2009 Bow Season thread

[jacksdaddy06]

First off, mods, if this is in the wrong forum please re-locate it, thanks.

I thought that since there seems to be alot of bowhunters on this site, I'd start a thread for the upcoming bow season. Would be interesting to hear how everyone else is doing, what they're seeing or not seeing, anything new that they are trying this year as far as tactics or equipment and of course a place to post the pics of the successful hunts.
I'll start off by saying that I'm not as excited for the opener on Thursday as I usually would be. I have over 1000 acres to hunt and am just not seeing much. I have had 3 trail cameras out in the woods for the last 3 weeks and I'm just not seeing anything to get excited about. Though I love to sit in my treestand and enjoy the quiet and watch the critters, it's a little easier to sit there all day when you think you've got a good chance for some action, I just don't have that feeling this year, at least not yet.
Also this year, I will be hunting exclusivley with my recurve. I normally hunt half the season with my compound and the other half with my recurve, but this year I'm committed to the recurve only.
So lets hear what some of the other bow hunters on MGO will be doing this season, and let's all have a safe and fun hunting season.

:popcorn:

[jcurtis]

Moved to Archery forum.

[jacksdaddy06]

Thanks jcurtis, guess I need to learn to scroll down the forum index, I didn't even know we had an Archery forum:hick:

[jcurtis]

3 more days!

[jacksdaddy06]

Yep, 3 more days!!
I'm starting to feel a little more excited this morning after checking one of my cameras, I had deer at one of my stand sites at all times of the day yesterday and Saturday, so I guess I have my opening day stand picked out.
The down side is I also had pics of coyotes, a grey fox and 2 feral dogs on the other cameras, that kind of scent isn't what I want around my stands.

[jcurtis]

2 feral dogs on the other cameras


Perfect, shoot a hog and a deer and you can make completely home made filet mignon. Take some of the tender loin or back strap and wrap it in your natural bacon and eat like a king!

[jacksdaddy06]

LOL!
I wish it were hogs, I love them tasty critters. These are dogs, 3 of them that I saw chasing deer last winter, and I know of 2 deer for sure that they took down, I found the skeletons this spring. They are wild and have been in my backyard on a couple occasions eyeballing my Bloodhound. Animal control isn't much help because they won't go in the woods to trap them. They have been at 2 of my 3 stand sites, and I'm not happy about it.

[jcurtis]

Hmm perhaps I should learn to read.... :D

[protectionisamust]

I'm pretty darn excited especially with the "cold front" that has moved in. I will be headed north on Friday afternoon so my opening day isn't until Saturday, but I have the week off for vaca so looking forward to relaxing/hunting. I have had my trail camara out and got pics of an 8pt and a 6pt which it good for the area we hunt in the thumb. All the does i've seen have been pretty small this year but you never know what will wonder by. I have a 100gr. thunderhead just waiting for the right one.

But none-the-less, I'm ready and have the stand's hung and waiting!!!!

[jacksdaddy06]

That sounds great! I've hunted some in the thumb area, alot of big bodied deer over there. It's cold and rainy up here today, actually starting to feel like fall now, we had a really late summer, if any at all. Hope all works out well in the thumb, and if it does, WE NEED PICS!! Maybe those would lift my spirits LOL.

[Frankenhippie]

Well, I'm not too excited or too down about the upcoming season. LOL I've stacked the deck against me by working too much and not getting out scouting much at all. My 14yo (soon to be 15) son is looking to get his first with a bow this year. That's been a big motivator for me. He has my best spot right now. I would love to see him knock another deer down. He got his first one last year during gun season on jacksdaddy06's property (thanks bud) and he's hooked now.

For me, I will sit on the ground for the morning hunt in a spot I just found yesterday that looks promising. Then I will head over to the state land that I've taken more deer than I can even remember off of. This will be my first chance to get over there and check it out. For the evening, I will be heading to Ol' Faithful.... a stand I've hunted out in a huge swamp for the last 10 years or more. If I get something back in there, I might not make it out until morning cuz it waaaaaaaaay back in there. LOL But there's RARELY another hunter out there.

That's my Oct 1 plans. the weekend will be spent helping my son arrow a deer.

Good luck everyone and be safe!

[jacksdaddy06]

Welcome Frankenhippie (Mike), who happens to be the best hunting buddy you could ask for. I can't even count how many times we've been out all night tracking and dragging deer together, and we've taken some great deer together. Too bad we live 300 miles apart now, and he has all of our good spots to himself LOL!! Hopefully you and Matthew can make it back up here again for deer season, we'll see if Matthew can make it 2 for 2.
Glad you're on board with us Mike.

[Just A Girl]

Not excited . . glad the season is almost here.
Food plots are looking good . . . no trail cams, plenty of sign.
I was skunked last year w/ the bow. I did keep a journal . . what a way good idea that was . . . at least I have paper to eat!!!

