October 29th - I sat the South stand tonight, and entered the stand at 2:30 pm. The weather was
sunny, 44 degrees, with a Southwest wind.
4:30 - An 8 pointer with about a 13 inch inside spread came in. He seemed very timid, walked
within 15 yards, then continued on into the hardwoods.
4:55 - The same 8 pointer returned from the North. He must not have found what he was
looking for. He seemed a little more comfortable now and browsed through the leaves for a
while.
5:10 - My 9 pointer came in from the slash behind me. He came right in, and this time he was
dominant over the 8 pointer. They must have settled their ranking since the last time I saw the
two of them together. They pushed their antlers together quite a few times, never anything hard,
and were more just playing.
5:20 - There was another deer coming in from the slash, and the 9 pointer went right out in the
slash to check it out. Five minutes later he returned with another deer. It was getting dark now,
but I could tell that the new deer wasn't a bigger buck. I believe it was the lone fawn that
normally ends up showing itself. It eventually got dark and I left the stand at 5:45.
sunny, 44 degrees, with a Southwest wind.
4:30 - An 8 pointer with about a 13 inch inside spread came in. He seemed very timid, walked
within 15 yards, then continued on into the hardwoods.
4:55 - The same 8 pointer returned from the North. He must not have found what he was
looking for. He seemed a little more comfortable now and browsed through the leaves for a
while.
5:10 - My 9 pointer came in from the slash behind me. He came right in, and this time he was
dominant over the 8 pointer. They must have settled their ranking since the last time I saw the
two of them together. They pushed their antlers together quite a few times, never anything hard,
and were more just playing.
5:20 - There was another deer coming in from the slash, and the 9 pointer went right out in the
slash to check it out. Five minutes later he returned with another deer. It was getting dark now,
but I could tell that the new deer wasn't a bigger buck. I believe it was the lone fawn that
normally ends up showing itself. It eventually got dark and I left the stand at 5:45.
The following is my Personal Hunting Log, along with a few entries of my friends on their
successful nights.
I hunt using many methods, including scrape hunting, rattling, calling, trail hunting, and baiting
(legal again in Northern Wisconsin).
*Please Note* that if I mention that the deer were hit in the paunch, that this doesn't mean that
these deer were gut shot! Any experienced hunter knows that sometimes you're not presented with
a broadside shot, and due to the angle of the shot you must pass through the paunch to get to the
vitals!
I personally know of no deer that I, or my friends, have shot this year that were not harvested! We
do not take a shot if there isn't a kill shot presented.
We can all make bad shots, please strive not to take a bad shot! This is what the Anti-hunters are
looking for and talking about!
September 20th- I had a chance to get out in the woods and sit a stand I placed yesterday. The
stand sits over a trail that skirts the edge of a wet swamp, but through the swamp it connects to
some dry land and islands. If a deer comes out of the swamp, they have the choice of heading
down the trail that skirts the swamp, or heading up a fairly steep hill that leads to an open grass
field. The trail that skirts the swamp is at the bottom of a long hill, and the trail stays at the
bottom for a good ways.
I entered the stand at 3:45 pm.
5:00- First deer came in from the swamp and was a 10" wide fork horn. He meandered around
for 10 minutes, then headed down the trail that skirts the swamp.
5:45- 2 fawns entered from the swamp, browsed for a bit on the swamp edge, and left after
about 15 minutes when the fork horn came back. He chased the fawns down the trail and
disappeared.
6:45- A lone doe came in from where the buck and fawns ran off to, possibly the fawns mother.
She worked around me for about 20 minutes, and as it was starting to get dark she showed alot
of attention towards the trail she came in on. She was obviously hearing something coming in,
yet I could see or hear nothing. She eventually spooked out of there, and nothing presented itself
to me as it got dark. I left the stand at dark.
September 23rd- I sat the same stand as I did on the 20th. The weather was 55 degrees and was
drizzling rain all day long. The winds picked up quite strong in the afternoon, and I knew it
wasn't very good hunting weather, but wanted to get out in the stand.
I entered the stand at 4:00 pm. and never saw anything except a blue jay and a couple of
squirrels. Oh well, still better than work!
September 24th- Still sitting the same stand. Weather cleared off and warmed up to the mid 60's
with light wind. Entered stand at 4:15 pm.
6:15- A smaller doe came through browsing her way along the swamp, and walked off down the
trail.
6:35- A 5 pointer and a 3 pointer came in together. They worked around my stand, but stayed
within sight of me for about 15 minutes. I was hearing what I thought was a squirrel behind my
tree, but I couldn't see the darned thing for 3 minutes. When I turned my head back to look at
the 2 other bucks, there stood a decent 8 pointer in the middle of the trail. Unfortunately it was
him that I was hearing behind me, and he caught me turning my head (BUSTED). We were in a
dead stare for all of 1 second, when the 8 pointer ran off taking the other 2 bucks with him.
The 3 pointer returned about ten minutes later, as if he didn't know why he was scared out of
there in the first place. It got dark shortly thereafter. I left the stand and walked into a doe with
2 fawns on the way back to the truck
September 25th- Well, I had some time this afternoon, so I decided to try hunting a spot I
hunted last year - South of town. It is the location that last year I passed on a 14 inch wide 8
pointer during a pretty steady rain, and eventually got to see the 8 pointer mount a doe.
I am going to use my Tree Lounger climbing stand, and need to get out there a little earlier to
allow me to climb. I had climbed the tree and was in hunting position by 4:10 pm.
6:25 - First deer in was a 15" wide 9 pointer. He had a typical 8 point rack with a kicker tine on
his G3. Six inch G2's, and five inch G3's, with about 2 inch brow tines. I had plenty of chances
to take the buck, but decided it was a little too early in the season to take a buck of this caliber.
Instead I just chose to watch him circle around my stand, stand directly underneath me checking
me out, and feeding all the while.
