dwallace

I would have been torn to pass on that 3 year old under the stand but the best time of season is ahead of us! I had a unique experience last night. It was raining hard so I decided to get out of my stand early because I was soaked. I get to the field edge and in the clover is 2 BIG bucks eating about 70 yards away to my left. I look to my right and about 50-80 yards away 2 smaller bucks are walking along the field edge right to me. I stepped back behind some golden rods and kneeled down and got the bow ready. These bucks came within 10 feet from me. Never saw nor smelled me. They were a 4 pt and a 6 point, maybe 110 pounds. I could've had either one but I passed on them. I have never been that close to a buck and had that experience in 25 years of hunting. It was awesome, well worth it. My heart was pumping out of my chest. As for the big boys, they just stayed out in the field of course too far for a shot. I ended up walking back into the woods and around the other side of field so I didn't spoke them. Good luck this season to everyone!

I would have been torn to pass on that 3 year old under the stand but the best time of season is ahead of us! I had a unique experience last night. It was raining hard so I decided to get out of my stand early because I was soaked. I get to the field edge and in the clover is 2 BIG bucks eating about 70 yards away to my left. I look to my right and about 50-80 yards away 2 smaller bucks are walking along the field edge right to me. I stepped back behind some golden rods and kneeled down and got the bow ready. These bucks came within 10 feet from me. Never saw nor smelled me. They were a 4 pt and a 6 point, maybe 110 pounds. I could've had either one but I passed on them. I have never been that close to a buck and had that experience in 25 years of hunting. It was awesome, well worth it. My heart was pumping out of my chest. As for the big boys, they just stayed out in the field of course too far for a shot. I ended up walking back into the woods and around the other side of field so I didn't spoke them. Good luck this season to everyone!

Nice buck! Congrats!

Hello everyone, Got this nice 5 pt on Thursday morning. He dressed out at 162 pounds. Definitely an older deer, looks like his rack was starting to re-gress. Double lunged him with the Rage Hypodermic and he still ran over 150 yards. What a blood trail after about 60 yards after arrow impact. Looked like someone took a can of red spray paint to the woods. Man these animals are tough! I respect these animals tremendously. Good luck to all. Hope you all have some good luck this hunting season! Dave

Getting caught up on lawn work and the honey do list. That way after this franken-strom passes through, hunting time it is! It will be good hunting for the next 3 weeks starting right about next Friday. The weather is going to stay cold, too.Those deer are going to sit tight this week with all this rain and heavy winds coming. Next weekend should be hot. Bucks I am sure will be running those Does around!

Nice buck! Congrats!

I use the the doe fawn call. It works awesome and have brought in numerous adult does and bucks with it. It's also smaller so it fits nicely in your jacket.

The calls are bringing them in so I think they are at least thinking about it! Cold nights are helping! Starting to see more sign. For the rcord, those buck bombs are raunchy. They work good but man the smell is nasty. I got some on my hunting glove and somehow when I put my face cover on it got on it. Damn did that stink!

I also love when you see air bubbles in the blood trail! I do hate those green eyes around you at night though. I definitely prefer early morning based on that!

I shoot the regular 2 blade and love them. I shot a 6 pt on Saturday and the entry hole was good size but the exit hole was like the size of a baseball. I did loose one deer shooting them but I made a bad shot in the guts. More my fault. I will switch over to the chisel tip for next year!

Congrats on your first bow buck. My first was a smaller 8 point also. It's good to get it out of your system. Savor the moment, a buck with the bow is a great accomplishment!!

Congrats!

He's the size of a cow! I think Mad cow disease got him. What a waste! Hopefully he bred one doe to keep those genes out there!

