08MSDHC Team #22 - Out On A Limb

[theredmission]

Here is your official thread for the rest of the season guys.

Your team representative in the MS vs OS contest is: srconnell22

Good luck to ya!

[hicky40cmu]

Here is the banner that I ended up with... If you dont like it let me know and I will change it.

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/7187/546709f0b7b51em3fp0.png (http://www.BannerFans.com)

If you want to use this, click on this link
http://www.bannerfans.com/hicky40cmu/banner_28068/page_1

click on "get banner codes"
copy the code under "code for forums" and paste in your signature.

[srconnell22]

it's alot better than i could do! Thank you!

How many do we have hunting the EAS? I'll be bowhunting it, but not sure which day I'll be starting.

[Chasin]

Great Banner.:coolgleam

[hicky40cmu]

Hey guys, little piece of info for you...

This past week a guy in the town close to me got caught baiting by the DNR. His fine was $190 and lost his hunting rights for 3 years. I couldnt imagine not being able to hunt for 3 years! Its just not worth it. What do you think of that fine?

[Chasin]

Hey guys, little piece of info for you...

This past week a guy in the town close to me got caught baiting by the DNR. His fine was $190 and lost his hunting rights for 3 years. I couldnt imagine not being able to hunt for 3 years! Its just not worth it. What do you think of that fine?

Wow.. Pretty stiff penilty.
The money is one thing but the loss of hunting privlidges for 3 yrs is crazy.
I havent heard anything about the fines until this. Not saying I agree or disagree with the baiting ban but the fine being so big when it was leagle a couple weeks ago seems a little extreme. Maybe more to the story..

[hicky40cmu]

I found something cool today...

I was out scouting in the rain again (I was out there for 3 hrs yesterday) and went back to the same place that I found 4 rubs yesterday. I ended up finding another 4 or so rubs today and a scrape line. There is what looks to be 3 scrapes each about 50 yards apart and in one of the scrapes I found shedded velvet. It is about 6 inches long and you can see where two of the points came to an end. Ive never found velvet before but thought it was pretty cool. I will take a pic of it later and post it.

[sbooy42]

What fellas?
I like the new banner Hicky:)
Just got home from hang'n stands & put'n out bait:yikes:






in the UP....

I did get 3 stands hung in the rain and found some good sign.. Actually found a lot of Bear sign (too bad no bear permit this year) Hopefully get my stands set here behind the house this week and then head south next weekend to finish things up in Calhoun county... I hate being so far behind:lol:
Lots of leaves changing in the UP and starting see more & more around here... DAMN its get'n close:D

Oh yeah jjk on the bait thing...

[srconnell22]

it's been quiet...anyone huntin' Thursday??

[hicky40cmu]

it's been quiet...anyone huntin' Thursday??

Not I, I will be waiting until October 1st. You going out?

[srconnell22]

I'll be out in the EAS...I'm just not sure if I'm waiting until Saturday or getting started Thursday or Friday.

[sbooy42]

it's been quiet...anyone huntin' Thursday??
I will have a weapon with me while I'm hang'n stands

[NonTypicalCPA]

I'll be out this week putting in my wheat/bfo plots. I plan on taking my new muzzleloader along for an evening sit.

[hicky40cmu]

I went out scouting tonight and sat on the edge of a 30 acre alfalfa field for about 2 hours. I saw a total of 47 deer and 11 bucks. 10 of the bucks were 6 points or smaller and there was 1 shooter. It was a 9 point with a lot of tine length but the bad part is that he didnt come with in 300 yards of my tree stand. It was cool to get out there and have a couple deer 6 yards from me... it got me even more pumped up for hunting season.

The bad part is that my Dad is cutting the alfalfa field this weekend and with how cold it is and late it is in the summer I dont think much will grow back. Oh well

[Chasin]

it's been quiet...anyone huntin' Thursday??


I wont be out...

Work has me in Boston till next weekend.
After that I'll be home and checking stands.
Been hunting the same farm for 15 years now so there isnt too much scouting to be done. Biggest thing is seeing what the neighboring farms have planted.
That will effect movement some.

[TIMfromTroy]

I'll be out on Saturday/Sunday on property in Isabella County. I hope to get a doe so I can focus on bucks during bow season.

It still doesn't feel quite like hunting season yet; too warm out. I told my friends to bring coolers this weekend. If we shoot anything, I plan to process it on the spot and put the meat on ice. I don't want to take any chances with spoilage with the weather being so warm.

Hunting without a fire going in the wood burning stove....just doesn't feel right.

Good luck everyone!

[srconnell22]

add 5 points for the good guys! :D

DDD- dead doe down at 8:15 this morning...12 yard shot with the Drenalin & Rage 2 blade combo. She dropped instantly, so I was as noninvasive as possible to the land! Had 3 bucks come in and sniff her about 45 minutes after. Had to get her to the processor quick but managed to get a camera phone pic of her before we did. I'll have my brother post it here as soon as possible.

Special thanks to Casscityalum and dsconnell for helping me take care of it quickly this morning!

Off to work!

[dsconnell]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/DDD1.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Scotts_doe.jpg

Had to hold him off from shooting another one too!! Talk about trigger happy!!

[SPITFIRE]

Awsome!!! way to go guys, any video footage to go with it?

[dsconnell]

No.. He thought he was leaving early so I took Casscity with me.. We seen 11-12 and 5 of them were bucks.. Videod one buck shredding a tree.. Does never came close enough to us though!

[casscityalum]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/DDD1.jpg



Had to hold him off from shooting another one too!! Talk about trigger happy!!


love the "from the stand cell phone pic" cant get any easier tracking job than that! Congrats again!....glad to let you sit in my stand...did it crack or make noise when you climbed in???:yikes::yikes:

[srconnell22]

love the "from the stand cell phone pic" cant get any easier tracking job than that! Congrats again!....glad to let you sit in my stand...did it crack or make noise when you climbed in???:yikes::yikes:

The ladder is creaky...especially toward the top. You just have to love the tree a little on your way up! :lol: Stand is solid now though since I put that ratchet strap on this AM.

[NonTypicalCPA]

Way to get our team going captain!

[hicky40cmu]

add 5 points for the good guys! :D

DDD- dead doe down at 8:15 this morning...12 yard shot with the Drenalin & Rage 2 blade combo. She dropped instantly, so I was as noninvasive as possible to the land! Had 3 bucks come in and sniff her about 45 minutes after. Had to get her to the processor quick but managed to get a camera phone pic of her before we did. I'll have my brother post it here as soon as possible.

Special thanks to Casscityalum and dsconnell for helping me take care of it quickly this morning!

Off to work!

congrats srconnell22! Way to get us started! Did you see any bucks big enough to take this year while you were out there?

[srconnell22]

congrats srconnell22! Way to get us started! Did you see any bucks big enough to take this year while you were out there?

No, 3 1 1/2's...it was pretty cool though to see them at 15 yards for about 20 minutes.

At first I had a spike come through that I've got at least 200 trail cam pics of, he came in from one way, then I had two 6 points come in from the opposite direction. The bigger six walked stiff legged sideways with his ears laid back right up to the spike until the spike backed away...then they proceeded to lick each other for awhile...:coco:

It was great to have 3 bucks in nearly spitting distance though!

[sbooy42]

WooHOO
way to get us on the board...

[Jet08]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Scotts_doe.jpg

Had to hold him off from shooting another one too!! Talk about trigger happy!!
Which broad heads do you shoot?

[srconnell22]

same one you do! :D

http://image.basspro.com/images/images2/95000/95092.jpg

[Tru-N-Sea]

Sweet! Congrats! Score 5 for OOAL!