Hope to have tasty stories to tell soon.

[jacksdaddy06]

Just A Girl, I got skunked last year as well with a bow, first time in 20 years.
First year in about 10 seasons that I didn't take a buck either, never saw one in the woods up here last season.
Our plots are starting to show signs of life as well, had alot of rain and cooler temps which helped alot.
Hope this season treats you better, good luck!

[Just A Girl]

Just A Girl, I got skunked last year as well with a bow, first time in 20 years.
First year in about 10 seasons that I didn't take a buck either, never saw one in the woods up here last season.
Our plots are starting to show signs of life as well, had alot of rain and cooler temps which helped alot.
Hope this season treats you better, good luck!

Thanks Jack--Misery does love company.
My fingers are crossed for both of us . . all of us, really!

[topcide]

I'm pumped.

Been a hunter my entire life, but this will be my first season ever bowhunting.
All the summer scouting and such has got me pretty excited, and with the season here this week I can barely sleep.

[karrde]

Not had much luck bow-hunting the last two years.

This year, I'm visiting some land near Alpena that belongs to an old friend. I don't quite know what to expect; but the DNR has issued a lot of doe tags in that area.

Traveling up Friday; we'll see what happens.

[jacksdaddy06]

topcide, that's the kind of excitement I'm missing! If this is your first bowseason I hope it's a good one, I'm sure you'll enjoy it most likely be hooked for life!

Karrde, I drive thru the Alpena area almost every week and there is way more deer over there than in my neck of the woods, I'm sure you'll see something, and hopefully "stick" something.

Good luck!!

[CnA]

Saw a 8 point Thursday morning, but he would not come in closer than 50 yards.

There were about 6 different does all around me. Could of had my choice of them, but I was waiting for the 8 point. Haven't ever gotten a buck with a rack larger than a 6 point with a bow.

When the rain started Friday morning, everything shut down.

Here are a couple of crummy cell phone pics of some of the does. They all came within 10 yards.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x166/CnAPhot/2009%20bowhunt/double1.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x166/CnAPhot/2009%20bowhunt/single.jpg

Two of them side by side and nose to nose eating acorns. What does the baiting ban do for this nose contact Mr. DNR????
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x166/CnAPhot/2009%20bowhunt/nosetonose.jpg

Some porcupine decided to use my tree stand as a toilet.
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x166/CnAPhot/2009%20bowhunt/crap.jpg

[jacksdaddy06]

That's pretty cool!!
Thanks for the pics!! I have only been able to get out for the opener, so I'm looking forward to some more treestand time. I couldn't of passed on a doe, especially hunting with my recurve, eager to get some backstraps in the freezer, you have some patience my friend.
Thanks for sharing your hunt with us, that's what this thread is all about, good luck!!!

[Done Deal]

I had a great night last night.

Passed on a 2.5 year old at less than 15 yards because of short tines and then...after I let him walk I started laughing because his antlers were as wide as his ash. Oh well....at least I knew who owned the scrape line I was hunting.

It got better when a bigger buck came out doing that stiff legged trot but, I wasn't holding my bow. He passed by in the field at maybe 15 yards and stopped under a branch. As it was getting dark, I grabbed the glasses and oh boy....he was a shooter. I put the glasses down and hooked up my release but....a shot was not to be....he walked away and the branch was in the way until he was too far out.

Both bucks walked closeby to a tree about a hundred yards west of me and I was going to put another stand in that yesterday but got home too late to do that. Hopefully today I will be able to.

I love this time of year but....after Saturday when duck season opens here....my priorities will really be divided. I had geese landing in the chopped corn field I was hunting over and did see a few ducks too. I know, I know....ain't no such thing as a record book duck but......I do take my waterfowling pretty seriously too.

[BuckHunter]

My opening 4 days involved just a little bad luck. Friday morning I seen about 4 does and 4 small bucks, 2 of the bucks i was thinking about shooting but the antlers were just a little to small for my tasting. About 9:30 a.m a 6 point or so comes into range, I take a shot and the arrow went right through him, waited about an hour to track, right when I started to track him it started pouring. Found some blood and headed in that direction, track him into a swamp where there is 3 guys by a 5 point that say they got this one at the same time, walked around for 4 hours and never found anything else. Saturday was a wash out due to the full moon, only saw one little 3 point. Sunday saw a small 4 point, when some other hunters decided to pack up and walk out they spooked three does that went blasting by me at 60 yards, about 10 minutes later I see two big bodies coming right at me, first one I could tell was a buck, second one looked like he had a huge body. Ended up to be a nice 6 point and a big 8 point behind him, they stop 7 yards behind my stand, I stand, drawback and turn around, when I turned my hood on my jacket covered half of my face. I could see my peep sight and pin sights, but could not see anything to the left of my sight bracket. I knew I was pointing in the right direction of the 8 point, but there were some small branches that I could have hit. I thought for a second just shoot cause I knew I had to have some part of him in my sights, but I didn't. Mind you this all happened in 10 seconds time. They ended up jotting off behind me and I sat there pissed and with regrets. Hopefully I get another chance at him this year. Good luck to everyone else.

