2024 Live From The Tree

Figures DT!

DT – I have a similar situation with a lane in my tree planting. I tried out a decoy this year. I leave the antlers off of it, so it represents a mature doe standing. Results for gun application has been outstanding. The bucks have been stopping and looking for 5 to 10 seconds or circling down wind of it. Never had confidence in a deer decoy until I finally tried it

Got one! 30 yards. I never shot one that close with my rifle.
DT

Congrats DT! Stud specimen you got there.

Those are some pretty dark horns. Do you have a lot of cedar trees around? Ive heard that is what causes that, but could be wrong. Very nice looking deer.

Last Thursday, 11/07, I shot my second biggest buck with a bow. Saw a big body crossing through CRP 150 yards away so hit the horns together and here he came. 28 yard shot and buck only went 15 yards and tipped over. Lucky to be able to hunt the Iowa rut every year

Congrates DT and nice deer Jeff, dandy.

Congrats on a couple of nice deer DT and Jeff! Boy and I sat this morning thinking the cold would have them moving. Not so much in our neck of the woods.

way to go guys!!!

way to go guys!!!!

Attaway DT!! And Jeff, great buck but that’s cheating those Iowa bruisers are built different!

Connected on my biggest bow deer last night! I also connected with my antlerless tag a minute later. It was a hectic few minutes!

I’ve been hitting it hard the past two weeks and honestly haven’t seen much. Tonight I hopped in a stand thinking there wasn’t much of a chance. I hadn’t seen a deer all night. Luckily, the neighbors decided to target shoot pistols 40ish times and I thought maybe they’d push something to me. I turned to the road and there he was standing on top of it looking big and proud with his doe. He kept coming my way and ended up with his doe 60ish yards in front of me in some willows. I was shaking like a leaf and had to close my eyes and take a few deep breaths to stop shaking. As fate would have it, he turned and walked out to at me to 30 yards. He was quartering to me to I tucked my pin up tight to the front shoulder and let it fly. It’s probably the best shot I’ve made on a deer. He took off 65 yards and stopped and wobbled for what felt like forever and fell over. As I was celebrating in the stand I noticed his doe was coming to me. She walked up to 10 yards and I smoked her too. She was a piebald so that was pretty cool to see. I’ll never forget this night in the tree!

Here is a better pic.
DT

Nice kills guys. Good job dt

And very nice bow bucks to both the Jeffs that just posted. Both those bucks are great.

It’s actually the big one I had on camera that I heard the neighbor shot.
DT

That is a heckuva night Jeffrey!

Awesome job guys! Fun to see them hitting the ground.
DT

deertracker wrote:

Got one! 30 yards. I never shot one that close with my rifle.
DT

I had to reach wayyyyyy out there to about 65 yards to tag my doe of the day. I love’m when they’re dumb and hang around that 20 yard mark. So much easier to find them when they drop where its been mowed.

Nice work Jeffery and DT. Beautiful animals.

Filled an antlerless tag as well. It was a really nice doe.
DT

Some nice looking deer,congratulations everyone.

Nice work dt. I bet that feels good. I had a encounter with a really nice 10 point yesterday afternoon, but I only wanted a doe since my buck tag is filled.
I have a buddy going to that spot today, and I’m headed over the river to cheese land.

Just heard a shot on the mn side of the river. Shame shame 15 minutes early.

I have been hearing early shots here too. Its a wet one here, I dont think many are out in my area. I dont think the deer will move much until this moves out.

Very active morning so far. Had a 6 chase a doe right under me, about 10 minutes later I had a 8 show up to a rattle i let out. But he was 75 yards out. I tried to blow at him but he spooked away. Right now I have 3 doe in the swamp/ pond next to me. I seen a big body in the distance but I couldn’t tell how big his rack was and he wouldn’t answer or respond to any grunts. He just kept his head to the ground and kept moving.

Slept in this morning so I could work in a bad trailer bearing so I can make it home Friday.

My buddy was out and passed on the one below.

If the rain stop, I’m leaving the rifle and going to one of my bow stands for my last antlerless tag.
DT

Thats a beauty to pass up in my eyes. Hopefully he makes it another year.

Switching it up tonight.
DT

Looks like a deer slaying machine good luck!

Well, accidents happen. Frustrated, but it is what it is. Had 3 bucks out fighting yesterday. Giant 9 – the bully, small 8 – the runt, and a really nice 10. The 9&10 were going at it and the runt would poke the 9 when he was locked up with the 10. Long story short, the just stopped and were buddies again. Walked to about 30 yrds and the 9 gave me what I thought was a perfect broadside shot. Just as I released they decided to go at it. What a cluster. Weirdest thwack I ever heard and the 9&10 just walked off. The runt jumped and hopped then bolted into the trees. Dumbfounded, I sat for a half hour and replayed it in my head – nothing I saw made sense. Walked out and found the shaft. About 20 feet from where it should have been????? Deep dark red blood and crap on the fletch. Knew it wasn’t right so I gave it 2 hours and started the search. Couple tiny drips of blood for about 30 feet and then nothing. Spent the next couple hours grid searching. Pooped myself when I found the runt dead under a pine tree.

Went to the crime scene today to figure it out. Hit a branch. Can see the clean slice in a small limb. Just like the miricle bullet for JFK. Went in high above shoulders, spleen, lungs, liver, stomach, intestines and out next to the testicles???? Weird -very weird angle for a deflection.
Feels like killing a pet. He’s been within 25 yrds every evening I sat out, practiced, and disciplined to wait for a good shot. Feel stupid but I guess it happens. Just frustrated that I’ve patiently waited and passed on both the 9 and 10 multiple times for various reasons. Only to make a mistake and not make sure I had a clean shot. Fortunately he’s recovered and will not go to waste.

Jeffrey Trapp wrote:

Connected on my biggest bow deer last night! I also connected with my antlerless tag a minute later. It was a hectic few minutes!

Dude, that is one of the most “classically” handsome typical bucks I’ve ever seen.