's seeing only bucks and good ones at that. Anyhow this afternoon, I was still climbing up a tree when I noticed a doe 50 yards away, I froze, stand platform angled annoying like and only about 10 ft off the ground. The doe did that bounding off like they do when they're being pestered by bucks. Sure enough, here comes a really nice ten pointer. Around 160". He wasn't really chasing, just following her. The doe eventually came right by my tree and saw me. (I was still frozen 10ft off the ground) She left and took the buck with her. Bummer. Kendall had a doe blaze by him, too fast for a shot... but she was being chased by a really big non-typical buck. Really big. The buck came within 8 yards of Kendall... but he still needs that doe first. so... get back out there! :D
Great pics John. The Rut seemed to be getting started last week with some chasing but as soon as the warm weather came its like it just ceased to a halt. Im guessing with some cooler temps comming it should start again. good luck to ya, hope to see some pics with you and a slammer
Awesome pictures, John. Your plots look amazing, and it has to only be a matter of time until you get it done (or at least get one in range). I'm pulling for you teammate!
Great pics John...good luck. Your place looks awesome! Its just a matter of time there... Jeff, I think you and I are hunting the same property...LOL! The biggest one I've seen this year was about a 85-90" 8pt.
It's because of our earn-a-buck. ...And IL genetics, ample deer foodstuffs and people are fairly picky about the bucks they shoot. On the property, 40 deer have been taken. Only four antlered bucks so far. Deer density is pretty low here tho'. Lots of sits where we don't see any deer at all.