[jcurtis]

I have seen mostly fawns and button bucks. Out of the 12 deer I saw in the field Saturday night only 2 were adult does and neither came close enough for a good shot. I am guessing a lot of the mom's got popped by folks with CDP's or in the early firearm antlerless season.

[Done Deal]

I am guessing a lot of the mom's got popped by folks with CDP's or in the early firearm antlerless season.

Ain't that the truth....

I have been seeing lone doe fawns the last couple of days.

[jacksdaddy06]

Hey Done Deal, if you need somebody to watch your treestands while you're out waterfowlin', I'm your guy:wink:
I've only been able to get out once due to work and the weather, I plan on getting out this afternoon, weather permitting. I've been seeing ALOT of deer moving mid-day while I'm out working, full moon seems to have that affect on them.
Good to hear that some folks are at least seeing deer, I hope to report some sightings soon, all I can report was one grey fox and a smallish bear about 75 yds away.

[Done Deal]

I've been seeing ALOT of deer moving mid-day while I'm out working, full moon seems to have that affect on them.


Yup, and that is exactly why I haven't been going out in the mornings....the deer are out in the fields all night. No sense spooking deer for nothing....

[countryboy3248]

i found some private land to hunt, set my stands and have had some pretty good luck so far.

no shots taken yet, but the deer are def moving past my stand. the problem being that i believe its at night, after dark. the owner has some cams up, and showed me pictures of 4 different 8 points, and a couple smaller. the does are coming out on the other side of the bean field, and the bucks are coming out of a swamp, just not close enough for me to get a shot. ive rattled, and sprayed doe pee into the air. bucks are looking, and smelling, just not coming. same with the bleat. it may get better when rut starts.

[Just A Girl]

So I was out fishing for Blue Gills last night (caught a small basket). Was close to shore casting up near some reeds and lilly pads . . all of a sudden, CRASH CRUNCH CRASH . . a 6 point runs thru a mid sized clearing (running from far to near), into the thick brush past the clearing, is getting closer and closer by the sound of things. He jumps out of the woods/brush, into the lake, is right next to my slip bobber (is up to his shoulders in the lake). Stands there for a few seconds looking at us in the boat . . then took off. I really think he was coming to check me.

I didn't think 6 lb. test was enough to land him. :)
That was cool.

[jacksdaddy06]

Hmmmm, too bad you weren't bowfishing:lol:

[Frankenhippie]

Opening day, I jumped one on my way out of the woods in the morning, mid-day... had one walk about 25 yards away but I had paused to give my back a break and was sitting on the gorund. Couldn't turn without making too much noise. Opening evening, I played a hunch, which I haven't done in years, and went to a new spot I had scouted just days before. I saw 2 that night but couldn't get an arrow through either one.

Saturday was the next day I could get out. Great evening in a tree but... nothing.

Well, my son and I went out Sunday night. It was one of those evenings where everything feels perfect... so perfect that I fell asleep on stand. LOL At about 7p, I had turkey flying up to roost about 20 yards in front of me. I had to give my son the unfortunate news that they weren't legal to shoot until Monday. LOL I can't type his reaction but let's just say he said "it figures". LOL

Haven't been back out but I did see deer moving at 7p last night on my way home from work. Turkeys were out as well. Gonna try to get out sometime during the week yet.

That's my report so far....

[protectionisamust]

Well, Finally back home from Vaca/bowhunting. Nothing really to report. It started off slow only seeing small yearlings and a button buck which I let them all walk. Then like the rest of you, the weather turned pretty crappy for me. It seemed to make the deer "lay low" and not much moving. I did get a look at the 8pt that I have on camera, but he passed by in the thicket 60 yards out with no shot oppertunity.

My nephew saw a 10pt that was only 20 yards out, but could not get a shot on it. He said it came in behind a tree that had fallen and started rubbing a tree for a good 10 min. Then the deer turned and walked back in the direction he came. He could not find a hole thru all the branches to get a shot off.

So to summerize my update, everything I seen except for the 8 pt where very small. besides the 10pt my nephew saw, everything he seen was small. My father reported the same thing, small.

