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I rather enjoyed the 40-50mph wind gusts while 25 feet up in a Summit Viper climbing stand....

Probably because I wasn't there.

I'm still 0-fer on deer sightings. Not a tail. The wind died down about 3:30-4 o'clock just in time to hear the wolves fire up. I haven' heard that for a long time...10 years probably

I'm tired and almost headed to bed. I'm going to hit the woods tomorrow for a 1/2 day then head home to recharge and see the kids. Then on Thursday, going to be back at it, flying solo this time.

Andy went home last night. Jeff(gophrgunner) hunted a different spot and headed home this morning. I spent a lot of time pussyfooting around in the woods yesterday, since a stand was pretty pointless. I did sit in the evening for about 2 hours until trees and branches started to fall and then Andy and I called it a night and left the woods around 4.

Partner Larry connected at 12:30 on Saturday.

well boys, we cut up our freezer pleezers today and then I took out the other twin boy. First off, he doesnt have nearly the patience my other boy has. Ohmygosh, it was constant whispering. he couldnt sit still. very trying to dad's patience and I was doing fine until Mr. Big showed up...

There were 5 deer (1 little buck and 4 does) in the field when we arrived at my dad's new stand. This stand is in the middle of prairie grass and plowed field, but a travel corridor. 250 yards away, our newly planted native grasses start and of course, that is where the deer were. And boy were they there! I lost count at 25. at least 6 were bucks and 2-3 of them were big. one was really big. I do believe, it may have been the biggest I have ever seen while hunting deer. It only had 8 points, but he was really wide and really tall. At one point, he walked straight away from me with his head down and I could easily see both sides of his rack....thus he was quite a bit wider than his body. He got to within 275 yards. Why, oh why, didnt they draw the shotgun zone about 10 miles further south???? I really missed my 300 WSM. I will be sleeping with thoughts of him dancing in my head! I got to see two little buck fighting, that was cool.

I feel for you guys in the northern woods that dont get to see many deer, I feel so spoiled.

The plan tomorrow is to move the stand closer to where they were feeding. I might set my ground blind up on the other end. Man, what a buck. What a privelege to even get to see such a critter!

twasn't the car...........

I saw so many deer in the northern woods this year it was freaking ridiculous. Especially considering the wind.

Of course, Buckzilla decided that he would tease me before legal shooting time then disappear AGAIN this year.

But, you are correct, the deer are not nearly as abundant up here as when I shotgun zoned it. Not even close.

Well, Ryan did u get a rack out of the deal. It sucks tho. We will c u later this w
eek dave. Still not much for deer around here. Beauty buck Grog!

Congrats to Larry at camp 99! That's an awesome photo Gary!

My phone line is burning up with calls this morning thanking me for the crispy 17 degree temp this morning. You are all very welcome. All I had to do is hang up my orange and head for work.

Nice buck and 99 Gary, Congrats to you're friend.

Snow moving in tonight. We're on the Eastern fringe of the storm. We're on tap to get anywhere from a trace to 2". Heaviest band (8") to hit NW WI. You can bet it will be wet and heavy.

Lucky buggers

Nice buck that Larry got!

Glad your ok Ryan. I've got 3 confirmed deer kills with a car. It's the rare person in WI that has not hit a deer a least once.

I might be heading over to white bear's hunting land to help him with his overpopulation issues after work today.

Need help?!

I whacked a couple with my car Bill. Both in WI, both very dead.

Lots of pics from this past weekend.

Andy strikes first


He made a hellova shot through the trees at about 75-80 yards around 9:25AM on the opener. The deer dropped in his tracks. Andy shoots a Rem M7 .308win/ Federal Fusion 150gr. Shot was through the leg, tearing the heart apart and exiting about 1/2 way back on the off side.





Chickenbuck was represented.


On the way out


It was a 300yd drag to where we could get the wheeler to it. Through an old clear cut, so lots of logs and 'shin whackers' to deal with. We hung it up, grabbed a cup of coffee and a sandwhich and hit the woods again.

The afternoon sit was exciting.



At 2pm I decided to bang the horns together a bit. When I did all hell broke loose, nearly instantly. I thought the biggest buck in the world was coming. He started to work up wind of me, so I was nearly sure a monster was coming. He stopped in the thick stuff and I caught a glimpse of long tines. My heart was coming out of my chest. Then he stopped and made a rub. I could actually see the top of the pine whipping around in the brush. I rattled the horns once more and he started coming with fury....

Gun up in the shooting lane and out pops this guy.

He stood facing that way for a good 30 seconds, not moving a muscle.

He then looked at me and I could see the pine boughs hanging off his rack. I should have gone to look at the tree he ripped up.


He looked the other way, trotted down the trail for about 100 yards and went into the swamp on the other side of the pic. I could hear him breaking brush for a long time. He wasn't shy about making noise. It sounded like.....well a moose.

Sunday morning was windy like the last few days.

Additions to the lunch plate.


Uncle Andy stoking the fire for lunch.


It was a fun couple of days of the 2011 MN Deer Opener. Gophergunner and I hunted on Monday without a deer being seen. Gophergunner left mid morning on Monday.

I sat this morning and it was 180* difference from the rest of the days so far. It was cool, and dead calm. I still had the same results...no deer.

Very cool Tom. Id give up seeing deer for a year to get to see a moose in da woods.

That's cool, Tzone!