2020 Live from the tree

Last sit for us for the youth season. In a new stand this morning. There have been a few small bucks on camera here the last few days. I told him he has a free pass to shoot whatever makes him happy today.
DT

I’m in SE MN. Forgot the phone at home this morning so no pic, but it was a pretty exciting sit. I had a large group of deer move through about a half hour before legal shooting light, and then about 15 mins later I had a buck make a rub about 15 yards from my tree. Just after sunrise I had a fork horn crossing the bean field so I decided to hit the antlers together to see what he’d do. The fork ran off but, in came a 8 from behind me. He’s a nice deer, but I had already decided to pass him, at least for now. When I walked out there were 4 more does/fawns and spike feeding in the back corner of the field.

Little brisk tonight, hunting a pinch point that I haven’t checked out before. Lots of trails coming thru but no rubs or scrapes.

Well youth hunt was a long one here in the Clearwater area. Other than a crack at a doe Thursday night (clean miss thank god) it was uneventful. Had a couple deer go through in the dark but nothing during shooting time. Then I turn on the yard light to take the dog out to the bathroom before bed tonight, and there’s five deer eating grass in my yard. Does and fawns, one decent buck. The boy is exhausted, he hunted hard all four days.

MNdrifter wrote:

Well youth hunt was a long one here in the Clearwater area. Other than a crack at a doe Thursday night (clean miss thank god) it was uneventful. Had a couple deer go through in the dark but nothing during shooting time. Then I turn on the yard light to take the dog out to the bathroom before bed tonight, and there’s five deer eating grass in my yard. Does and fawns, one decent buck. The boy is exhausted, he hunted hard all four days.

A little levity for your boys is good, I’m used to seeing them crushing trophy fish all the time!!! Plenty of season left for him.

In stand about 15 mins and this guy walks through. I assume that’s a good sign for tonight!

hillhiker wrote:

In stand about 15 mins and this guy walks through. I assume that’s a good sign for tonight!

Good Luck! I will get out tomorrow for the evening hunt. hopefully a date with a booner

Dead calm and 17 degrees out. 8+ inches of silent fluffy snow on the ground. I’m gonna sit all day. One doe bounced by right away.

No deer this morning, but a great sunrise made up for that.

Jealous that you guys are out. I’m working this weekend. Won’t be out until firearms season.
DT

deertracker wrote:

Jealous that you guys are out. I’m working this weekend. Won’t be out until firearms season.
DT

Wow DT that,s a long time to wait to be in a tree.! . GOOD LUCK When you finally get there. . rrr

Thanks Randy. I could make time to go out but might sneak to Mille Lacs for the full moon. Priority’s I guess. Lol
DT

Rattled this one in this morning, came working straight to me to 20 yards before he finally got behind some stuff so I could at least get my release on the string. Not sure what he saw/smelled/sensed but he figured out something wasn’t right and backed out without ever giving me a shot. Was nice to see an aggressive response to my first rattling attempt this year. We’ve got better deer in the area but with having my son along at the farm this weekend (7 years old) had I had an opportunity it sure would have been nice to come back to the house and tell him I had some tracking for him to do.

Let’s do this!

Just got back in the tree. I pushed 3 does off the field on the walk in that were getting harassed by a little 6 point. Good luck to everyone!

Took a bad shot at a doe this morning. Saw total of 9. No bucks. So I’ve moved over to some thicker cover.

Yesterday I had a nice 8 pointer get within 50 yards. Saw a total of 9 deer, 2 turkeys, and 2 possums.

Today so far a coyote, and these two little bucks. I was ready to shot the one to fill the freezer but then I saw the “buttons.”

Went to just pull one of my stands in preparation for my vacation in a week and decided to stay a while. The deer movement has been way to good the last couple nights to sit at home. I had 9 deer go by last night with 7 being bucks. There were also deer in the field all night.

Didn’t hunt this weekend, but put up a new stand on our rifle spot. Saw 10+ deer coming into or out of the land, all does with fawns.

Rats! I blew it this morning on a huge 8 pointer. Came out at 20 yards straight at me. It got behind a tree at 15 so I thought I could get set…nope. Must of seen movement. It trotted straight to my stand and paused for a second right under me at 3-4 yards. It was a beautiful huge 8, Bigger then my biggest 10 pointer. I’m absolutely disgusted right now…having a deer get that close to me and blowing it.

