08MSDHC Team #26 - Vital Time

[theredmission]

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

Please note you will not have a member representing you in the MS vs OS contest.

Good luck to ya!

[BuckRubnMI]

Team 26
Just One More - gun
7MM Magnum - combo
Wolf Dancer34 - combo
BuckRubnMI - bow
lawnguy - combo
mtan1104 - bow
woodychevy38s - combo


BuckRubnMI reporting in!! This is going to be a blast :D

[lawnguy]

Glad to be here with you guys!

[mtan1104]

mtan1104 reporting in, and counting the days till the opener!:D

[QDMAMAN]

mtan1104 reporting in, and counting the days till the opener!:D



Make a fist.:rolleyes::dizzy::lol:
Man, this is going to be like taking candy from a baby!

Big T

[7MM Magnum]

Howdy team mates! I just got home from work and notice our team thread has already started up so I'm here to check in and acknowledge our thread.


Just a little background for you all about me,... started hunting at 13 in archery mode and been doing it ever since. I had a 2 year hiatus due to being drafted to Nam, but I picked it back up upon my return home. ;) I go out West every other year for elk and hunt with bow, rifle, and handgun. (scoped S&W #629 .44 Mag)

Born and raised in lower Michigan but I moved North back in 1990 and been up here ever since. First in Charlevoix till 2000 then to the sunrise side of the state. I own a 80 acre farm here that is home to quite a few whitetails. (corn-fed no less :lol:)

MAN,... are we gonna' kill us some venison or what! :coolgleam

[7MM Magnum]

Hmmmm,... just notice we don't have a banner yet,.. nor a team name. :(

BuckRubnMI seeing it seems your our designated team spokesperson.

(an' you ought to be after seeing that DANDY buck in your photo gallery ;))

Have you come up with anything yet?

Personally I don't have the where with all to make one up, I can copy and paste with the best of em' BUT as far as adding each team members name to it ,.. I haven't a clue. :sad:

[Just_One_More]

Just checking in. Glad they found room for us.

Josh

[woodychevy38s]

sorry for the later response... but I am here and checking the trail cam weekly, so far the best ones I have got (I have been taking the pics from the middle of a buckwheat planting, think I have the two big boys scouted out to be able to cut them off in the narrows of the hardwoods)
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/woodychevy38s/deer7-17and7-18008.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/woodychevy38s/MDGC0041.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/woodychevy38s/MDGC0042.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a239/woodychevy38s/MDGC0043.jpg

anyone very good on guess of age? I am a meat hunter first, if I have the chance I will have no problems with the decision to fill a tag with a doe (I would rather eat venison all year for sure) but with the time and effort put into the area this year I have been seeing 5-10 different bucks and I think I am on track to pinning down the trails they use for sure.

Anyone have any good tips/tricks that they use?

[BuckRubnMI]

Yeah I can get a banner going. Redmission says we are stuck with the name Vital Time but I like it. I'll start working on it right now.

Alittle about me: I've been deer hunting for 10 years all in Newaygo and Muskegon counties. All kills with a bow. The first three years of my life was in Georgia on a navel base and the rest of the time in Muskegon County. I hunt 120 acres of private land in Muskegon county and also have a few spots on state land I like to hunt as well. Pretty good deer numbers on the property but hard to hunt. I've been passing up yearling bucks the past 3 years and its starting to show. No older bucks on cam yet this year but it doesn't discourage me. They will come. Pre-rut is a beautiful thing on this property.

As far as this contest goes, I can guarantee a doe. 2.5 yr old or older, hard to say. If I don't get a chance at one, Theres a good chance on a second doe in late season bow.

WoodChevy, my advice is to try to not hunt the same stand more than twice in a row. Then stay out of that area for awhile. Also during pre-rut don't be afraid to do all day hunts. Last year I hunted Halloween to Nov. 4th all day every day and seen 7 different bucks, 3 of them between 11am and 2PM. The big one I seen from a distance at 12:30PM on Nov 2nd. My dad ended up taking that one during rifle season. I'll try to get a pic up of him, hes a dandy 8pt!!

Nice bucks, I would say 1.5 for the closer deer, 2.5 for the furthest.

Also I don't know if I'm the designated spokesmen, but I will do it. I work second shift so I won't be able to get online until after midnight during the week. Sometimes early in the morning. Its up to you guys.

LETS FILL THE FREEZER BOYS AND GIRLS!!! :D

[BuckRubnMI]

Ok guys I made this one up. Please evaluate and let me know what you think.


http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3339/573666ca8430f5m3de5.png (http://www.BannerFans.com)

[BuckRubnMI]

Here is daddy and his rifle kill 07. I'm jealous!

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/521/Dads_buck2.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/521/Dads_buck_2.jpg

[mtan1104]

I'm good with the banner. Great deer.

