How's it going for my brothers in the bow
Slow going on public land. I haven't had a full day to really push in past where everyone else goes though. Hopefully remedy that next week. Planning on pulling a 2 day overnighter into the Manistee national forest land. If I can avoid the 4 wheelers I should be able to get into some deer.
Slow for me too , I've had only one deer come in to my blind . It was a small doe , and I passed on the shot .
Had a doe duck the arrow opening night on public, she was the 5th deer I saw. All the others were within range, but it was too thick for a shot. The same 8 pointer has been in there 3 times and always stays behind me or in the thick stuff to my left.
Had a guy, his wife and daughter stumble within 15 yards of me before they noticed and walked the ridge away downwind with climbers on their backs an hour before sunset last weekend. The 8 appeared 15 minutes later and started trailing them, ha. Found where another guy set up 70 yards from my spot on the trail I walk in on to keep my scent away from where the deer normally bed. Gotta love public land...
I know the challenges of hunting public land. I respect those that utilize Michigan's abundant public land resources. I'm blessed to have my own piece of property in S.W. Michigan but I do hunt in Copper Country State Forest in November. The U.P. lures me. I am picking up a number of bucks on my trail cams on my property and my son shot over the back of a 5pt. last week. I'm going out tomorrow and Wednesday.
No bucks. Close encounters on my dirt with does. Went out on state land looking for an alternate spot with the Brittanies and walked up in 20 elk. One very nice bull. Too warm for a few days. Back at it later this week.
Been too hot for me to get out, but on vacation the next 2 weeks so weather should cooperate..Looking forward to a few sits
was up in the u p last week,seen a few does even had one close enough to get a shot at but with the no doe rule no shot. i had a few pic`s of a buck on my trail cam. great week to be up there!
Not seeing many deer during hunting time BUT many on the trail cameras between midnight and 530am. Hope that changes as the rut approaches.
Not much movement happening in daylight right now that I have seen.
Slow. 75 degrees and a full moon aren't helping. That said I've had my chances. I screwed up on a wise old doe and gave a spike a pass within the last few weeks.
I'm running 3 cameras and they aren't showing much activity at any time of the day. This is private land in Genesee County.
Keep the Michigan reports coming!
I hunted one evening in Lenawee county with a buddy and saw one 3 point. Opened my camp in Clare county over the weekend and saw one little guy Saturday night. My sister-in-law saw 4 deer Friday night. All were just sucking up acorns. My cameras are showing a lot of night movement too.
D.P.
I came really close on a big doe the other night. Unfortunately, a fawn in the group that she was with decided to go exploring the thick brush off to the side of the trail. He walked in about 5 yards behind me and blew the whole thing.
Seeing lots of big bucks though when out shining. The antler point restriction here is really starting to pay off.
Hey Trenton we're almost neighbors. Any Salmon in the Boyne? We should shoot some time.
Slow South of Big Rapids...killed a big doe Saturday morning..hope it picks up soon
My wife Kim took a 6pt last Tuesday in Otisville. I saw only one doe in stand so far .
Cancer surgery king of slows you down but I will start to shoot again next week.
Killed a buck first 5 minutes of season, first in 35 yrs on opening day, have been seeing good numbers, oldest buck so far was a 2-1/2 yr old.
Slow South of Big Rapids...killed a big doe Saturday morning..hope it picks up soon
It is starting to pick up where I hunt, very slow start but I have been seeing more and more.
I shot a spike the 2nd of October. My 7 year old son was sitting with me and had to lean back so I could get the shot. The thumbs up and big smile he gave me after the shot may be the best bow hunting moment I've ever had! Lol! Other than the spike it's been pretty quiet.
Spent 8 days up north at bow camp, didn't connect but the deer where moving! Wish I could say that here on the home front! Although I have 4 new scrapes in the area I have not seen any deer while in the stand!
I hunted Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday was warm and windy and I didn't see a thing. A cold front came in that night so I felt good about Wednesday. Sure enough, at exactly 8:00am a doe with two yearlings came out of some thick stuff and passed in front of me at the edge of my confidence range only to move away in the only spot I didn't have a shooting lane open. I know,I know.....been there done that! Right?
Right! Heading to camp shortly to grab clothes then straight to the woods. Windy and cool- should be a decent evening for the plan I have in mind.
Good hunting to all you guys. I will be heading up to Lansing tomorrow, but, unfortunately, not for hunting. We'll be visiting our daughter who just recently began working at MSU.