6:40 - A 7" spike buck entered from behind me, and met up with the 9 pointer. They seemed to
know one another, although the 9 pointer was definitely dominant over the spike.
6:55 - A loud crash of brush, and what sounded like a log breaking occurred in the distance, and
that spooked the 2 bucks a bit. They ran off around 40 yards away and kept their attention on
where the noise came from. They eventually worked their way back to within 20 yards of me. In
a minute or two a fawn entered, and I think he knocked over things and broke every small limb
as he came in. Boy he was noisy. He came right up to the rear end of the 9 pointer, sniffed, and
the 9 pointer just turned his head towards the fawn and gave him a sniff. Kind of strange for a
larger buck to even tolerate what the fawn did. He then must have made a little grunt, because
the fawn shunned a bit and backed off. The 9 pointer eventually walked off, taking the spike
with him.
7:05 - The fawn's mother came in and joined her fawn. They browsed a bit and darkness settled
in around 7:20.
I was just asking myself why it seems that when you decide to pass up a shot on a halfway
decent buck, it always seems that the buck never fails to give you perfect shot angles several
times. Even turns his head completely away, or bites an itch on the opposing side, giving you a
perfect shot. It never seems to happen that way when your waiting for the kill shot on a buck
you want to take.
I want to get out and get a little more confident and quiet with my Tree Lounger. Only practice
will help with that, and I want to get proficient with this stand. It is very comfortable, just kind
of a pain climbing down in the dark with it.
Lastly, I just want to say that I would bet the 9 pointer and spike buck are the same 2 deer I
saw last fall from this stand location. It was the last time I had hunted this spot, and the deer
definitely looked to all know one another. Who knows, the doe may be the same doe, and the
fawn might be the result of the mounting that I saw last year. That may be going a little too far,
but who knows. I plan on waiting a bit before I hunt this spot again, as climbing does create
noise, and I'm sure that I let every deer in the area know I was there when I climbed down.
September 27th- I sat the swamp stand tonight. Entered the stand at 4:00 pm, weather was
cloudy with a slight chance of rain and very little wind.
5:15 - The 5 pointer that I had seen before came through, didn't hang around very long, then
moved on. I was expecting to see the 3 pointer with him as they are usually together.
6:25 - The 3 pointer came in from the same direction as the 5 pointer did earlier. He browsed
and walked around a bit, then the 5 pointer came back. The 2 bucks ended up tinkling the
antlers together for about 5 minutes, in a playful way, then meandered down the trail. I had the
video camera with me, but had it aimed at the trail they came in on. It would have been too
noisy to try to move the camera to get a shot of the 2 bucks playing (as they were both around 15
yards from me, and the woods were deathly quiet at that time.
No other deer came in, and it started to rain pretty good with about 10 minutes of good shooting
light left. Left the stand at 7:15 pm.
September 30th- I decided to hunt the highway stand, where I passed up the 9 pointer on the
25th. The weather was a warmer 65 degrees, with some Northwest wind and sun. Going to use
the Tree Lounge stand again, as I need to get more confident with it. Climbed the tree at 3:30
pm.
5:45 - A large doe and fawn came in. I had decided that I might shoot a doe tonight if the shot
presented itself and was a good angle. I said might, as I still hate to screw up this location this
early in the season. The doe gave me a shot, but I decided that the angle was too much, so
decided to wait for a better chance. The doe and fawn walked out after about 10 minutes.
6:55 - The 9 pointer came in just as it was starting to get dark. He stood broadside at 20 yards,
and I still held off taking him yet. A doe came through which got his attention and he went out to
investigate. The doe got a little skittish and her and the buck walked out of sight. This worked
good for me as it was time to start climbing down. Left the woods at 7:15 pm.
Climbing down with the Tree Lounge went a lot better tonight, and I think I'm getting the hang
of it now.
October 1st - Weather was quite warm and windy today (78 degrees), and didn't really expect
the deer to move much this afternoon. I decided to sit anyway, and sat the swamp stand.
I entered the stand at 4pm.
5:20 - The fork horn that I had seen the first time I sat this stand came through. He seemed to
be on a mission, and moved through rather quickly.
No other deer seen tonight, except for the ones I saw on the way home. The deer seemed as
though they were moving late tonight, and I'm sure the warmer weather and the moon phase
had a great deal to do with it.
October 9th - Well, the Youth Gun Hunt has finished and I got a chance to get out hunting
again, so decided to sit my South stand. I have had my camtrakker out at both stand locations
this past week. The bucks seen at my swamp stand are a 14" 8 pointer, a 3 pointer, a 5 pointer, a
6 pointer, and a doe and 2 fawns. The South stand has the 14+" 9 pointer, a 14+ 8 pointer, a
drop horned spike buck, and a doe and fawn. Nothing that I want to shoot yet, but the rut is
coming and hopefully a bigger buck will come through the area.
I climbed the tree at my South stand at 4:00 pm.
6:30 - The 9 pointer came through with the 8 pointer following 20 yards behind. Both bucks
were well within range, but once again I passed up taking the shot.
6:45 - A Doe and fawn came stumbling down the trail that the bucks had been on. The doe
seemed to be able to tell that the bucks had just been there, and seemed to be very alert of the
trail ahead of her.
Climbed down at 7:10.
October 13th - The weather for the past few days has turned cold, quite windy, and snow. The
wind and work has kept me out of the stand, but I finally got a chance to sit tonight. The West
wind was gusting up to 40 mph, and I really didn't expect to see much. I sat the swamp stand,
which is down in a hole and sheltered from some of the wind. I entered the stand at 4:30 pm.
6:00 - A three pointer came in from the upwind side and was quite spooky. Every time the wind
gusted he looked as if he were going to bolt out of there.