So far, It seems to be getting worse where I'm at. It seems like you cannot find a deer over 110 lbs. 5 years ago, there was large deer everywhere, but it seems with the DNR releasing all these darn doe tags and the early gun season, it has turned hunting really ****** to be blunt. They claim that the deer numbers are still up in the thumb, but I call ********. Sorry to rant, but with what the DNR is doing (atleast where I'm at) seems to be making deer hunting worse. My opinion, they need to only give 1 archery tag for either sex, only 2 doe permits for gun(one for rifle season and one for muzzleloader) and 1 buck tag (I would also like to see them go with a 6pt or better law), Limit the tags so the deer can get bigger. I would also like to start seeing big bucks. I would love to practice QDM, but its hard on only 40 acres and when that spike crosses the road, he doesn't make it to the tree line before the nieghbor shoots him. Again, I believe what the DNR are doing is hurting the whitetail world. Again, this is what I see from where I'm at. It might not be true for you and I say god bless you. Enjoy it.

Anyway, Its a long season and I'm hanging up my bow until Halloween weekend and the weekend after. I will go back when the weather turns cold and the rut it on. Maybe then I will see bigger deer crusing thru.

Good luck to all and may your arrows fly true!!



.

[fr3db3ar]

I haven't seen a lot from the living room this week :D I'll hit the woods harder starting the 15 when I can hunt turkeys too. I really wish they would let us use magnum rimfire for turkeys.

[countryboy3248]

long story short, i had a nice 8 point come in 10 yrds away. he spotted me from 40 yrds, but kept coming in really interested in finding out what i was. i drew back, got him in my sites, and my buddy who was sitting with me said "let em go, hes only a 4". I started to second guess what i counted, let down, and the deer turned its head to reveal my count was dead on, it was an 8 point. i redrew back with this buck looking right at me, got it in my sites, start my finger to the release, and a huge squirrel jumped onto the log next to him, and he took off. ....

whada you do? hopefully he will be back. if not, the swamp im hunting is pretty thick with scrapes and rubs...

[Donbo69]

I am going up this weekend.. Looking forward to spending sometime away from the hustle/bustle..

Cell phone does not work on the property,, nice to be cut off for the weekend.. My Hoyt is ready..

[Done Deal]

I gotta get in a tree.....

But in the AM I am going to be in a layout blind again....darned waterfowl anyway.


AM edit: Well, did see one buck run across the field....he must not of like the 6 guys in layout blinds watching him. Maybe it was all the shooting though...one never knows....

[Skinner 2]

Well I got a double on Sunday morning with my crossbow. A double on coyotes. I called them both in at the same time, shot one, cocked and loaded up the second arrow and then called the second coyote a little closer before shooting it.

Skinner

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v113/skinner2/DSC00258.jpg

[Just A Girl]

I think that coyote thing is cool as heck!!! And impressive!

I am happy to report that there were 2 bucks sparring in the field in front of me (60+ yards) on Monday evening. That was very cool!!

[jacksdaddy06]

Nice shootin' skinner!!

[CnA]

Well I got a double on Sunday morning with my crossbow. A double on coyotes. I called them both in at the same time, shot one, cocked and loaded up the second arrow and then called the second coyote a little closer before shooting it.

Skinner

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v113/skinner2/DSC00258.jpg

My two little Yorkies thank you very much. :thumbup:

[TFin04]

Been passing on does, small bucks, and coyotes for the last 4 days watching an 8 point run around the property. Had a big doe in my sights this morning but let her go. She had a couple fawns and they'd probably be fine but I just decided to hold off.

Tonight is my last night, I'm gonna go whack a doe if I see one.

[Just A Girl]

Tonight is my last night, I'm gonna go whack a doe if I see one.

No, that's Whack A Mole.:razz:

[TFin04]

They both have 4 legs, are furry, and live in the woods. What's the diff? :D

[protectionisamust]

Had a big doe in my sights this morning but let her go. She had a couple fawns and they'd probably be fine but I just decided to hold off.

Tonight is my last night, I'm gonna go whack a doe if I see one.

I do the same thing. I cannot shoot a doe with little one's with her. I always let them go.

Btw, good luck tonight.

When you drop that 8 pt., supply us some pics.

[TFin04]

Saw her again tonight, still didn't do it. Came home empty handed. Lots of local hunting coming up so still plenty of time for meat.

[jcurtis]

Got my first archery deer and my first buck. I probably would have passed on him but he was headed right to the neighbor that was 100 yards down the treeline and I know he would have taken him so I decided it was time to let her fly. 12 yards, perfect broadside shot.

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/jarred_curtis/100_0746.jpg

[hondaonchrome]

nice deer curtis.....:thup:

[Garand]

Nice buck Curtis.

[protectionisamust]

CONGRATS - So...... Whens the BBQ ?



.

[jacksdaddy06]

That's a great first bow kill, or 100th!! Nice job!

