Good luck to you guys. WI gun opener is on Saturday. Super excited for that.
We had some blinds and chairs stolen sometime between Monday and yesterday morning. That's frustrating but not the end of the world. Unless I find who took them. Then we'll have some problems. Well...I won't.
We finally had a few good bucks pop up on the cams too. I'll post some of those pics later when I get a chance.
Obviously we're all hoping this guy comes through....
I was bowhunting that day but stayed out of that set up because of the wind. I'm glad I did and not screw it up.
This is by my buddy's spot. This blind is only about 50 yards from a forest road that sees a decent amount of traffic. But this year it has by far the most bucks at it.
Deer were finally moving Monday morning in 172. Got this 6-½ pointer at 10:00, about 20 minutes after a pursued doe had come through 8-10 feet in front of me. My first since 2020, and glad to get it. Shot distance was maybe 10 feet. I was sitting on the ground, and he came close to running me over while following the path of the doe. Brown blur in the scope set to 4x. I'm going to visit Beetle My Bones this morning, and give him the trophy treatment. He'll be a good story to tell for years to come.
Thanks T, and congrats to your son taking a cool forkie with a cool rifle. This year has definitely been a challenge. An even mix of dumb and stubborn on my end has helped me stay on stand longer than I probably should have stayed. Oh well, I got to know my surroundings pretty well.
All the best to everyone in Michigan, and those hunting the upcoming Wisconsin opener.
Our season opened Saturday, no deers were harmed this weekend but I did manage to sneak out Monday morning and hunt solo for a little bit. I glassed a few deer on the neighbors right by our fence line. Sure enough two wandered over to our place but were a ways off. I ranged them at 440 yards and wouldn't have shot but we're down to our last package of deer burger. I dialed and popped her. We've seen a couple really nice ones all summer and hope no one else has gotten them yet. I'd take like it if my boy gets one and Mama gets the other, they deserve it. I'll let you know how we do this weekend.
Seeing lots of prairie chickens from time to time fine through so that's pretty cool. I think our deer numbers are down as well after last winter
Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.
I hunted 3 full days of the Mn opener. Not ONE deer spotted. The nice weather kept them holding tight. Last weekend I hunted Thursday afternoon and all day Saturday and Sunday. I saw one little buck with a fork on one side and about a 16" spike on the other. Sunday, I crawled up in an old double ladder that I put up years ago. Perfect conditions in the morning, 29*, SE wind. I saw a doe and a fawn.
Sunday afternoon, I went back to my blind, hoping to see a rutty buck come through the river bottom. But alas, it was just the bucktard, forky spike from the day before. Probably should have culled him.
Sunday evening was a gorgeous 55* at sunset:
Muzzleloader up next.
The deer hunter does not notice the mountains
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve" - Isoroku Yamamoto
There sure are a lot of America haters that want to live here...
What do you like for a scope to dial some elevation? Not crazy far, but maybe 500-600 yards.
Jeff
Well I use the Leupold mkIV 4.5-14. I like them for several reasons but mainly is they are tough and I've never had issues with them. My boy uses a Nikon monarch that's around the same magnification and it works just as well with what we're doing.
Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.
I should add that my boy got his first mule deer buck this morning. I sent pics to a few on here, it was a bit of a flurry this morning. He ran out before school and connected, called me at work in hysterics saying he needed help. After he calmed down he said he was fine but had just shot a big buck. I went out and took his pic and held a leg while he gutted it. Pretty impressive he got it done all on his own but still wanted me there. I will admit I felt proud all day and shared his story with everyone. Truly blessed
Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.