6:10 - A five pointer came in from the same direction, and the three pointer went towards him to
investigate. Both of the bucks eventually worked there way underneath me.
6:25 - A doe came in from directly down wind of me, got within 5 yards of my tree, then spooked
and ran about 30 yards away. She snorted a couple of times, and I wasn't sure what had spooked
her. Was it me, the wind, the bucks, or what? When she snorted, the 2 bucks got quite nervous
for a minute or two, then they settled down. The doe never did come in.
6:40 - I heard some noise in the tree next to me, and it ended up being 2 raccoons. I believe this
is possibly what had spooked the doe earlier. They climbed down from the top of the tree to
about the 20 foot mark, which got the 2 bucks attention. As the raccoons continued to climb
down to the ground, the bucks continued to watch them. Once the raccoons hit the ground, the
bucks spooked and ran off, which worked out good for me as I was getting ready to climb down
anyway. I left the stand at 6:55 pm.
I'm planning on sitting my South stand tomorrow, and with the weather pattern staying cold and
windy for the next several days, I will have to decide whether or not I want to take the 9 pointer
yet (if he comes in). I still feel as though it is a little early yet, with the rut coming and all, but
every time I see him he gets a little closer to my freezer. Only time will tell.
October 14th - Decided to hunt my South stand tonight. The wind had dropped down finally and
the sun came out in the afternoon. Climbed the tree and was hunting at 4:15 pm.
Nothing much to speak of tonight, as I only saw 3 squirrels and 1 grouse. The woods ended up
getting very quiet, and with the clear skies the deer probably were heading out to feed a little
later.
October 15th- I had some beautiful sunny weather, and temps got up to 53 degrees, with little or
no wind. Decided to sit the swamp stand tonight. Entered the stand at 4:00.
I kicked a deer down the trail as I entered my area. After I entered the stand, and before I even
got a chance to pull my bow up, a fork horn came in on the trail. I believe he was the deer that I
spooked out of there when coming in. I was able to finally get my bow pulled up, nock an arrow,
and get my safety belt and mask on. All of this while the fork horn was in the area. Quite the
challenge, as the woods were extremely quiet. The buck eventually moved on down the trail.
6:00 - I had a raccoon come down a tree and work the area for a while.
6:20 - a 5 pointer came in from the trail, and investigated the raccoon for a minute. He
eventually got spooked by the raccoon and ran off.
6:45 - Just before I was going to climb down, a large owl landed in the tree next to me. He
watched me climb down and never did spook out of the tree.
October 16th - Well rain came into the area, and is here to stay for a few days. Even though it
was raining on and off, I decided to go sit on the swamp stand. I entered the stand at 4:00 pm.
6:15 - Deer were moving late, which I didn't expect with the weather. The fork horn came
through, with a 5" spike buck following about 20 yards behind him. The bucks seemed a little
spooky as the noise of the light rain on the leaves seemed to take a little away from the hearing
capabilities. They only stayed in the area for about 5 minutes, then they moved on down the trail.
Those were the only deer seen tonight, and I left the stand at 6:40.
October 19th - The rain finally moved out of the area, and I decided to sit the swamp stand
again. I entered the stand at 4:00 pm.
5:15 - A small doe fawn entered by itself, and is possibly the fawn from the dead doe that was on
the highway just up the road. She looked bored, and browsed a bit before moving on.
5:40 - The small doe fawn returned, still looking lost or bored, and browsed a bit more. Suddenly
something got her attention up the trail, and she went running after what ever it was.
5:50 - A large doe and different fawn entered from the trail that the prior fawn had run down.
The doe was very leery, as the woods were quite quiet. I decided that if the doe would give me a
good shot opportunity, I would harvest her. As it ended up, the doe did eventually give me a shot
but the woods were so quiet that I didn't know whether I could draw my bow without her
hearing me. I am hunting near a highway, so I waited until at least a car was going by, hoping
that the noise would cover my draw. No such luck, as the doe seemed to still hear my arrow
sliding on the arrow rest, and bolted. No other deer seen tonight.
October 20th - The weather was a cool 39 degrees with no wind or rain in sight, so I decided to
sit my South stand tonight. I entered the stand at 3:30 pm.
Lots of squirrels in the area tonight, and I watched them for 2 1/2 hours.
5:55 - The nine pointer came in from the North and hung around the area. He did give me a
broadside 20 yard shot, but I once again decided to pass up the shot.
6:25 - A doe and fawn entered from the West of me and held up 20 yards away, on the edge of
the brush. The doe was quite leery and stomped her foot a couple of times. She was up wind of
me, and was stomping at the 9 pointer. The doe and fawn continued holding their position for a
good 5 minutes, when all of the sudden I heard another deer coming from the same area that the
doe and fawn came from. The only difference is that this new deer came in directly behind me,
and sounded as though it stopped about 15 yards away. Due to the fact that I now had 4 deer
around me within 20 yards, and in 3 different directions, and couldn't move. The woods were so
quiet that I could hear the mice running in the leaves. I watched the 9 pointer to see his response
to this new deer. If it was a doe or smaller buck, he would move out and investigate the deer. As
it was the buck just held his ground in a dead stare with the new deer, and I was pretty certain
by that response that the deer behind me was a better buck. When I finally heard the deer
behind me take a few steps, I was able to slowly turn in my stand to see what it was. It ended up
being a dandy 10 pointer with approximately an 18 inch inside spread. I was sitting in my stand,
and even though the buck ended up getting within 7 yards of me, I could move or draw. There
were too many eyes in the area and the woods were too quiet. The 10 pointer made a move
towards the 9 pointer, and the 9 pointer fled being chased by the 10 pointer. I could hear them
about 50 yards away rattling their horns together. The doe and fawn stayed in the brush line I
believe, hard to tell as it was getting dark now. Eventually it got dark enough that I had to climb
down, and I felt confident enough that the 2 bucks were out of earshot. When I did climb down
I ended up spooking the doe and fawn out of the area.
