Well November 14th has again arrived in Michigan and that is a sad day for me knowing the red coat army takes over tomorrow and another bow season is in the books. I often get out for the last night and typically it is an evening of reflection for me. Tonight was really windy so I set up in a stand along a ditch that bisects two farm fields and often has bucks cruising between two bedding areas this time of year. As luck would have it(at least for me - not the buck) this fella came cruising along and stopped in my shooting lane at 20 or so yards. I made what looked to be a decent shot and he turned tail and jogged back the way he came into the heavy lowland brush. Because the wind was so strong I did not hear him go down so I waited 20 minutes before I snuck over to check out the spot I hit him. Also - it was only 3pm so I had a lot of daylight to do the dirty work.
Arrow is how I found it and started out with yellow fletching - stuck in the ground on the back side of where he was standing. I gathered up my gear and took my roll of TP to start what I assumed to be a simple track. Turns out very little blood was let out even with a pass through the heart so it went a little slower than expected but in 40yrd there he lay. Dead in seconds - I feel rather fortunate to get a decent Mid-Michigan buck on the last day of the season.
Bow is a Jess Stuart RMR knock off that is lights out for me. I cannot say enough about this little bow. 45@25 with 27" AD Trad Lites and my usual Wensel Woodsman on the business end. True pass through shots are the norm and not the exception with this bow. I am so impressed with it's performance with my short draw. Thanks Jess for my favorite bow.
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh205/bushbow/Bloodyarrow20138pt_zps9a965f9c.jpg) (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/bushbow/media/Bloodyarrow20138pt_zps9a965f9c.jpg.html)
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh205/bushbow/8pt20132_zpsfdf1461b.jpg) (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/bushbow/media/8pt20132_zpsfdf1461b.jpg.html)
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh205/bushbow/8pt20131_zps1bccac93.jpg) (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/bushbow/media/8pt20131_zps1bccac93.jpg.html)
and a silly hero shot
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh205/bushbow/Me8pt_zps10bd597b.jpg) (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/bushbow/media/Me8pt_zps10bd597b.jpg.html)
Way to hang in there. Great shot.
That is very neat looking buck, Congrats. Thanks for sharing.
Very nice. Congrats.
Good move hunting the opps when it's windy. Nicely done, good shooting, and big congrats on a fine northern buck. Your determination payed dividends!! :thumbsup:
Way to go, Bobby!
Congrats!
Nice shot congrats!
Shot placement doesn't get any better than that! Twenty yards in gusting wind, way to go, Bobby. Congrats!!
Well done, and a nice deer.
perseverance... great hunt... love the buck!
Good job !!
Greaybeard - the wind was from the south and he was coming along am E/W line in the ditch. I think the wind being with me was why the little bow punched through :-) At least that is what I am telling myself.
Good job!!!!!
Congrats on your buck!
Bisch
Very nice!
That is a fine buck and a great picture of you with the deer. Congrats!!!
Very nice! :thumbsup:
that is text book shot placement....
I also enjoy sending the last evening of the season quietly pondering, as the final hours roll by.
Joe
Good job on a last day Michigan buck
Nice way to end the season. Good work.
Congratulations on the last day success.
Nice going Brother.
Nice pictures?
congrats on a fine buck and ..GREAT SHOT!!
Just under the wire...that's the way to do it.
:thumbsup:
Congrats on the nice buck!
Congrats!
Congrats, very nice deer.
Mark
QuoteOriginally posted by ron w:
Well done, and a nice deer.
2x
You have until New Years right? I have an unused Michigan tag that has to wait until December now
Congrats, well done!
Tom
Congrats, and thanks for sharing your hunt with us!
congrats!
Excellent. Job well done.
Ceme24 - yes - you are correct. actually the last day we can hunt here in Michigan is New years day so technically I have another 45 days that I can hunt. It just is the peace in the woods having them all to myself with the deer that I speak of with the early bow season.
Back in the day late December was an awesome hunt but anymore there is some version of firearm season open from Nov. 15 through to the end with late antlerless hunting in most of southern Michigan.
Don't get me wrong - I totally respect the rifle season and love the time honored tradition for all those that participate in their right to deer camp ect. But it certainly makes hunting with my method tough. My sales territory includes the thumb and they have a pretty good QDM thing going on up there. I like to take a long drive visiting clients and buck poles on opening day taking pics of all the hogs that fall on November 15th. Statistics say that 1/2 of the deer that fall in Michigan each year will be shot today. Most by noon. Fowlerville has a buck pole every year on opening weekend and I just wonder where those studs were last week???
Thanks all and best of luck -
Bob
Congratulations on the last minute buck... :thumbsup:
Congrat's on the buck.
Congratulations!
Congrats!!
Congrats, nice Buck!
Nice buck! Congrats!
These whitetail kills are just "killing" me! I need to get down to Michigan next October and see if I can get one too!
Cool looking buck. Well done!!
Congrates on the last minute early season buck! Nice bow and shot! What is the length of your lefty bow?
Good shot and fine buck congrats!
56"
Congrats!!
:clapper: :clapper:
Nice! That's the way to end the early season! Great pictures too!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Way to go on the buck and Nice bow! I really like Jess's bows.
Nice buck.
Congratulations on your last day buck!
-Jay
Congrats! :thumbsup:
Congrats on a fine buck!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: