Had several other potentially good bucks during daylight, just couldn't get a good view with brush or trees in the way. Need to knock some plants down. Trying to track down a super wide deer that I really want to kill but there is still a lot of crop up. I have a feeling in the next couple weeks something is going to DIE!!! I would like to see that clean 10 in the last pic in daylight. The first buck may get a pass with that messed up side even though he's a 4 yr old.
The only buck I can find right now and in day light is a 9 pt that during the summer I said I was going to pass. But with the lack of mature bucks around this year, he is the only one I have to chase as of now. I really need to find some more land!
The best has yet to come.... most call right now the "Lull" so don't get to upset yet. Late Oct is prime for mature deer, the rut is pure luck on travelers and decent on resident deer if they don't travel 5 miles, and late season is ALL about food! I got 5 acres planted in my backyard for this winter as a last resort surrounded by plot screen. We still got a long season so chin up and stay positive, it'll happen! If not get ya a couple pieces of bread, throw your tag between it and have a crappy lunch! lol!
I don't have much of a problem with October, I have been seeing a lot of bucks this month but just no mature ones. I don't believe in the October lull, you just need to know were to look. The past few years I would get a dozen mature deer on camera thru out the summer and usually a few would stick around. This year I only got 1 mature buck on camera all summer and he disappeared. Most years I take 2-3 bucks a season. I take 1 early, 1 during rut and if I am lucky I will take 1 in late season. I think my only hope this year is watch cameras and wait for the rut. I know what you mean by staying positive, this is one of the biggest assets a bowhunter can have to make him a better hunter! I preach this to my friends when they are getting down during the season.
I agree rutin. As much as I'm foaming at the mouth for opening day October 1. I really have never hunted hard in last 4 years until late October. The property I always had was a doe sanctuary. And I would never see bucks ever until the rut. With this new property I picked up last week I got tons of scouting to do. But I don't want to do it now and Disturb the deer. Just gona hunt it smart and see if I get lucky. Leaving tomorrow for up north, going moose rifle hunt. I can only stay until Tuesday as I have too many large projects at work I can't stay longer. The boys will be up their all week. It's not that bad though as I only live 2.5 hours from moose country. So see how that goes. Another week and a half I'll be in the deer woods almost daily.
That's my dream hunt, 60"+ moose!!! Good luck up there! I'm right there with you Holt on the "lull", the key to not having a lull is knowing where the deer you want to kill is bedding and being able to slip in close to his bedroom. I moved houses last year and had to start all over with properties, deer, learning them, ect. So I'm still playing it safe and figuring deer vs. crop rotations out. I did a little summer scouting and pinned some good bucks down but its an area that cant be hunted until Oct 15. Now I just need to dive in and get some inches for our team!
Lol ya I hear ya. We take it for granted. We have calf tags guaranteed and if you have enough guys a adult tag guaranteed. Depending on what area your in. But pretty much all of central and northern ontario has tags. Just the south end does not have any moose. But that's cause it's full of liberals lol. They're stench scares the moose and bears north. Lmao. Don't get offended guys, you don't even know what liberal is in America trust me. Our Conservative party is like your democrats. Our liberal party is like your..... I dunno.... Hippy party maybe??? I don't know what do you guys calls people who eat tree bark, are offended by a crucifix but no other religious item, as a matter of fact they would call it discrimination if you ever said anything, think 2 north polarities can come together, and think meat at grocery store grows on trees and no animals are harmed?? That's what our liberals are. Sorry rant over.
Got out this morning and had no movement at all till just before 9am when I heard antlers rattling. After searching through trees and brush I located 2 of my hit list bucks sparring. Unfortunately I was only able to spectate as they were roughly 200yds away. Back at it right now hoping they come closer tonight.
Tonight I thought I was gonna get my shot but it didn't work out. Had a decent 9 come by at around 4:15 then about 6:15 during a light rain I had my 12 point come out at 100 yards but never any closer. In all I saw 4 bucks and about 8 does with none getting closer than 85 yards. Taking the morning off then give it another try tomorrow evening. All in all a great day in the woods.
Wow sounds like it was a good day. So your starting to see the does and bucks in fields together? Interesting I thought it was still a but early. My place should start to get interesting by next week.
Yea had a 9 and a 4 following 3 does through the field and into the woods just after 5. When I knew my 12 was not going to make it my way I tried a couple of grunts, he looked but was not interested. Thought I would rattle since I watched him spar this morning and he wasn't interested in that either. Had to give it a try with nothing to lose but still to early to call them in.
Long lost friend from last season showed back up this morning. Hoping he sticks around all winter like he did last year! Then again I hope I have him dead before it gets that cold! Glad to see he made his way back to my property, just hope I can seal the deal on him. I'm not going to dive in until I get some daytime pics or notice he's getting closer and becoming more regular.
Wow!!! Well boys moose hunting has been nothing but a tease. We don't have a bull tag and go figure opening morning I called in 2 monster bulls. One got to about 20 yards before winding me. I saw them coming in so I figured i would have some fun with them and bring them in close. What a magnificent animal. At that distance while standing on the ground you feel like your looking at a dinosaur. Too bad I couldn't take one. In the area we heard tons of guns shots. So others are talking there moose down. Hopefully we can find a calf.
Went and checked my cameras today and I had my 12 point at my stand during shooting light last evening. My question is what do you think he will score? I have an idea of what he will go but would like some other guesses. I'm leaning towards letting him walk this year and grow up some more. What you can't see in the picture is he has a split brow tine on his right side,
No real good angles since velvet has been shed. I was figuring it up and had him right around 135 as well. I am really thinking about passing him now that I have seen pics of him without velvet, I had him at 100 yards the other night but wasn't able to really judge him then.
Lmao sconley you must really good neighbours to let a a buck like that walk. Good luck in whatever you decide, I would for sure shoot that deer. I would say high 130s.