Captn---

[srconnell22]

who's up next? we need 5 more points! Let's jump out to a huge lead! I'm going back out hunting tonight!

[SPITFIRE]

who's up next? we need 5 more points! Let's jump out to a huge lead! I'm going back out hunting tonight!
Leave those poor little deer alone, dont you feel bad for them? Push those Doe's over to me were I will give them the nurturing that they need.

[dsconnell]

It was great to have 3 bucks in nearly spitting distance though!

Now I know why he used this phrase.. He was in the stand behind me tonight with the camera and I bet he spit 10 times..:dizzy: Only seen 1 or 2 out in the marsh tonight but it surely sounded like gun opener tonight.. Poor little girls..

[TIMfromTroy]

Nice job on the doe Scronell22 -

No luck for me this weekend...I had an apprentice hunter with me and I had to sit with him. But I did get to see him shoot his first deer.
There were lots of does out at the Isabella county spot but only saw one buck. That's sort of par for the course up there. My other buddy shot two does this weekend. I think I spent more time dragging and butchering deer than I did hunting.

I'll be out at the in-laws house in Oakland county on the first weekend of bow season. Hoping for better luck then.

[srconnell22]

anybody else go out for the EAS? How about the youth season? Anyone taking a kid out?

[sbooy42]

anybody else go out for the EAS? How about the youth season? Anyone taking a kid out?

Nope didn't make it hunting but I did get some my stands finally hung..Unfortunately I jumped two nice bucks going out...

I wish my son was old enough to take out still have 7yrs to go:D

[hicky40cmu]

I didnt go out hunting as I am waiting for Oct 1st. I did however go out scouting a few days. Sunday morning I was sitting on the edge of a hayfield by 7am and ended up seeing about 12 deer and I think 3 bucks. They were all fairly small. Last night I saw about 20 deer and 4 or 5 bucks, 1 of which was decent. I think it was last Wed or Fri night I sat out there for 2 hrs and saw 47 deer and 11 bucks, 1 of which was a shooter. Unfortunately that field was cut down over the weekend and has been very quiet since :rolleyes:

[srconnell22]

I say we inject the strategy of everyone gets a doe down in the first week of bow season...There will be alot of teams that have guys that don't put does down and they are the easiest targets. Also, that early in the season you can take a doe early and just stay in your tree and wait for another one to come by (a buck).

I don't see myself shooting any more does until we get a SAH processor within 20 miles of where I live/hunt...At $115 to process the last one and knowing the girlfriend wont touch the meat it's just not worth it for me.

On another note...I pulled the cards from my 2 cams on a small piece of property I'll be hunting this year...kinda disappointed that after a week I didnt get any pictures of the 120"+ 8 that I let go last fall...I know it was only a week but I really want to see him again. :sad: Those cams will tell me where I'll be sitting come next Wednesday.

[TIMfromTroy]

$115 is pretty high for processing. Have you thought of doing it yourself? If you don't care about having all different types of roasts, its really not that hard.

The other thing I don't like about processors is that you don't know you're getting your deer back and you don't know if you're getting all of your deer back. I've heard some people say they thought the back straps came out of the processor a little shorter than they went in.

We processed all 3 deer we shot last weekend on the spot. It only takes an 1- 1 1/2 hours.

My wife wouldn't eat venison either. The trick is -- make something with venision in it and don't tell her. Once she's eaten it and thought it was good, then tell her.

[sbooy42]

I will be shooting does the first weekend while hunting down south. Unfortunately in Kalkaska county we don't have any doe permits unless you want to use a buck tag with your bow..which wont happen until the very end of the season...
I am hoping to fill all my doe tags this season. I have a lot of orders to fill for friends, family & the hungry:)

My wife also is not a big fan of venison pretty much only eats burger mixed in with something..But the last couple years I have had the the rear 1/4s smoked and she loves it..taste just like ham...
We also had some bacon made and it was damn good too...

[srconnell22]

My wife wouldn't eat venison either. The trick is -- make something with venision in it and don't tell her. Once she's eaten it and thought it was good, then tell her.

Tried that this weekend...made beef stroganoff with venison. She never saw me cook it and was like..."honey that was good!" I thought I was pretty slick, so I looked on her plate and most of the meat was still there...she's a smart cookie.

[hicky40cmu]

We processed all 3 deer we shot last weekend on the spot. It only takes an 1- 1 1/2 hours.



Tim, How do you butcher yours? I have done my own in the past but it seems to take a friend and I closer to 2.5 hrs.

After gutting and getting it back to the garage or barn (starting the timer right now it takes us 2.5 hrs) we remove the hide. At this point we remove a quarter at a time and take it to the cutting table. Throwing pieces into the trash (bones, fat, etc.) or 3 different bowls depending if we are going to use it for burger, steaks, or jerky. We do everything with knives and de-bone all of it. After the meat is all cut up we package it in one of those air tight vaccuum sealer contraptions.

We have never had anybody actually teach us how to do it so maybe we are just slow at it but Just looking for any ideas to make the job faster...

[srconnell22]

Tim, How do you butcher yours? I have done my own in the past but it seems to take a friend and I closer to 2.5 hrs.

After gutting and getting it back to the garage or barn (starting the timer right now it takes us 2.5 hrs) we remove the hide. At this point we remove a quarter at a time and take it to the cutting table. Throwing pieces into the trash (bones, fat, etc.) or 3 different bowls depending if we are going to use it for burger, steaks, or jerky. We do everything with knives and de-bone all of it. After the meat is all cut up we package it in one of those air tight vaccuum sealer contraptions.

We have never had anybody actually teach us how to do it so maybe we are just slow at it but Just looking for any ideas to make the job faster...

A buddy and I used to do it when I was younger up north in about 30 minutes...skin it while the body is still warm, take all the meat off first and then de-bone it. Kind of like an assembly line.

I dont have the gambrel and everything hooked up in the garage down here...so I'm working on getting that done this year too.

[NonTypicalCPA]

I say we inject the strategy of everyone gets a doe down in the first week of bow season...

That's my plan. I'm hoping to get a crack at the big 10 point from my earlier thread in the first two or three hunts, however if a doe shows up after 9:30 she's in trouble!

[srconnell22]

anyone seein' any shooters yet?

[TIMfromTroy]

Hicky --


Our method is very similar. First we hang the deer from the back legs then skin it. The skin comes off very easy if the deer is still warm. Then remove the backstraps and tenderlions. Then remove the front and hind quarter meat, brisket, etc. I do not cut roasts or steaks. Only back straps, tenderloins and stew meat. I then have the stew meat ground into burger or made into sausage or jerky.

The only difference I think is that I rarely process only one deer. A lot of the time is set up and clean up. Once you have things set up, it is more efficient to process several deer at one time.

[hicky40cmu]

anyone seein' any shooters yet?

I have seen 3 or 4 but not lately, I think the most recent shooter I saw was 2 weeks ago and that field is empty now. They are out there though... I have Wed and Thur off work, anybody else?

[NonTypicalCPA]

I've seen 3 or 4 shooters over the summer on my property. I hope to intercept one tomorrow morning.

Good luck men and be safe tomorrow! It's go time!

[sbooy42]

Dang... I have to wait until 5pm tomorrow...:rant:
The frick'n suspense is gunna kill me


GOOD LUCK

[hicky40cmu]

I will be sitting in my treestand around 6am tomorrow morning which is about 8 hrs from now and I am so pumped!

