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The 2007 archery season has arrived in Iowa. For most of us that pursue the antlered wonders, October 1st can't arrive fast enough and the season can't last long enough to feed our passion. October 1st should be a holiday in Iowa. Let's call it Day of the Antlers. What follows is a journal that tracks our hunting highlights through the 2007 season.
October 1, 2007
The hunt begins. Hunted some open country. Did not see a hair. First trip into this location. Found many, many rubs. Future looks very promising for this location. We will return.
October 2, 2007
Hunted another open country spot looking for 'Stickers'. He is a tall, narrow buck we saw this summer. Should gross in the 60's. Only sighting was a few fawns in the distance. As long as the corn stands we will return to this spot.
October 5, 2007
Hunted an area three-quarters of a mile from 'Stickers' summer hangout. Saw 3 does, 2 fawns and 3 bucks all after 7 p.m. Long walk. Spot has potential. Area has history of being a buck pasture. Need to keep an eye on it until early muzzleloader starts.
October 6, 2007
Hunted a different spot tonight. Saw numerous does and fawns but they also saw me. Snorted for a while. That is really annoying. No bucks. Mosquitoes horrible.
October 7, 2007
Moved to a new location that would accommodate a SE wind. Saw 6 does and fawns and a small buck when leaving. Mosquitoes very bad. Hope I don't get West Nile :). Way too warm where we are hunting to expect much buck movement.
October 12, 2007
Spouse connected on a doe. Doe dipped at sound of the string. Shot was high but perfect front to back. Trouble with flashlights. Planned to resume Saturday morning. Got action on video but it was poor due to my position.
October 13, 2007
Went back out in the morning to look for doe. No recovery. Rained over night. Blood trail gone.
Evening hunt offered many does and fawns for review but not one buck. Should be good location once rut picks up.
October 16, 2007
Went back to the "sweet, new spot". Saw one fawn in the bean field walking in. Used the hunt as a scouting trip. Set on top of hill with very good visibility. Property looks good. Saw 4 does and fawns in the distance on the neighboring property. I will be back.
Had enough light to "stump-shoot" in the bean field on my way out with my G5 Small Game Head. This head prevents the arrow from getting lost in the grass. On my last shot as I neared my pickup, I spied a light colored object in the combined bean field. I thought it was an old cornstalk. I drilled it.......Sparks flew. It was an an 8-inch rock! That rock cost me about $20 for the Beman ICS 340 Hunter arrow, Bohning fletching and G5 head. It's about 6-inches shorter now.
October 19, 2007
Used the "Double Bull" for the first time this year. Had some does and fawns headed for a meeting with my bride's arrow but the does just do not like the blind. They circled downwind, snorted and vanished. Saw a little buck. He is probably a 2-year old. Looks to be in good condition. All-in-all a good hunt. We need to get to the woods sooner.
Muzzleloaders were out in force on this fair weather evening. Many shots. Some sounded too close, almost as if they were on our side of the fence.
October 20, 2007
Saw many does and fawns and tom turkeys. My bride whiffed on a doe. The shot was high. Decent hunt. Deer presented at about 18 yards.
October 21, 2007
a.m.
First morning hunt for the year. Got up way too early. Tried to sneak to the edge of field in dark. Bad idea. Deer covered the field. Left early because of my foolishness and the fact that I was tired. Saw 3 bucks on the way out. A couple of 2-year olds and possibly a 3-year old. Appears buck movement is picking up slightly. Did hear muzzleloader at dawn.
p.m.
Set up at a gate. We know this funnel is a doe route. I was ready with the video camera to catch my bride zipping a doe. Here comes the doe with fawn. All the sudden 'snort' and she was gone. Small buck stayed behind trying to figure out just what happened. Doe had caught the drawing motion and reacted as opposed to standing and looking. Caught all the action on film. Our little girl has had a lot of action the last week or so watching her parents trying to close on a doe. She's excited for us to close the deal so she can experience the fruits of all the summer road trips glassing. Buck sightings are still slow. The magic period is fast approaching. If you believe Deer & Deer Hunting, the magic period will begin three or four days prior to November 1st.