[Autumnlovr]

I'm doing things a little differently this year. In previous years, I went up to our place in Oscoda and hunted that for early archery & firearm season. Then, I'd come down to Macomb county & hunt my neighbors farm for muzzleloader & late archery season. This year, I went to Oscoda for the early antlerless firearm season....only saw a couple on the run & a coyote, then came home. I've been hunting the Macomb Cty farm for the early archery season and will be heading up to Oscoda next week. I've been seeing TONS of does/fawns, anywhere from 10 to 30 a night. The past week, the bucks have started showing up. So far, I've seen a small spike with a broken front leg, a tall spike...about 10-12 inches, and a decent 8 point. I did manage to take a doe for my freezer meat...
http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/21912/2376700900048545109S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2376700900048545109ZSsMOL)

But, I'm holding out for the 10-point on the right, the guy on the left is an 8-point. I've been watching the bachelor herd since August. I heard the neighbor on the other side of the farm took "an 8-point, hanging weight @ 220 lbs" last week. So...I still have hope!
http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/42935/2166493990048545109S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2166493990048545109BmFeXx)
Did I ever tell you guys I love my farmer-neighbors who ask me to "get some of those da****ed deer off my crops"?

[jacksdaddy06]

That must be great to have that kind of variety to your hunting, nice job on the doe, wish I could get one to stand still for my recurve!

[jeff52984]

wow you are lucky im sitting here with no place to even hunt this year. And you get choices lol nice pics and good luck this year lets see the pic when you get that 10 point

[Autumnlovr]

It is great to have the variety, but I've been in your situations before. I used to hunt state land and understand what that's like. It only took a lifetime of hard work in order to afford my own land, and also helping my neighbors in their time of need to get the permission to hunt their land. Be a good neighbor, it's well worth the effort.

[Frankenhippie]

So I'm late to updating on my season. well... it's been an interesting week. LOL

First off (and most important), my oldest son shot a 120# doe monday night. This is his first archery kill deer. He spooked her the night before (rookie mistake LOL) but got a second chance on monday night. Hit was farther back than he wanted to hit. After starting blood trailing, we thought we heard something get up and move so we backed out. I went out the next morning and found her not 40 yds from where we stopped trailing. She'd probably been dead the entire time but better safe than sorry. He's very happy, very proud, and VERY hooked. This is his second deer kill in 2 years and he's raring to go for more. LOL Hunting from a tree stand with a bow is a much different experience from sitting in a blind with a gun. The smells, sounds, and sights of the woods all around you. Obviously, I'm a very proud dad. LOL

For me, saturday morning I wound up hunting on the ground and getting a late start on top of that. Didn't get to my spot until about 7:40a. Put a chair under a cedar and sat down. Less than 15 minutes later started a sequence that had me less than 40yds crawling on my hands and knees toward a real nice sized doe, losing her in cover, and then finding myself with a buck feeding toward me 45yds out. I had next to no cover but played it very cool. I had to wait to draw on him when he went behind a tree. 3 steps from the tree, a gust of wind from behind alerted him to my presence and he bolted. I paced off how close he got to me... just under 20yds! LOL

Did I mention that all of this is on state land? LOL My son is sitting in my best spot and still close to home. While tracking his deer, I found some phenominal tracks and sign in the mucky swamp right next to where he's hunting. Now I want my spot back. LOL

With my son tagging his first archery deer, my season could end without any chances and it will be complete. LOL Anything else that comes along will be icing on the cake. It's very satisfying to watch him grow and learn and reflect it back. When he first started going out hunting with me, he would bring his gameboy, ipod, and phone with him... sometimes a book even. This season, the phone comes along on vibrate in his pocket and that's it. In a time when we are competing with video games, tv, and the computer for our kids attention, the woods during hunting season have this kid's attention now. It's an awesome thing. :thumbup:

[jacksdaddy06]

Good mentoring my friend!!
I was happy as hell when you called me to tell me you found the doe, those kinda shots are difficult to track, as we know first hand.
Once again congrats to Matthew, and kudos to you for being a great dad!

[wadevb1]

I turned down this six the first week expecting better. My season has been punctuated between getting my daughter on the bus and her ballet classes. He came through Tuesday morning looking for a doe and a few grunts brough him in. Broadhead through the heart at 28 yards. My father and I just finished putting him in the freezer and a neck roast will be cooking all night in the crock pot.

http://usera.ImageCave.com/wadevb1/six09.bmp.jpg

[Frankenhippie]

Nice buck! I wouldn't have passed on him. LOL Congrats!

[jacksdaddy06]

:yeahthat:

So that's what they look like........................

[Done Deal]

Ok....I gotta quit killing ducks and geese and get in a tree.

The trouble has been, when you have hundreds of birds as a distraction.....it is tough to stay focused on tree sitting.

[pmmedina]

today was my first time out this year. Got out about 3:30pm. First time ever using a climbing stand. Definately alot more work than climbing my ladder stand but this is alot more mobile.

Since it was my first time out every sound I heard I thought was a deer. The squirells were all over the place. They gave me something to look at and kept me intertained for a while.