I missed a lot of hunting time last yr due to returning from Iraq after season started and getting back to work and missed all of the season in 2006 because of Iraq. The 4 years before that I was away at college which cut into hunting time a lot. I have never practiced with my bow, done as much scouting, or did clothing and accessory preperation as much as I did this year... whether I find the buck I am looking for this year or not, I am ready for it and am going to enjoy it!

Good luck to everybody, enjoy the time you get to spend in the woods, and be safe! Im looking forward to hearing your hunting stories...

[SPITFIRE]

Good luck today hunters! be safe.

[hicky40cmu]

Our property was very quiet his morning... I only saw 2 does which were about 50 yards out and acting very spooked with all the wind. My brother saw 1 doe and my gf's dad saw 2 small bucks. hope you guys had better luck

[NonTypicalCPA]

Missed a doe tonight - shot right over her back. At least it was a clean miss. She was already in my food plot when I got there at 5:30. I made a good stalk on her and waited as she worked her way towards me through the rye. Then I blew it.

I had a good day today. Passed on a small 4 point this morning, and saw a pack of 5 coyotes cross the river by my stand. Had a tom gobble three times around 8 am.

Then tonight, after the miss on the doe, I saw another doe with a fawn that didn't come close enough for a shot. And another doe with twins. She busted me on the way out. If I would have been paying attention, I could have gotten a shot at her. After she bolted, the fawns stayed put. Then out of the woods come two coyotes. The fawns actually started to walk towards the yotes. The were within 30 yards of each other. The yotes must not have been hungry because they pretty much ignored the fawns. Eventually the fawns took off.

Any other hunting reports from today? I'm heading to Mackinaw for a long weekend, so I won't be at it again until next week.

Good luck team. Lets put some more points on the board - shoot some does!

[srconnell22]

went out last night for the first time...saw 4 deer, 3 bucks and one I didnt see long enough to tell. A deer I call Halo which is a 2 yr old 8, a spike and a 5 or 6 point...not sure what the last one was. Back at it again this AM.

[TIMfromTroy]

Unfortunately, work will keep me out of the woods until Saturday morning. Good luck guys!

[sbooy42]

Saw nothing but wind & rain last night....
Tonight's look'n a little better.....

[srconnell22]

let another 2 year old 8 go this morning, probably about 100"...be out tomorrow! Let's get some points on the board gentleman!

[hicky40cmu]

I got a doe last night... unfortunately it wont count for any points though because I signed up for bow only and there wasnt a category for car kills. I was doing about 20mph watching some deer on the other side of the road and she jumped in front of me. Didnt do any damage to the car but it broke her back. I called the sherrif to come and shoot her and was surprised when DNR showed up less than 5 minutes later.

I went out this morning and saw 17 does, I had 14 of them with in 10 yards of me and they didnt have a clue I was there. Im at work now and will be back out afterwards.

[srconnell22]

I got a doe last night... unfortunately it wont count for any points though because I signed up for bow only and there wasnt a category for car kills. I was doing about 20mph watching some deer on the other side of the road and she jumped in front of me. Didnt do any damage to the car but it broke her back. I called the sherrif to come and shoot her and was surprised when DNR showed up less than 5 minutes later.

I went out this morning and saw 17 does, I had 14 of them with in 10 yards of me and they didnt have a clue I was there. Im at work now and will be back out afterwards.

Sounds like you have too many does! You better turn one of them into 5 points!

[hicky40cmu]

Sounds like you have too many does! You better turn one of them into 5 points!

1 of them will be getting us 5 before too long... my buddy and I are planning on shooting does next weekend so that we can butcher them togethor and save some time with the clean up and set up. He wont be able to make it out this weekend so I am going to hold off for another week.

[Tru-N-Sea]

Tonight was the first night out for me. It was getting dark so I figured I would call it a night, as I was putting my arrow back in the quiver, from my left in comes a doe! She didn't see or scent me so I slowly, quietly and carefully nocked an arrow, came to full draw and just as I was getting the pin on her, that lil wench turned and walked straight away from me! What would have been a perfect 20 yard shot turned into a 23, 25, brush, tree, 35..out of sight. :rant::rant:
I waited around a little while longer thinking there might have been another one coming along...not tonight.
Going out in the morning to see what happens!

Captn---

[hicky40cmu]

Saw 16 does and 2 spikes this morning

last night I saw 12 does, a spike, and a bigun but he was on the other side of the field.

What are you guys seeing?

[srconnell22]

i saw zilch this AM. I did manage to get a 450 in Yahtzee...which I was pretty happy with!

[hicky40cmu]

i saw zilch this AM. I did manage to get a 450 in Yahtzee...which I was pretty happy with!

How do you expect to see any deer when you are sitting in a tree yelling "Yahtzee"?!? I am addicted to that game...

[srconnell22]

had a coon try climbing the tree I was sitting in...that's the only action I had all night. anyone else go out?

[hicky40cmu]

had a coon try climbing the tree I was sitting in...that's the only action I had all night. anyone else go out?

I was out there but didnt see much... 5 does

[sbooy42]

Well nothing to really report saw lots of deer this weekend...lots of little bucks but everything I wanted to shoot stayed out of range...

[TIMfromTroy]

I was out Saturday morning and evening. Saw lots of does and one decent buck. I had a button buck walk right beneath my stand.

Overall it was a bit slow. I passed on two easy shots at undersized does.

It'll happen, I'm not concerned yet.

[srconnell22]

Overall it was a bit slow. I passed on two easy shots at undersized does.

There is no such thing as a Pope & Young or B&C class doe! :D

[casscityalum]

There is no such thing as a Pope & Young or B&C class doe! :D

lmao

[Chasin]

Sorry havent posted on this thread for awhile.
Ive been out alot so far this season.
Been seeing alot of bucs just not big ones.
Need to take a few does for sure been seeing an average of 17 does every nite on the 25 acreas I'm hunting.
I'll be heading back out tonight then not till the weekend.
I'll keep you all posted.

By the way..
How many points for Turkeys?
I got a fall permit and season opened yesterday. I will get one with my bow for sure. 15-20 parade by my stand every morning.

[Birddogm33]

Been out hunting quite a bit but not seeing any bucks. I think the time has come to cull a doe out of the herd though. There is a lot of leaves left on the trees up here. The next week or so should bring them down and things should break loose in my area. I hope. Good luck all!!!

[srconnell22]

hopefully heading out tomorrow either AM or PM. Then I'll be back out Sunday...it's a great weekend to put some points on the board with some does fellas...the rut will be here soon and nobody will be hunting does then!

[hicky40cmu]

Well my night of hunting went alright tonight... I went out with the expectations of taking a big doe tonight and for the first time this season I did not have a single doe come within range. I did however grunt a 4 point in to about 15 yards tonight and then shortly after I had a 6 point hang around my stand for about 30 minutes (I took a pic of him with my cell phone when he was sniffing the base of my tree). After that a 3 point walk by at about 20 yards and then another 6 point hang around. There was another buck about 70 yards out and I told myself that if he came over and had 8 points I would shoot him...well, he did come to within 20 yards and was an 8 point however I decided he was not what I was looking for. If he makes it to next year he should be very nice! So I ended up having 5 bucks all within 20 yards tonight just none of them is what I was hoping for but it was a lot of fun to see them.

[NonTypicalCPA]

Add 5 points for Team Out on A Limb! :)

I got out this morning and had a doe come by around 8am. I watched her for about 5 minutes as she made her way toward me through the woods. She was all alone. I gave her a good looking over before the shot to be sure she wasn't a button buck. She gave me a nice 22 yard broadside shot. I slipped the rage 2 blade right behind her shoulder blade and got a complete passthrough. She ran about 40 yards and tipped over.

