Good morning here in MI, had does all over me but none quite close enough to fill my tag. Back at it now hoping I can snag one returning tonight! Good luck all!
It should be a beautiful evening sit here on the farm tonight. 20 mph winds all afternoon, then tapering off to 7-10 mph from the SE with mid 50's for temps and a rainy cold front arriving around 7pm. I'm hoping the deer hold tight during the windy part of the day and then come out to gorge themselves on the acorn flat I'll be hunting before the front hits. EXCITED!!!!!
Awesome Sit Got on stand by 4:15 ,all was quiet till about 5:45. Heard a branch break from with in the bush behind me and I struggled to see what it was. Low and behold it was a spike buck not 15 yards from me looking up at me. He was a 2x1 with a good body size and he walked right up to the base of my tree and stood for 10 minutes scouring the open field. He stuck around giving me numerous chances to take him. I forgot my phone in the truck,I wanted to call my buddy 100 yards away in another stand to ask him if he wanted me to shoot him for him. Then the deer started to file out of the bush,1st was 2does and a fawn then 2 bucks ,the second one was a shooter. I tried calling to no avail as they made there way south of me across the field. Then 4 more mature does came out from the same spot. Then 2 more does, one was a fawn. I said please come my way,sun was fading fast as the sun had dropped below the horizon and it was tuff try to get a read from my range finder. They were heading my way @ 81 yards. I stood and got ready but they stayed out in the field more than I would like even though they were only 42 yards out. She got on my down wind side of me and bang, she caught the scent of the Buck butter. She made a beeline straight to me. She couldn't smell me as the buck butter took over. Man she closed the gap to fast and as I was about to draw ,she was at 8 yards and looked up at me,was to dark to see if she made me out. I tried to draw and she saw that and bolted out to 70 yards and that was it for my night. On my walk out I got to where by partner was and he said he shot a buck. Well we followed his blood trail till 2:30 in the morning. We actually gave him 2 hours and started tracking. Lost the blood trail after about 80 yards of the deer zig zagging his way through the bush. As the deer approached the open field, he all of a sudden stopped bleeding. After finding big pools of blood every 50 yards he stopped bleeding,blows my mind how that happens.Heading back out in a few minutes to try and find him in the day light. If we find him we'll be lucky cause the yotes will make a feast of him pretty quick. Hoyt, congrats on your doe. Going to change sd cards out today also when I go back in. Never seen so many deer as I did tonight accept 3 years ago when Tank was leading 13 does along a trail not 60 yards from during the rutt! Rocky.
Well guys and gals! Creek to my right 80 acres of wheat to my left And im smack dab in the middle of a 70 yard wide oak flat. I've got white, red, and burr oak dropping like crazy due to the 20 mph wind. Im hoping it's a dinner bell!!!
Just checked my card from the trail near the oak flat I hunted tonight! He's still around, and a couple new decent bucks too. I can't believe he didn't show up tonight. Although from the card he's hitting this spot in the morning. Debating whether to go after him at the same place in the morning or not I'm starting to feel like he's always one step ahead of me...I need him to make a mistake haha
Well I Spent Another 3 Hours Looking I cross gridded with my grandson and found nothing,was windy all night and coupled with the frost ,any blood that might have been their is gone. Tons of new leaves made it impossible also,what drag for my buddy!
Washout today!!!! 3" of rain expected, 20-30 mph gusts. Looks like I'll be after him again tomorrow morning in the oak flat
Well Just Got In Looking For A Bull Moose Buddy phoned me last night after shooting a bull Moose and asked if I'd help him retrieve it! He said we might have to go in at Midnight if the hit was good or morning if he thought it was a paunch shot and would live till the morning. He made the wrong call, we should have gone in at Midnight. The yoties ate the hind quarter and he stunk to high heaven. Nice 36 inch bull too. Wow, what's this say about me! Everyone that I hunt with is losing there game. I never decided to take the shot! Just making bad decisions I think. It was a 48 yard shot up hill in low light! Bums me out, just needed to let of some steam, man I had to hike in 3 1/2 miles in the dark and back out again. Screwed my wifes workout this morning because I had to help him, she couldn't go Rocky
Well I'm back from Grouse camp. Good to have my mind back on deer hunting. I see you guys have been carrying me and have had some success. Looks like rain most of the week for me but I'll be out this weekend at the lease for sure which will be great now that the corn is cut.
Well guys and gals, rain clearing out tonight...I'm praying the big 10 will visit the oak flat tomorrow AM. Ima be there early and sit until 10 AM. Hopefully he's there like last week. I'll update as soon as possible good or bad....
Good Luck . hope ya get him:D I made it out yesterday morning ,sat through 2 down pours of rain. Only seen a small 8 and then checked the weather and called it a day. I went and ate lunch with the hubby and then came home. I checked the weather again latter only to see the next town west from where I had been hunting in the morning had a tornado touch down. Glad I gave up the hunt when I did. Calling for a few more days of rain so between that and work im not sure when Ill make it out again.
Won't be headed out again until this weekend but should be a good sit with rain moving out and temperatures sitting in the 40°s. Last sit the morning was most productive, so hopefully If I get to the stand in time I will be able to whack a doe or even better a buck. Last weekend seemed like opening day for chainsaws more then duck here in MI, had the neighbors to our west dropping some big ol trees from sunrise to sunset. For awhile I was thinking it may push the deer towards me but in reality, it pushed them all away. Going to try a different set for the afternoons and may even break out some scent sticks to see how the bucks are reacting.
I wasnt able to hunt this past saturday. (dad duty, daughter had a soccer tournament) So while im watching her first game at 8am, my hunting buddy calls and tells me thanks for not hunting this morning, he tells me he sat in my stand and got a doe. Its just my luck!!!!!! Well the rain gods are lettting us have it for the next couple days, so ill be out this weekend.
Good Luck Jeff!! Hopefully big 10 will show up...I am finally in a stand for at least one evening anyways..Work and Family stuff has been keeping me busy. Today is only day I can hunt this week . Luckily after this week I should be able to get some more sits in. I am sitting over a corn pile/trophy rock station hoping to smack a doe at least..Hope everyone gets to get in a tree soon...
Question for all, If you are noticing most deer movement just outside of your archery range would you A) Move stand closer to deer route or B) Try and attract them just inside of range using bait or scents? (MI-Bait is legal)
During the rut I'd use a grunt tube or rattling antlers. I used to bait, but feel like it made the deer more nocturnal and they came in very cautious. So, now I use things like monster Raxx spray attractants and ever calm around my stand.