October 26, 2007
Had a north wind. Rained lightly during the sit. Saw a few does and fawns and many turkeys. Nothing eventful except for the doe that saw us and snorted up a storm. Need to spend a little more time beefing up that ground blind.
October 27, 2007
Beautiful night. Heard a bunch of deer snorts early. Don't know why. Glassed an area about 150 yards to the south. Saw a definite shooter. Looked to be a 5x5 working a licking branch I assume over a scrape. His 4's were good length. Definitely a big buck with a mature body. Some does spooked for some reason and carried him with them as they ran to the east. The rest of the evening was spent listening to turkeys going to roost.
October 28, 2007
a.m.
I arrived late. Good hunt though. Saw 4 bucks on the move but it was a slow pace. Saw a handful of does and fawns. Darn wind didn't match the Weather Channel. My guess it was my location that caused a swirling wind. Found some very nice rubs.
p.m.
Tried a new location. Definitely saw a buck tending a doe way in the distance. They were a good half mile from any major cover. That means it will be tough hunting for a while if that is the case unless a doe brings the buck by you. When bucks get locked down with does it is typically a crap shoot. Seems a little early but it does coincide somewhat with what Deer and Deer Hunting projected for 2007.
November 3, 2007
a.m.
Cool. Trying our my new Roadtrips AP Camo. Awesome! Not cold weather stuff but very cumfy. Saw 3 bucks (nothing close) and a wad of does and fawns. One set passed under the tree. Had a couple of turkeys feed in the see behind me. This tree stand was right beside my camera. Watched the doe sniff the cam and then move on.
p.m.
Saw deer way in the distance. One buck appeared to be very nice, pure white rack and somewhat 'massy'. Did see does and fawns try and cross the creek to our side but something spooked them. It wasn't us as the wind was perfect. In my opinion, mature does are and will always be the wisest and toughest to hunt.
November 4, 2007
a.m.
Had a great morning hunt, saw many does and fawns and 6 bucks. No shooter bucks but a couple of nice ones that will be sweet in 2008. Some of the deer came running. I believe it was due to a 4-wheeler checking cattle on the neighbor's. First time in this stand for 2007. Should be a good location.
p.m.
Saw 2 bucks and a doe. Was glassing the timber when I saw a 30', 6-inch diameter tree moving back and forth. Stood on my toes to look over the knoll. I could barely see the horns of a big-headed 140 type 5x5 as he laid a woopen' on that tree. Had some people walk in at prime time. they were on a nature hike. Go figure.
November 5, 2007
a.m.
I harnessed myself in about 15 minutes before sunrise. Windy was an understatement. I'm still dizzy as I write this. Saw 5 bucks and 9 does and fawns. No shooters. I did watch a squirrel belly flop about 5' in front of me from a 30' fall. I thought the tree next to me was taking a header when I saw the squirrel float by. Scared the dickens out of me.
p.m.
Saw 4 bucks and 3 fawns. No shooters. I got my but kicked in the wind. Had to leave a little early. Much too cold. Sat over an awesome looking scrape. No takers. Hope to set over the scrape in the morning. I think this location is a morning stand.
November 6, 2007
a.m.
It is definitely lockdown time. Saw 4 bucks tending does. All sizes. Strategies need to focus on doe feeding and bedding. Might have saw one shooter back in the woods. Too much stuff in the way to know for sure.
p.m.
Walking to stand at 1:15 and all hell breaks loose. A 'covey' of 8 turkey break out of the crop field, then on the other side of the small field I see a doe and buck run up the hill. They stop to look back at me and the buck breeds the doe. Continue to walk south and a Big shooter comes out of the field. Not too concerned with me he saunters up the hill. He looked to be a 150 class 4x4 or bigger. Deer sightings on the stand were slow. I left early due to parent-teacher conference. Wind had died down. On the way out saw bucks everywhere. Nothing big but just everywhere. I think they had been bottled up by all the high winds and needed to get out. One thing is clear, Lockdown is on! It could be tough for a while.
November 7, 2007
a.m.
