I have not seen a thread for Wisconsin yet if this is a duplicate, let it fall off into the abyss.
Post your hunts and adventures here. Mention the part of the state you are hunting so we can compare notes how the season is progressing.
Good luck everyone. Be safe and shoot straight. :archer2:
I will get this started...
I went down to the family farm in Vernon county last weekend for the opener. My main objective was chores on the property and to sneak in some stand time if possible.
While working Saturday mid day this buck came past me about 30 yards. He was bedded near where I was working, and was kicked up by my father when Dad was coming out to help.
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It was really hot out, almost didn't go sit. I decided to sit near a creek down in the gully because it was cooler and I figured deer would be wanting a drink.
First time I ever hunted in a short sleeve shirt and bug spray. Didn't seem right... I saw one unidentified deer about 60 yards down stream and had a doe walk through about 20 yards uphill from me. She was eye level. Below my stand there was a logging road. The hill was steep, I was about 15 feet up the tree. The logging road was about 40 feet below me.
I had no objectives, goals or disappointments. Didn't want to be shooting a deer in ninety degree temps. I was nice to be back hunting though.
Keep us posted on your season...........
I hunted the Sat. opener. East Central WI. Hunted in the morning Sat and Sunday. Too hot and humid for the evening sit's. I didn't see a thing, but it was sure great to be out there again ! Heading back up tomorrow, big cold front coming thru.
4 hour morning and evening sits Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and a 3 hour sit last night in Winnebago. Hotter than hell and way too many mosquitos. Thermacell running constantly and slathered in picaridin.
Seems I saw everything except what I was after. Close encounters with a fox, a coyote, numerous raccoons & squirrels, a couple turkeys, a doe and 3 separate fawns. No bucks to be seen yet. Good to be back out though.
Good luck boys!!!
Tim B
I will be hunting WI for the first time this weekend- I am super excited. I have a lw climber if I decide to go up a tree and a diy ghillie jacket for the ground. Making your own ghillie as opposed to buying is very rewarding. I choose my own materials, can binge watch Netflix while I work on it, and it only cost $45.
Mosquitoes here in Juneau county are making it a no go for me and many others. I know it can be done with the right equipment but the roar of them coming for you is really hard to deal with even if they dont bite you. We need a frost. And we have some really good spots lined up too...
Went out Tues. afternoon to the Kettle Moraine state forest in Sheboygan county. I got to my stand and was completely covered by mosquitos. Turned on the thermacell and after 10 minutes most of em disappeared. Only saw a red and gray squirrel. We need an early frost. Colder temps next week should help. Good luck to everyone this year and be safe out there!
My 2018 New Mexico Elk hunt is in the books and the meat is in the freezer.
Thanks to my friend Irv Eichorst for setting me up with this hunt. With a new knee, spine surgery last year and losing 50+ lbs I wanted to go elk hunting again. Great hunt, great friends and great memories!
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Congrats, Kevin. Pretty country. Not too steep. Just right for old guys like us. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
We hunted at 9100 to 10350 elevation, plenty of hills and thin air for us more mature hunters :bigsmyl:
Congrats Kevin, beautiful bull. That landscape is amazing. Thank you for the pictures...
Congrats Kevin! Nice bull and beautiful country!
Congratulations Kevin
Haven't gotten out in WI yet, but spent two unfruitful weeks in Colorado chasing elk. Great views and weather for camping though.
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Congrats Kevin.
Congratulations Kevin..
Saturdays front brought a small increase in action over here. 3 does, 4 fawns, and a tall spike within 20 yards Saturday morning.
TTT, last week's cold front surely provided some encounters. 4 of my family members had close encounters with the car, my mom not so lucky
Any word on the WTA Fall Hunt?
I was with WTA member Ron Lang hunting turkeys in Door cty this weekend. We saw many but they were too far and I am pretty sure whipping us the bird.
Lol Greg. I hunted this past weekend. Saw a spike and doe, no shot at either.
Had an encounter with a 130+ buck at 15 yards a few weeks ago, only offered a sharp quartering to shot before he was gone. Otherwise I had opportunities at another spike and numerous does. It's been a slow early season here.
Went to the farm this weekend to hang stands. Pretty windy. Makes hanging from trees hairy.
Snuck out this afternoon for a few hours. Sat in a ravine near bedding so I'd be out of the 40 mph wind gusts.
Saw a couple does. And had something snort down wind over the ridge from me.
Scrapes and rubs are everywhere
Had a nice 10 work a scrape 33 yards away from me yesterday but he walked away from me following a group of does. Scrapes and rubs are also everywhere here in Northwest Wisconsin.
The little bucks are cruising and pestering does in Portage county. I gave a couple of those little guys a pass. I here by declare the rut is on. I will be making a four day weekend and ready to start flingin arrows.
Happy rut!!!
Good luck
I agree Greg, also note deer are starting to show up laying on the roads, mostly small bucks. Usually also a great sign they are rutting more.
Ron Lang took one of them out of circulation this morning with a pointy stick.
Good deal, congrats Ron. I am getting reports deer are moving good. Lots of smaller bucks chasing does and lots of grunting going on.
I've been getting out quite a bit and seeing plenty of deer. Really wanting to shoot a doe but they are giving me fits while the smaller bucks visit daily. Lots of close encounters with those guys, but still waiting on "the one ".
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I no sooner hit submit on the post above and this guy walked out.
Stop teasing me!
Had bucks running and grunting all over tonight. I was sitting on public land. Was pretty exciting but ran out of daylight
Before going out tonight, I made the decision that any shot offered on a mature deer would be taken as hunting opportunities for me will be limited until late season. Tonight I was covered with deer, at one point I had seven all around me from 7 to 25 yards. A large doe was the deer at 7 yards, lined up perfect, took the shot and......forgot to make sure that my bottom limb was clear. Smacked the tree, sailed the arrow and had all of the deer snorting. Couldn't help but chuckle as everything walked off.
2:00 Friday afternoon I snuck in near bedding and started setting up. 2 sticks up the tree strapping on the 3rd, a decent 8 point stands up from a bed 50 yards off, and walks right by me, browsing all the way. Closest point was 10 yards down wind, never knew I was there. Had to hang from that second stick for a good half hour while he worked his way out of the area.
Sunday morning I took advantage of the rain and did some scouting on a piece of public I haven't hunted yet. I bumped a 6 point and a doe, and found good active trails, but no rubs that I could find. Same deal on my private land.
I sat yesterday afternoon, had a couple deer working their way toward me but the steady northwest wind shifted to Northeast for just long enough to get busted
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Hey, I know that guy........you need to wash your face......... :biglaugh:
This early season goes by way too fast. I had a couple hours to sit this morning. 20 degrees and comfortable until my toes became cold. No deer seen. I see they came past the stand last night by the tracks in the snow. Also saw a deer walked through at 80 yards but turned south. (he walked down the driveway) lol. Couldn't see him. [attachment=1][attachment=2][attachment=3]
I agree, early season goes way too fast. Sat from 2:00 pm to dark tonight on the edge of where the woods goes from deciduous to a pine plantation. Saw 9 deer, including a grunting spike, but they zigged when I sat up for them to zag. All out of range.
I also was not the only predator looking for a meal.
The bucks really have been moving the last four days. I saw eight by 9 Am Thursday and should have had a shot at a decent 8 pt. Tons of fresh tracks today after the fresh snow. I think I will have to get some more bowhunting in before the banging.
Good luck Greg, I feel like a kid when I say just one more day LOL
There's going to be some big changes in deer behavior in the next 12 hours.