2018 Live from the tree

Finally put a buck on the ground. Not gonna score much, but he’s old and mature.

Way to go Sticker.

Nice one Sticker!

Nicely done.
DT

Good one! You’ve been due.

Congrats to all, some nice bucks you guys have got.

My report is more of a live from the ground. This year I wanted to successfully bag a deer from the ground, no blind with a bow. I had never shot a deer with a bow as of the beginning of the season. So I got up in the tree and shot my first deer with a bow. It was a nice doe and I was very happy with it.

Last night I went out, and as I pulled into the property there was a very nice doe munching on soybeans in the recently harvested field. I had a ridge tucked back 50 yds in some sparse woods, so I used that to cover half the distance to the doe. I crested the ridge and slowly worked my way to the edge of the field working down an almost wide open hill side facing West with the wind quartering into my face from the NW and the deer directly South. PERFECT! Got to the edge of the field and with a painstakingly slow crouched walk using the brush on the edge of the field I closed in to 50 yds. Then the wind nipped the back of my neck. Instantly I knew how this was going to pan out. Within a few seconds the does head popped up, she sniffed the air and stomped off into the woods as though she was mad I interrupted her meal.

I sat there feeling slightly defeated but know that’s how hunting goes and from my experience in trying to make a stalk on a deer a reality all season, I knew it was no easy task. I then noticed 2 young deer in the field north of my location. The wind was right and I started the stalk again. Closing the distance from 120 yds to 50 yds, then to 30. It took almost an hr to close this distance. Due to the thin brush I had to sneak in right on top of them to get to an opening to shoot from. The snow didn’t seem that loud, my boots didn’t seem to creek, my breathing seemed more silent back at 50 yds then they did at 20. Finally I made it to an opening. The young deer was at 10 yds. I drew my bow and let an arrow fly, perfect double lung, the deer made it 50 yds and fell.

It was a young deer but I was chasing an experience on this one, this was a goal of mine this year and I am excited to have accomplished it, and learned so much along the way! We will be having tenderloins for supper tonight!!

Sitting tonight at home over a plot of half beans and half corn. Be out here tomorrow morning as well.

Good luck to all the shoppers! I’m hoping for some Black Friday Backstraps!!!

Sadly I jumped a couple right under my tree in the dark.:???:

Congrats to sticker on the very decent mature deer and for being one that is constantly filling us in “Live from the Tree”

Congrats Aaron K.!!! That is quite an accomplishment!!! we jsut moved into our new house and I haven’t figured out how much WI american Legion State Forest I have behind my house yet, but hope to do some walking to start learning deer trails and areas that hold some of of our four legged friends.

I got the garage arranged finally yesterday so that I can fit the 18′ Lund in it for the winter and still fit both the truck and car into it as well!!! That’s is the second coolest thing about this spot!!!

Now if we can get the Badgers BBall team to take care of Virginia and our own Tony Bennett, I will access the woods for a walk into the wind to see if I can cut a track!!!

Mark

mbenson wrote:

I will access the woods for a walk into the wind to see if I can cut a track!!!

If its anything like here today you’ll return with a bent back from leaning into it.

Tom:

Losing snow fast too!!! Really looking for a spot close to home for a stand/blind set-up for the short sits close to home…

Mark

Well to say the least it has been a learning experience kind of year. It is my first year bow hunting and actually the first time in 10 years or so I’ve deer hunted. Had numerous opportunities and a smaller but respectable buck and alot of does but I have been holding out for the bruiser we have seen. I’ve always been all about ducks geese and swans and never would I have thought I would have the patience for this. No food plots this year but that’s on the agenda next year. I won a nova at a banquet last spring and decided to trade it for a bow. Nothing fancy but a bow that will last long enough to figure out if I like this archery thing. Well needless to say I’ve been shopping for a new bow. The first few sits I thought to myself man why did I even want to do this. Once a person starts seeing deer it all changes. The first time I had a deer within 30 yards it was all I could do just to sit still. I have 2 swan tags and never even pulled the trigger. I have been so focused on bagging this buck I had zero drive to do any other hunting. I know I shouldn’t have any expectation to shoot a wall worthy deer my first year but I can dream.

Here is a picture of him last year my cousin had of him. He has since put on a very nice amount of mass and he is still very tall. He figures him to be mid 140s to 150ish.

Had to do a little mid day work. Back in the saddle again. Saw 3 does n 2 fawns this morning. No shot opportunities. Boy the snow took a beating today!
Had to sneek around a couple fawns on the way out. They were down wind and I couldn’t find mom, so extra 200 yard detour to the stand.
Here’s hoping!!

I’m out with the smoke pole in hand for my first ever sit gun hunting!

Set up this evening on acorns acorns acorns. 1st sit in this stand this year. She’s a high one….. Just doe tags yet for me n Fred Bear. You’d think it’d be easy…

Back out. Would love to fill one of them bonus tags tonight. Ice gear is calling my name!

This little guy came by at 10 yards at 10 minutes to 4pm

He’s a cutie Sticker.

This was the kill zone last night and I’m Fixin to do it again tonight.

Hoping for a nice doe like Stickers! It’s a 10/10 for weather conditions. Amazing out here.

Last sit with the muzzy for the year. Can’t wait to get the bow back out. Lots of fresh tracks all over the property.

Heading out shortly, anyone else?

I’m not in a stand and neither is this guy.

Suzuki, haha, I’ve actually had that happen once!
Back out again. A little breezy, but the deer are moving. Seen my #4 buck and 5 does on the walk out.

Does “live from the living room count”? This guy was with a doe for almost 2 hours yesterday within 100 yards of my house. A bad disc in my back and a terrible wind direction prevented me from putting a stalk on him…

I’m not the least bit ashamed to say I am still at it.

If I had a local spot I would be too. Just to hard to find the time this year to drive 4 hours north to hunt.
DT

Could very well be my last sit. Deer activity on my place is dead. We will see what happens, but I am happy with a nice buck and a doe for the year. Would be nice to get the trifecta, gun muzzy, bow, but it’s not the end of the world.

Sticker,
These guys were worried about you.

One of the last few sits for the year. Sitting out in the corn tonight behind a few corn stocks… this should be interesting!