phade

The real authority on this will be the Michigan hunters who have the buck poles....those bucks are strung up by the neck, not the legs, in almost all of them. Seena few poles with a couple by the legs; however, in large. The ones with a 100 bucks on it are strung by the neck.

I think we should modify this thread as it is one of the two major ones during the season. Another site has the deer lineup - ie the only post in the thread is the pick of the buck. No comments allowed. I like that approach...you can look at all the bucks, does, etc. without needing to scan through the BS.

People are freaking testy on this site for some reason. I mean, way more than normal. Getting hung up on a causal and "general" phrase and insinuating late shooting? I just don't get it, really.

Nice, I bought the bridge kit on AT, and it makes a big difference when needing to spin/twist. I don't think it reduces comfort much at all, and you can twist pretty much the same as if in a TS. I spent $30 on it, but you can probably piece it together for $15 or so. One thing that's annoying me is the platform options..I have tried a variety of screw ins and I'm getting "squeaks" often when having to move. Tried in with my Alpas and some lace up boots. I haven't been able to find Ameristep ratchet steps for a decent price yet, since they are like gold being out of production. Climb paws look nice, but awkward to carry. It's not bad, but annoying sometimes. Comfy as can be, though, for sure. You'll be south of me a bit...good luck. Lots of good bucks down that way. Going solo or with others? Some big country down there.

I have bought some mineral licks for use in Ohio and also Virginia where it is/was legal. A good mineral lick is a great way to get pics during the summer. But, being illegal for use here doesn't mean illegal for sale. Immoral? Maybe, but then there are legit uses to a very small degree. It's on the buyer, not the seller.

If it is hard to get, someone has to be able to trade it.

You spent way too much time calculating that info. Probably could have shot a deer instead in that time. That's all I'm saying. Some do...and some can't. No wrong or right for everyone.

BTW how is the GW working out for you? Haven't been able to get out in it yet beside practicing in the yard a bit. Plan on doing some sits in Ohio with it.

Might keep you re-upping the renal agreement longer, eh?

Spent 7 days in my backyard when I got it from Cabelas early last month...great cam. Would certainly keep it, but I have enough cams, and I'm trying to fund some hunting clothes purchases for my FIL who I am taking on an out of state hunt next month. Cam works perfect and I have all of the original paperwork and packaging. $130 tyd CO US.

He is pretty young, the angle of his beams looks like he could be 2.5 even...going to be a stud. That scrape is going to be big going by how far off that first buck peed from the bare ground...bet it gets to truck hood size.

This is what I use. The first year model (I think it is in its third year of production) had some major quality control issues. Second and third year models are top-notch for the money and best overall value IMO. Next would be Redfield, but not ARC. Arc is not huge in most places here, but there's a few spots hilly enough that I range it to make me feel better, ha.

What is the field? Is it open? Does it have cover enough to allow deer to travel without concern of putting themselves in danger? If that answer is no, then it's likely not a spot with significant sign posting going on during shooting hours. There's a general belief that 85-90% of scrape activity is nighttime...while that may be true to a degree...it's a misleading stat. Find the community or primary scrape in cover, and you'll have daytime visits. You'd have to get real lucky or be hunting a very unpressured land to have a buck visit a scrape on the edge of a green field during hunting hours. Not saying it is impossible, but not exactly the high odds I am looking for. If there are extenuating circumstances, such as that field being THE food source, or a standing corn field...then that changes things. Think about it...if you were a mature buck, would you make yourself vulnerable in such a spot during daylight? If this is slightly in the woods...you mentioned a foot inside it...is there a perpendicular trail to the main one, or one that runs along the edge of the woods (parallelling the field)? For the most part, mature bucks are not going to be taking the same exact travel paths as the does/young bucks at this time of year. You should see a faint trail in that area...find it and think about where it comes from, and why it is there.

You'd think it was like August or early September based on the agitation level of the forum right now...I hope people realize it is hunting season NOW...

Novel idea...possible to talk to neighbors to ask for permission to cross their land? Might make entry easier.

That's a heck of a "behind the house" stand...

No worries. I'd say my average distance between shot and where they drop with a bow is 50 yards, which in cover, might as well be a mile sometimes. The ones that stretch out to 75-100 yards make me nervous real fast...makes me question what I saw at impact, what the shot sequence was, did I hit something on the way...etc. Most times, it's just a deer being a deer with an arrow ran through it...some of the ground they cover is amazing when they are a dead deer running. But, that's an overall average. I've had two DRT in my time...both required another arrow. I've had a few make it as short as 20-25 yards, but never had one let me put one through and it just stood there. I know it happens, but not for me yet. Interestingly, the ones where I get the heart seem to be the furthest track jobs on a "good shot"...not talking a poor hit.

While that is a fantastic explanation...DRT in bow and gun are two different things...get my drift? DRT with a bow, and you didn't blow through the lungs/heart and probably need a second arrow. Haven't seen many DRT with a classic broadhead through double lung...has anyone? Big difference between doing that...and sending a 2k FPS piece of death metal through the shoulders. Blood trails are a part of bowhunting. No way to escape it. Embrace it...and become the best one can be with the shooting AND tracking.

Expensive, but worth it. Unique deer...with that much white, impressive he made it through one hunting season with bone on his head.

I don't want to dissuade you because I can't see the exact spot, but if the scrape is on the edge of fields, and there is no real cover...you may be p!ss!ng in the wind. Most scrapes on the edge of fields are going to be nighttime visits. If there are indeed edge scrapes...there's a primary or community scrape somewhere...find it and hunt that. Chances are that is closer to the bed...and that's where you want to be. Unless that field offers cover....you may want to look more.

Not all scrapes are equal. Primary or community scrapes are going to be visited by multiple bucks and often are in places where cover allows daytime visits.

You ever set up cams on interior primary scrapes? Pretty neat to see that daytime scrape action.

Scrape hunting is a subset of hunting imo...sort of like those who target beds, or hunt only from the ground. Lots ot debate and style in the technique. J-hook method has merit. In general, I look for lightly worn paths down wind of the predominant wind direction at the scrape. If I can peg the general bedding area, then you know that much more, and you'll feel confident that you are on the money. Sometimes sets are 10 yards off, but more times I am set up 20-40 yards, and as far as 50-60 off if I believe the lightly worn path is that buck's traffic pattern to scent check the area. I would hunt it with a weather front has come in and forced bucks to bed, or bed longer than normal with a heavy rain/and or wind. I tend to see better daytime scrape action in misty weather, or rain, or right after a rain. It's arguable, but some believe that they are more likely to hit the scrape then as it needs refreshing. This is that situation where when you wake up, the rain is so noisy on the roof, you hit the alarm, and roll over...NOT. You should get up, get set, and tough out the rain until it stops...and that's when those bucks will move in. I need to take a leap of faith in that this scrape is in the interior...and that you have a primary or community scrape area on your hands. Are there food sources in the immediate area? Apples? Acorns? Paired with nearby bedding? If so, that's a home run set for daytime activity. Not all scrapes are created equal. Shoot what makes you happy...but don't be afraid to pass up a 1.5 here. You could have a younger buck in a satelite bed hitting that scrape earlier than the mature buck in the area who visits it.

Archery relies on blood loss via cut, not trauma like guns. Blood trails are the norm for archery...how heavy depends...and sometimes it's not on the shooter. Plugged holes, etc. can really make one worried.

Only had two issues that I can remember. One I physically saw them and had to shoo them away. The other were two packs communicating to one another from different but closing positions. Ugh. Not so much a real danger (although that's arguable), but just makes the hair on your neck stand up and work a little faster.