About 4:45 I heard a bit of noise over my left should. Saw some legs moving through the brush, then saw more, then more, then more. They were moving away from me in a diagnal direction aproximately 60 yards away. About 15 minutes go by and I start hearing more noise from the direction they were headed. Cought a few glimpses but nothing too clear. A few minutes later I can hear them coming closer and closer. They are coming from my left directly towards me. I take this time to stand up and get the ole Bowtech ready. Finally I get a good look at them. The first is a nice sized doe, the others are three fawns. This is already more deer than I had seen all last year. As they enter the trail between us the doe looks up directly at me. Busted! I stand there like a statue with my eyes squinted, so she cant see the whites of my eyes. After about 20 seconds of her trying to figure out what I am she slowly starts making her way away from me. Unfortunately all three fawns are staring at me so I was unable to take a shot. She was slightly quartering away and about 15 yards. Perfect for the taking.

They all finally make their way away from me and I am finally able to take a deep breath. I finally see them again walking in the farmers field about 80 yards in front of me. Much to my surprise there was another doe and fawn with them. In total there were 4 fawns and two does. Kind of glad I didn't take a shot at her. One doe taking care of 4 fawns probably wouldn't be a good thing. So next time I see them one of those fawns are mine........

[TFin04]

I misjudged the distance down a little ravine while in a stand that I've never hunted before and shot over a big 8 point with about an 18" spread on Sat night. Real thick antlers....he was a nice deer. Still fuming pissed about it. :hot: :hot:

Passed on does this morning because I thought I saw him back in the brush but no bucks showed up. Didn't see squat this evening until it was too dark to shoot.

[Rolex Dr.]

i only got to bow hunt one weekend this year so far

I had 2 doe almost run me over while looking for a turkey my uncle shot with his bow.

I did have to test out the new montec G5 broadhead on a limping button buck. I do not normally condone the shooting of little ones but he was hurt and was real real small. I watched him travel the entire length of a decent bean field and he came right to me at about 10 yards

He never put weight on his right front leg the entire time so i figured he would not make it thru the winter, let alone gun season and i wanted to 1 test the broadhead, 2 put meat in freezer 3 was bored to death and stressed out from work and needed to shoot something

at about 10 yards he was almost dead straight on slight quarter to so i could see his left shoulder and side a little

i misplaced the 20 yard pin on him (dang 10 is red the 20 is green and brighter) so i put green on his chest where the neck meets shoulders and touched her off

LOUD smack and he turned to the right to run big big spot of blood behind ribs in front of hip low low on belly so i knew he was hit hard

ran in to woods from open field i heard a loud crash and the big death blow (took about 10 seconds if that)

shot was at 610pm the weekend before halloween so iot was still light till 7ish

got down found arrow covered in blood, dark red lung blood with bubbles, and like 4 drops of blood, hair evidence of hit but no blood trail

i waited for dad and uncle to get there we looked and looked till 10pm that nite no blood, tracks anything the area he went in to is so think i was on deer trails on handa and knees but its wet spongy reedy ground

I was 25 feet from next field but it was too dark and too thick with thorns to continue.

next morning i sat till 9 in same stand re marked from the stand where i last saw him and started again my uncle came from the next field and found him pile up less then 10 feet from where i stopped (DAMN)

his back was to me head under a bush so light did not hit eyes or the white belly , but from field his belly showed like a beacon

oh well he was all nice and cold when we found him at 10ish next morning the arrow hit high on back just behind shoulder (cuz of wrong pin) exited right after last rib complete pass thru. No blood due to 1 high hit could not fill up and come out his back (like a whale blow hole) and the fletching pulled gut out and stopped the lower hole like a plug.

his one lung was pierced and flat, liver was hit, top of heart sac was torn the arrow did its job the guts just plugged him up. Thank goodness not nick on the guts just pulled out

anyway sorry to get long winded the arrow missed spine by 1/4" or he would have been DRT.

oh well me all make a bad shot now and again but thankfully we found him and its all good

he was little, like real little, late born fawn had bum front shoulder and still had trace of spots on his coat he was yote food for sure

[jacksdaddy06]

Rolex, nothing wrong with what you shot, meat is meat.
I had to do the same thing a few years back while hunting behind my old house in Howell. I was hunting an area loaded with scrapes and rubs in early November, I saw a very small deer coming down a hardwood ridge that was in obvious distress, he was about 75 yds away. I radioed my hunting buddy to make sure he hadn't shot one, he hadn't. The deer was unable to walk well, it apparently broke his hip, most likely a car collision. It would walk a few steps, stop, rock back on his hind legs, almost fall to one side, then take a few more steps, it was pitiful. I made the decision to take him if he came within range, well he did, he came right under my stand and I shot him right between the shoulder blades, severing the spine and center punching the heart. Don't get more humane than that. Unfortunatley, upon gutting him, he was infected to the point that he was unfit to eat, looks like one of his stomachs had been ruptured by what ever caused the original injury and he was rotten inside, must have been hell living like that. Anyways, I drug him about 300 yds away near a swamp and let nature take care of it.
On a much happier note, shot a nice 8 point from the same stand about a week later!!

