The area I'm talking about is 160 acres total; with about 1/2 being CRP. The area gets some pressure during bow...maybe 6 guys hunt it somewhat regularly during bow including me and my cousin. But most everyone cuts through the CRP into the timber and walks right past big deer doing it. Another problem is you get a lot of orange army "scouters" tromping through the woods during the last 2 weekends of bow prior to Nov. 15 gun opening day. My sweetspot window seems to be weekdays during Nov 1-7. Although I've not taken any wall hangers, I've not gotten skunked in years. My MI hunts are more about family deer camp and filling the freezer than anything else although my dad shot a 167" net 12 point in a nearby cedar swamp during rifle a few years back; and that old guy I mentioned took that very nice old buck 2 seasons ago. I also wounded and lost a 140-ish perfect 10 point coming into a maple patch from the same CRP the same season (2 years ago.) The big boys are there; just gotta get lucky and be willing to sit all day and try new things. WI on the other hand....no freezer filling there. I'm all business up there - QDMA only. I'll eat tag soup before I shoot anything under 130" in WI.
Amen to that! I'm glad you brought this up... I have the same policy. I passed on four up & comers last season and swallowed my tag at the end of it all. I had a serious case of tunnel vision for two particular bucks, and neither presented a single opportunity. That said, my style of hunting is not for everyone, and I hope we're all secure enough with ourselves to not make poor decisions in order to please the team. Be aware y'all, there's no money to be had in this contest; only fun and bragging rights! Shoot (or don't) whatever makes YOU happy!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
yeah, my situation makes for a team play dilemma. Hope nobody is mad if the first buck I drop is a MI public land buck less than 120". I hunt WI early season mostly but so far I've not had a chance on a big boy up there. It gets to be November in MI, I've got an empty freezer, I'm on public land and he has some character -or- I put in the work to stalk him on the ground; he may be going down regardless of the headgear. Ultimately, my goal for the team play is to contribute 150 total points. If I accomplish that, I figure I did my best.
Definitely a great plan guys, don't let the contest determine your hunting style. I on the other hand last year shot the first buck that got me excited, he was 117 inches. So that is what I submitted for the contest. Then held out the rest of the season for the big boy. I don't regret that one bit, that last buck was for me and not the contest!
Man.. I'm so jealous that some of you get to even take more than one buck per season... that's a totally foreign concept in Ohio. I'd love to be able to tag out early some year and go to another state, just to have the opportunity at a two-buck year. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm a little spoiled in MD, I got 4 buck tags and unlimited doe tags with bow. Not much reason to travel to other states. But I'm going to soon just to change it up and see more of the country!
Keep us in mind.. It's tough hunting in our area, but we have an absolute blast doing it! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hey man I may take you up on the offer. It would be fun to meet up some of the members on here and hunt. I might be able to do a long weekend this year. I do alot of the same style of hunting as you, lots of run and gun setups. I'm not looking for any honey holes, more just hanging out in deer camp and get some hunting in is just a bonus. I will talk to you more as the season gets closer.
same here - my cousin and I were talking about hitting public land in SW Ohio this year if we tag out in MI. I just picked the Chillicothe area b/c there looked to be a lot of public land in that general area and I love hill country.
Chillicothe is definitely a great area. I have an area marked near Chilli, but I've never stepped foot into it before. I'm also planning on getting into Hocking state forest a time or two.. these will likely be single day -strap the Lone Wolf on my back and walk until something captures my interest- kinda days. So let me know if you guys make the trip! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It's almost exclusively big woods hill country.. mostly super thick. There is a guy about a mile away from my cabin that has two small corn fields. Aside from that, no ag for miles... only an occasional cow pasture. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I can't believe there are 7 guys that haven't checked in yet. Anyone want to pm them and see if they want to come join in to the fun
Will do! I also liked the idea of the Chilli area b/c it was on the Western edge of the state and will save me some miles...I probably put about 6000 miles on my truck from mid-Sept thru mid-December. Might only put another 3000 on it the other 9 months total combined!
That sounds like a good job for the team captain..... NOT IT!! lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