Hi everyone, It's me again. I was able to reconcile myself this morning from my lost buck earlier this week. After about 14 hrs of tracking the buck I hit on Wednesday, I decided to give up last night. You guys all know that story. Well, I decided to hunt behind my house in a little patch of woods this morning. It paid off. I had this decent 6 pt come in about 9am and he gave me a 15 yard broadside shot. I called him in with a bleat can. He was walking off at about 50 yards so I tipped the bleat can and he came a running. Gotta love those cold mornings!! I smoked him. I hit both lungs and heart. He went about 30 yards and crashed. I am so happy. I feel better. He's not as big as the one I lost but I am happy and he will be good this winter! See pics! Also Thank you to everyone for your post this week and ideas to help me. It was appreciated! Take care! Dave

Thx for the post! After loosing my deer this week. I am all over it! Good luck hunting. Later! Dave

Yeah according to the guy who called me from deer search, he had to license his dog for tracking. Probably just another money maker for the state! Went back out and looked last night with a buddy. Did complete opposite direction with my circles, nothing. No crows, nasty smells or nothing! I am wondering if somehow this deer is still alive. It would be hard to imagine that, especially after finding pieces of his intestine.What sucks is I lost a nice buck and that bothers the heck out of me and also probably ruined my hunting land for at least a week or so. All our scent marching thru the woods like soldiers. Shoot, I'd be lucky to see a deer in a week. Going to go hunt with my bro on his land Saturday morning. Later guys! Dave

Yeah Deer search does have to call the Dec and inform them they are tracking a deer with the dogs. That way if someone calls the Dec stating dogs are chasing deer, the incident is recorded beforehand. They will need your back tag # and a bunch of info. The guy was cool and wished he could help but just didn't think his dog was ready. I did learn one thing though. I should have never pushed this deer the night I shot him. I should've backed out and waited till the next morning. I gave him 5 hrs and thought that would be good but it wasn't. Especially with gut shot. You wait 8-12 hrs. Now I know. I was worried about the coyotes finding him. One thing, I did find yesterday was 2 button buck carcasses in 2 different spots. Cleaned right down to the bone. Damn coyotes! I am going to go to town on those coyotes during and after deer season. There are way too many in my area. Thx again guys! Send pics and stories! Good luck!

Hi guys, Thx for all the tips! I didn't find him. I looked ALL day today up into 6:30 this evening. I must have walked 10 miles. I did circles from last blood and kepted making my circles bigger. I checked all water sources, thickets imaginable. I went easily 3/4 of mile from my last blood with my circles. I have no clue where that buck went. Ghost deer I guess. I did talk to Deer Search this morning and the gentleman for my area stated his dog was only 6 months old and might not be fully trained to track just yet. So I never got any help from the dogs. That would've helped me! I am bummed out big time. I don't go to the woods to just kill a nice deer like that and leave it. I hate that I couldn't find it! I tried my best and it's bugging the crap out of me that I lost that deer. I don't even feel like hunting anymore this year. I can't believe I hit guts. I shot my bow tonight and of course all 3 shots within the super kill on my target. Good luck to all this season. Thx again for all your suggestions! Dave

Thank you guys for all the info. I am going to call Deer Search this morning. Hopefully I can find this bad boy. At least it was a cold night! Good luck hunting to all and don't do what I did !!!!

Had 3 bucks come in tonight. I ended up making a bad gut shot on the biggest one. A nice 8 point. I waited 4 hrs and we just got back from tracking it. Never found it and lost blood after about 200 yards. Never laid down either! Did find a 10" long piece of his intestine on the ground. Yikes. I am sick to my stomach over this. I don't like making bad shots and then not finding them. It's only happened twice to me. A branch deflected my arrow and my arrow went low and towards the back of the rib cage. I am so disgusted! Don't even want to hunt anymore this year! I will try to go out in the morning with daylight but the odds don't look good! Dave

Tell me about it! A lot of season left. Just remember, take these extra 2 weeks as a bonus. Last year we were still getting ready at this time! Good luck if/when you get out there. Dave

Good luck everyone! Be safe, keep your feet dry!!!

Hi!It's nice to see an 8F'r here also. I got the deer in Walworth. I hunt in Clyde on my brother's farm also. Good luck this weekend!

The taxidermist says in the low 130's. I am getting it officially scored as soon as the 6 week drying period is up. Good luck this weekend!

Good luck guys! Stay safe and keep your feet dry!!!!