Lots of excitement, and hopefully I will get another chance at the 10 pointer when to woods are
a little more noisy or windy. I saw 24 deer on the road on the way home.
October 21st - The conditions were about identical to last night, so I decided to sit the South
stand again. Entered the stand at 3:30.
What a difference a night makes as I sat for almost 3 1/2 hours and never saw a deer. I am
curious to know what the differences were from last night to tonight, as I only saw 4 deer on the
way home. I usually don't like to sit the same stand 2 days in a row, but given the excitement of
last night I decided to give it a try. Hopefully next time!
October 23rd - The weather was 37 degrees, with occasional snow flurries with a 10 mph wind.
The sunset and moon set coincided, so seemed as though it should be a good night to sit. I
decided to sit the South stand, in hopes of seeing the 10 pointer again. I climbed the tree at 3:30.
3:45 - A small doe fawn entered by itself, and browsed through the area for about 15 minutes,
then walked off.
Snow flurries and sleet were happening occasionally, but nothing was sticking on the ground.
6:10 - The 9 pointer entered from the brush, and appeared to be very timid. The sleet was
making him a little nervous, but he eventually settled down some. He meandered around for
about 20 minutes, again giving me several shot opportunities, but I decided to hold off. At 6:30 I
heard a couple of deer walking through the brush behind me, but it was starting to darken in the
woods so I had a hard time seeing what they were. The 9 pointer walked out to meet another
deer, which I believe was another buck, but I couldn't tell for sure. It sounded as though the two
bucks walked off into the hardwoods. As it turned dark I heard another deer walk underneath
me, and as far as I can tell I believe it was a decent sized doe. I waited for the deer to walk
through before finally climbing down at 6:50 pm.
October 24th - I was able to get out again tonight, so I decided to sit the swamp stand. This
would give a break at my South stand. The weather warmed up to 43 degrees, and melted away
what snow flurries that we did get. I entered the stand at 3:45 pm.
5:15 - A lone fork horned buck entered from the West, browsed a bit, and bedded down 10 yards
from my tree. He appeared to be waiting to meet up with more deer. As he lay bedded, two gray
squirrels kept pestering him, and eventually the buck got up and walked down into the swamp.
5:25 - A lone fawn entered from the West, which ended up bringing the fork horn out of the
swamp. The buck immediately went to the rear of the fawn, with his head very low, and the
fawn ran off a bit. Eventually the fawn returned, got checked out by the buck again, then began
browsing next to the buck. This only lasted a minute or two, then the buck pushed the fawn out
to 20 yards away. Both stayed in the area.
5:55 - Another fork horn came in, met up with the other fork horn, and began slowly to tap their
antlers together. This kept the fawn at a distance, but when the 2nd buck noticed the fawn, he
proceeded to chase it around my woods.
6:20 - I heard more deer coming in, but the 2 bucks were still in the area and chased these deer
around. I did get to see that the new deer were a doe and fawn, but the deer were being pushed
around constantly by the bucks. I ended up being left with just the 2 fawns as it got dark.
These 2 bucks were definitely feeling their urges, but the does weren't ready yet. All a good sign
that the rut is just around the corner. I'm planning on sitting my South stand tomorrow.
October 25th- I sat the South stand tonight. Weather was 48 degrees, with a light Southeast
breeze. I entered the stand at 3:15 pm.
Pretty much the same result as the last time I sat this stand.
3:45 - A lone fawn came through the area and walked off.
6:15 - Some deer were working through the popple slash behind me, and eventually the 9 pointer
that I have been seeing a lot of appeared. He was the only deer that came out of the slash, and
the remaining deer continued on towards the highway. I know there were many deer on the
highway tonight, as I could hear semi trucks constantly honking their horns at them. The 9
pointer only stayed in my area for about 10 minutes, and once again I passed up taking a shot at
him. I left the stand at dark.
On the way home (8 miles) I saw a total of 26 deer on the highway, including a few smaller
bucks. They were definitely moving tonight, but once again it was later than I had hoped.
October 27th - I decided to try something a little different today. The deer have been coming late
through the slash at my South stand, and only the 9 pointer has been coming out to me. I have
heard other deer in the slash at that time, and have been curious what they were. I decided to
get out there early and set my stand ahead of the slash, trying to catch the deer as they enter the
slash. I entered my stand at 2 pm.
Unfortunately the deer didn't cooperate today, and other than 2 partidge and an owl nothing else
was seen or heard. The deer were moving, but late, as I saw 14 on the way home after dark.
October 28th - I sat my swamp stand tonight. Although I have been seeing the few smaller bucks
consistently, I am in hopes that a larger doe or buck comes through. I entered the stand at 3:30
pm.
5:15 - The fork horn entered alone and seemed to just hang in the area for a while, again like he
was waiting to meet up with other deer.
5:45 - The 3 pointer came stumbling in from the swamp. At first I thought it might be a fawn, by
the amount of noise he was making coming in. His coming in brought the fork horn over to him,
and they began pushing their heads and antlers together, just going through the motions. They
stayed in the area for a while, and eventually walked off together down the trail that skirts the
swamp edge. I could hear car horns occasionally honking at deer on the highway, so I knew that
more deer were out there, but no other deer came in tonight.
Thank You for viewing my Hunting Log!
Mr-Whitetail
Mr-Whitetail
October 30th to November 2nd - Due some necessary dental work, and other extenuating
circumstances, I haven't got a chance to get out in the stand. I am planning on getting out
tomorrow, as the bucks are starting to be seen late mornings, and the does are being chased.
Hopefully the rut is almost here, and more bucks will be seen earlier at my stands.
circumstances, I haven't got a chance to get out in the stand. I am planning on getting out
tomorrow, as the bucks are starting to be seen late mornings, and the does are being chased.