Grunt, growl, gobble, I heard it all this morning. Saw a decent 5x4 but still too far in the woods to get a good look. Driving out and a saw a giant of a buck. Tried to get a better look but no go. I was messin' around in my backpack trying to get some warmer headgear, looked up and saw a 130ish buck go bolting away. Don't know how I never saw him come in. He came up in my blind spot. Eventful morning. It is definitely on.
p.m.
Had a very good hunt though we did not 'spy' any shooters. Something is odd this year about the deer movement. There doesn't seem to be any sense of urgency that one would normally see. The bucks are almost in slow motion. Fields we typically see aggressive rutting activity are almost serene as the does feed. We saw 6 bucks with the largest maybe eking out 125. Walked by a spot on the way out with a freshly tore up scrape. We did not notice it on the way in. We feel we would have surely seen the scrape. Maybe Deer & Deer Hunting isn't quite right this year and maybe things are slow to start this year.
November 8, 2007
a.m.
Unbelievable morning saw 3 nice bucks a 130+ 5x5, a 140 4x4 and a big 5x4. Saw numerous does and fawns with all the buck action. The neighbor's dog made us a visit right when a half-a-spike was under our tree. The dog never knew we or the deer were there. When the dog left, the half-a-spike took off after him. Go get 'em Bambi :-).
p.m.
Awesome evening hunt! One of my top five hunts of all time. I was in the tree about 1 p.m. Watched a 150 class 5x5 tend a doe. For those of you wondering why deer movement may be slow, I watched this doe stay almost motionless for 2 hours while the buck 'walked-off' (i.e. escorted) no less than half-a-dozen other potential doe-mates ranging in size from 125 to 145. I must have seen around a dozen different bucks but none I would classify as monsters. I heard the snort-wheeze half-a-dozen times and watched bristle-haired bucks make rubs and posture without fighting. It was clear who the bull of the woods was. He might walk off more than 100 yards from his doe, but the doe would never leave. That was amazing. When he returned she was always right where he left her. Finally a brave little 1 year old shook up the whole party. He never did offer me a shot. What an awesome day of hunting.
November 9, 2007
a.m.
Another awesome day. Saw a lot of roaming bucks. However, not by me. I moved my stand. Not fun since I just put it up yesterday. The theory is simple, if you see consistent movement by a certain location.......then move stupid........I did. Thanks to Gene Wensel for that advice. I need a westerly wind of some sort but fear this location could result in swirling winds. Had my bow in hand this morning as the Big 9 chased a doe at about 50 yards. I figured it was a matter of time before I got a shot. No go.
p.m.
Another good night. Got my 12 year old girl up into a tree stand for the first time. It took some coaxing but it all worked out. I need a better safety harness for her. I have a relatively new one that I gave her but it is too big. Had a spiked buck walk directly beneath the tree. She thought that was awesome. Saw many deer out in the fields early. Saw a whopper of a buck jump the fence and come in the woods. I hit him with a couple of soft grunts but he had other things on his mind. He turned and left. Had an opportunity to use my Buck Growl on many bucks today. Very poor response. I don't think the attitude is right yet with the bucks. My best luck has always been later in November. All-in-all the last two days have been much more 'rutty' if you know what I mean. I hope it picks up. Today was unusual as I saw two sets of 2 bucks or more traveling together and looking for trouble. Tonight we saw a group of 3 bucks on the move. They were like street thugs on the prowl. I hope this is a sign that the buck-to-doe ratio is getting closer to 1:1. I usually only see this in the summer unless a doe is in heat in November.
November 10, 2007
a.m.
The morning just seemed slow. I did have a group of bucks pass about 80 yards out chasing a doe. There must have been 5 bucks in the group. I heard a 10 second battle but it was short-lived. I am guessing the big bucks are still locked down out in the open somewhere.
p.m.
Whew! Windy! Ran into a 2-year old 4x4 on the way in. I had plans to move to a new tree and put up a quick hit stand. Unfortunately a shooter buck and doe took a break underneath the darn thing. He was really big. Both the doe and buck spied me as I neared the area but I backed out and circled around without spooking them. Took a guess as to their exit route to a field. They did not show before dark. If the wind is right I'll give the tree a go tomorrow.