Saturday is the openening day of gun season in Georgia. Since I was not always an archer, I count this as the official opening day for record keeping. It will be the first time in 52 years I will not get to hunt opening day. Bummer, but I haven't seen my daughter in quite a while, so this trip is necessary. I'll be thinking of you guys, though. Pick a spot!
Been picking up on state land around reed city. .it was a slow start but I saw 6 bucks in 2 days last week. Haven't seen a bowhunter yet and people say state land is over hunted. I'm not sure where. Anyone wane hunt come on down. Lots of room. Good luck
State land here us OK until gun season. My county doesn't have antler restrictions, so for the first couple days it sounds like the Wild West. A few bird hunters in the woods now including me.
Two Button Bucks from Last Evening
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It's been slow going in Manistee Co. Beeing seeing TONS of night time movement on my half dozen trail cams. Wind and weather conditions have really on been favorable for a few sits. During those sits I've seen deer just nothing close enough for a shot. The only one in my camp to get a shot at a deer was my BIL. He visited this past weekend from Boston for his first deer hunt since 1997. I took him to a stand I had pretty much saved just for him last Friday...SW wind, told him deer should come from everywhere except the trail we came in on(NE). Well, 10min after I left a lone doe came in right on our trail. Shot went high just above the shoulders and the spine. We tracked her quite a ways, found his arrow but never a drop of blood. Well, she was back on trail camera the following evening and I just had her again on my card check yesterday. I can say this...the colors have been absolutely amazing this year. We haven't had any heavy winds or rains yet to nock them down early. I can't imagine we'll have much left through this coming weekend though.
Hunted Missaukee County opening weekend with high winds and lousy weather. Saw one 2.5 year old 7 pt that I passed...that was it.
Hunted Washtenaw county twice in my best spot and saw absolutely nothing both times.
Been out in the woods six times and I've seen one deer. To say it's been slow is a huge understatement.
Got some trail cam pics that are looking good. A few in day light most at night.
It's interesting that the consensus of the thread seems to be that things are slow. My experience is just the opposite. I've had a big uptick in deer sightings (both hunting/scouting and on my trail cameras) this year. Have hunted my southern Michigan spot (Oakland County) twice this season and shot a doe both times. Lots of other deer activity.
I've spent every weekend in Sept/October at our camp in in NW lower Michigan and this is shaping up to be the best year we've had in a decade. Everyone seeing tons of deer and a very noticeable increase in mature bucks. Our acorn production is way off- if we get a rough winter things will be different next season.
I noticed the lack of acorns this year also. But just came back from my property yesterday and more scrapes have shown up and appears more deer activity that just a few days ago. These cool nights and days are going to help a lot. Leaves are changing fast and dropping.
Finally I have been seeing daylight movement. I had a four pointer cruze by last evening. Kinda cool looking rack, he had big crab claws. Plus scrapes are popping up.
Good luck to everyone. I went in late Sept, but didnt see anything. Havent been able to get back out yet, working too much, but I have plans to go here in about 3 weeks. My friends seem to think I have a really good chance to get one on their land. Can't wait.
I have so many deer out back I have to keep chasing them out of the yard. Maybe it is the apples under the trees that keeps them coming back.
Saw two bucks last night, both 4 pointers. Would have been easy shots, but they need at least 3 on a side. Also saw a doe and two fawns. Scrapes are starting to show up, as well as a few rubs. Hopefully this evening will be good.
Have seen a few small ones in the 2x I've been out hunting. This morning I see a dandy 9pt going through the back yard as I was packing to head to Wolpole Island duck hunting. Now all I am going to do is think about getting home to hunt that buck.
Had a close encounter with a 11 point I have on trail camera. He sure is a smart buck. Hope to see him again. Heat rate maxed out. WOW Just out of range.
Plan was a flop, just too much pressure this year in that area. Time to hit a couple old spots further north. Breaking out the scents and sitting on the ground in some big woods near Manistee later this week, good luck guys!
Headed out this afternoon and will be hunting Thursday and Friday. Finally a cool down. That can only help.I'll soon find out.
All I'm seeing is a doe with two doe fawns and one button buck that is wandering around buy his self .
No scraps and no antlers on the camera either .
Hunted 4PM until dark last night. Two does passed out of range at 5:45. Pulled trailcam card and there are definitely bucks in the area but moving just after dark. Come November!
Has anyone hunted the Chelsea state game area? Not far from my house and I'm wondering how pressured it is during archery season.
Still getting majority of pics way late after dark. It's a love/hate relationship with these cameras for me. I love seeing what's out there when I am not around. But , I don't go out as much as I use to because the deer are not moving in daylight. I am getting lazy I guess.
