grampy

Out to 40ish, my max hunting distance for either. I too shoot my compound as well if not better than my crossbow. From Saturday morning, I was alternating hunts between the two. Will try for a doe with the compound this weekend.

The collars are the only reason I don't use Rage heads. I know tons of hunters kill tons of deer with em. But.....I'd be the one where something would go wrong no doubt! Curmudgeon seems to have my luck.

Way to go! Looking forward to pic's and the story! Also the breakdown of the shot and recovery.

Closer to two weeks behind here, from what I observed from hunting both West and East over the last couple weeks. Kinda crazy. But even locally, there can be and is a distinct difference even just miles away from what one hunter and another observes. To your wind question Matt, I try to hunt the best wind possible ANY time I set up. Especially from the ground. That being said, the buck I shot on Sunday, came to within five feet, from directly behind me, and downwind!

That sucks! Hope you heal up in time to get out with a firearm.

Wow! That would be a top end buck in these parts!!! Best of luck to ya out there!

Happy Birthday sir!

My experience has been to give liver - gut shots a minimum 4 to 6 hours. You will find it in it's first bed. If bumped too early, those holes plug up and not much blood reaches the ground. Making tracking much more difficult. Best of luck!

Did you hear any sort of impact noise before the arrow hit the tree? Bolt stuck in the tree at about the height of her elbow, tells me perhaps you shaved off some belly hair? Was the hair you found all white?Including the tips? If you hit below the spine, you would have heard two separate impacts. And you'd definitely have some fat residue on the arrow. If she just got a close shave, she will be fine. I don't use Rage heads, so can't help you on them. But do use a two blade mechanical head. The one side could have opened to shave hair. But just the chisel tip is enough to shave hair on a close hit without deploying the blades.

Congrats and awesome buck!!! Now......quickly get him over to the harvest thread for the story! Before they run us off this thread!!!

There is no deer that is "better" than another deer. Every one of them is a gift to be proud of, and admired. Shoot what what you like. Like what you shoot. Post a pic of that buck! I for one would love to see it! And congratulations!

Way to go Dan! Can hardly wait for the awesome pic's!!

I hunted two rut funnel set up's on two different properties last Saturday, and saw zero deer. I thought about where to go Sunday morning, and decided to hunt where the doe were feeding, on an oak ridge. Saw three bucks in the first hour, and killed one of them. They were all just cruising the area hoping to find a doe that would be receptive of their advances. None were. But the bucks are there waiting!

All the hunters who have yet to shoot a buck, have perhaps the best weekend of the season coming up! The "Magic Day" of November 10th along with the 5 days before and after. They will be the days when bucks are just blindly following a doe. Standing oblivious in the open. Crossing roads without looking. Following a doe scent trail with nose to the ground, not bothering to even look around. The normally nocternal ghost of the woods, will be up on his feet and MOVING, during broad daylight, at this time in November!! The younger bucks will be running themselves crazy, trying to find love, without getting beat up by a bigger buck. Get out and get em !! This is as good as it gets now!! Sending good luck! As that is all the majority of you guys need to close the deal! You have what it takes.

Hilltowns of 4H. The bucks were up and moving over the weekend. But the majority of doe are not ready yet. The bucks will come close to them, but the doe are not interested "YET"!! Rubs and scrapes are at their highest point, and seem to be everywhere. These next few days leading up to the 'magic' day of November 10th, and the few days after, will be the real deal! Get out as often, and for as long as you can! With the colder, and clear weather coming, this years rutting action looks to just explode!! This will be the best time to catch a lovesick mature buck out in the open. Also warn your families, that car - deer accidents will be at the highest point as well.

These animals never cease to amaze me with their toughness. I wonder how he got such an injury? Perhaps sparring with another buck?? Perhaps running into a broken pine tree stick, while avoiding danger?? We'll never know for sure. But he sure is a magnificent buck!!