[7MM Magnum]

I'm happy with it as well, however as you can see below in my signature line it's somewhat smaller than the one in yours. :(

When I went to upload it from the address in the properties tag,... it told me the file was too large to do so.

So I downloaded it to my laptops picture folder,... then uploaded it to the add picture to the signature line box here on the site and the size displayed below is what I came up with. :sad:

So what did I do wrong ?? :dizzy:

[woodychevy38s]

nice deer, yeah I was unsure on ages, as of four years ago if you saw a 6 point it was a "big" deer for around this area west of traverse city. There were few and far between 10's. I have been adding minerals, spring, summer and fall food plots and when the food gets too frozen in, hay/oats/corn. The racks and bodies of the deer have really changed over the past couple of years. I had two guys at work ask if they could lease the property when they saw the pics if that gives you a clue as to our "big" buck potential, or so it seems

had the two bucks back again tonight, about 50 feet from the house (we have horses, dogs, and cats- deer are very used to them) the one cat walked right over to them they just sat there confused looking at her. My new blind may just be my office.... sorry no pics tonight was to content just to watch them, both still in velvet.

[BuckRubnMI]

7MM,
Instead of going to the upload signature picture portion at the bottom, just copy the URL out of the properties and paste into your edit signature portion towards the top where you typed in:
Terry Webster
Life Member NRA
RMEF Sponsoring Member
US Army Veteran, SGT. 1970-72 1st Bn. 327th Inf.Div /101st Airborne

This should work.

[BuckRubnMI]

[quote=woodychevy38s;2297721]nice deer, yeah I was unsure on ages, as of four years ago if you saw a 6 point it was a "big" deer for around this area west of traverse city. There were few and far between 10's. I have been adding minerals, spring, summer and fall food plots and when the food gets too frozen in, hay/oats/corn. The racks and bodies of the deer have really changed over the past couple of years. I had two guys at work ask if they could lease the property when they saw the pics if that gives you a clue as to our "big" buck potential, or so it seems quote]

Its very similar around here as well. You don't see alot of big bucks or hear of people seeing many of them.

As of four years ago, I used to shoot yearling bucks and had fun doing it. I took does too but I didn't care about management at all. Spike, 4pt, it didn't matter to me. Hell on the property I hunt now, I didn't even have sign to suggest to me there were bigger bucks in the area so I shot does and yearlings.

Then I bought a trail camera. Boy did that open my eyes quickly as to what was out there!! It changed my whole philosophy on hunting. The trail cameras taught me that just because I'm not seeing bigger bucks or even sign of them, they are there just sneaking around unnoticed.

[7MM Magnum]

BuckRubn'MI,...

THANKS !

That did the trick! :D

[7MM Magnum]

Well seeing I've got a lot of the things I needed to get done here on the farm for the day,... and there's 2 days left for the early private land antlerless season to go. I'll be heading out back of my property tonight to see if I can give our team some early points advantage. ;) :D

I've been seeing 4-5 does come out at around 7:40-7:50 PM so we'll see how things go. ;)

[BuckRubnMI]

Good Luck!!

[7MM Magnum]

Well as my luck would have it,... not 1 doe in sight tonight. :mad:

All I saw was a batchleor group of 5 BUCKS ! :)


The does were out there ,.. they just couldn't be seen as they were in a small ravine behind a hillside. I'll see what I can figure out for tomorrow and try it one more time as it's the last day of the early doe season. :(

[BuckRubnMI]

HAHA!! Sounds like you have my luck. I go turkey hunting and end up seeing deer everywhere. I go deer hunting and I see turkey everywhere. :dizzy:

Hopefully bucks are all you see the 1st of october. Or are you more of a gun hunter? I know in this contest your doing a combo, just didn't know what your preference might be or if you have one. Do you see or shoot bigger bucks on your property?

[7MM Magnum]

HAHA!! Sounds like you have my luck. I go turkey hunting and end up seeing deer everywhere. I go deer hunting and I see turkey everywhere. :dizzy:

Hopefully bucks are all you see the 1st of october. Or are you more of a gun hunter? I know in this contest your doing a combo, just didn't know what your preference might be or if you have one. Do you see or shoot bigger bucks on your property?

I do both archery and rifle / pistol hunting pretty much on an even keel but the way the property on my farm is layed out it's best utilized with a rifle. I'm going to attach a picture of the layout. The picture has a red star at the top,.. that's my home ,barn outbuildings, and pastures for our horses. The property line on the far left is from that lone maple tree about midway in the picture all the way over to the line of timber to the right.

My blind is set up in the midst of some scrub-brush bushes directly across from that point in the timber that juts out into the field. Just a little north-west of that point you can see little dots of more scrub-brush. That area in there is where they all were concentrated. There's a series of rolling hills and depressions in that area.