I'll get the pictures up tomorrow.

[hicky40cmu]

congrats nontypical! Hopefully I wont be far behind you as I am going out this weekend with the intentions of taking a doe

[srconnell22]

Add 5 points for Team Out on A Limb! :)

I got out this morning and had a doe come by around 8am. I watched her for about 5 minutes as she made her way toward me through the woods. She was all alone. I gave her a good looking over before the shot to be sure she wasn't a button buck. She gave me a nice 22 yard broadside shot. I slipped the rage 2 blade right behind her shoulder blade and got a complete passthrough. She ran about 40 yards and tipped over.

I'll get the pictures up tomorrow.

Awesome! Nice work! Congrats on a great shot!:woohoo1:


congrats nontypical! Hopefully I wont be far behind you as I am going out this weekend with the intentions of taking a doe


Good luck! Hope to be reading your success story tonight!

I went out last night and of all nights that I leave my digital camera at home...I had a real nice 6 point (Typical 8 with no brows) come in and bed down right under me for about 30 minutes. I've seen this guy already this year and thought he was an 8. He laid directly downwind (thank you scent killer spray, rubber boots and scent blocker) for awhile...got up, licked his private parts for awhile and proceeded to mosey up into the green field behind me and run does back and forth across that field for the rest of the night. A great night to hunt!

[NonTypicalCPA]

Finally found some time to get the pics up. Here is the contest photo

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/DSC_0343_Small_.JPG (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/DSC_0343_Small_.JPG)

The guy on my shoulder is my son and the girl is my daughter. God blessed me with twins (read two future hunters). The other boy is a friend.

I of course had to give them a lesson on deer anatomy.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/DSC_0349_Small_.JPG (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/DSC_0349_Small_.JPG)


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/DSC_0346_Small_.JPG (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/DSC_0346_Small_.JPG)

I'll be back in the tree tomorrow morning for a couple hours before work. I'm looking for another doe and am eagerly awaiting an encounter with one of the big bucks in the area!

[srconnell22]

Does that friend of your sons know Al Bundy? :lol:

Congrats again...passed up a 1 1/2 yr old 7 last night and a few does & fawns...not sure when I'll make it out next, maybe Wednesday? Anyone else have any luck this weekend?

[NonTypicalCPA]

Does that friend of your sons know Al Bundy? :lol:

That made me laugh out loud!

[SPITFIRE]

lmao offspring of bundy. Fine deer and family NTCPA, I have twin boy and girl also.

[srconnell22]

went out this AM with the climber...passed on a 3 point at about 20 yards...but that was all I saw. Probably won't be out until Sunday...we need someone to step up over the next few days!

[QDMAMAN]

...we need someone to step up over the next few days!



You need someone to step over the next few MONTHS.:lol::lol::lol:

[SPITFIRE]

You need someone to step over the next few MONTHS.:lol::lol::lol:
Ouch! you going to let him get away with that Scotty? :D

[NonTypicalCPA]

Bump

Ha Ha, just too quiet here lately.

I've been out a few more times now. Still no sign of the bigger bucks on my property. I've passed on three yearlings now. Last night I had one under me at dark. Couldn't get a good view of his rack, but I'm pretty sure it was small. He walked in front of my cam, so I'll verify that next time I check it.

Things are starting to heat up around my place. I'm seeing a few scrapes in the past couple of hunts.

Check in and share some details of what you're seeing.

[srconnell22]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=70&pictureid=2873

This is as close as I got to wearing camouflage on Saturday..girlfriend's best friend's wedding. Went out tonight but didn't see a deer.

Hopefully tomorrow morning I'll get out.

[sbooy42]

Still a big 0 from me...:( (unless coons count)
Man I wish we could shoot does in this county..Its driven me nuts...
I've been seeing the same frick'n bucks & does every morning & night:rant: Doesn't matter where I sit they always find me...
Probably wont do much hunt'n this week. Gotta get the last few things scratched off my fall to-do-list..
But I will be headed north the next couple weekends to hunt the UP. And then I'll be headed south to Calhoun and possibly Jackson for the beginning of Nov..I cant wait to hunt fresh stands in a new place...

[srconnell22]

anybody still around?

[sbooy42]

anybody still around?
I am

[TIMfromTroy]

I didn't get to hunt last weekend. I was running the Detroit marathon.

But I'll be heading up to the Mt. Pleasant area for this weekend. It was pretty slow when I was up there 2 weeks ago. It should be cooler though and hopefully some of the neighbors have taken their corn down.

[Tru-N-Sea]

Still here and getting out whenever I can! Im thinking about burning a vacation day and making a day of it. I know for sure that Ill be out this weekend!

Captn---

[SPITFIRE]

Nice pic with you and your girl Scott, peace bro.

[NonTypicalCPA]

Seems to me that everyone's been enjoying the October lull - uggh.

Things should be heating up real soon. I'm heading out in the morning for an all morning sit. Hoping that the nasty weather front coming will have the deer active all morning. I'll let ya know what I see.

[hicky40cmu]

sorry, I havent been around much or hunting much lately...

2 of my partners and I started our own company and I have been lucky to leave the office by 7 the last 2 weeks so weekends has been my only free time. This weekend I will be in Ann Arbor for the UofM MSU game but hopefully Sunday I will make it out before back to work.

On another note, my neighbors have me really frustrated... they shoot everything they see... they have block permits for, I believe, 30 deer and I think that is what they have shot each of the last two years. Im not sure if it is allowed to hunt with firearms before firearm season with block permits but the last 2 times I was out I listened to gun shots every 15 or 30 minutes for a couple hrs. Also, does anybody know if block permits are for bucks and does or just does? These guys really dont care about the future of the hunting in the area as they are being evicted and this is their last season on the land. anyway, really frustrates me!

[hicky40cmu]

I didn't get to hunt last weekend. I was running the Detroit marathon.

But I'll be heading up to the Mt. Pleasant area for this weekend. It was pretty slow when I was up there 2 weeks ago. It should be cooler though and hopefully some of the neighbors have taken their corn down.

Tim,

what time did you come in at? I am getting ready for a 5k and 10k and hopefully a half marathon soon after. When I came home from Iraq I was running about a 20 minute 5k... now Im at about 26 minutes. Gotta get it back down but I dont know if I could handle a marathon.

[TIMfromTroy]

Tim,

what time did you come in at? I am getting ready for a 5k and 10k and hopefully a half marathon soon after. When I came home from Iraq I was running about a 20 minute 5k... now Im at about 26 minutes. Gotta get it back down but I dont know if I could handle a marathon.

Hicky -
I finished it in 4 hours 51 minutes. My goal was to break 5 hours in this marathon so I was pleased. I took 26 minutes off my first marathon that I ran in May.

I've got a few weeks off training now to do some hunting before I start running again. I think the next marathon is Green Bay in May.

[srconnell22]

I was a sprinter in college...you guys are nuts to run that far! :lol: Anything more than 1 lap is off limits.

I'm leaving work early today to head out for the evening hunt. Not sure where I'll sit yet...haven't seen the wind, but it will be nice to get back out there.

[sbooy42]

Good luck this weekend fellas...I'm headed to the UP so I will be disconnected from the real world...
Hopefully I will return with good news and points:D

[hicky40cmu]

I was a sprinter in college...you guys are nuts to run that far! :lol: Anything more than 1 lap is off limits.