I'm headed to Michigan for my first time ever this coming weekend. Gonna spend a week. I'm very much looking forward to it. I wish you all well.
Which part of Michigan, Matty? Will you be hunting?
I've been seeing does consistently near Ionia. Last weekend 7 bucks in a group Alll sparring. They will be moving more in a couple days.
Pretty dead here. If nothing happens tonight. I'm relocating. I can't seem to find them.
Yesterday at 8:30 a nice 6pt. showed up on a game trail near my stand that is next to the creek that runs through my property. I was standing and ready. He had to clear a couple trees for my shot. When he did, I let the arrow fly. To my dismay, at the shot he ducked and swirled so fast it shocked me. I saw my arrow enter his neck. Away he went with the arrow still visible. My only hope was that it caught an artery. I got down. No blood anywhere. After searching three hours I found only two small drops of blood. I went well over a mile. My hope is it was a non fatal wound. Strangely, I never found my arrow.
The bucks are finally starting to move up here. Had three bucks come through the other night and stand broadside at 12 yards. All were spikes. I would have thought it was the same deer over and over again if all three of them weren't there at the same time. Also got pictures of a basket rack 8 that was there at 7:45 pm. He just needs to come an hour earlier and I'll be in business.
Good luck to all you guys!
Knapping buddy called and told me about his 11 point that he shot two days ago.
It went like this.
I was in my stand around 1100am having one more cigarette and a cup of coffee and decided to text my hunting buddy to tell him I am getting down from my stand when a 6 point came running by. I put my cigarette out, phone away and set my cup of coffee on the stand. The 6 point stopped and looked back. I grabbed my bow as the 11 point was trotting in, chasing the 6 point so I shot the 11 point with a 19 1/2" inside spread.
The end.
So I figured I have doing this hunting thing all wrong except I don't want to start smoking an don't know how to text. True story by the way
Two different bucks on trail cams chasing does. Both in the wee hours. I had high hopes with the cold front last night but came up empty.
Had a 8 point in range Saturday morning. I didn't shoot it. I was hoping for one of the bigger ones I have on camera show up. (Hope I don't regret it.) lol. Had a spike and 5 point come by the started a little soaring match. brush my feather up against my coat and they high tailed it out of there.
Jon, that's funny.
Spooked a doe at 10 yards walking into a set-up, that was it for the entire weekend. Tried 4 different areas, no luck. This coming weekend should be decent, usually my best dates.
6 yesterday morning. Nothing I wanted to shoot. They were close though. Real close.
Damon, I shook my head as he told me the story but no-one deserves a monster buck anymore than he does. Fought cancer over the past year and last year he fell out of his ladder stand, broke his shoulder, cracked ribs, blood coming out of his nose and ears and his hunting buddy thought he was dead when he walked up on him.
This has to be the absolute worst year for seeing deer I have ever experienced. Our deer are still showing up from 900pm to 500am.
Good news. In regard to my last post. My son hunted yesterday P.M. from his stand near mine. Around 6:30 he saw a nice 6pt. heading his way. It had a noticeable limp. He described it in detail and I'm sure it is the buck I hit two days ago. What I thought was a neck shot was likely a shoulder hit right at the neck juncture. The buck did not give him a shot but it lives and I'm grateful for that.
Wow, Jon, I'd say he definitely deserved a nice one!
Vesty, that sounds almost exactly like a hit I made a few years ago except I had muscle blood for quite a ways before losing anything to go on. No arrow, blood stopped in a clearing and searching for 2 days never panned out. Only deer I've lost, I'm still bummed but hopefully he lived.
Had a nice 6 chasing a doe thru my backyard about 9 am this morning. I should just sit on my porch roof...
Seeing a lot of movement in the evenings. Several 6 pts and 4 pts within range but holding out for something I have yet to see.
Last friday I finally took a big bodied 8 point. Lots of scrapes and rubs showing up in the spots we have scouted in the past. Hope to shoot another next week when we go back in for a 5 day camp. My buck and story is over on the Highlights section.
Dan in the U. P.
Really warm here today. It's always a bad sign when I don't get cold changing into my hunting clothes. Had a group of four-wheeler riders go by while I was getting ready. Seeing that I was going hunting, they all whooped real loud and gunned their engines as they went by. Gotta love hunting public. Hiked into some big acorn ridges that have always been good to me in the past. There were absolutely NO acorns. Anyone else noticing this this year? I ended up sitting where there used to be a really heavy trail, but it barely looks used now. I guess I'll pull the plug on that spot for the year.