November 11, 2007
a.m.
It was a good morning as far as having bucks in shooting range but it was much less eventful this morning than the 8th and 9th were. I did have 4 bucks, 120 to 135 class pose for shots at less than 15 yards. The 135-inch was a dandy looking 5x5 but just not what I was looking for. The deer all came in a rush around 9:30. I'm not sure if it was bucks causing all the pushing or something else like human. The deer appeared to be fleeing their prior neck of the woods. The big bucks appear to still be in lockdown. It might be another week before we get some free roaming whoppers.
p.m.
It was hot! Setup deep assuming that the nice weather would stimulate outdoor human activity on Sunday. Had a couple of nice bucks including one whopper 100 yards away. There was a lot of running around. Again the deer acted like something had spooked them around 2:30 and they came my way. The rest of the evening found me trying to close the distance on the shooters but I never could find them again. Did see some doe and fawn and small buck activity at quitting time but I was on the ground and this afternoon hunt just didn't feel right. Might need some sleep. The big bucks were still clearly on does and making sure the subordinate bucks kept their distance.
November 12, 2007
a.m.
Pretty good morning. Had 6 does and fawns under the tree and saw about 7 bucks. None of the bucks were shooters. Saw some roaming 2-year old bucks after 10:30 looking for the estrus and mature buck tandem. I could have told them there weren't any in my timber, though I did see a 130 class 5x5 later with a doe. Moved a stand again trying to dial-in a spot for a shooter. Now I know why I went to ground hunting. Moving stands is ridiculous but you need to fine tune every setup until it's just right. All-in-all saw 7 bucks and I would estimate a dozen does and fawns. I was just ready to try and fill my doe tag when I saw antlers reflecting behind her. Needless to say I wanted a good look before I disturbed the woods. Not a shooter but a goofy looking thing, probably 2-years old with 6 points on the left and a big fork on the right. This is the second time I have seen him.
p.m.
Had a close encounter with the G3 buck as I was walking in. I heard some running and grunting. Here the doe came and then he came. They were at 50 yards. Doe saw me, turned around and they were gone. That is the story of my year so far. Saw another big shooter back in the woods but he never came my way. Had a couple of fawns go by at 10 yards while I was on the ground. The woods became silent early tonight as most of the deer headed for the feed early when the wind went down. I always question myself as to whether I should be on the edge in cases of low to no wind.
November 13, 2007
a.m.
Great morning! Saw approximately 8 bucks with 4 being between 125 and the lower 140s. I let the 5x5 140 class buck walk. I did the old Primos "Maaa" and he posed at 20 yards. I let him go. Now I am kicking myself. He was a nice 5x5 but the 4s were relatively short. Maybe 3 inches. I watched a nice 5x4 whittle on a rub I have my camera observing (see the front page). He worked on the 6-inch rub for 5 minutes. I think he owns the tree the way he worked it. I've been dragging a cloth soaked in Tink's 69 to the stand this week and then throwing the cloth on a bush prior to climbing my tree. The does do not like the smell. So much for that $9 bottle of sweet-smellin' goo. Just as I was leaving, I lowered my bow, looked up and here came another buck. It was Curley. He's a 130-inch 4x4. He is on the still images page. He has curved brow tines. I pulled my bow back up but he saw me and walked off.
p.m.
Big dud compared to previous days. Went to the spot I killed my buck last year to see if the activity was similar. It was a big dud. Deer don't seem to be using that feed source very much. Saw 3 small bucks and 3 fawns. Wind may have had something to do with it. Need to work tomorrow. Note to self: Windy day evening hunts need to hunt the timber as deer move late.
November 15, 2007
a.m.
Another excellent morning. I had deer around me from 6:45 to 9:45. I was in an area protected from the northwest wind. However, the wind only held fast about 75% of the time. The other 25% it swirled. That was not good. Saw about 10 bucks and one maybe shooter behind me with a doe. She was definitely in estrous as he was no more than 3 feet behind her licking his nose. I wish I knew why they do that. This spot is a sweet spot but if a big buck doesn't show then it isn't so sweet. Saw mostly bucks in the 110 to 130 class. They move well in this area when the wind is from the northwest.
p.m.
