I could not go out west for an extended elk hunt this year, so I opted for a couple of four-day weekends in Wisconsin for early season whitetail hunting. I had never hunted the western part of the state's high bluff country before, but its deep ravines and rock ledges quickly reminded my legs of September in the Rockies.
The deer season opened September 14th, and with no prior scouting I was off choosing a stand site where agriculture meets the tall ridge lines. Hoping to catch a bachelor group of bucks still together, I looked for deer sign and trails at the corners of soybean fields, and at the headers of deep ravines. I had to resist the erg to explore the dense timber and river bottoms along the areas I intended to hunt for fear of spooking game. Once I had selected a few spots to hang tree stands, I did leave that area during midday to explore vast timbered ridges for secure spots to hunt later on during the rut, when food is of slightly less interest to cruising bucks.
On the first evening sit, I saw four does and fawns and two eight-point bucks. The largest I judged to be a three and a half year old whose rack would score in the mid-130s. He was a nice looking deer, but with only one buck tag, I chose to wait. I passed up a six-pointer and another 8-point buck at 15 yards during the second evening hunt. I would take a doe, but was only presented close encounters with two fawns.
On the fourth day I found a spot where a CRP field, thick woods, and a standing corn field came together. There were acorns dropping and several apple trees growing nearby. I located a place where a dry ditch rand down through the timber that created a slight terrain edge that may have gone unnoticed if it weren't for a line of rubbed saplings. This transmission area looked like a great place to hunt during the rut, but I could not resist sitting in the newly hung stand. It was quite warm as I listened to the acorns drop through the canopy striking dry leaves or bounce loudly off of fallen tree trunks. Of course there were a few squires and mosquitoes to keep me entertained.
As the sun set, I heard soft crunching of approaching footsteps. Three deer were coming through the woods just eating fallen leaves as they walked. I did not see any antlers and decided to try for the lead doe if she came close. It seemed like they were downwind of me, but the warm still rising air must have kept my scent above them. They circled my tree and started heading towards the CRP field, but just when I thought they would pass out of range, the lead doe turned and came back toward me. She had stopped eating and was just walking through. I ready for a shot and took it just after she cleared a dead fall and stopped broadside at 18 yards between to saplings. The wood hexshaft arrow tipped with a Woodsman broad head slipped between ribs in line with her heart. She only ran about 80 yards before bedding for the last time. The other deer were confused, and a second doe walked up to me before realizing I was the intruder to their world, and fled.
Taking an early season doe was a great way to start the season and put food on the table. I can't wait to go back and find out what other stories these ridges hold for me. Mike
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:campfire:
:thumbsup: :coffee:
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Congratulations Mike! :campfire:
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(http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff289/MittenM/hero/P1070048_zpsb9ffa5d2.jpg) (http://s240.photobucket.com/user/MittenM/media/hero/P1070048_zpsb9ffa5d2.jpg.html)
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Rugged looking country.
Nice doe, good work.
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Congrats, Mike! Looking forward to Chapter Two.
:campfire:
Nice doe! Keep us posted on your adventures in Wisconsin.
Glenn
Well done!!!!
Great pictures...some seriously rugged country!
Good luck with the bucks this fall! :campfire:
Nice doe and a great story as well. Oh, and great pics too.
Congrats!
Great job Mike! Always look forward to your posts; thanks for sharing your adventures!
Nice deer Mike. I hunted that country a few years, just south of Fountain City on hwy 35.I was devastated when the lease dried up.
Rugged beautiful country to be sure, hard to hunt with the thermals and steepness of the land. The deer will bed in those rock outcroppings & watch everything happen below.
When you kill a deer in Buffalo county, you usually have earned it. Well done!
Great story Mike. Pretty country. Good luck out there.
Congrats!
Bisch
Nice doe Mike, good luck with rest!
out standing!
Beautiful country, and great pictures, thanks for sharing
:thumbsup:
Nice country and a nice deer. Congrats! :clapper:
Good work Brother!
Nice start Mike. As always I enjoy your stories :thumbsup:
Awesome hunt, congrats on a fine doe! :thumbsup:
Great deer and story! Beautiful Country, reminds me of a lot of Arkansas when I lived there.
Great story and pics mike thxs for sharing and good to see you filling the freezer already! GOODLUCK ON THE BUCKS!
Congrats! :thumbsup:
Tom
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
A great start to the season Mike. Congrats on some fine eating there. I'll be watching for your next installment.
Congrats Mike on a nice doe, I hunt land very similar. No gym needed after a day of walking there.
Nice job!
Was this public land you went to?
Congrates Herdbull! My son and I hunt SW Wi. also.Beautiful country over there. Good to here the acorns are dropping.
Way to go Mike! With the confidence high those bucks are in trouble!
Congratulations! Nice looking doe! Its hard to beat SW Wisconsin for beauty!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Congratulations Mike. That is a fine looking doe! As others have said, we will be sitting around the fire waiting for chapter 2!
:campfire:
I am set up on four diferent parcels actually in three counties. One is public ground and the others are private. I shot the doe on one of the private grounds. After registering the doe I cut her up and got the meat to ice.
Well done ... great pictures.
Good job Mike, thank you for sharing your hunt with us.
ChuckC
Nice Mike.....very cool area.... :thumbsup:
Great job, Mike. Beautiful country! What county were you in?
nice doe congrats
Nice one Mike!
Looks like a nice big ol gal bud, congrats!!
I'm sure those hills hold a few more stories for you....best of luck to you brother :pray:
Nice Doe! Beautiful area, thanks for sharing.
Great pic from beautiful country. Congratulations!
Congrats!
:thumbsup:
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Good for you Mike. Making meat and sharing cool pics. Good luck!!
Cool pictures, thanks for sharing. Congrats on the doe!
Nice Doe Mike. That part of WI is my Favorite, the faily farm is just east of there in Vernon county, where I cut my teeth. Although its rugged, we dont have the sandstone bluffs.
Congrats on a successful Harvest :thumbsup:
Can't wait till you go back! What bow were you shooting?
:bigsmyl: :clapper:
Cool story. Way to kick off the season!! Congrats
Way to go Mike!
Cool pictures! Good looking doe!
Snakebit- I used my 62" Tall Tines bow for this doe. I hope to do a few all day sits during late October. Mike
Mike,
Do you hunt whitetails from the ground any, with or without a blind?
I have used a guillie (sp) suite on the ground or make shift blind. Mainly its when the wind is wrong for a treestand and I want to hunt a certain area. Moving tothe ground at a better position allows this. The land I hunt in Illinois is strip mined and has rough spoiled terrain. Its difficult to see very far and prepare for the shot and or film. I did take a doe last winter from the ground. It was spot and stalk. She was feeding at 60 yards and I got between an osasge tree and her and slipped up to 15 yards. It was windy and soft snow. I felt good when I walked up to her. It was 11:00 AM and had time to drag her out and still get into a treestand for the evening hunt. Ha!
hey mike I have sent ya several pm messages and it says its full? I wanted to talk to ya good to see ya on here and congrats on the Wisconsin doe!!
Congratulations on the doe. That area should hold a few nice bucks for you in late October. Good luck!
Thanks everyone.
pred80- I think my PM is linked to work email. My work comp doesn't want me to login. Do you still have my e-mail. I will send you a note.
Thxs mike..I got it!!
Congrats!