Most guys don't believe the hype and don't sit 10-2. Now is the time for the next week fellas. Gotta sit the noon hour if you want to see the big boys moving. They get up about 11 and seek em til 1. Don't worry about weather and all, just try. Don't ask me how I know. Lol.
We are doing ok....son and I both have meat in the freezer. Big buck sightings are down, this warm weather isn't helping. Seeing lots of small bucks, but we have several whoppers on the property so holding out...
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Good work Roger! I'm hunting with my son Saturday. I got him into traditional hunting three years ago and he loves it. I gave him my N.M. Baraga which he shoots well. That gave me an excuse to get a Classic from Steve to go along with my Whisper. It looks like your son might be shooting a N.M.
Congrats to you both Roger! Good luck guys.
QuoteOriginally posted by Vesty:
Good work Roger! I'm hunting with my son Saturday. I got him into traditional hunting three years ago and he loves it. I gave him my N.M. Baraga which he shoots well. That gave me an excuse to get a Classic from Steve to go along with my Whisper. It looks like your son might be shooting a N.M.
Yes...Danny is shooting a NM with juniper laminations. Beauiful bow.
Good job Roger and Danny.
QuoteOriginally posted by T Folts:
Good job Roger and Danny.
Thanks Terry....I'm surprised you haven't nailed the big boy yet?
Our spots are close enough together, I'm betting we have some of the same genetics in our herd(s)....I'll send a couple your way this week, you push a couple over toward me :bigsmyl:
I'm making an all day sit Sunday...that should be the day. All our corn will be cut by then. :pray:
I've passed up a few waiting patiently but it is getting harder and harder, lol. I'm going to kick a few your way this weekend should be there by noon. From now till the 15th I'll be out a lot more.
Best of luck.
I agree with Overspined. I am on vacation until the 23rd ( I think ). Plan on doing some lunch time hunts and see what happens. Been hearing bucks grunting and chasing every night out, but nothing more that a 6 point sighting
I had a really nice 8 point come in tonight, grunting with his nose to the ground. He was on track to pass 10 yards in front of me. I had my longbow ready and was getting ready to draw when his head went behind a tree. He was two steps from where I could shoot him when the wind swirled just a bit. His nose went up instantly and he turned and trotted away without giving me a shot. I was shaking so bad afterwards that my arrow was flopping around on my bow shelf. I've been hunting so hard to get my first trad deer, and I was almost positive that I was going to at least get a shot. It was kind of sickening when he turned and left. Oh well, that's hunting, and can if I don't have a rack to hang on the wall and some meat for the freezer, that was still an awesome experience.
Getting close is the hard part. The rest will come. Don't worry about the shaking. When we quit getting excited, it's time to choose another thing go pass the time. Good job. Keep at it.
I'm sitting all day tomorrow , hoping it doesn't take that long though.
Had a very close encounter with a nice wide 8 point this morning. He came in following some does around and needed to turn right and come down the trail to me but instead turned left and followed the "tail". Can't say as I blame a guy but I'm patiently waiting to take my first deer with a recurve and he would have been my biggest buck ever. Got a couple good glances at him and hope to see him again. Been passing does since the 2012 EHD die-off trying to get the herd back in my area.
Nothing but birds and tree rats near camp in southern Oceana, tried a few different areas with scents and light calling.
Drove up near Free Soil and saw 17 does hustling through on different trails like a buck was chasing, but no antlers followed. If I don't kill a buck before the orange army invades, I'm switching modes to meat-hunter for the late season. I'll be out with the bow during gun, just in case a buck sneaks by...good luck guys!
First buck of the season today. He came by running a doe. Called him to 5 ft from my ladder. I didn't have the heart to shoot the young fella. He ambled of and ran a little doe by one more time before he was gone. I was relaxing after that and a grouse came by. It flew by like shot, a foot closer it would have knocked me out. It never gave me a shot after that. Good Luck Guys
Thursday evening I got a shot at a good doe and made it count. It was a very close shot and almost hit a little too low. Barely caught the bottom of the heart and exited right out the bottom of the brisket between the two front legs. Bound off 30yds and looked around wondering what happened. The two button bucks she had with her had no clue what just happened, just stayed in place eating acorns.
10seconds later she fell right over. 3rd trad harvest in the last 4 years, all with St Joe River bows.
