Are you seeing any buck sign in the woods? Very little where I've been scouting. Maybe the cold weather coming will turn them on. Thanks Guys
Not much where I'm hunting either. I've only seen 1 buck. Other people I talk to say they are starting to see them though.
Had a nice scrape pop up yesterday. Small bucks are very curious about any other deer and checking them out.
Been seeing more bucks then I have ever seen in northern Michigan and have had three legal bucks within 15 yards but only had head and neck, no chest for a shot. Been fun. Lots of spikes and forks too, more bucks then I've ever seen up here and its all because of APR. Could have killed a wide spike last night but not legal. Next year he will be a nice one. APR is working.
Saw 8 scrapes and quite a few rubs up at Rapid City area where we hunt last weekend but no deer. Heading back up next week hopefully the deer start moving where I can see them. I did see a real nice 6 pt when I was up scouting in sept.
I found two nice rubs, but no scrapes so far. Guys that have trail cams out on the same land are seeing some nice bucks, but they're all nocturnal. I think we need some cooler weather and shorter days to get those hormones working, but I'm hesitant to wish for it after last year's bitterly cold winter.
We've seen a TON of new sign this past week in the NE lower peninsula. Scrapes have showed up in all of the traditional locations (and some new ones) and game cameras are showing regular usage by multiple bucks. I hunted Sunday evening and saw 2 different nice bucks (110+") and a handful of younger bucks starting to harass the does.
The cold weather forecast for this weekend should really kick things into high gear, at least in our neck of the woods.
Took a short walk last weekend after Sat morning hunt and found a couple small scrapes and rubs but that's it. Hoping this weekend with colder weather will help. Deer herd in my area still trying to recover from EHD 2 years ago. Belding area.
Been slow in my area too, one small scrape and only a couple rubs. The guys who have vaction this from work say it's picking up, seeing small bucks starting to cruise looking for does, and responding to grunting and rattling
I've been hunting Pentwater area and have seen small bucks moving and one nice buck was up on his feet over by Clair where I hunted last night. Lots of scrapes haven't seen any chasing yet. I'm off the whole next week good luck guys!
hunted at the cabin last weekend (Houghton Lake/ Lake City area) No buck sign to be found even the communal scrapes that are in the same spot every year hadn't been opened yet. At home is a different story (Oceana County Silver Lake Area) Scrapes and rubs have been active for a few weeks and sunday afternoon My 2 year old and I went to check my trail cam after we got home from the cabin and we got to watch three bucks chase a doe right in front of us two of the bucks were big mature deer the largest was a big ten and he ran the doe past us at ten yards. Can't wait for the weekend things are really starting to heat up trail cam had multiple bucks working the scrapes it was on every day and I've seen bucks cruising every day this week going to and from work. Good luck to everyone and be safe out there
Slow in the Allegan area, haven't seen a buck yet.Had a couple of small does in the kill box but let em walk.
Saw 4 bucks and 5 does on the 29th. One of the bucks responded to some light sparring with my rattling antlers. Another buck walked in stopped and made a scrape then spotted a doe and took off running after her. He chased her under my stand for about 15 minutes as it got dark. The third buck also chased a couple does out in front of me. I saw the 4th buck walking through the hardwoods at a distance of around 70 yards obviously cruising. Three of the 4 bucks passed directly under my stand and I could have shot and would have if they had been a little bigger/older. The 7 point was tempting but will be an awesome buck next year if he survives. Scrapes and rubs everywhere.............the rut is on in SOMI.
Last Saturday morning at 8:20 A.M. I saw a buck cruise through about 50 or 60 yards out. I just got a glimpse of his antlers just know it was a buck.
I wanted to sit to at least noon but the weather was warm and the gnats were driving me crazy so I got down around 10:30 A.M.
I decided to check out one of my other stands about 200 yards away. I was taking my time walking and about half way there I heard a noise to my right and when I looked, here comes a small spike walking by me at 10 yards with his nose to the ground.
He kept walking, never knew I was there. I watched him go out of sight and continued to my stand.
I walked maybe another 50 yards then all of a sudden I heard a crash behind me and when I turned I saw another buck running away from me. It was a small buck, rack between his ears.
I did not see one doe all day. I hunted Sunday morning and did not see anything.
I would say that from today,on, sign and movement should increase greatly. We are far enough into the season that most everything comes together. Moon phase, temperature, daylight and whatever else triggers the movement we wait patiently for, seems to kick into gear.
Snow and wind here today. No hunting until Sat evening. Thanks guys
I am finding new scrapes behind my house about every other day for the last week. Only seeing 2 small goofy spikes and a small 4 pt. Went up to my folks and found some nice fresh scrapes but didn't see much else activity. Spent most of my day posting my property yet again to try and keep the idiots next door from driving all over my property.
Few scrapes have popped up in the last few days hopefully soon
Heading to my place on Lake Bellaire this evening. The Silvertip curve is packed, warm clothes as well.
I will be on stand tomorrow morning!! Anxious to see what's happening.
I have seen lots of buck sign, and I killed a two yr old 5 point on Friday.
Between me and my two sons, we have only seen 4 deer for the whole month of October.
Never seen so many people out bowhunting.
Watched a decent 8 harass a few does in a cut cornfield two weeks ago, then hunted there last weekend and had a little 6 feed casually through without a thought of the ladies it seemed. Sparta area.
Heading to southern Oceana to my camp there, hopefully some action with the cold temps...
20 minutes left at work. Buddy saw a small buck chasing any and all available does this morning. I need to get to the woods.