I use to completely agree with this before I went to the army and they MADE me run 5 or 6 miles. I wasnt good enough for college but I was the captain of my high school track team junior and senior year. In 8th grade I set the school record for the 400 Meter at 56.2 seconds. In high school I could never get below 50 seconds but I would hit low 51's and high 50's. Where did you go to college at?

[srconnell22]

Northwood U. in Midland

[hicky40cmu]

Northwood U. in Midland

thats a good business school, i drove through there all the time on my way to central

[Birddogm33]

Very slow up here. I am dissappointed with the year so far. Lots of nice bucks on trail cam, but haven't seen one as of today in the field. Hopefully, the rut should kick things up a notch!!!!!!! Oh well, thats hunting.

[hicky40cmu]

Damn it was windy out there tonight! Only saw 5 does tonight...
I drew back on one at the end ofthe night but I couldnt see if it was a button buck so I let down.

[sbooy42]

Well another big 0 for me this weekend
but it was a very good and promising trip considering it was my first time hunting this property...Found a lot of good buck sign and saw deer every night...small bucks and does...
Thank god its a long season

Camera caught a pic of this fella sneaking by my stand...
Whatta ya know there are bucks in the UP & on state land

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/sbooy42/deer/buck.jpg

[srconnell22]

nice buck! It's primetime kids...time to start stacking up the points!

[sbooy42]

nice buck! It's primetime kids...time to start stacking up the points!

I hear that..
my Dad said he watched deer all night last night downstate..5 different bucks and a bunch does...
surprisingly he said the bucks were still kinda hang'n together..but there was a lot of sparring and pushing each other around..
I'm back to the UP this weekend..
Then its all S MI hunting for the last week of bow and the opener of gun...

Them slick heads are trouble if I dont scratch this itch by the end of Nov...

[srconnell22]

Them slick heads are trouble if I dont scratch this itch by the end of Nov...

I was going to let the air out of one this morning...unfortunately she's smarter than I am so that didn't work. :lol:

[sbooy42]

Scored one for team out on a limb tonight


http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/sbooy42/deer/seansdeer002.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd186/sbooy42/deer/seansdeer011.jpg

[srconnell22]

awesome buck! Where was it taken? Story! Congratulations.

[Tru-N-Sea]

Awesome!! Congrats! I had a doe come in tonight..then just as she stopped, a neighbor started yelling for his dog and spooked her off! :rant: Still plenty of time though!

Congrats again!

Captn---

[hicky40cmu]

Congrats Sbooy!!

I also shot one tonight but I lost the blood trail in the cornfield. I think I started tracking her too soon and I jumped her up so I am going to look again tomorrow morning with a couple guys. I am really bummed right now and am really hoping we can find her in the morning. She was being chased by a buck so I grunted at her with my mouth when she was about 30 yards out. As I released she started going again and it appeared that I hit her high. I had a really good blood trail until I jumped her and then it was hardly anything so I figured to leave her for the night. Wish me luck finding her... I absolutely hate the thought of not recovering one!

[sbooy42]

awesome buck! Where was it taken? Story! Congratulations.
UP buck Stateland, no bait :confused::lol:...west of the Soo about an hour
He's not the big one I got on camera but he scratched my itch:lol:

Not much of story hadn't seen anyhting all day. Was think'n well crap guess thats about it..when crunch crunch. here he came right to me..Thought he was going to stay on the trail but he veered off to my right had to make a quick adjustment...about a 20 yard shot..To be honest I had no idea how big he was (darkness) I just knew it was a buck...let one rip and watched my lighted nock disappear in him...he ran about 70 -80 yards and I heard him crash...
Thank god he didn't run into the swamp
I'm really start'n to like the UP:D

[sbooy42]

Congrats Sbooy!!

I also shot one tonight but I lost the blood trail in the cornfield. I think I started tracking her too soon and I jumped her up so I am going to look again tomorrow morning with a couple guys. I am really bummed right now and am really hoping we can find her in the morning. She was being chased by a buck so I grunted at her with my mouth when she was about 30 yards out. As I released she started going again and it appeared that I hit her high. I had a really good blood trail until I jumped her and then it was hardly anything so I figured to leave her for the night. Wish me luck finding her... I absolutely hate the thought of not recovering one!

good luck tomorrow...

[NonTypicalCPA]

Congrats on a great buck!

I'm starting to see a lot of bucks on my property, just not the big boys yet.

[hicky40cmu]

2 buddies and I went out this morning and after not being able to find any more blood we got about 30 yards apart and walked back and forth across the cornfield 4 times. Then we walked all three tree lines(2 of them are almost a half mile long) and walked the field next to it. We spent about 2.5 hrs this morning and probably 2 hrs last night and couldnt find her. Im really bummed about this and even though I guess it is part of hunting it is hard to accept when it happens to you... especially when I practiced as much as I have this year. I dont think I have shot and not recovered a deer since the 1990's.

I went out tonight though and saw 5 deer. I had put out some doe in estrous to see how they would respond to it. I wasnt really happy with the wind direction as it was not blowing any where near their bedding area and instead out into the fields. I had 3 does get down wind of it during the night and it didnt seem to affect them one way or the other although they did smell it. I was sitting there having not seen a deer for about an hour when all of a sudden a button buck came running in from out of the corn field. He ran to about 25 yards from the scrape and then slowly walked up to it. He hung around for about 30 minutes. Then about 30 minutes before getting down I had a 4 point also run out of the corn field 30 yards into the woods where I was. He kept licking his lips and also checked out the scrape and branches I had sprayed it on. Im looking forward to the wind blowing out of the north so the scent will carry into the thick woods.

[TIMfromTroy]

sbooy42 -- That's a great buck in any part of the state but in the EUP that's a real trophy. Congrats.

[SPITFIRE]

Very nice deer congrates!

[Tru-N-Sea]

Well I've been hitting the woods as often as I could the past few days. I missed a 4 point last night!! He's still around though, and Ill be back! It was "operator error", I took a bad shot through a small bush and when my Lumenok lit up, I saw the deflection...it flew right under him. Im off work for the next 2 weeks and Ill be headed north on Thursday til Monday so Ill still be out there!

Captn---

[hicky40cmu]

I made it in to my tree stand around 6:10 this morning. Sitting there waiting for it to get light out I was thinking that it would be easy to hear deer coming with all of the dry leaves on the ground. Around 6:50 I look to my left and there is a doe standing about 15 yards away that I had no idea was there. I contemplated for a minute shooting her before deciding not to which turned out to be a good decision. About 35 minutes after she walked away I heard the loud sound of corn stalks breaking in the field where she went. 5 Seconds later she came running back into the woods with 2 bucks in hot pursuit, pass me at about 20 yards, and back into the woods. I sat there for a second surprised at how fast that had just happened knowing that I had absolutely no chance of getting a shot. With in 40 seconds though I hear them coming back my way. I grabbed my bow, stood, and turned to the direction I thought they were going to pass on. When they got to about 30 yards to my right I started grunting with my mouth to try and stop them. I probably grunted 6 or 7 times but the doe in front and the 4 point behind her with a broken antler were not slowing down as they tore past me again. The 2nd buck, a 6 point, starts slowing down and finally came to a stop directly in front of me in my shooting lane about 35 yards away. I drew back, placed the 30 yard pin a bit high, reminded myself to hold the pin on his chest until I see the arrow hit, and squeezed. The arrow disapeared where I had anticipated and he jogged off. About 30 yards from where he was standing when I shot he stopped, wobbled a bit, and went down for good. As I was standing there watching him I hear more commotion to my right as a 3rd buck comes running through chasing after that doe. Today was the farthest I have ever shot at a deer with bow (35 yards) and when it was done the buck ran a shorter distance than the shot was.... I guess its a good thing I passed on that doe at first light.