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Looks like a nice big swamp donkey, Doc!! Just curious, how do you like your St. Joe bow? I've never shot one but I like bows made in MI. I shoot Pitsley Predator from Hunters Niche but need to get back to Kalamazoo in January and shoot some other bows for fun. I know St. Joe River makes kids bows and I'm thinking about taking my boys down there to pick out a bow. They are 5 & 8 and the oldest seems to have a real interest in archery.
I enjoy my St Joe.
My Daughter who is 4yo has one of their youth bows and she asks to shoot it everyday...she's actually getting very very good with it.
Just got my wife a torrent recurve of the classifieds for our 6yr Wedding Anniversary. I should have asked more questions on it, because every device I checked the add with the bow looked pink and black. I get it, and it's red and black. Unfortunately, that's far from her preferred color.
Bucks are starting to move. I had a big 10 point come through 3 times this morning, pushing does in front of him. I think it was the fog and cool weather though....I set up for him tonight....PERFECT SETUP.....didn't see a deer. :dunno:
A 8 pt. came to with in 40 yds last night. He was with a doe but he had other things on his mind than my call.
I heard deer running all over last night, but the area I was in had a ton of small beech trees that were holding on to their leaves. Unless the deer had come down the trail that I was watching (they didn't) I couldn't have seen them.
Congrats gv!
Saw 5 different bucks this Saturday morning. Nothing closer than 100 yards. Even got to watch a dandy 8 point take advantage of a doe.
This was in Oceana County on private land.
Chad
I saw 4 bucks and 4 does this morning. All before 11:00AM. There was some chasing and the bucks certainly appeared to be on the prowl.
Hit a new area the other night, had 2 different smaller bucks coming into my scents but got busted by swirling winds. Found a good stand area for the future, though. Couple does walked by too far away also. This weekend will probably have gun hunters running around all over getting ready for Tuesday.
Gonna be out at least once before then with my fingers crossed, good luck guys!
Went out this morning for a bit. It was really cold, 29 when I got to my spot, and changing into my hunting clothes was a less than enjoyable experience. Everything was frosted over and the leaves were very crunchy. It was a beautiful morning. Around 7:45 I had a big spike come through. I got excited at first since his frame looked like a decent buck, but he had no tines. He passed at about 12 yards. Then I had a doe with two fawns come through at 12 yards as well. I had to be somewhere at 10:30, so at 9:45 I began packing up. I just happened to glance down the valley to my right and saw a deer coming through the trees. I couldn't see its head, but it had a big body. Then it stepped out and I recognized it as the buck that I almost got last Friday. I got set for a shot, but at 50 yards he turned and started up the powerline, never giving me a shot. I was shaking pretty bad, even though he never got close. The next best thing to shooting a big deer is getting excited over seeing a big deer, and I really wished that I didn't have to leave. Needless to say, I was a bit later than 10:30.
I'm going out again tonight. Maybe Lady Luck will send something my way. Good luck to everyone else out there!
Hunted all last week in the Manistee National Forest. For the week we saw 9 does/fawns and at least 8 different bucks between me and my brother. Unfortunately no shots at a legal deer. Probably won't get back up til next year.
Finally saw some deer moving, just unfortunately I had the wrong weapon in my hand. My brother ended up shooting the buck yesterday that I was playing cat and mouse with earlier this year. Guess I'll have to find another one during late season. No one that I've talked to up here has seen any rut activity.
Trenton I had one follow me in Tues. Followed my scent drag. Going back to the Pigeon tomorrow. Should be moving at least with the weather moving in.
QuoteOriginally posted by Chain2:
Trenton I had one follow me in Tues. Followed my scent drag. Going back to the Pigeon tomorrow. Should be moving at least with the weather moving in.
I was over there last Friday, saw lots of guys but no deer. Lots of elk though. Hopefully the cold weather this weekend will get them moving, but we're supposed to have pretty high winds along with it.
All the deer I've been seeing have shown zero signs of chasing or any rut activity. I'm seeing alot of toy bucks too that should be pestering the living heck out of all the does. But they're just browsing without a care in the world.
My son shot an 8 point this morning with a rifle. A 6 came by running a doe. He passed on it. Ten minutes later the 7 showed up
Lots of action in Antrim Co., Bellaire specifically. The APR rule has certainly helped. My most recent hunt there was 11-10 through 11-16 and saw 13 different 2.5 yr. bucks, passed on them all. A couple 1.5 halfs and two nice 3.5's. Had an encounter with a 3.5 yr old 10pt. but I was half way up the tree to my stand when he came in :(
There has been quite a bit of chasing and noses to the ground. Didn't start though until the week of November 7th. I'm hoping the second phase of rut will provide more opportunities at mature deer.