All I can say is Holy Cow! What an encounter. All the action occurred between 2:30 and 3:30. My first encounter was a possible shooter that watched me crawl into the tree. One snort and he was gone. About 20 minutes later a 120ish busted up buck chased a doe up the hill west of me. The chasing continued for another 15 minutes at least. At one point the doe stopped on the hill 60 yards southwest of me and looked to be hyperventilating. Then I heard a grunt and here came the buck. At first I thought he was a gnarly looking 6xfork I had seen on numerous occasions. The buck chased the doe right at me, I could see he was a busted G2 6x4 mainframe with a 3-inch dagger sticking from the base of his left beam. All this action occurred at 15 yards. He was 140ish. Then I noticed the 6xfork coming from my left. Here I am looking north with 2 lopsided gnarly looking bucks in my shooting lanes on both sides of me. The first buck continued to chase the doe and almost bred her right in front of me at 18 yards. she was extremely tired of running. I let them pass. They ran down the hill and on north. I could see another buck show up to join the party at the bottom of the hill. What an experience and what an encounter. I feel very privileged to experience such an event. The only thing the biggest buck lacked in my mind was a decent frame but I would guess he would gross in the 140's if all put together. The night ended with a small buck passing at 20 yards to my south. The wind had died and the woods were absolutely silent. It was a bowhunter's perfect evening.
November 16, 2007
a.m.
We decided to hang an additional stand to videotape a kill if possible. 10 minutes after arrival we were up and running. The morning started off great. A 100 inch buck was tending a doe and he did everything he could to get her to hold for a minute but no go. What another interesting encounter right close to our tree. I am going to call this new stand site the breeding tree as this is the same location as the November 15, p.m. hunt. Saw another doe and fawn, small buck and fawn and then nothing for 3 hours. In all the times we have hunted this area in the morning we have never seen this happen (i.e. no deer for 3 hours). We got down around 10 o'clock. Yep, you guessed it, shooter comes over the hill and gets down wind. Game over. Well isn't that just special. I'm tired.
p.m.
Good hunt but not what I would hope for. Sat in the woods saw nothing but small bucks and does. Beautiful evening. In my mind I can't think of a better place to waste a few hours than in the woods listening and watching the deer during the rut.
November 17, 2007
a.m.
Went to what I call the "breeding tree" as have seen 2 bucks tend does and almost breed them within 15 yards of the tree. Very slow hunt. Not sure what has happened but deer have moved. My guess is a preferred food source has changed. Saw 5 does and fawns and one little buck.
p.m.
Went back to a location I have not been for over 5 days. Very slow again though the weather was beautiful. Saw a small buck tending a doe and a 135 class back in the woods. Saw some additional does and fawns another direction with 3 small 1-1/2 year old bucks. Nothing within shooting range. things are slowing down.
November 18, 2007
a.m.
Went deeper into the property hoping to encounter some shooters. Had a 120 class chasing a doe with her fawns. It's fun to watch as the fawns always try and keep up. Saw the same 135 class 5x5 I have passed on a few times. He was about 15 minutes behind a small buck and doe that had went though earlier. Saw the "Big 9" back in the woods on the same path as the 120 class and fawns. He was bird-doggin' and followed them within 40 yards of my position but not close enough. How many times am I going to have an encounter with this buck without a shot opportunity? That's bowhunting. Saw anoterh big 5x4 or 5x5 way back in the woods, definite shooter. Grunted but he only looked and kept on going.
p.m.
Went to the spot I killed my buck last year. Need an east wind. Had the nice 138-140 type 4x4 walk into the woods about 60 yards away. Later in the evening a 120 class 4x4 made his way down wind about 40 yards. The 140 type 4x4 came about 5 minutes later following 2 fawns. They veered further to the west. Had a busted up 125 class 4x4 on the same route. He got downwind but kept following the first 120 class 4x4. My 2 weeks of vacation have come to an end without taking a shot. It was a very enjoyable time but am concerned with the lack of 150 class sightings. Did I hunt the property too hard? I don't think so. Will keep tabs and hunt hard the upcoming weekend but need to get back to work. I know the 150 class bucks are around but they must be on other properties due to the preferred food source. Might also need some colder weather.