[srconnell22]

I made it in to my tree stand around 6:10 this morning. Sitting there waiting for it to get light out I was thinking that it would be easy to hear deer coming with all of the dry leaves on the ground. Around 6:50 I look to my left and there is a doe standing about 15 yards away that I had no idea was there. I contemplated for a minute shooting her before deciding not to which turned out to be a good decision. About 35 minutes after she walked away I heard the loud sound of corn stalks breaking in the field where she went. 5 Seconds later she came running back into the woods with 2 bucks in hot pursuit, pass me at about 20 yards, and back into the woods. I sat there for a second surprised at how fast that had just happened knowing that I had absolutely no chance of getting a shot. With in 40 seconds though I hear them coming back my way. I grabbed my bow, stood, and turned to the direction I thought they were going to pass on. When they got to about 30 yards to my right I started grunting with my mouth to try and stop them. I probably grunted 6 or 7 times but the doe in front and the 4 point behind her with a broken antler were not slowing down as they tore past me again. The 2nd buck, a 6 point, starts slowing down and finally came to a stop directly in front of me in my shooting lane about 35 yards away. I drew back, placed the 30 yard pin a bit high, reminded myself to hold the pin on his chest until I see the arrow hit, and squeezed. The arrow disapeared where I had anticipated and he jogged off. About 30 yards from where he was standing when I shot he stopped, wobbled a bit, and went down for good. As I was standing there watching him I hear more commotion to my right as a 3rd buck comes running through chasing after that doe. Today was the farthest I have ever shot at a deer with bow (35 yards) and when it was done the buck ran a shorter distance than the shot was.... I guess its a good thing I passed on that doe at first light.

first...congratulations! :woohoo1:

second...this thread is useless without pics! :lol:

[NonTypicalCPA]

Great story Hicky! Congrats on the buck. I too have been passing on the does this past week just for that reason. It hasn't paid off yet though. I've had three close encounters this past week. A 3.5 10pt at 45 yards broadside that I passed on - just too far for me to risk a wounding shot. Two seperate bucks just before first light. Could see nice antlers because they were only 10 and 15 yards away, but too dark to shoot. I'm still at it, the bucks on my property are really working the does right now.

[hicky40cmu]

Ive loaded two pics to my profile but havent figured out how to get them to the forum yet. I'll get them there after hunting tonight but dont expect too much, it is a smaller buck.

[srconnell22]

All you have to do is copy and paste once they are in your gallery. I right click on the image and copy, and paste into the reply. Great Buck, and Great Shot!

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Ryans_Deer_007.jpg (javascript:;)

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Ryans_Deer_004.jpg (javascript:;)

[SPITFIRE]

Thats an awsome hunt you described and congradulations on connecting.

[srconnell22]

Hicky,

Do you want to try to upload them into the scoring thread or would you rather I did it?

[hicky40cmu]

I thought I did last night... I put them on thread "2008 MS Deer Hunting Contest Photo Entry". Its on page 7, post number 91. Did I put them in the wrong spot?

[srconnell22]

my bad...should have looked before opening my trap.

[hicky40cmu]

You guys ever see many fox out hunting? In 15 years of hunting on my parents property I think I have seen a total of 3 fox before yesterday and never while in a treestand... Tonight, this morning, and last night I had a fox with in 40 yards of me each time. Last night I had one 20 yards from me and he had no idea I was there.

I saw 4 bucks today... a 4 point, a nice 6, an 8, and a spike but my girlfriends dad saw a big one. He said he had the biggest buck he has ever seen in the field 20 yards behind him this morning and couldnt get a shot because of how thick it is there. He said it was atleast a 10 and had a drop tine but it got spooked and walked back behind him into the thick stuff. What have you guys been seeing since the rut kicked in?

[sbooy42]

Nice work Hickey:)

I was hope'n to fill a doe tag this weekend but all I saw were little bucks:dizzy:
The one doe I did have in range got ran off by a little 9 point..
They must have known I was out for slick head blood:D

[NonTypicalCPA]

I've been out most morning the past week. I've had 3 close encounters with big bucks on my property, but no luck yet. This morning I watched a 130" ten point tend a doe for over an hour at 100 yards. She just wouldn't bring him in to me. I'm hoping to connect tomorrow morning.

[hicky40cmu]

Im headed out tomorrow morning before work... I know this will get me trouble though. I figure if I get down by 9 I can get to the office around 10:15 but I know at 9 I will keep telling myself just 10 more minutes. Ill let you know what time I actually make it to the office.

I bought a turkey call tonight (even though they say you cant call turkeys in the fall) and am looking for a turk or doe in the AM.

[NonTypicalCPA]

Mama!

I had this guy at 25 yards this morning and he never cleared the brush enough to get off a shot.:gaga:
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/CDY_0010_640x480_1.JPG

My future shooting lane clearing plans consist of clear cutting a 30, no 50 yard circle around all my stands.

I need a hug!

[casscityalum]

:grouphug:

nice deer though! good luck!

[srconnell22]

I think your getting sick...you should take the next 3 days off to hunt...I mean get better.

[hicky40cmu]

Nontypical, that is a great buck... sorry he didnt give you an opportunity.

With it being so cold this morning I decided to walk in much later than usual so that I wouldnt freeze. I arrived at my tree stand around 6:30am and got all set up. About 10 after 7 I heard what sounded like a bobcat murderering about 10 turkeys. It was very loud and was only about 75 yards from me... I was glad I was 24 feet in the air. Around 7:30 I had a fawn come in, hang around for 5 minutes and head off into the corn field. As I was watching her walk off, I noticed another deer 60 yards to my left on the edge of a different corn field and figured I would try to call her in. I gave 2 soft grunts, she stopped, looked my direction, and then came straight in... The fawn turned around and came back too. Both does are now with in 25 yards of me looking kind of spooked as they are not seeing the deer that had been grunting at them. After 30 seconds of this the doe spooked and ran straight at me, stopping 4 yards from the base of my tree stand. I was already standing so I extended my left arm while drawing back, placed my 20 yard pin a bit low and released at 7:38am. What is weird is that I had a lung shot with the slick trick, complete pass thru, and she ran about 80 yards with no blood trail. I quickly tracked her as I saw where she went down, gutted her, and hung her in the barn.... I got to work around 10:45 which I suppose isnt too bad but I am headed back to my parents right now to take her to the butcher and pick my other one up. I will post pics tonight.

[NonTypicalCPA]

Great hunt Hicky, congrats!

Does everyone have rain/snow gear for this weekend? Hopefully just snow!

[hicky40cmu]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/Ryans_Deer_013.jpg

[hicky40cmu]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/Ryans_Deer_008.jpg

[srconnell22]

nice work! congrats!

[TIMfromTroy]

nice work Hicky.

[TIMfromTroy]

Where are you guys going to be for the opener? When are you heading up there or over there or down South etc.?

I'm leaving 5:00 AM tomorrow for Norway, Mi which is just a few miles East of Iron Mountain. I can't wait to leave and head up there. A friend of a friend doesn't hunt anymore but said my group of friends could use his camp and hunt his 160 acres. It's a classic UP deer camp. I'll have to post some pictures when I get back.

This is only the second opener in the UP and I'm excited to get another chance to hunt the big woods. I don't think we have as good a chance to get a big buck as we do at our normal spot in Isabella county but the people are just so much nicer in the UP and it should be a really fun trip.