Hopefully the rut is almost here, and more bucks will be seen earlier at my stands.
November 3rd - I finally got back out in the stand tonight. I sat my South stand. The weather
was clear, cold, with a pretty much full moon. I entered the stand at 2:30.
Not much to tell tonight, as no deer were seen. The full moon has got the deer moving very late
it seems, and I only saw 2 deer on the way home when I normally would have seen at least 12.
was clear, cold, with a pretty much full moon. I entered the stand at 2:30.
Not much to tell tonight, as no deer were seen. The full moon has got the deer moving very late
it seems, and I only saw 2 deer on the way home when I normally would have seen at least 12.
November 4th - I sat my swamp stand today, and decided to get out there a little earlier. I
entered the stand at noon, and the weather was sunny, low 40's, and no wind.
2:30 - A lone fork horn came through, and continued on through the small swamp point to the
woods on the other side.
4:40 - The same fork horn returned, checked out the area, then moved on down the trail that
skirts the swamp edge. No other deer seen tonight, and feeling as though I'm going to move this
stand location.
entered the stand at noon, and the weather was sunny, low 40's, and no wind.
2:30 - A lone fork horn came through, and continued on through the small swamp point to the
woods on the other side.
4:40 - The same fork horn returned, checked out the area, then moved on down the trail that
skirts the swamp edge. No other deer seen tonight, and feeling as though I'm going to move this
stand location.
November 5th - I decided to sit my South stand tonight, even though there is a full moon.
There is a rain possibility tomorrow, and maybe that would get the deer moving a little earlier.
The weather has warmed up to the mid 50"s, with plenty of sunshine. I entered the stand at
2:30.
3:10 - I had 5 does and fawns come through the hardwoods about 125 yards from me. No
bucks were seen trailing them, and they never came in my area.
4:50 - The 14" wide junky 8 pointer came walking straight in on the trail leading to my stand.
He stopped within 20 yards, but he wasn't what I was looking for, so I passed him up. He
stayed in the area for about 5 minutes, then continued on his way, as he appeared to be looking
for does.
I left the stand at dark.
There is a rain possibility tomorrow, and maybe that would get the deer moving a little earlier.
The weather has warmed up to the mid 50"s, with plenty of sunshine. I entered the stand at
2:30.
3:10 - I had 5 does and fawns come through the hardwoods about 125 yards from me. No
bucks were seen trailing them, and they never came in my area.
4:50 - The 14" wide junky 8 pointer came walking straight in on the trail leading to my stand.
He stopped within 20 yards, but he wasn't what I was looking for, so I passed him up. He
stayed in the area for about 5 minutes, then continued on his way, as he appeared to be looking
for does.
I left the stand at dark.
November 7th - I sat my South stand again this afternoon. Wind was out of the South, rain on
and off, temps in the mid 40's. I entered the stand at noon.
2:20 - I rattled in an 8" wide 6 pointer from the North to within 10 yards. He was quite spooky
being the rain was now hitting the leaves pretty hard. While he was there he heard a noise from
the woods to the South, he immediately spun out of there and went down wind to check out
what was coming. It ended up being a small doe that crossed the hardwoods in the same area as
the does did on the 5th.
4:00 - I rattled in a 13" wide 8 pointer from the North. He came in from behind my stand,
walked along side at 15 yards, then continued on upwind.
Neither of the 2 bucks tonight had I seen before, and I didn't see either the 8 or 9 pointer that I
have seen pretty regularly. The rain continued at a steady drizzle, and no other deer were seen
tonight. I saw a total of 6 on the drive home. I have a new rub at my Swamp stand, which is
pretty good sized, so I plan on sitting there tomorrow.
and off, temps in the mid 40's. I entered the stand at noon.
2:20 - I rattled in an 8" wide 6 pointer from the North to within 10 yards. He was quite spooky
being the rain was now hitting the leaves pretty hard. While he was there he heard a noise from
the woods to the South, he immediately spun out of there and went down wind to check out
what was coming. It ended up being a small doe that crossed the hardwoods in the same area as
the does did on the 5th.
4:00 - I rattled in a 13" wide 8 pointer from the North. He came in from behind my stand,
walked along side at 15 yards, then continued on upwind.
Neither of the 2 bucks tonight had I seen before, and I didn't see either the 8 or 9 pointer that I
have seen pretty regularly. The rain continued at a steady drizzle, and no other deer were seen
tonight. I saw a total of 6 on the drive home. I have a new rub at my Swamp stand, which is
pretty good sized, so I plan on sitting there tomorrow.
November 8th - I decided to hunt in the morning, to see what was coming through. I don't
normally hunt many mornings, as I don't seem to see the number of deer that I do in the
evenings. I sat the swamp stand, temps were in the upper 40's, and I entered the stand at 6 am.
The sit went about the way I figured it would, and no deer were seen this morning. I wasn't
surprised, because when I placed my camtrakker camera on this stand there never seemed to
be any morning movement. This combined with the fact that I am only seeing small bucks at
this stand, and that the bucks are chasing does due to the start of the rut.
Oh well, had to give it a try.
normally hunt many mornings, as I don't seem to see the number of deer that I do in the
evenings. I sat the swamp stand, temps were in the upper 40's, and I entered the stand at 6 am.
The sit went about the way I figured it would, and no deer were seen this morning. I wasn't
surprised, because when I placed my camtrakker camera on this stand there never seemed to
be any morning movement. This combined with the fact that I am only seeing small bucks at
this stand, and that the bucks are chasing does due to the start of the rut.
Oh well, had to give it a try.
November 9th - I was able to get out at noon today, and decided to sit my South stand. The
wind has switched out of the Northwest, and temps were around 40 degrees. It was cloudy this
morning, but it is starting to clear off.