[Frankenhippie]

Update to my season so far....

Since my son took his doe 2 weeks ago, he hasn't really been out. I think he's waiting for firearms season now.

For me, I got out this past weekend. Someone stole my main stand. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: This stand was 10 minutes walking from the nearest road and cable locked to the tree. Only thing left was the cable locks. I have another stand but it's a ladder stand and will stick out too much. I will have no choice but to relocate about 40 yards away to keep an eye on this same area. Really sucks. I really, really, REALLY hate that!

That was saturday evening. Sunday... I got on stand (my son's stand since he wasn't using it LOL) about 10a and sat there until dark. I knew deer were moving thru the area but couldn't pin point when. 3p until dark was almost constant activity but all of it out of shooting range. This stand will be moving for the weekend too. LOL All does but the bucks will be following them now. Watched them come down off the private property, cross the ravine, and then on to state land. About 1.5 hrs later they stated meandering back to the private land. LOL

No time to get out until saturday. Here's hoping for better luck this weekend. :crosshai:

[Done Deal]

My season has been hit and miss....I had to kill ducks when they were here.

Last night I did see three bucks though, the only shooter didn't quite get close enough for me to make a shot.

Maybe tonight....but, I am running out of time.

[jacksdaddy06]

Is anyone seeing much rut activity where they are hunting? I've seen a few bucks traveling with does while driving here in NMI, but around my property I haven't came accross any scrapes yet. I know the bucks are here, got lots of trail cam pics, but most of the time they are still being seen in pairs, not what I'd expect for this time of year. This has been a very warm fall for NMI, last year by this time the temps were only in the 20's and we had several inches of snow, don't know whats up this year.

[protectionisamust]

Is anyone seeing much rut activity where they are hunting? I've seen a few bucks traveling with does while driving here in NMI, but around my property I haven't came accross any scrapes yet. I know the bucks are here, got lots of trail cam pics, but most of the time they are still being seen in pairs, not what I'd expect for this time of year. This has been a very warm fall for NMI, last year by this time the temps were only in the 20's and we had several inches of snow, don't know whats up this year.

Yes, two weeks ago I have a 4 point come by with his nose up a does rearend and would not leave her. Last weekend, my father hit a grunt call and did some rattling and had a 10 point charge in looking for a fight. Unfortunantly it came in behind him and could not get turned around for a shot. I know my place (Huron County) is tore up with scrapes, rubs and buck activity.

[wadevb1]

The rut is on in my area. Seen two bucks running does this morning. Once at daybreak and another at 11:00. Tomorrow will be a full day in the stand.

[jacksdaddy06]

I'm jealous guys.

[MINISFORME]

I turned down this six the first week expecting better. My season has been punctuated between getting my daughter on the bus and her ballet classes. He came through Tuesday morning looking for a doe and a few grunts brough him in. Broadhead through the heart at 28 yards. My father and I just finished putting him in the freezer and a neck roast will be cooking all night in the crock pot.

http://usera.ImageCave.com/wadevb1/six09.bmp.jpg

Nice buck, I would never turn down a buck that nice. Congrats!

Jeff

[halfacop]

Just got back from my Indiana Bow Hunt....It was a tough week for me. I will give you all a quick run down.....

Hunting State Land:

11.06 - Drove down after work. I work Thirds and the drive takes me 4.5 hours. I had been feeling sick for a couple days but figured it was just a cold and would go away. In the stand at 1:30 and sat on a ridge between a corn field and a marshy bottom. Saw a doe working from the ridge to the bottom at last light.

11.07 - Hunted in the AM and PM saw nothing but a Coyote and a deer right at dark (200+ yrds away). Felt like crap all day and decided I better head home to recoup. This had turned into a 'lung thing" and I knew it was not just going to go away. I was planning on hunting all week but knew if I didn't get better I could end up losing the whole season to sickness.....

11.08 / 11.09 - Layed around for the next two days popping meds and feeling down about not hunting.

11.10 - Still feeling sick but not as bad. So I decided I would drive back down. In stand at 1:30. I decided to move a bit further down the ridge to a better choke point. Sat till dark and saw a basket 6 that was really high. I saw another deer behind him way in the bottom but couldn't tell buck or doe.

11.11 (AM) - In the stand Early. I decided to move even further down the ridge to try and cut these deer off before they exited the ridge to the bottom. At roughly 930AM I did a rattle sequence and immediatly see a deer coming around the bend in the bottom headed my way. When he popped up roughly 50 yrds away he was directly down wind. He was a real nice 8. I could not get him to close the deal and he slowly wondered up the opposite ridge. (My dad saw a shooter buck as well just about 150 yrds down the ridge at 1030).

