Post by fishunter on Oct 12, 2012 12:22:25 GMT -4
I figured I shared 2010, so I would share 2011 now that the deer season is upon us.
We left about the same time we always do last year, which is towards the end of October. I'm a huge fan of the month of November in the deer woods to be the "professor of the obvious".
I went back to the very same place that I hunted for the first time in 2010. All I had to do was bring in my sling style seat cushion for the stand I had hung the year prior. For whatever reason we were collectively seeing much less deer and/or buck sign in 2011. But, I was optimistic because I had seen lots of sign in 2010 and of course shot a nice 150 class buck.
As I was walking in on a cut trail I had made, it was evident the deer were using it. Not 40 yds in there was a nice rub on an ash tree that was 4-5" in diameter. That got my heart pumping. All along the trail were numerous scrapes and rubs. My walk is well over a mile to get back to this spot, but it's well worth it. So I put the seat in and left my heavy gear about 100 yds from the stand in a waterproof tote. That way I could walk in dressed lightly and suit up 100 yds from the stand to keep me from sweating. This worked great. My first sit was a calm day, but not all that cold. I arrived prior to light. As dawn approached I spotted a couple deer feeding. Both were bucks, but both were young. A fork horn and a 6-pt. At noon a doe and a fawn popped out to the east and made their way across the opening. Moments after they went into the bush on the west side they came flying back out tails up. That can only mean two things, wolf or rutting buck. It was the later as a nice 10-point stepped out and worked a small sappling over before chasing across to see if the doe was receptive. Since she was not he ended up strolling his way across the entire opening to within bow range of me. In the meantime I was debating on whether to take this deer. It's a nice buck that I figured would score 130", but I thought he was only 3-1/2 years old. That's a respectable deer up there, but I've seen and gotten much better, so I got and still do get greedy. Plus, it's the first day and I can hunt for a full 7 days.
Day 2 he pops out again and I let him walk.
Day 3 he comes screaming out of what I believe is his bedding area. This time it gets my blood pumping and I think it's a better buck. Calming myself down I realize it's the same buck and take a nice picture of him looking proud.
Day 4 he comes out again. In the mean time I had seen (2) other 10 pointers that were slightly smaller and completely different racks. One was tall and tight and one was dark, dark chocolate. Both were young. I had also seen a couple 8-points and that 6-point that I saw the first day was out every day. A resident no doubt. The elder big boys were just not on their feet and moving daylight hours. But that's hunting.
Day 5 this same 10-pt shows up yet again and is fighting with a much smaller buck. I took pictures but it was so windy that they are very blurry. The fact that these bucks were staying in such a small area and looked to be feeding told me the rut was just not on. Bummer for us, but that's hunting again.
Day 6 and my second to last day I told myself if he came back out I would take him. Murphy's law he didn't show. All you can do is smile and tell yourself that you don't regret it.
Day 7 and the last day. I'm a little late getting to the stand. There's a little breeze, but nothing like day 5 and day 6. Today could be the day. I climb up the tree and pull my rifle up and set it on the shooting rail. I'm as quiet as a church mouse. My back pack is still on my back as I turn around in the stand to situate myself. The access is absolutely perfect. You can't ask for better or better concealment. Good thing, because as I turn around there he is walking 40 yds from me right to left. I grab my rifle and settle the crosshairs on him. I'm in a funky position as my backpack is still on but it works. He's standing behind a white birch that's between he and I. As soon as he walked out I squeezed and the ol' 7mm barked and left him reaching for the sky with his 2 front legs.
I get down and walk over to him and it's bitter sweet. I'm happy to have such a nice animal, but really would have liked to see him another year later. The more I looked at him the more I'm convinced that this is the same 10-pt that I passed in 2010 that snort wheezed while I watched him in my binoculars. He had a short G-4 on his right side that I noticed in 2010 when I thought he was 2-1/2 years old. The G-4 was short and in a weird spot on the rack that made it so recognizable. This year's buck has the same. Aging him he is 3-1/2 years old and scored 130" on the nose. I am convinced it's the same buck, but could obviously never be 100% certain. It's very interesting to me how they have their territories and stick to them.
