Post by: Trenton G. on October 30, 2023, 09:08:56 PM
I may have been a bit overzealous as I found myself beginning my hike in at just after 6:15. I never use a flashlight if I can help it, and with it being overcast, it was almost pitch black as I picked my way through the woods a half mile to a pinch point that always looked promising. I tucked into some brush and settled in to wait for daylight.
As I sat there waiting, it began to drizzle again, and I silently begged for it to stop, which thankfully it did a few minutes later. It wasn't until 7:30 that I was able to see much of anything, but I figured that if they used the trail I expected, it would be a close shot and I'd have no trouble seeing them. I have been seeing a little bit of rut activity, so I pulled out my grunt call and gave 4 soft grunts spaced out over about 2 minutes. When I'd finished, I put it back in my pack and settled in to wait. I had only been waiting for about 2 minutes when I saw a deers leg go through a gap in the pines about 40 yards out, not on the deer trail, but on the same route that I had walked in. It never made a sound as it moved. I slowly got my bow up as it walked through another opening. This time I thought that I'd gotten a good look at its head, and it appeared to be a doe. However, when it turned and started angling back towards the swamp, I saw an antler sticking out above its ear. I felt pretty disappointed as it disappeared behind a clump of trees, still angling away. The deer suddenly reappeared further to the right in a 4 foot gap, angling away from me. This was the last chance that I would have before he made it into the thicker trees, and knowing that he had at least 3 points on one side, I drew back and shot. I needed to lean over to clear a branch, and in the low light I couldn't see the arrow impact. However, it felt good, sounded good, and the buck kicked, pitched forward on his nose, and plowed forward into the swamp. There was a ton of crashing and cracking for about 20 seconds and then silence. I sat there in the early light shaking and replaying everything in my mind. Based on what I had heard, there were only two options. Either he'd run into the swamp and crashed, or was still alive but not walking anywhere, as it would have been impossible for him to move through that area quietly.
After 15 minutes I quietly got my stuff together and slowly walked over to where he had been. There was no blood at the impact sight, but looking in the direction that he had snowplowed through, I saw blood covering everything, as well as on some brush off to the side. This gave me a lot of confidence, and I followed a very steady blood trail about 40 yards into the swamp, where I found him laying dead. It caught me a bit off guard, as he died with his head caught in a bush, making him appear to still be alive for a second. Up to now I still hadn't really seen what it was, and I just about fell over when I realized it was a clean, perfectly symmetrical 10. I've hunted around here my whole life and never seen one, and only ever had 1 on camera. Not a big deer compared to most places, but I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to put some meat in the freezer and a rack on the wall.
Shot with my Great Northern Ghost, 59-60 pounds at my draw, shooting a GT 400 with a 200 grain 3 blade VPA. I went and ranged it later and the shot was 26 yards. The arrow entered at the last rib and buried to the feathers and the exit hole was just in front of the shoulder on the opposite side.
This is how I found him
Post by: arrow30 on October 30, 2023, 09:23:02 PM
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2023, 09:36:33 PM
Post by: Maclean on October 30, 2023, 09:51:54 PM
Post by: kennym on October 30, 2023, 09:59:28 PM
Post by: stevem on October 30, 2023, 10:35:06 PM
Post by: JR Chambers on October 30, 2023, 10:40:31 PM
Post by: Michpatriot on October 30, 2023, 10:49:01 PM
Post by: Steelhead on October 30, 2023, 11:39:43 PM
Really fine buck and fine bow to close it out on in Northern Michigan.Looks like Osage limbs.
My 1st G.N Super Ghost had all Osage limbs?Loved that bow!
A lot of rain for sure lately.I got hammered by rain Steelhead fishing for 2 days last week.
Congrats on a most memorable hunt for you. :)
Post by: Kodiak Fan on October 31, 2023, 05:31:12 AM
Post by: Nomadstalker on October 31, 2023, 06:50:43 AM
Post by: supernaut on October 31, 2023, 07:39:46 AM
Thanks for the excellent pictures and write up. Threads like this are my favorite!
:campfire:
Post by: trad_bowhunter1965 on October 31, 2023, 10:17:21 AM
Post by: GCook on October 31, 2023, 11:27:10 AM
Post by: Michael Guran on October 31, 2023, 11:40:06 AM
Post by: rastaman on October 31, 2023, 11:58:01 AM
Post by: Trenton G. on October 31, 2023, 02:53:25 PM
Ray, I will be headed to Houghton for 9 days in November. Duck hunt in the morning and deer hunt in the evening. I can't wait!
Steelhead, yes, those are Osage limbs with a cocobolo riser. I really like the bow and am hoping to get a back up for it at some point.
Post by: varmint101 on October 31, 2023, 07:46:41 PM
Post by: Tim Finley on October 31, 2023, 07:53:50 PM
Post by: Wudstix on October 31, 2023, 09:01:59 PM
:campfire: :coffee: :archer2: :campfire:
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 31, 2023, 09:35:50 PM
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 31, 2023, 09:38:51 PM
This might look familiar 😉
Post by: Trenton G. on October 31, 2023, 10:24:48 PM
Roy's is always good! They provided a lot of my bear bait while I was up there! That bridge looks very familiar as well!
Post by: Friend on November 01, 2023, 12:08:36 AM
Post by: doubleo on November 01, 2023, 03:07:46 PM
Post by: Roger Norris on November 02, 2023, 08:43:05 AM
Post by: Trenton G. on November 02, 2023, 05:26:52 PM
Post by: Hood on November 02, 2023, 07:23:56 PM
Post by: Basinboy on November 03, 2023, 04:12:35 PM
Post by: Captain*Kirk on November 03, 2023, 09:49:38 PM
Post by: STICKBENDER98 on November 04, 2023, 06:19:51 PM
Jason
Post by: Trenton G. on November 04, 2023, 07:57:56 PM
Post by: KAZ on November 06, 2023, 06:14:54 AM
Post by: Tr33 on November 06, 2023, 09:38:40 PM
Post by: Trenton G. on December 21, 2023, 10:27:55 PM
This doe filled my last tag, and ended an absolutely amazing 2023 hunting season. Aside from the buck and doe in this thread, I was also extremely fortunate to take a beautiful buck in the U.P. on the third day of the firearm season. In addition I was able to make two (unsuccessful) archery mule deer trips out west, one with my best friend from college, and another with my dad, something that I wasn't sure would ever happen. Too many experiences and stories to recount on here. 2023 has been an fantastic year, and I look forward to what 2024 brings. Happy Holidays!
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Post by: Mike Bolin on December 21, 2023, 10:41:57 PM
Post by: awry on December 22, 2023, 08:34:12 AM
Post by: Basinboy on December 22, 2023, 08:53:09 AM
Post by: Lefty on December 22, 2023, 09:39:52 AM
Post by: rastaman on December 22, 2023, 09:52:31 AM
Post by: Orion on December 22, 2023, 09:57:35 AM
Post by: Skates 2 on December 23, 2023, 11:26:11 AM
Post by: NANUK on December 28, 2023, 12:43:17 PM
Post by: Trenton G. on December 28, 2023, 04:45:14 PM