SW wind.........this should be interesting. This property is hard to hunt with a SW wind. Have one spot deep in the swamp I can hunt. Fun morning hiking through the swamp......hope I atleast see something. Heading out now. Dave
Went to the farm early this morning, and found some good sign. A lot of scrapes are starting to show up on the field edges. Won't be long until the bucks start cruising around. I ended up running out of time, so I didn't get to hang any new stands, but I did pick at least one good tree out. I moved 2 of the cameras to overlook scrapes. This afternoon, me and a friend hiked deep into the public land. It was nearly 80 out there again, so I knew we had to get in close to where they bedded to catch them in daylight. Right before 6 we had a doe coming in, but it caught our wind. Right after 6, I did some light rattling and before I even put the antlers up a little 5 point responded. He stayed about 80 yards off, but it's a good sign to see a buck respond this early. Going to head out again Tuesday afternoon. Temps are supposed to be about 10 degrees cooler, so things should really be heating up. I'm hungry for some backstraps, so the first doe I see is getting an arrow.
Also, from here on out, I will have all day to hunt Oct. 30th and 31st, and Nov. 5th-10th, and the 13th and 14th. I can usually get out a few Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon during the week. It's going to be game on here pretty soon.
This weather is killing me, but its good for my golf game, got in the stand yesterday morning and it was 57 degrees at 6:30 in the morning. That is around the normal high temp for this time of year. We are seeing very little sign of rut activity, a couple small scrapes but thats about it. Suppose to cool off to around normal highs this week for a day or 2, hopefully I can get out and sit. Sat for 4 hours yesterday and saw one small buck.
PT, I've used this trick a few times with great success on vast tracks of land (food plots), especially when I've wanted deer postioned closer. Use a large size plastic trash bag and tie it to either a fence wire, tree branch, or T-post on the opposite end of your stand situation. The bag will inflat with the slightest wind whisper. It will dance around enough to give deer concern. Typically, they will continue with their pattern of eating, but they will move farther away from the bag in an effort to maintain their defensive comfort zone. The bag essentially lands the deer in your lap! It's a great tactic to deploy if the deer are staying out of range...like they seem to be doing to you. I had a frustrating weekend guiding (all voluntarily) an elk hunter wannabe. This guy hadn't seen an elk in the wild since 1970...when he began elk hunting. There's a reason why. He's as dumb as a rock when it came to following directions...I put him on 8 different cows (all under 80 yards and easy shots with a rifle). I was frustrated to the point where I left him to hunt solo....and I'm a very patient person. Some guys were just not meant to hunt...he's one! Back to S. Dakota for some "me in a tree" time this coming weekend. Stay after it everyone!
Speaking of guiding......think I will shower up/gear up and guide myself to the woods))) Be safe guys Dave
High of 68 here tomorrow, and winds out of the SSW around 30 mph. I'm going to be hunting at the farm in the bottom of a deep hollow where 3 fingers run down and meet. The deer usually bed on these fingers, and then head out to one of the many crop fields...just hoping I will be stationed on the right trail. First time in here all season.
deer are moving like crazy!!! I see them out an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset feeding ... and I couldn't hunt today
Well, had a lousy trip in Wisconsin. The deer just were'nt moving AT ALL in daylight hours. Rubs and scrapes were popping up while I was there, only all at night. Too early I guess and the full moon did'nt help. Found some great spots to hunt though, tons of sign. That magical time is almost here and I'm looking forward to being in the Illinois woods very soon. Good Luck All !
Saw nothing lastnight..........going to give the property a break for 2 or 3 days. May try some public land Thursday just for a change of pace. Be safe guys Dave
So close to getting it done tonight guys. We had a big time rain/wind storm move through last night, and then the temp started dropping. Wind was a steady 25-30, with gusts up to 40 all day. I got to my stand in the bottom of the hollow, and got ready. This spot is only huntable with any wind out of the south, and it becomes prime when the wind is howling up top as the deer try to bed out of it. Then when the thermals start dropping, the deer will come off the points and filter through this area. There were times as my tree was blowing around that I thought about climbing down for safety reasons, but I stuck it out. Just like it was supposed to happen, at 5:30 the wind died down, and I see my first deer about 100 yards away, but I could only watch the small doe through the binocs. Right after that, a small 6 came off the same point, and followed the same path. I figured it was a good time to rattle after that, and I was right. I had no more than finished a light grunting and rattling sequence when I heard the familiar noise of a buck running in. A quick shot from the binocs showed good spread, decent mass, shooter buck. As I studied the buck in his slow trot, I recognized him as one I have a few pictures of. My stand is in the thickest stuff imaginable, so there are very few shooting lanes, and this buck never went through one of them. I had him at 35 yards, but just couldn't find a way to sneak an arrow into his vitals. He stood there for about a minute trying to find the fighting bucks before deciding that he wanted to walk away. That's 3 afternoon hunts in a row that I have seen bucks up on their feet now. It's just about that time for things to break loose out there. I may not get a shot at a buck, but I'm confident I will see the ones I'm after. Here are 2 pics of the buck I saw tonight. One in velvet, and one out. Not the biggest out there, but he was getting an arrow if he would given me the chance. He got the nickname "Windy" tonight. Oh yeah, last night while coming home from Bass Pro, me and a friend almost wiped out a good buck. He was standing by the road that borders the public land I hunt. I couldn't tell much about him, but he had a lot of points, and a lot of character.
Full story .... watched a spike walk straight to me to 5 yards ... wind me just a little and blow ... ran back 20 yards ...meandered back toward me then eventually away ... look up, I see what appears to be a doe coming straight at me ... she takes a turn and after watching her for 20 minutes she steps into a lane and I shoot ... shot was high ... broke her back and came out mid body behind shoulder .. one lung, but she was anchored ..... as she thrashed, her ears laid back and it was then I could see the 2" buttons ... they followed the slope of his head and when his ears were up, I could not see them ... no normal tufts you see with most BBs .... but no matter ... its 50 points and some good eating, all on top of breaking this losing streak with my bow...
You are Da Man !!!!! Great job hanging in there. Now we need bone.....all of us)))) Congrats PT, Well deserved !!! Dave
Saw 3 little bucks tonight. All within 20 yards, they were just all 1.5 year olds. Eventually I just might see a doe in range.