Keep an eye out for Ontario 2012. I'll give a full report when I get back. Very much looking forward to this year.
We left about the same time we always do last year, which is towards the end of October. I'm a huge fan of the month of November in the deer woods to be the "professor of the obvious".
I went back to the very same place that I hunted for the first time in 2010. All I had to do was bring in my sling style seat cushion for the stand I had hung the year prior. For whatever reason we were collectively seeing much less deer and/or buck sign in 2011. But, I was optimistic because I had seen lots of sign in 2010 and of course shot a nice 150 class buck.
As I was walking in on a cut trail I had made, it was evident the deer were using it. Not 40 yds in there was a nice rub on an ash tree that was 4-5" in diameter. That got my heart pumping. All along the trail were numerous scrapes and rubs. My walk is well over a mile to get back to this spot, but it's well worth it. So I put the seat in and left my heavy gear about 100 yds from the stand in a waterproof tote. That way I could walk in dressed lightly and suit up 100 yds from the stand to keep me from sweating. This worked great. My first sit was a calm day, but not all that cold. I arrived prior to light. As dawn approached I spotted a couple deer feeding. Both were bucks, but both were young. A fork horn and a 6-pt. At noon a doe and a fawn popped out to the east and made their way across the opening. Moments after they went into the bush on the west side they came flying back out tails up. That can only mean two things, wolf or rutting buck. It was the later as a nice 10-point stepped out and worked a small sappling over before chasing across to see if the doe was receptive. Since she was not he ended up strolling his way across the entire opening to within bow range of me. In the meantime I was debating on whether to take this deer. It's a nice buck that I figured would score 130", but I thought he was only 3-1/2 years old. That's a respectable deer up there, but I've seen and gotten much better, so I got and still do get greedy. Plus, it's the first day and I can hunt for a full 7 days.
Day 2 he pops out again and I let him walk.
Day 3 he comes screaming out of what I believe is his bedding area. This time it gets my blood pumping and I think it's a better buck. Calming myself down I realize it's the same buck and take a nice picture of him looking proud.
Day 4 he comes out again. In the mean time I had seen (2) other 10 pointers that were slightly smaller and completely different racks. One was tall and tight and one was dark, dark chocolate. Both were young. I had also seen a couple 8-points and that 6-point that I saw the first day was out every day. A resident no doubt. The elder big boys were just not on their feet and moving daylight hours. But that's hunting.
Day 5 this same 10-pt shows up yet again and is fighting with a much smaller buck. I took pictures but it was so windy that they are very blurry. The fact that these bucks were staying in such a small area and looked to be feeding told me the rut was just not on. Bummer for us, but that's hunting again.
Day 6 and my second to last day I told myself if he came back out I would take him. Murphy's law he didn't show. All you can do is smile and tell yourself that you don't regret it.
Day 7 and the last day. I'm a little late getting to the stand. There's a little breeze, but nothing like day 5 and day 6. Today could be the day. I climb up the tree and pull my rifle up and set it on the shooting rail. I'm as quiet as a church mouse. My back pack is still on my back as I turn around in the stand to situate myself. The access is absolutely perfect. You can't ask for better or better concealment. Good thing, because as I turn around there he is walking 40 yds from me right to left. I grab my rifle and settle the crosshairs on him. I'm in a funky position as my backpack is still on but it works. He's standing behind a white birch that's between he and I. As soon as he walked out I squeezed and the ol' 7mm barked and left him reaching for the sky with his 2 front legs.
I get down and walk over to him and it's bitter sweet. I'm happy to have such a nice animal, but really would have liked to see him another year later. The more I looked at him the more I'm convinced that this is the same 10-pt that I passed in 2010 that snort wheezed while I watched him in my binoculars. He had a short G-4 on his right side that I noticed in 2010 when I thought he was 2-1/2 years old. The G-4 was short and in a weird spot on the rack that made it so recognizable. This year's buck has the same. Aging him he is 3-1/2 years old and scored 130" on the nose. I am convinced it's the same buck, but could obviously never be 100% certain. It's very interesting to me how they have their territories and stick to them.
Keep an eye out for Ontario 2012. I'll give a full report when I get back. Very much looking forward to this year.