11.11 (PM) - I decided that after seeing all these deer coming from or going to the bottom that that was where I needed to be. So I hiked down into the bottom where the 8 point came from and found a good tree to climb. I was in the stand at 2pm. For the next 2 hours I did some rattling and junk, had conversations with friends and family via text messaging (how sad is that). However - as I was texting my buddy, who was in a tree stand in Missouri, I heard a Snort Wheeze up the hill. So I picked up my rattle bag and gave it a quick work over with a couple grunts. I put everything away and waited to see what would happen.

Roughly 10 minutes go by and I look up to see this 6 coming down the trail looking around. At roughly 37 yrds I put the pin on him and sent one down range. He ran 30 yrds and I stopped him with a loud grunt. He stood there looking around trying to figure out what just happened and then started digging for traction. He went up hill (SWEET) 20 yrds and went down for the count!

MY FIRST EVER OUT OF STATE BUCK!

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/halfacop/DSCF4008.jpg

He's no monster by any means. However - I spent a grand total of 18 hours driving, 1400+ miles, $150 for the tag and hours of stand time feeling like crap. I am very happy with my performance of figuiring out the area, making the right moves to the right areas and doing it slowly but decisively to get into the position to harvest a buck......

[TRT]

This is long, but I figure who can appreciate the happenings and feelings for a new hunter but you guys.

--------------

I've wanted to get out for deer for a few years now, and only this year did I make the right friends. Two new buddies have/have access to private land rife with deer.

I tried bow hunting for the first time early in the season and it was unmitigated disaster. Between missing twice, injuring my rotator cuff, and my doc telling me that I needed to decide between bowhunting and avoiding surgery because of previous injuries, I found using a high poundage bow wasn't for me.

Thankfully MIDNR is trialing crossbows during bow season in zone 3. Being a shooter first, and hunter second, I jumped on this like The View hosts on cheesecake.

There is a bottle neck for the path the deer take every morning on this particular piece of property, at a fork in the road that is bordered by two ponds. I didn't need my fancy-schmancy tree stand I'd used the evening before. I plopped myself into a camp chair at the base of a pine tree about 40 yards from where we expected the deer to come out of the woods, and rested the crossbow on a low limb in front of me.

Damn if they didn't scare me 30 min after first light. I was sitting there intently watching some movement on the other side of the road where we expected them to come out, and then WTFHOLYSH*&$#%* all of the sudden there were three standing 10 feet to my right sniffing around headed toward the road.

The wind had to have been perfect for me, because some how I was able to get the safety off on the crossbow and draw a bead on the biggest one without them scenting or spooking. The sauntered out into the road, and by the time I got the sights lined up, my target was 25 yards from me walking, slightly quartered away.

She took off like a bat out of hell toward a pine row, and I sat there resisting the urge to go crashing through the woods looking for her right away. It was also a period of torture, because right after I took the shot I heard my arrow clanking against trees. I couldn't shake the sickening thought that I'd missed a third time, this time with a crossbow no less.

As soon as we were all satisfied the morning hunt was over, I went over to try and find my arrow. Standing where I thought (hoped, prayed) I'd connected with her, I could see my orange fletchings about 5 feet above the ground through the branches. My heart sunk again, it looked like the arrow had stuck in a tree trunk and hit nothing but air.

It was a one in a million happening, as my arrow wasn't impaled in a tree. It appears that after the shot, it had lofted up and come to rest in the spindly out-stretched fingers of a tree branch, as if someone had placed it there by hand. Not only that, it was covered in blood!

I did a little happy dance, and ran back to the now confirmed point of contact to try my hand at tracking for the first time.

Apparently, I'm pretty good at picking out tiny spots of blood on grass.

I found the first few small spots a solid 25 yards from the point of contact, and from there it was easy tracking with four sets of eyes, and in the later stages, what looked like a murder scene.

She ran through some grass, and then a pine row, down a steep hill, and then into a swamp with dense cat tails. By the time she got to the swamp there were big swathes and splashes of blood on the broad leaves of the cat tails.

After following a zig-zag trail for ~1/8th of a mile, we found her half hidden under a fallen tree:

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm104/10RingTao/deer/IMG00340.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm104/10RingTao/deer/Photo0087.jpg

The shot went through and through, entering the left side ribs, hitting either the inferior vena cava or hepatic veins and the liver while going through the diaphram, and exiting the low ribs on the right side.

My first big game harvest, my first deer.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm104/10RingTao/deer/DSCF2084.jpg

[wadevb1]

Congratulations on a fine doe and tracking job. The forensic pathology report was good too.

[TRT]

Congratulations on a fine doe and tracking job. The forensic pathology report was good too.

Thanks. Cadaver lab in school helped, and considering "we're all just mammals, and we do it like they do on the discovery channel" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e13RGx1zVV0&feature=related) its easy to figure out where everything is in a deer.

[TFin04]

Nice crossbow. ;)

Good job dude.