In any event, good luck to everyone on the opener.

[srconnell22]

Where are you guys going to be for the opener? When are you heading up there or over there or down South etc.?

To my lease...or the land I have permission to hunt. Either way, I'll leave about 6am on Saturday morning...:lol:

[casscityalum]

To my lease...or the land I have permission to hunt. Either way, I'll leave about 6am on Saturday morning...:lol:


lucky i gotta leave about 5:30! see ya there if your around:)

[Tru-N-Sea]

My buddy and I will be leaving for the Mio/Rose City area tomorrow morning! Do a little scouting when we get there, set our stands and do a little bow hunting tomorrow night and Friday. Then on to the gun opener!

Be safe everyone and good luck!

Captn---

[sbooy42]

Where are you guys going to be for the opener? When are you heading up there or over there or down South etc.?

.
I'll be headed south to calhoun county friday night after work

[NonTypicalCPA]

I'll be hunting here in Paw Paw on my property. Still a lot of chasing going on right now. Hopefully the weather won't shut things off.

[hicky40cmu]

Im not sure that I will hunt during gun season. I have only been out once with a gun in the past 4 or 5 years and thats bc my buddy wanted to go... so Im not sure. Besides, I have something else going on... my neighbors have just about ruined hunting for us over the past few years and we are looking to put an end to that Saturday morning. The landowner lives in Kentucky and has no idea what is going on with her property. Its the caretakers bf and all of his friends that hunt it and they do not have permission from the landowner. I will be taking pics of the hunters and I already have statements from 5 neighbors testifying to this. I talked to the land owner last night and basically it is the caretakers word vs. mine and she says this is not happening and the land owner does not believe me. So I am going to prove it to her... She told me that if I have any evidence Saturday that things on her land are not as they seem to her to let her know ASAP and she will put an end to it. One of the hunters was bragging earlier this year that they have already shot 17 deer from one stand this year (they have block permits). The whole situation just makes us sick as my neighbors and I have found 4 dead deer this year that were not recovered.

[NonTypicalCPA]

Good luck to all of us tomorrow! Be safe and hunt smart.:)

[dsconnell]

Scott shot an 8 point this morning..

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=261240

[srconnell22]

Well as you guys may know, I've had about one of the worst seasons I've had in the past 5 years for seeing shooter bucks thus far. To this date, I've only seen one buck that I can say was at 100". Well this morning this guy took the brunt of my frustration.

I couldn't hunt the stand I wanted to because the wind was wrong, so I set up in another stand about 90 yards away from that one along a creek overlooking a marsh. About 8:15am I looked into the thicker part of the marsh and saw ears and a head looking right at me from about 80 yards. Pulled up the gun (binos were useless due to the lovely MI weather) and saw what looked like two fawns hanging out. Set the gun back on the hanger and kept my eye on the spot. About 3 minutes later I saw a doe come through the very same spot...and she had her neck stuck out like she was sneaking through so I instantly knew there would be something pushing her. I got the gun back up and nothing came through for a couple of minutes. As soon as I set it back down I saw another deer come through the same spot with his nose stuck to the ground trotting. Obviously this was a buck so I grabbed the gun and proceeded to catch glimpses of him chasing her around in the marsh for the next few minutes. From them dinking around, I knew he wasn't as wide as his ears, but he was close. Well the doe popped out right in front of me about 70 yards away and jumped back into the marsh. I knew the buck would do the same so I pulled up and put the scope on the spot the doe came through. As soon as I saw him step out I looked at him and saw 3 on the top of his left side and had about 4 seconds to decide whether or not to take him as he was heading back into the thick stuff after her. As he walked through my opening I settled the crosshairs low behind his shoulder and touched it off. He circled and ran about 45 yards and came to his final resting place.

He's not a huge buck by any means, and quite frankly I would have passed him any other year but this year, I'm very thankful for the opportunity to harvest him.

here are some photos from in the field from my crackberry so sorry for the quality. I think Dan posted some as well from his digital camera when we took it back to his house.

13" Inside Spread
16" Beams
20" of tines
27" of mass

92" total and we're estimating 2.5 yrs old but we'll have his teeth aged to find out.


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG00126.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/IMG001271.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG00129.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/2008_8pt_1.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/2008_8pt_2.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/2008_8pt_3.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/2008_8pt_4.jpg

[Kelly Johnson]

Nice buck but that hat?
That hat is a chick MAGNET:lol:
http://www.kochanowicz.com/AmishCouple.JPG
Congrats Scotty ;)

[SPITFIRE]

Awsome Scotty way to go! and more points towards beating Ohio ;).

you and your deer looked like you got soaked today :D.

[hicky40cmu]

srconnell, Congrats man! Good looking buck!

[sbooy42]

Congrats Scronnell..nice buck

And add another

5 points for the good guys....:D

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=17&pictureid=3615

[srconnell22]

nice! Now we're rollin' :D Next?

[NonTypicalCPA]

nice! Now we're rollin' :D Next?

Ask and you will receive:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_1614_Small_.JPG (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/IMG_1614_Small_.JPG)
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_1609_Small_.JPG (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/IMG_1609_Small_.JPG)

Shot him tonight at 5:40 in my ww/rye foodplot. He wasn't eating, but was cruising for does. My biggest to date.

On a sad note, the big 10 I was after (that's me but not my buck. Neighbor north of me killed him this morning - dang it!):
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_1599_Small_.JPG (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/IMG_1599_Small_.JPG)

[casscityalum]

nice buck!!! to bad on the 10!

[hicky40cmu]

Non-typical,
GREAT BUCK and congratulations!
Lets hear the story...

[SPITFIRE]

Fantastic bucks!! way to go guys!

[srconnell22]

wow! great bucks! Is that kicker an inch? Did you score him by chance?? Great job!

[srconnell22]

From what I can tell...we are in the lead. :D

Good Guys: 71
Team 10: 62

[casscityalum]

CHECK OUT TEAM 23 Buck! GO BIG T!! what buck :D

[srconnell22]

CHECK OUT TEAM 23 Buck! GO BIG T!! what buck :D

forget that...check out the assault team 22 just had on the photo entry thread! over half of the pics to be scored are from OUT ON A LIMB!

[NonTypicalCPA]

wow! great bucks! Is that kicker an inch? Did you score him by chance?? Great job!

Yes the kicker is over an inch. I didn't score him yet. I will after I process him.

The story:

I was seeing all kinds of deer and had 4 close encounters with shooter bucks the week or so before gun opener, including the 25 yard no shot opportunity at the big 10 point (I'm still crying when I look at his pics). Opening day comes along and I see a total of 4 deer - what? Where did all the deer go? I talked with a neighbor south of me and he though that our properties got "pushed" late in the night on the 14th. I'm more of an optimist and hope that that wasn't the case, but it would have explained the lack of deer on the 15th. I checked with the neigbors saturday night and only one nice 10 point was taken on the opener (same party that ended up with the big 10). Sunday rolls around and I change stands and see more deer, pass on a 1.5 yr old 6, and see a shooter across the property line on a neighbors. He wouldn't leave the does he was with to come across to me. I break for lunch and see the big 10 point had been shot. I still hunt my east property line hoping for a shot opportunity, but mostly scouting for next years bow stand locations. Nothing. I climb back into my stand on the west property line at 3pm. I have a doe and 2 fawns come by me at around 4. Then a couple lone does later move from my property to neighbors. Then got to watch two 1.5yr olds fight for about 10 minutes - very cool. Finally it was down to the last 15 minutes or so. I stood up in my stand to wait it out. I turn around and see a deer in my 1 acre ww/rye foodplot. I put my scope on him and can't see much as he's being shielded by brush/small trees. As he slowly works towards me, I eventually see antlers, and then see his size - shooter! Two more steps and he gets into a little opening through the brush and I shoot. He bucks, then wheels around and runs off full speed. I hear commotion then crashing in the woods. I think he's down. It's 5:40 - another 10 minutes and it would be too dark to have shot. I climb down, realized I forgot my light, and start working my way through the plot looking for tracks or blood or hair. It's too dark to see anything. I get to the end of my plot and just 5 yards into the woods I find him. Very happy to get him. I bought this property last year and have been passing on all 1.5yr old bucks. I shot one doe with my bow last year and this year before shooting him. It was well worth it, and I will continue to pass the small bucks.