I had 4 deer come thru at 9:02 this morning,Then at 9:25 I had a big doe come in straight at me to within 6yds,she picked me out of my brush blind but was not sure what I was. she just stood there what seemed like for ever. then I caught movement to my left all I could see was antlers less than eight feet. now I have a stand off between mr. and mrs. who is going to give me a shot. You got it luck was not on my side. In a flash they where gone, playing tag. At 10:00 I had two yearling come thru. left for the house at 10:30. to warm up.
Seen a button, spike and a fork tonight headed back out in the morning.
Found this guy chasing 4 does at 4:30 Saturday.
(http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w364/typical2/IMG_20141102_134748_516_zpsatucrpvg.jpg) (http://s1072.photobucket.com/user/typical2/media/IMG_20141102_134748_516_zpsatucrpvg.jpg.html)
Great buck. It's been awhile since I've seen one like that
I am not seeing much rut sign at all in northern Clare county. The only scrapes open are the ones I made with Smokey's lures to see if I could get a reaction and try to keep them on my 100 acres. I don't think that I have bee successful. They are showing interest in the scrapes but nearly all my pictures are at night and hunting encounters are few and far between. I keep a 40 acre sanctuary for them in the center of my place and diligently hunt the wind and use exterior access trails, but it is still slow.
D.P.
Field report from Antrim Co. on Lake Bellaire. I hunted this past weekend, very little sign of rutting activity. Scrapes were far few with little to no chasing observed. Rut always seems to come the week of the gun opener there so I am heading back up to bowhunt next week before firearm season gets underway.
Saw fewer deer this trip, beginning to wonder the effects of the severe winter we had last year.
I think last winter was a lot harder on the deer than many realize. I have seen less deer this year than ever before. Between the ehd two years ago, and last years long harsh winter, the deer numbers sure seem to be down in my area.
QuoteOriginally posted by agross1:
I think last winter was a lot harder on the deer than many realize. I have seen less deer this year than ever before. Between the ehd two years ago, and last years long harsh winter, the deer numbers sure seem to be down in my area.
^ same here. Not much deer activity so far. Numbers are still way down, don't see near the deer activity that there was a few years ago.
I sure hope I estimated the peak rut dates correctly. I'll be hunting most all day from this Saturday thru Tuesday. Fun time of the year.
Yesterday Nov 5th I noticed all the fawns were kicked by there mothers and they were wondering around by themselves. I think this is a sign that the Does are getting ready to bred. I have seen a couple young bucks chasing also.
I had a little 4 point harassing a doe and fawn last Sat morning. Didn't see a single deer Sun evening but found a couple fresh stinky scrapes. EHD really knocked down the herd in my area in 2012 and last winter didn't help I'm sure. (Kent/Ionia county line) Not near as many does as there used to be but another guy shot a 8 point on the property on Sat night and it was a 2.5 yr old. I have next week off so hoping the weather forecast improves and not as windy as they are predicting. Rut should be in full swing.
Been seeing some chasing going on this week. Sat in the rain/snow/sleet for 4 hours this morning and I seen 4 bucks....all on does. The bad part was that 3 of the bucks I could have killed but they were a spike and 2-4pts and they got a pass and had a BIG 6pt come through on a doe but was about 35yds out. He's about 18" inside with lots of mass and 10"+ g2's :eek:
Seen 2 does and one of the 4 pts this morning and that was it. Was a nice morning to sit.
Any weather reports for the Traverse city area for this coming week. Any snow on the ground?
We have ground cover in Traverse City right now but it'll be gone by tomorrow. Spent the weekend hunting Leelanau county and saw 4 different bucks and my brother had a nice 8 chase a doe by him. We didn't have any shot opportunities though. Going to try and get out as much as possible this week before the orange army screws the woods up.
Saw a buck with 1/2 his rack broke off, saw him 3 days ago all in tact. I'd say lots of fighting going on. Saw a nervous doe last night.
Terry-
I got the same situation on my cam. An 8 pt buck was busted off between 10/26-11/2. Probably by the other bruiser that I got a picture of at 2am that I will never see. Last friday a buck was chasing doe's all around me. Never did get a look at him, he must have run the one he wanted the other way.
This year has sucked for me with respect to getting up to my place near Escanaba in da UP. It just didn't happen. I made it up for a few hours Sunday and did a few chores, including swapping out the cards on two trail cams I have out there.
One very interesting thing I see, is that I had almost all does working past the two cameras, with just a few buck visits. . right up till mid October, when it all changed. I counted at least eight different bucks (none really big, but eight of them) nosing around since then.
I also noted that the two largest of the bunch come around only after dark. This is on a trail from the back of the property towards the neighbors, not over any bait.
I am not aware of any real pressure on these deer, nobody has permission to hunt there but my neighbor and his wife, and they have a bunch of their own property to hunt.
anyway, good luck, shoot straight.
CHuckC
I was out Sunday morning and a group of 4 nice does skirted the edge out of range. The only buck was a nice mass 8pt jogging parallel with my truck for about 50 yards on my way home. I told him the ladies went the other direction.
Good hunting everyone, Rudy
I live in SC but I have bows and arrows made in Michigan. How long is your season?
Spent the last four days up by Cadillac hunting our property, trying to fill a couple of doe tags and maybe, just maybe, a buck tag. LOTS of sign of rutting activity - scrapes, new rubs, and on Sunday morning had two bucks cruise in just before shooting light (one after the other)...both grunting, and one made a scrape about 10 yards from my tree.
Sunday night had two bucks locked down with a doe about 50 yards from me - no luck in pulling either one away. Ended up coming home empty handed yesterday.
VERY little movement during the day. Only saw two adult does during the trip and they were (understandably) VERY nervous. Only deer I could have shot was a button buck or a 4 point, but he wasn't even legal with the antler point restrictions.
I too, think this winter was much harder on the deer herd than initially thought - instead of seeing 10-12 deer per trip to the woods, we saw 2-3 on average. I honestly believe our numbers are WAY down.