November 22, 2007
a.m.
Good morning. Grunted to a nice buck, upper 130s to lower 140s. got to show at about 4o yards but no closer. Did see a couple of other bucks but no shooters. Saw quite a few does and fawns. Rut is winding down. would you believe I saw a fawn with spots. I am sure that fawn was born after October 1. That thing will never make it through the winter.
p.m.
Went deep. Bad decision. Left and migrated back to the edge at quitting time saw a lot of deer. Good recon for Friday evening.
November 23, 2007
a.m.
Saw around 20 does and fawns, almost all came right by the tree. Not one single buck. I need insulated boots. Brutally cold.
p.m.
My Thursday night recon paid off as I saw three shooters come out with miscellaneous does and fawns headed for the feed. One was a 145 class 5x5, a 140 type 5x4 and a tall 5x4 about 140 class. It was a cold evening. I sat at the exact location that the deer showed on Friday but they went out farther west Sunday so I moved west on Friday. Now they came out back to the east. That's been my luck in 2007. The 5x5 was a new buck I had not seen before. He was not the dominant buck as the 5x4 with him definitely displayed as the more aggressive.
November 24, 2007
a.m.
Saw 2 fawns, 2 small bucks and 4 does and fawns. Went to a place I had not been in 2 years. Area looks good but need to hunt earlier in November. Area is big woods.
p.m.
Setup where the 3 140 plus bucks came out the night before. None of them made an appearance. I did have 4 does and fawns and one small buck at 15 yards. I was on the ground in my new hideout. They had no clue I was there. Why can't I have a shooter do that? Anyway, didn't see near as many deer. Things are winding down, need to focus on feed.
November 25, 2007
a.m.
Saw very little movement. I did have a doe and 3 fawns came by the tree. No horns. Very, very slow. I think the deer stayed out by the fields out of the wind.
p.m.
Set the decoy up in a soybean field. Had a bunch of does come out early 125 yards south of me. One small buck with them. Had a fawn come from the other way and spooked the whole herd back to the woods. 10 minutes later had a doe and fawns and small buck come over the hill. The small buck checked out the real McCoy first then checked out my decoy. He scent checked the decoy at 10 yards, got a whiff of something he didn't like and got the heck out of Dodge. I called it a night. Things have changed drastically in one week. Need to find feed and get my ducks-in-a-row for late season. I hope something big moves in. Need some pressure on the the open areas to move the deer to heavy cover.
November 27, 2007
p.m.
Holy cow what a night! hunted from a stool on the ground. It was a southeast wind but at my location the wind swirled some. That caused me big problems. I must have had around 15 does and fawns heading for feed and do some goofy circle back in the woods. They eventually came out at the regular location. I am assuming they were looking for me or doing some sort of parade practice. My acquaintance, the mature 138 class 4x4 came later but he didn't do the goofy semi-circle. After 45 minutes of milling around, a half-dozen of them at about 12 yards, finally got a sniff of stinky old me. Thank God because my right leg had lost all circulation over 15 minutes prior. I was dreading the burning sensation when I shifted my weight to let the blood flow again. I almost screamed! The does and fawns fled only a short distance. The buck stood motionless for an eternity (i.e. 10 minutes). He eventually was convinced I was a bush in my Realtree AP HD camo and started towards me. When he went behind the cedar, I picked up my bow. OOOPS! He must have saw the arrow. He zeroed in on me again but eventually figured the wind was causing that bush to move. The closest he got was 45 paces. He eventually wondered back to cover. What a night. I was mentally wrecked but had a truly memorable encounter.
November 28, 2007
p.m.
I moved 3/4 of mile from the previous evening. I didn't think it could get better than the night before. I was wrong. 12 bucks and a few does and fawns later I had another memorable evening. I saw 3 bucks on the way in. One was 140 type 5x5. The two others were small bucks 15 yards from my treestand. They scared me more than I scared them though the speed of their flight would lead you toe believe otherwise. I rattled up a storm with my new Knight & Hale rattle bag. The first buck from the stand was a perfect 150 type 5x5. He was kicking a@# on the limb of a deadfall 120 yards south me. I blew my Buck Growl but with no results. Then I saw another buck and another buck and then another buck. I don't know if they were coming to the rattle bag or not but I pretended they had. I grunted, I growled, I "canned" but none of them paid me any attention. The 5x5 least of all. I heard a noise north of me. Holy cow! It's the 155ish, dark-horned, gnarly looking buck with a small drop tine. What a bruiser body. I grunted, he looked, I grunted, he looked, I canned, he looked, he kept walking, I tickled the rattled bag, he stopped, he looked, he walked, I hit my snort wheeze, he stopped, he's coming, he's coming. He stopped at 50 yards. Crap, here come two fawns. I can't make anymore noise. He'll for sure come to check them out. I'll get a shot. Ten motionless minutes later, he turns and walks away. NO! Grunt, growl, rattle, snort wheeze, I tried it all but he kept going. What's that? Another nice buck north of him. My night ended with no shot but an believable encounter with deer I had not seen in a month of almost relentless pursuit. It was a privilege to play tag with a definite bull of the woods. Wow!
November 30, 2007
p.m.
Saw quite a few deer driving and walking in around 2:30. Looks like I was too late. Got to the stand and saw few deer but nothing like Wednesday. Weather too quiet. Deer probably already on their way out to feed. Left early to pick up trail camera prior to shotgun season. Saw a nice buck feeding in the field at dark. Moultrie trail-cam photos show a lot of movement on the 30th at mid-day. One shooter buck posed for the camera. Will need to wait for the 17th to get back at it with my Hoyt Protec.
December 17, 2007 - January 10, 2008
Hunted fairly hard during this time. Saw a couple of real whoppers including a huge 4x4 and some other gigantic buck walking out one evening. Neither of these deer were on huntable property. We have nick-named the big buck 'Heart Attack'. Definitely a keeper. Focused on a doe harvest. Accomplished that goal on January 5th. Missed a long 40 yard shot at a 145-inch 5x5 on January 10 around 5 pm. He was one of the bucks on my 'go' list. Got a November 30 trail camera picture of this buck. Talk about last minute. 3-inches up and it would have been a heart shot...but it wasn't. Plenty of seed for 2008.
Lessons learned in 2007:
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Releases aren't so bad, still don't feel like I have control of the bow like I did with fingers. Hopefully the flinching will go away. I like my Tru-Fire spring loaded Bulldog and Hurricane Releases. Used the Bulldog for the doe and buck shot. Like the fit and feel of the Hurricane better. A trigger set too sensitive can lead to a sore mouth when the release goes off during the draw. OUCH!
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G5 Montec Broadheads fly very well.
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Not very convinced of the fit and reliability of the Lumenok. I think it was a cold weather thing. Replaced them the last 2-weeks with my trusty Easton nocks. They are my favorite by far.
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A one or two pin site is plenty. A four pin site is unnecessary. My 4-pin Black Gold site is OK but may look at other options for 2008.
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Realtree AP Camo is without a doubt the best pattern I have ever used. My Road Trips suit is not made for anything below 30° F.
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Cabela's boot blankets are awesome!
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Gorilla Sticks and Rapid Rails are my preferred climbing steps. Definitely need steps on both sides. Alternating steps are not desirable at all.
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Silicone peep site tubing does break. Need plenty available.
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Wind direction is king. Never cheat it. Wind direction is king. Sorry, I already said that. Scent Blocker is overrated.
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Calling works occasionally. I do like the Drury Buck Growl.
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Deer population is down, don't let anybody tell me different.
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Trespassers are everywhere. They do steal trail cameras. Always need security.
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Trail cameras are very addictive. The Moultrie I-40 is my favorite.
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Just because your lease partner shoots a 176 gross doesn't mean another big one will show up. Need to try and harvest the best buck on the property. It may be a 135 class.
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Drop tine bucks do exist, I actually saw one. August trail camera photos do not lead to November sightings.
Favorite Web Sites
For Trail Camera Addicts
Hoyt bows
New Book
by Bryce Lambley