2022 Live From The Tree

No deer for me this weekend but spent over 8 hours with my son in the stand (both afternoons). Was a trooper in the mist/rain stuff yesterday (just a 2 man ladder stand). Tree I have the stand in is dead so this is the last year, was hoping to send the spot off with a bang as I’ve killed every MN deer but one out of this set up. Still have next weekend at least, every other tree large enough in immediate area is also dead (elms), so not sure where/how ill be adjusting this set up to cover the same movement.

Is it private land? Maybe one of this tripod stands?
DT

Saturday morning we filled the kids buck tag with a small 6, and then it pushed a doe right to my buddy.

The evening of Saturday was quiet followed by real quiet yesterday.
Yesterday morning I seen 13 doe but not a single buck. I’m going in with patience this year and waiting for the right one now that the kid got out meat.

The kid did scope him self for the first time ever. He never said anything when it happened and I didn’t notice until we got home and I seen his eyebrow. He learned the hard way after I’ve told him to not push his face in that close

My oldest son Josh got this one opening morning. We both hunt the same field, but we can’t see each other. It’s a long narrow field that’s slightly curved. That’s why we call it the banana. My end usually has a little more action. Josh said it trotted across the field but stopped to look at a doe that was feeding in the field. That’s all the time he needed.

Badge of honor for the little guy! LOL I have yet to do that, but most do it at some point. Awesome job and a real nice buck there gizmo!

gizmoguy wrote:

My oldest son Josh got this one opening morning. We both hunt the same field, but we can’t see each other. It’s a long narrow field that’s slightly curved. That’s why we call it the banana. My end usually has a little more action. Josh said it trotted across the field but stopped to look at a doe that was feeding in the field. That’s all the time he needed.

That is a hoss!!! Congrats! Did you weigh it?

deertracker wrote:

Is it private land? Maybe one of this tripod stands?
DT

Was thinking that but area can be prone to flash floods, may price out building something sturdier in its place to weather the occasional log floating by (tree was ‘upstream’ protecting the ladder stand). Want to tweak it some anyway as my son will be able to hunt next fall and where I’ve shot every deer in this stand is a left handed shot (I shoot ambidextrously, he does not (yet))

BigWerm wrote:

That is a hoss!!! Congrats! Did you weigh it?

Didn’t weigh it. But it is a big deer.

Nothing from our group last weekend. The wife passed on a couple does since we have meat from the youth hunt. My oldest(15) did learn a valuable lesson though, always make sure to chamber a round when your in the stand. He has a decent 8 at 15yds and the gun went click. But I will say I am proud of him for not shooting at it when it spooked since he said he didn’t have any ethical shot. One was only the butt he could see the other was a bad quartering away shot that probably would have been a gut shot.

Awesome deer for your son Gizmo! I didn’t see a damn thing, which is unusual for where I hunt, just dealt with stupid people and I’m on private land. Good thing was my youngest daughter roughed it out with me pretty much all day Saturday.

Small bucks are cruising. Had a little 5 pointer come up out of the river at 1135. Saw him earlier head towards the river.
DT

That’s is a big deer gizmo guy. Straight to the sausage grinder if it were my house. I’m hoping to see a big boy in the woods one of these weekends

Randy Wieland wrote:

This is the last mechanical I’ll ever try. Deer has to be dead, was a good hit.

I got sucked into buying NAP Killzones a few years back – last mechanical I’ll ever buy. Unreliable is an understatement.

Decided to jump on the heavy arrow setup, so I switched to Iron Will 200s with bleeders. We’ll see if I can get in a stand one of these days to field “test” them.

Michael Best wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Randy Wieland wrote:</div>
Still looking and feeling discouraged. Just ran in to check some trail cams to see if I have any pics after I shot. Nothing.

If I was greedy and carried my bow with me, I could have shot this guy about 10 times today.the fact I’m out walking around hasn’t phased him

Here is my favorite blade DRT. This one has been through 2 deer so far

Randy do they still make the DRT? I haven’t seen them around. Shot a couple of elk with them and had great results.

Yes, DRT is still produced. The website is still selling. Dropping an order in right now.

