2023 Live From The Tree

Good luck gentlemen. My cameras have been busy since the rain stopped. But I haven’t seen my target buck in a couple weeks now

Bearcat89 wrote:

Good luck gentlemen. My cameras have been busy since the rain stopped. But I haven’t seen my target buck in a couple weeks now

They have been going to different grocery stores around here. Our drought minimized acorns, so I’m seeing them really changing up their diet and hitting different areas

Saw an absolute giant last night. Had to sneak out this morning for a short sit. This wind is horrible

My sit this morning was pretty active. Had 4 doe come around 2 different forks a smaller 6 and another bigger 8 but he didn’t come with in any range. I just came in for lunch and I’ll probably head back out around 3

I had a fun sit this morning as well. Hunted over in 278 so I couldn’t shoot a doe.
Had a good buck come by at 28 yards 25 minutes after first legal shooting light and couldn’t get a shot off. He blew through the one little shooting lane I had in that direction too quickly.
Between 8:30 and 9:30 I had a doe and fawn, a spike and a 5 pointer hang around.

I ended the morning with 4 deer going by before it was light enough too see much and then two small bucks around 8. Back at it now hoping for a little more action.

I decided to go with the field edge tonight with the strong NNE wind. The turkeys are out about 25 yards from me. Very nice night out.

Going to try the ol Bunp and Dump tonight.
Scouted the other half of the public I sat last Friday when I shot a doe.
Kicked up a pretty good buck while scouting.

I made it! Actually one of my boys and I were out this morning for the first sit off the year. Only one doe that wasn’t anywhere close. Definitely didn’t choose the hot spot. Different stand tonight. It’s a long hike to get back to this one with a few big hills. I’ve only had 2 bucks on Cam all year worth thinking about, but you never know. A nice fat doe will be some fun work.

While my phone was trying to load my last post, I had the moment every deer hunter prays for. Even with damp leaves, a squirrel 20 yards from me was making tons of noise. As I looked at him and silently cursed his entire family, an owl came out of nowhere, snatched him up, and hauled him off squealing. He landed just out of sight, but I heard the crunching of the squirrels bones as his squealing stopped. It was beautiful!!!

Now if only he’d be hungry enough for the other 5.

That’s awesome to see in person.
I had the opposite, I didn’t even see a squirrel. Almost made me miss how annoying they are.

Well, my fun was short lived. I was 50 yards from the neighbors hay field. Tonight they decided to come out with the tractor, pickups, and 3 hayracks and load all the round bales out. So I climbed down just after 6. Went 150 yards and sat in a deadfall. Saw 6 deer right in the last 5 legal minutes but with the clouds cover it was too dark for anything. 1 small buck for sure and the rest were does I believe.

Great morning to be in the woods. Set up in the same tree as yesterday morning.

Michael Best wrote:

Great morning to be in the woods. Set up in the same tree as yesterday morning.

Have you ever walked that oxbow to your northwest? Seems like a good spot for buck bedding.

Youbetcha wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Michael Best wrote:</div>
Great morning to be in the woods. Set up in the same tree as yesterday morning.

Have you ever walked that oxbow to your northwest? Seems like a good spot for buck bedding.

I did last year when I found this spot in the summer. Kicked a buck up just off the point.
The spot I am hunting is where two small ditches Y. The deer have an X in trails here.
Last year I hunted it with NW winds which wasn’t the best idea. Does bed along the ridge going to the SE.
So this year I decided to hunt it with N to E winds and changed trees.
This morning it was saying we had a light NNW wind but it was drifting to the SSW.
It’s a sweet spot that doesn’t get hunted much.

Thats crazy if its public being right next to ag and all and still having little pressure. Good find!

My daughter and I sat top side of a ridge overlooking Mississippi river bottom Saturday evening in area 604. We didn’t see anything but were getting blown at walking out. Had two buddies close by as well, one of them took a doe and other saw a doe but to far away. Was definitely a nice evening to be out.

Decided to try and fill my last doe tag I had tonight.
Scouted this piece of public last year but never hunted it. Decided to give it a try tonight.
Walked all the way to the back where the neighboring private had standing corn. Didn’t see much for deer sign. So I walked back towards the truck till I could find something worth hunting. Ended up finding a good trail that cut across the grass field towards a little band of woods along the river. Figured there had to be sone deer bedded in there.
Sure enough just before sunset 3 does came across. When the lead doe cleared a tree I put an arrow through her heart at 15 yards.

Not sure if that field has been cut for hay in the past or not. This year it was all tall grass. All the grass east and south of the stand has been cut for hay this year.
Pretty good grass too. When I was in the stand I was wishing there would have been some weeds in there the deer would browse on. Only grass in it.

Nice job MB!

Perfect night to be out. Moved a set up from where it was for WI gun season down near some water and some acorns earlier this week and tonight had the right wind to sit the new spot.

Around 5:30 a spike came in, and having more than enough antlerless tags, once I was given the shot I let a bolt fly. At first I thought the shot was low, but the quick collapse said otherwise. Normally at this point I would have jumped down to deal with it, but something told me to stay up. Damn sure glad I did! About 20 minutes later I see body coming straight at me through the woods, pausing to pick up acorns here and there. Another few steps and then I see antlers and realize I might finally have a chance at a real buck. He eventually comes down to where I shot the spike, stops to sniff the glowing bolt, and immediately freezes. For the next 15 minutes he would freeze, pause, backtrack, pause again, all while constantly licking his nose scent checking. Slowly but surely, he turned from facing me to broadside, and swung his head to look back behind him. I wasted no time and seized the opportunity given. 35 yards later I watch him fall over. First time ever getting a mature deer, first time ever getting two in a day let alone a night. What a great feeling.

Nice buck, how are you able to shoot 2 bucks?

gimruis wrote:

Nice buck, how are you able to shoot 2 bucks?

My guess is the spike had short enough antlers to be considered antlerless. Nice buck!

Yup under 3” is considered antlerless in WI.

salmo_trutta wrote:

Yup under 3” is considered antlerless in WI.

Good kill buddy, congrats

Drove up north last night and arrived at dark, and we only saw 7 deer in one field on the drive. Usually see dozens across multiple fields. Guessing there is still a ton of acorns hitting the ground, or the sliver moon has them moving midday…or something totally different and unrelated, if I ever really figure them out I’ll let ya know!

salmo_trutta wrote:

Yup under 3” is considered antlerless in WI.

Ah yes. Good call

First sit for me down in savage. Have about 15 turkey 20 yards from me

Current view…

Almost 0 wind so i couldnt get as close to bedding as i wanted. Crazy amount of deer sign tho.

I had 12 different doe in front of me at various times. No antlers though. Also 2 albino squirrel and about 30 turkey or the same group over and over