Finally got out to a spot pretty deep on a swamp island last night. well saw a bunch of deer but on a different island about 80 yards from me. so the plan is to move in that island tonight and hopefully stick one. have all the intel needed just have to do my part tonight.

Swamp? Island? Sounds wet Carter. Finding spots like that were always gold to me, but I paid the price in wet many times. Good luck on this!

Tom Sawvell wrote:

Swamp? Island? Sounds wet Carter. Finding spots like that were always gold to me, but I paid the price in wet many times. Good luck on this!

Yeah it can be a little sketchy getting to one. I try to step on as many root bases as possible and wear tall rubber boots. so far I have been good in the deeper stuff. most of the stuff I am crossing is fairly dry a little soft but nothing unmanageable. Dragging one out is going to be a different story…

Youbetcha wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tom Sawvell wrote:</div>
Swamp? Island? Sounds wet Carter. Finding spots like that were always gold to me, but I paid the price in wet many times. Good luck on this!

Yeah it can be a little sketchy getting to one. I try to step on as many root bases as possible and wear tall rubber boots. so far I have been good in the deeper stuff. most of the stuff I am crossing is fairly dry a little soft but nothing unmanageable. Dragging one out is going to be a different story…

Strap it to a kayak or an Otter sled. The Otter works great and also will float. Used them for decoys when hunting small rivers.
DT

It has taken me a week to get over it but a week ago Sunday, the 19th I think it was I hit a nice 8. Had some does come in and feed around me from 430 until 545 or so and then they left. I was thinking that would be it for the night when I heard a grunt behind me. I thought I was hearing things, and then heard it again. I turned around and he running toward me grunting. I quickly grabbed my bow as he already closed to 30 yards and i thought he was going to take the trail right in front of me at 15. he decided to cut down another trail to my left. He was still trotting so I “meh, meh, MEH, MEH” at him and he stops perfectly at 20ish yards in what appeared to be a clear lane. It was after sundown so I did not see the few small twigs between us. I put the the twenty pin on the spot and let it go. I see my lighted nock fly through the air and hit him 4 inches above the front leg. At this point I am thinking it was a shot that should kill him as half the arrow went in. I backed out and came back around 9 that night with a friend to track him. Blood was sparse and bright red, no bubbles and then is when the doubt started creeping in. We tracked sparse bright blood until 1230 am until we lost it. We found half my arrow 50 yards from where I hit and it confirmed 16 inches or so of penetration. On Monday I was able to get a dog out to help track but he could not continue the trail any further then from where we lost blood. The only thing I can think happened is it was further forward and higher then I thought and I got only muscle. It is a bummer for sure the only good part is I have everyday off until gun season starting Thursday. I am hoping he made it and we can cross paths again or I see another buck in that area as I know there are more and even bigger ones running around on that piece.

Well, I thought this morning was gonna be it…then, right at sunrise, I hear heavy machinery and saws going within a few 100 yards of me. They eventually worked there way within 50 yards of my stand. I love it when the conservation dept decides cut and trim trees during hunting season ( gosh forbid they do it during the summer).

Well ended up being a good sit but no arrow released. Deer showed up right on time but stopped at the far side of the island for over an hour. Never got to me before shooting hours ended. Gotta love it.

I had to run up to my farm to take care of my dad. Had almost the last hour and a half of light, so quick ran out to my tower. If m still disgusted with all the dead does/fawns I found this spring. The balance is way off. Saw 14 bucks, a fawn and only a couple does. Was armed with a pocket knife, can of Pepsi, and a stick of sausage few of the little guys

Second time in my life I got to pet a deer. I was just leaning against a oak tree along our field while glassing for a big buck I’m looking for. This guy came out and started eating hay and acorns. Thought he saw me when he was 10 feet away, but just put his head down and kept on the acorns. Finally knew something was up and smelled his way to about 4” from my toes. I slowly reached down and pet his antlers. Almost a huge mistake. He jerked his head up and almost gored my guts. He bolted out of there and literally passed under my armpit. Don’t think I’ll do that again

Pretty cool story Randy!

I snuck away from work early today. Only 15 minutes from the property so……
A pretty solid scrape line right down there main trail. 5-6 scrapes that look to bed only a day old. Mud is still on to the quickly melting snow, and these weren’t here on Saturday.