I put out 3 canisters of doe in heat scent, and decided to do a little estrus bleat calling. I also
tried a little rattling and grunting early on. I didn't get any response to the calling, so I decided
to stop for the last couple of hours.
At 4:30 I had the new 8 pointer, that I saw the last time I sat this stand, come in. He came in
from the downwind side and proceeded to do a lot of looking for that doe in heat he was
smelling. He ended up getting 10 yards from me, but seemed a little perturbed that he couldn't
see any does. He ended up walking away into the brush. I'm sure he was going to stick around
the area, but it got dark in 20 minutes so I left the stand.
I'm not seeing many deer at a time, and it isn't for lack of time in the stand. I think the moon
has still got the deer moving rather late. Colder weather is coming in the next few days, and
hopefully that may get the deer moving a little earlier. None of my hunting buddies have taken
or seen many decent bucks during this moon phase either.
wind has switched out of the Northwest, and temps were around 40 degrees. It was cloudy this
morning, but it is starting to clear off.
I put out 3 canisters of doe in heat scent, and decided to do a little estrus bleat calling. I also
tried a little rattling and grunting early on. I didn't get any response to the calling, so I decided
to stop for the last couple of hours.
At 4:30 I had the new 8 pointer, that I saw the last time I sat this stand, come in. He came in
from the downwind side and proceeded to do a lot of looking for that doe in heat he was
smelling. He ended up getting 10 yards from me, but seemed a little perturbed that he couldn't
see any does. He ended up walking away into the brush. I'm sure he was going to stick around
the area, but it got dark in 20 minutes so I left the stand.
I'm not seeing many deer at a time, and it isn't for lack of time in the stand. I think the moon
has still got the deer moving rather late. Colder weather is coming in the next few days, and
hopefully that may get the deer moving a little earlier. None of my hunting buddies have taken
or seen many decent bucks during this moon phase either.
November 11th - I sat my South stand again today. I climbed the tree at 12:30 pm. The wind
was light and out of the South, temps were in the high 30's. Using doe in heat scent, and no
calling or rattling planned for tonight.
3:45 - I new 7 pointer entered from the North. I happened to be standing up and looking North
when I saw him coming from around 150 yards out. He gave me plenty of 20 yard shot
opportunities, and even bedded down at 33 yards for 1/2 hour. He eventually got up and
moved on, as he was waiting for some doe action that never happened.
I climbed down at dark, and when I was taking my stand off the tree, I had a deer snort at me
from the slash. It was probably a doe, but no way to know.
I am at the point now, being that I don't really do any late season hunting, that I only have a
week left of bow hunting. This being said, I am contemplating the taking of an average or
smaller buck. I need the meat, and it is the only thing that I seem to be seeing lately. When the
time comes, I will do some thinking before taking the shot, and question whether I want my
season to end tonight. It's a tough choice as I do enjoy sitting in the stand, but with rifle season
a week away and having to get things ready for that, time seems to be limited. I guess we'll see
what happens, maybe I'll take a smaller buck, maybe not. It is totally going to depend on the
situation.
was light and out of the South, temps were in the high 30's. Using doe in heat scent, and no
calling or rattling planned for tonight.
3:45 - I new 7 pointer entered from the North. I happened to be standing up and looking North
when I saw him coming from around 150 yards out. He gave me plenty of 20 yard shot
opportunities, and even bedded down at 33 yards for 1/2 hour. He eventually got up and
moved on, as he was waiting for some doe action that never happened.
I climbed down at dark, and when I was taking my stand off the tree, I had a deer snort at me
from the slash. It was probably a doe, but no way to know.
I am at the point now, being that I don't really do any late season hunting, that I only have a
week left of bow hunting. This being said, I am contemplating the taking of an average or
smaller buck. I need the meat, and it is the only thing that I seem to be seeing lately. When the
time comes, I will do some thinking before taking the shot, and question whether I want my
season to end tonight. It's a tough choice as I do enjoy sitting in the stand, but with rifle season
a week away and having to get things ready for that, time seems to be limited. I guess we'll see
what happens, maybe I'll take a smaller buck, maybe not. It is totally going to depend on the
situation.
November 12th - Windy today out of the South, possible 1 to 3 inches of snow tonight. I
thought the deer may be moving earlier tonight. I decided to sit the swamp stand, even though
I haven't been seeing much there lately, as there are a lot of new rubs and a few scrapes. I
entered the stand at 1:45, sat till dark, and not a deer was seen.
A few guys at the sport shop were telling me that the deer seemed to have quit moving as of
last night. Another friend told me today "Boy the deer were sure chasing this morning." I
guess he saw 5 different bucks, including a real nice 8 or 10 pointer, but never got an
opportunity on him. He ended up harvesting a 5 pointer.
I guess it depends on the area your hunting in, as far as what the deer are doing.
thought the deer may be moving earlier tonight. I decided to sit the swamp stand, even though
I haven't been seeing much there lately, as there are a lot of new rubs and a few scrapes. I
entered the stand at 1:45, sat till dark, and not a deer was seen.
A few guys at the sport shop were telling me that the deer seemed to have quit moving as of
last night. Another friend told me today "Boy the deer were sure chasing this morning." I
guess he saw 5 different bucks, including a real nice 8 or 10 pointer, but never got an
opportunity on him. He ended up harvesting a 5 pointer.
I guess it depends on the area your hunting in, as far as what the deer are doing.
November 13th - I had a chance to get out early today, so decided to sit the South stand. We
got a little snow last night that stuck to the ground, so I am hoping that the deer might move
early today. I climbed the tree at 11:15 am.
Pretty boring day actually. All that happened was getting dripped on all afternoon from the
melting snow. I didn't see a deer until 5:10 pm. and that was a small buck that entered from
the slash, went downwind of me, and spooked when it smelled the doe in heat scent that I had
out.