Posted earlier but see it didn’t load…again. Been having posts not show up.

Found it. Pulled trail cams and checked the cards. Had a pic of him leaving my property shortly after I got down to retrieve my arrow. He had bedded down about 75-100yrds from where I shot him and got up and moved. Unfortunately, he expired not far over the fence and the coyotes massacred him. Making things worse the head was already cut off. Figured someone had to be hunting near him and found him before me. Was pizzed at the time. But other than me tromping all over and up and down every row of trees on the atv, they didn’t know I was out looking for it
I can assure you, never ever again will I use a mechanical broadhead NEVER!!! So upset with myself for trying them after a prior failure. Dirt Nap products for me!!!!

Btw, congrats everyone on your deer so far

I saw 12 does/fawns and 3 small bucks today. Plus about 30 pheasants. Tremendous activity out there. Weather isn’t looking great the rest of the week.

Another beautiful morning on stand!

Kind of a long story but I’ll try to keep it short.

My stand is at the NW corner of a 40 acre section of woods with hay fields on three side. On the south side is a 40 acre hay field with an 80 of woods south of that. In the hay field is a tiny field rock island with some trees that grew in it. I can’t see the island from my stand.

My buddy was hunting half a mile away and could see a buck running a doe from the 80, to the island and back. I ended up putting the stalk on the buck. I went about 500 yards and got within 220 yards of the island. I set up prone with my Binoculars as a rest. About 20 minutes later I see the buck at the woods edge looking towards the island. When it turned its head I knew it was a shooter. It ran to the island and back in the woods.

10 minutes later a buck came from the east with its nose down running a scent trail to the island. I got it to at least slow down and took a shot. It hit and the buck ran to the island. About 30 seconds later it headed for the woods again. I got a second shot in which also hit. It entered the woods and was gone. I snuck over to the wood line to look for blood. I ended up jumping it.😡

I walked back to my stand and hunted until dark which was a couple hours.

We ended up meeting by the island to look for blood. Being an open field situation and it happening so fast, I couldn’t remember where exactly he was standing when I shot. We ended up finding blood at the woods edge. We followed blood that was really good at times and pin drops at times. We found pools of blood that made me think it was blowing out blood and possible lung shot. My instincts said to back out but we kept going on good blood. We ended up jumping him after 387 yards. (I love OnX tracker). We backed out and will go in and get him after the morning sit.

I kept replaying it over and over in my head last night. When the buck came out the second time, I never confirmed it was the buck I determined was a shooter. Man I hope it was the same buck and not a second one coming in.🤦‍♂️ We also found blood 6 feet up on saplings. We feel one may be a brisket hit and the blood got that high as he was running them over.

DT

Sorry, that wasn’t short.🤷‍♂️
DT

deertracker wrote:

Sorry, that wasn’t short.🤷‍♂️
DT

Short enough. Good luck with the revive. Hope you have much better success than me

Here’s sunset from my stand last night

One doe on opener. Bucks are being elusive.

Hopefully you find it deertracker. Daughter and I finally had some action last night, a doe and fawn with in range but trees and brush in way. Another 5 at last light going to a green field at about 1000 yards. First deer seen of the season for us.

Randy, crappy deal. I shoot rage but I think I am going to switch after this season just for fear of something like that happening.

I was able to fill my bow tag with a nice buck Sunday evening the 6th. 39 yard and ran about 15 yards before tipping over. Double lung. Western Iowa. Things are really ramping up here as far as rut goes. I hav en ever been tagged out this early…so much PTO left lol

Congrats everyone on their success and good luck to others with tags left. Love seeing the kiddos out in the woods!

It was recovered.
DT

Awesome, congrates!

WTG! Was that the buck you thought it was or a different one? Its a dandy regardless.

I’m pretty sure it was the one I thought it was. When I first saw it I thought it was heavier and the tines slanted forward a bit. If it was a different deer, maybe I’ll see it in the next fee days.

Here is another pic.
DT

Congrats James. That critter is about a pound shy of pink.

Attaboy DT! Good work tracking it down.