Shot my buck yesterday from the ground. Crossman 370 Sniper crossbow. Two blade 100gr older style slick trick. 20 yard shot. Entry... Exit.. Plenty of blood from the hit sight to 50 yards where he dropped. I think if you punch through both lungs, with most any broadhead, you'll have a short, good blood trial most times. I have made other shots of one lung, high, low, forward and back, that did not bleed as much. And went much farther for recovery. I really think shot placement is more important than what broadhead you use. And will be the first to say, I don't always make the perfect shot. Even within my 30-35 yard limit, with bow or crossbow.

Shoot as many coyotes, as often as you can! There should be a year round open season on them! They certainly are not an endangered species! SSS... 24 - 7 365. Not too often, do you see a bunch of deer living on a property with lots of coyotes.

Bump. Posted story in crossbow harvest thread. Thanks to all, for the well wishes!

Had a great hunt yesterday! Saturday morning, I decided to hunt a rut travel spot with my compound at the lake property. Saw zero deer. In the afternoon went to the farm property, in another rut pinch point and saw zero deer. Figured in this area, the majority of doe were not ready, but the bucks are ready to go! Figured I'd go where the doe were feeding, to perhaps catch a buck lurking nearby? So decided to hunt an oak ridge Sunday morning with crossbow and if need be with the compound in the afternoon. (I like to alternate between the two) Got in nice and quiet, to a natural ground blind, built on a bench about three quarters of the way up the ridge. Not long after first light I see a buck below me making his way up! Just cruising, he came to within a few yards, but was just a six point year old buck, so let him go. A short time after he went by, I saw another year old buck coming down from above. He also got a pass at 10 yards or so. So now I'm thinking I made the right setup choice! Cool! At 6:30 I hear the shuffling of leaves behind me (my buck making a scrape) but glancing over my left shoulder, didn't see anything (he was on the lip of the bench, had I looked over my right shoulder I'd have seen him) But just thought it was one of the many squirrels running around. A couple minutes later, I again heard leaves crunching and CLOSE! Glancing to the left at probably five FEET, was a buck! He immediately stopped as he caught my scent, stomped a couple of times, blew and took a couple short leaps behind me. I slowly turned, and saw him staring at me and doing the head bob at twenty yards. I decided I wanted him! Not the best buck on the property, but he looked awesome to me at the moment! So I got the crossbow up to my shoulder, slowly turned 180 degrees around the tree, and he just stood there! I found him immediately in the scope, lined up the shot, and squeezed the trigger, seeing the lighted nock disappear right where I aimed!!! He ran up the ridge and as he got to the pines, I thought I saw him stagger. That's where I found him later 50 yards or so away. Giving him a while before going to look, two doe show up and start gorging on acorns!! They kept me entertained for over an hour as I waited. Coming within 10 yards many times! All in all it was just a perfect morning hunt! I'm very happy to have this buck! A solid two year old for this area. Got a hunting memory I'll always remember. And some tasty meat in the freezer. Now I will concentrate on possibly shooting a doe for some elderly folks I know. And then looking for at least a three year old buck during gun season. Also I was texting with moog during all this. Sharing my hunt with him, as he has shared so much with me. With hunting memories of WNY. Also heard an owl sounding off as I was going in. And thought immediately of turkeyfeathers and his brother Lee. I gave me a good warm feeling, and I just knew it was going to be a great morning! Sorry for the long post.

Love it when a plan comes together! Buck Down! A solid two year old for here. Passed on two smaller ones before this one came in to 10 feet from the ground. Shot taken at 20 yards. Will post story later in the harvest thread.

In this area right now, the majority of the doe are not ready yet. But the bucks are chomping at the bit to go! My thinking this morning, is to try a known doe feeding area. And hope to have a buck or two checking out the ladies. My two pinch point rut stands, from different properties, were a bust yesterday. Will try them again next weekend.

Good luck to those heading out! Since my two rut stands produced zero deer sightings yesterday. I'm going to the oak ridge stand this morning.

We will have to meet up then! And maybe by then, I'll see a deer to talk about!

Congratulations to all who got it done today!!!! Except for a short break, spent all day in the woods hunting on two properties. And saw no deer! Back at it again tomorrow. Can only get better!