I'm not sure why the deer aren't moving earlier, but I might have to try sitting this stand in the
morning.
got a little snow last night that stuck to the ground, so I am hoping that the deer might move
early today. I climbed the tree at 11:15 am.
Pretty boring day actually. All that happened was getting dripped on all afternoon from the
melting snow. I didn't see a deer until 5:10 pm. and that was a small buck that entered from
the slash, went downwind of me, and spooked when it smelled the doe in heat scent that I had
out.
I'm not sure why the deer aren't moving earlier, but I might have to try sitting this stand in the
morning.
November 14th - I decided to sit my North stand tonight. Even though I haven't been seeing
much there, the amount of rubs tells me that the bucks are there, it's just a matter of when. I
am still planning on taking either a doe, or a small or average buck, if no larger buck presents
itself. The reason is that there is only 3 days until rifle season, and I have to get some things
done before then. I entered the stand at 1:20. The wind was out of the Southeast, which is a
good wind for this stand, and the temps were around 40 degrees.
4:15 - A 3 pointer came in from the West, along the swamp edge trail. He was followed a
couple of minutes later by a small fork horn. Both bucks gave me a decent shot opportunity,
but I couldn't bring myself to end my season with this small of a buck. The two bucks worked
around in the area for about 15 minutes, then the 3 pointer walked into the swamp. Something
got the fork horn's attention out in the swamp, which I believe was the 3 pointer grunting at
and chasing a doe. It sounded as though the 3 pointer came running out of the swamp and up
the hill. The fork horn suddenly bolted up the hill, as if he was trying to catch up to the action.
4:40 - A deer came in from behind me and walked underneath me. I was surprised to see that
it was a doe, being that the bucks were chasing everything around. I was trying to determine
the size of the doe, as it was starting to get dark, when I heard another deer coming down the
hill. It ended up being a fawn that went right to the doe, and stood in front of her which
prevented me from taking a shot. While I was waiting for the fawn to clear the doe, I heard yet
another deer coming down the hill and trail behind me. As it passed by me it grunted and I
could see that it was a racked buck, although it wasn't anything to write home about, and he
looked to be a small 8 pointer. Nonetheless, I decided that this buck was going to have to do, as
time is limited. The buck gave me a quartering away shot when he lunged at the doe and fawn.
The doe and fawn ran, but the buck stood long enough for me to release an arrow. The buck
bolted after the shot, and ran down the trail that skirts the swamp edge. I only heard him for
about 3 seconds, then I heard one crack of brush, then quiet. I felt that I had made a decent
shot, and it was getting dark, so I quietly climbed down, found my bloodied arrow sticking in
the ground where the buck was standing. I put the arrow in my quiver, and quietly left the
woods.
I decided to give him 2 1/2 hours before tracking, and I got some help from
Lance-Doug-Larry. We went out on the trail, found good blood, and found the deer at 40
yards. He was dead when I had climbed out of the stand, but there was no sense rushing the
track as the weather was clear. The buck ended up having an 11 1/2" inside spread, the arrow
angled forward and caught 1 lung, and he had the smelliest tarsel glands that I can ever
remember on a deer. This is much narrower than bucks that I have passed up shots on this
Fall, but I spent as much time as I possibly could in the stand hoping for a larger buck.
Unfortunately, the better buck never presented himself to me.
So ends my bow season!
Taking this buck tonight puts meat in my freezer, and allows me the next 2 days to prepare for
rifle season. I have to get my daughter's and my stands ready, and needed some time to do this.
I am planning on setting Ashley on my South stand, and I am glad that I haven't taken any of
the bucks that I have seen down there from my stand. I'm sure that this will give her a little
more confidence and opportunities, knowing that I have seen a 10, a 9, 2- 8's, a 7, and a 6
pointer from that stand location. Hopefully she will have a good chance of seeing one of them,
and get her 2nd rifle buck. She has told me that she doesn't immediately plan on taking a
smaller buck, but will at the end of the week if nothing better shows itself.
I'll be back for rifle season!!
much there, the amount of rubs tells me that the bucks are there, it's just a matter of when. I
am still planning on taking either a doe, or a small or average buck, if no larger buck presents
itself. The reason is that there is only 3 days until rifle season, and I have to get some things
done before then. I entered the stand at 1:20. The wind was out of the Southeast, which is a
good wind for this stand, and the temps were around 40 degrees.
4:15 - A 3 pointer came in from the West, along the swamp edge trail. He was followed a
couple of minutes later by a small fork horn. Both bucks gave me a decent shot opportunity,
but I couldn't bring myself to end my season with this small of a buck. The two bucks worked
around in the area for about 15 minutes, then the 3 pointer walked into the swamp. Something
got the fork horn's attention out in the swamp, which I believe was the 3 pointer grunting at
and chasing a doe. It sounded as though the 3 pointer came running out of the swamp and up
the hill. The fork horn suddenly bolted up the hill, as if he was trying to catch up to the action.
4:40 - A deer came in from behind me and walked underneath me. I was surprised to see that
it was a doe, being that the bucks were chasing everything around. I was trying to determine
the size of the doe, as it was starting to get dark, when I heard another deer coming down the
hill. It ended up being a fawn that went right to the doe, and stood in front of her which
prevented me from taking a shot. While I was waiting for the fawn to clear the doe, I heard yet
another deer coming down the hill and trail behind me. As it passed by me it grunted and I
could see that it was a racked buck, although it wasn't anything to write home about, and he
looked to be a small 8 pointer. Nonetheless, I decided that this buck was going to have to do, as
time is limited. The buck gave me a quartering away shot when he lunged at the doe and fawn.