[srconnell22]

Team 22
Birddogm33
Tru-N-Sea
Chasin
hicky40cmu Doe 5pts, 6 pt = 11 pts = 16 pts
sbooy42 Doe 5pts, 8point buck=13pts = 18 pts
TIMfromTroy
NonTypicalCPA Doe 5pts, 9 pt buck = 14pts = 19 pts
Srconnell22 Doe 5pts, 8 pt buck = 13 pts = 18 pts
TOTAL= 71

This should be about where we are at...Tim, Chasin, Tru & Birddog...any luck yet?

[Birddogm33]

I was bow only so looking for some time after rifle season.......been slow here. I only saw 11 deer during bow season and had over 30 hunts in no acorns plenty of bucks on trail cam but not under the stand .you guys are doing great I hope I can pitch in in a week or two

[Tru-N-Sea]

I was up north between Rose City and Mio over the weekend and deer were moving pretty good before the opener and practically disappeared afterward. I'll still be getting out around here, as a matter of fact I just might be heading out tomorrow evening. I'm confident that I'll be putting points on the board before too long!

By the way, congrats on the bucks everyone! Those are beauties!!

Captn---

[TIMfromTroy]

Hey guys, I just got back in the office this morning after a great weekend.

On opening day, I was prepared to sit all day. I was dissappointed that after hearing all kinds of shots I hadn't seen a single deer. But I stayed determined not to leave my spot until dark. About 1:00 I saw a doe come running out of the woods about 100 yards away. I was just about to shoot the doe when I heard a buck grunt. I waited and a nice 4 point ran out after her. I hit the grunt call several times but it just wouldn't stop. The buck ran up the ridge I was on top of and just hesitated as it was reaching the top. It was less than 20 yards away. I as much pointed the gun as aimed it. I knew immediately I had hit the shoulders and that this buck was not long for this world. I was really excited, I think I sent a text message to nearly everyone in my phone. I'm not exagerating when I say this is the first time I have seen a buck during gun season. I know this is a buck a lot of you wouldn't shoot but after no bucks in the five years I've been hunting, I am very excited and proud of my first buck.

Also, I bought my licenses before the rule change in June so that grandfathers me out of the 3 points on a side rule in the UP.

Pic will be posted tomorrow. 9 points for Team 22!

[TIMfromTroy]

More good news from the UP. I was out on my second morning of the season. About 8:30, I had a group of does move through, after a small safety malfunction, it that I hadn't quite moved my three position safety all the way forward, I still managed to shoot a doe and dropped her within about 40 yards, very conveniently right onto the 4-wheeler path.

Again - pics will be posted tomorrow.

Another 5 points for Team 22

[sbooy42]

nice work Troy..
Cant wait to see them pics

[srconnell22]

I am very excited and proud of my first buck.

Pic will be posted tomorrow. 9 points for Team 22!

More good news from the UP. I was out on my second morning of the season. About 8:30, I had a group of does move through, after a small safety malfunction, it that I hadn't quite moved my three position safety all the way forward, I still managed to shoot a doe and dropped her within about 40 yards, very conveniently right onto the 4-wheeler path.

Again - pics will be posted tomorrow.

Another 5 points for Team 22

Awesome! :woohoo1:Great Job Tim! I can't wait to see the pics! Another 14 points for the good guys! Next!

Team 22
Birddogm33
Tru-N-Sea
Chasin
hicky40cmu Doe 5pts, 6 pt = 11 pts = 16 pts
sbooy42 Doe 5pts, 8point buck=13pts = 18 pts
TIMfromTroy Doe 5 pts, 4 pt buck = 9 pts = 14 pts
NonTypicalCPA Doe 5pts, 9 pt buck = 14pts = 19 pts
Srconnell22 Doe 5pts, 8 pt buck = 13 pts = 18 pts
TOTAL= 85

[SPITFIRE]

Ok this is just getting out of hand!!! :rant:
This team has got too much carnage going on!

Ok I feel better now... congrates guys maybe you haven't noticed but its pretty cold outside nad I think it would be better if you stayed home so you dont catch a cold or something. Your wife and kids are missing you go home!!

[sbooy42]

Ok this is just getting out of hand!!! :rant:
This team has got too much carnage going on!

Ok I feel better now... congrates guys maybe you haven't noticed but its pretty cold outside nad I think it would be better if you stayed home so you dont catch a cold or something. Your wife and kids are missing you go home!!

U.P...I will see you this weekend:D

[hicky40cmu]

Congrats Tim, Thats awesome! I hope they update the scoreboard soon so everybody can see our domination... and good luck to the others still.

[srconnell22]

Chasin, Tru & Birddog...If it comes down to it I know of some property in mid/northern MI that has between 20-40 does a night...we could get some meat in your freezer in about an hour! :lol:

[Tru-N-Sea]

If it starts getting late into the season I just might have to take you up on that! :lol:

Captn---

[TIMfromTroy]

I can't post pictures from work because anything uploaded must come from the server. I would rather not put pictures of my deer on the server here at work.

If emailed you the pictures would someone be willing to post them for me?

[srconnell22]

I can't post pictures from work because anything uploaded must come from the server. I would rather not put pictures of my deer on the server here at work.

If emailed you the pictures would someone be willing to post them for me?

scottconnell@quickenloans.com, i'll be happy to.

[TIMfromTroy]

thanks...email sent

[srconnell22]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/DSCF2642.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/downsized_1117081132.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/downsized_1117081131a.jpg


Hope you don't mind, I also posted them in the scoreboard thread.

[TIMfromTroy]

Any idea when the scoreboard will be updated?

[srconnell22]

Any idea when the scoreboard will be updated?

Whenever Kelly Johnson gets around to it...I'm sure he's probably busy trying to dig team #7 out of the cellar! :lol::lol::lol:

[sbooy42]

Whenever Kelly Johnson gets around to it...I'm sure he's probably busy trying to dig team #7 out of the cellar! :lol::lol::lol:

Sorry Kelly but thats funny right there..:lol::lol::lol::lol:

[sbooy42]

Set'n in 2nd place fellas...
Pretty good shape with plenty of time left...Keep up the good work...

[srconnell22]

Set'n in 2nd place fellas...
Pretty good shape with plenty of time left...Keep up the good work...

Not true. Math is wrong on our score, also it is not adding in timfromtroys doe. Can someone PM Kelly, I'm on my blackberry hunting in Ohio.

[NonTypicalCPA]

I sent Kelly a pm. Our score should be 85 - first place!

[sbooy42]

I sent Kelly a pm. Our score should be 85 - first place!

Sweet..lets keeps it up...
Hope everyone is having a good weekend..
I'm in the UP look'n to cull my other buck:D...
But pretty much just scoutting for the first weekend of muzzleloader and next season..crap load of snow up here is making it more work than planned...