The doe and fawn ran, but the buck stood long enough for me to release an arrow. The buck
bolted after the shot, and ran down the trail that skirts the swamp edge. I only heard him for
about 3 seconds, then I heard one crack of brush, then quiet. I felt that I had made a decent
shot, and it was getting dark, so I quietly climbed down, found my bloodied arrow sticking in
the ground where the buck was standing. I put the arrow in my quiver, and quietly left the
woods.
I decided to give him 2 1/2 hours before tracking, and I got some help from
Lance-Doug-Larry. We went out on the trail, found good blood, and found the deer at 40
yards. He was dead when I had climbed out of the stand, but there was no sense rushing the
track as the weather was clear. The buck ended up having an 11 1/2" inside spread, the arrow
angled forward and caught 1 lung, and he had the smelliest tarsel glands that I can ever
remember on a deer. This is much narrower than bucks that I have passed up shots on this
Fall, but I spent as much time as I possibly could in the stand hoping for a larger buck.
Unfortunately, the better buck never presented himself to me.
So ends my bow season!
Taking this buck tonight puts meat in my freezer, and allows me the next 2 days to prepare for
rifle season. I have to get my daughter's and my stands ready, and needed some time to do this.
I am planning on setting Ashley on my South stand, and I am glad that I haven't taken any of
the bucks that I have seen down there from my stand. I'm sure that this will give her a little
more confidence and opportunities, knowing that I have seen a 10, a 9, 2- 8's, a 7, and a 6
pointer from that stand location. Hopefully she will have a good chance of seeing one of them,
and get her 2nd rifle buck. She has told me that she doesn't immediately plan on taking a
smaller buck, but will at the end of the week if nothing better shows itself.
I'll be back for rifle season!!
RIFLE SEASON
November 18th through the 23rd - Sorry for lumping these days together, but I can fit most of
the news in a few paragraphs.
My daughter "Ashley" and I hunted everyday, mornings and evenings, until Ashley's season
had to end on the evening of the 23rd. She had to work the remainder of the season.
The first 5 days of the season were quite disappointing, as Ashley only saw one doe and fawn
on opening day, and a lone doe on Monday evening. I wasn't going to sit either of my stands,
as I didn't want to shoot a buck that Ashley could have a chance at. She was going to alternate
sits on my stands, and I would just find a spot down the woods from her a ways. I was more
concerned with her getting a buck, as I just put some venison in my freezer last week. I failed
to see a deer during these 5 days, but saw plenty of squirrels and other hunters. There was
much action in the woods around us, and the deer went nocturnal in a big way. The warmer
weather and lack of snow also affected the deer movement. The local sport shop, and even
towns in the center of the state are reporting that the deer registrations are down dramatically.
On Thanksgiving afternoon it was Ashley's final night to hunt, and having the choice of stands
to sit she chose the swamp stand. Being it was her final night to sit, I was going to sit the stand
that stand that she chose not to sit. As luck would have it she saw nothing, and I had a 7
pointer come in at 4:00. I chose to take the buck, as I knew Ashley would not have a chance at
it. It went 15 yards after being hit in the front shoulder. The buck was nothing special, and I
didn't even post a photo of him on the website, but he will finish my season and put more meat
in the freezer. Ashley was a little disappointed that she had sat that stand 4 evenings, and
never had a deer come in. I sat it once and had a 7 pointer come in. That's the way it goes
sometimes, and she will have to look forward to next year.
I talked with Lance on the night of the 18th, and their crew shot three 10 pointers and an 8
pointer opening day. I haven't talked with him as of late, and hopefully I can get an update
and some pics. I haven't heard of any monster bucks getting shot. The Waggoner crew, from
what I hear have several smaller bucks on their pole, but I haven't got a chance to verify that.
I will do my best to get some updated info and pics, so please bear with me. The 60 degree
weather today caused many bucks to be removed from their poles and get processed, so photos
might be hard to get now.
November 18th through the 23rd - Sorry for lumping these days together, but I can fit most of
the news in a few paragraphs.
My daughter "Ashley" and I hunted everyday, mornings and evenings, until Ashley's season
had to end on the evening of the 23rd. She had to work the remainder of the season.
The first 5 days of the season were quite disappointing, as Ashley only saw one doe and fawn
on opening day, and a lone doe on Monday evening. I wasn't going to sit either of my stands,
as I didn't want to shoot a buck that Ashley could have a chance at. She was going to alternate
sits on my stands, and I would just find a spot down the woods from her a ways. I was more
concerned with her getting a buck, as I just put some venison in my freezer last week. I failed
to see a deer during these 5 days, but saw plenty of squirrels and other hunters. There was
much action in the woods around us, and the deer went nocturnal in a big way. The warmer
weather and lack of snow also affected the deer movement. The local sport shop, and even
towns in the center of the state are reporting that the deer registrations are down dramatically.
On Thanksgiving afternoon it was Ashley's final night to hunt, and having the choice of stands
to sit she chose the swamp stand. Being it was her final night to sit, I was going to sit the stand
that stand that she chose not to sit. As luck would have it she saw nothing, and I had a 7
pointer come in at 4:00. I chose to take the buck, as I knew Ashley would not have a chance at
it. It went 15 yards after being hit in the front shoulder. The buck was nothing special, and I
didn't even post a photo of him on the website, but he will finish my season and put more meat
in the freezer. Ashley was a little disappointed that she had sat that stand 4 evenings, and
never had a deer come in. I sat it once and had a 7 pointer come in. That's the way it goes
sometimes, and she will have to look forward to next year.
I talked with Lance on the night of the 18th, and their crew shot three 10 pointers and an 8
pointer opening day. I haven't talked with him as of late, and hopefully I can get an update
and some pics. I haven't heard of any monster bucks getting shot. The Waggoner crew, from
what I hear have several smaller bucks on their pole, but I haven't got a chance to verify that.
I will do my best to get some updated info and pics, so please bear with me. The 60 degree
weather today caused many bucks to be removed from their poles and get processed, so photos
might be hard to get now.