My spot for the night tonight is going to be that large tree area just north of that point of timber. That area is the high point on the property so everything is looking down at the back portion of the property. The area to the right of that tree is all in corn at the moment. ;)


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Warlock49766/Ourhome.jpg?t=1222080889

[7MM Magnum]

OK,.. the plan worked ! :D

We have some points 1 doe, 146 yards tonight @ 7:26 PM ;)

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Early_Antlerless_doe_9-22-2008_726pm_003.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Early_Antlerless_doe_9-22-2008_726pm_002.jpg

She's all iced down in my shop in the barn,.. tomorrow I get to do some cuttin' and vacuum sealing! :corkysm55

[BuckRubnMI]

:woohoo1: Man you got me so pumped up right now!! Congrats! Good looking doe and rifle. I can't wait till the 1st!! This weekend I will be bringing my cousin out on the youth hunt. Hopefully I can get him on a deer. I brought him out last year, seen 5 does but he wanted a buck. No buck came around so no deer for him. I told him that this year he his shooting w/e comes around, no BB's of course. No need to be choosy on your first deer. I'm hoping that after he gets a deer under his belt, he will be hooked like I was. Last year he didn't seem all that interested in hunting at all which upset me alittle bit. I guess we will see how it goes.


Your property looks good as well. A woodlot sanctuary with food nearby. Beautiful!

[Wolf_Dancer34]

Just checking in...good luck to all of my team members. And by the way the banner looks great.

[7MM Magnum]

:woohoo1: Man you got me so pumped up right now!! Congrats! Good looking doe and rifle. I can't wait till the 1st!! This weekend I will be bringing my cousin out on the youth hunt. Hopefully I can get him on a deer. I brought him out last year, seen 5 does but he wanted a buck. No buck came around so no deer for him. I told him that this year he his shooting w/e comes around, no BB's of course. No need to be choosy on your first deer. I'm hoping that after he gets a deer under his belt, he will be hooked like I was. Last year he didn't seem all that interested in hunting at all which upset me alittle bit. I guess we will see how it goes.


Your property looks good as well. A woodlot sanctuary with food nearby. Beautiful!


Thanks BuckRubinMI :D

Yep,.. I really like the way the property is setup. I've got 3 blind setups on it now. One at that large white Oak on th right side of the property where I got this one. One across from the point in the timber where I was setting the night before. The last one is at the south property line nestled in amongst some more of those scrub brush trees. All of the escape routes are covered. Most of my fields are setup in clover and alfalfa for our horses and about 15 acres we do in corn and rotate between corn, sunflowers, soy beans, and winter wheat. The deer around here eat VERY well ! ;) Hence,... so do I ! ;):):D


Hey,... what happened to our banner ????

[7MM Magnum]

Ahhhh,... speaking about eating very well...


Fresh TENDERLOINS with onions, and mushrooms were tonights dinner. :hide::whistle:



My BAD !! :evilsmile

[BuckRubnMI]

(Takes a bite out of his peanut butter sandwich) :rant: Quit taunting the poor kid :p

Your property is like the property I hunt in regards to anticipating the deer to be coming out of the south. It makes for some hard hunting b/c around here, the main wind direction is blowing out of the NW. Maybe its the same for you. I definitely use it to my advantage in the prerut though when I'm putting out the hot doe scent. Then I just hope and pray that I don't smell to bad and the doe piss smells to good!

Looks like the banner is working again..

[BuckRubnMI]

Just checking in...good luck to all of my team members. And by the way the banner looks great.


Welcome Wolf Dancer. Good luck to you too!! Can't wait to see your harvest pics!!

[lawnguy]

good loking doe, when should I stop by for a dinner?

[woodychevy38s]

alright we are on the board

congrats on the deer, but you really didn't have to stick it to us with the fresh tenderloins....:sad:

[Just_One_More]

Congrats on the Doe and the Points, I have to stick with last years tenderloins for now though :sad:. And nice banner, I was going to make one up but since it is done I won't. I set mine up so it Links to our team page also.

[BuckRubnMI]

Good luck to everyone participating in the archery season!! Hopefully I will have a baldy on the ground soon. Took my cousin out last weekend and seen 2 loner does. One he shot at and missed. The property is looking good though. Good acorn production and the deer are moving in.

[7MM Magnum]

Good Luck teammates !

Now let's show these people just who the hunters are in this contest,.... go get um' ! ;) :D

[Wolf_Dancer34]

hey i tried to add our banner to my signature and it came out small ---anyone care to help me out

[7MM Magnum]

hey i tried to add our banner to my signature and it came out small ---anyone care to help me out

Yeah,... I had the same problem. Go back to post # 16 in our thread Buckrubn' MI explained how to do it the right way. ;)

[Wolf_Dancer34]

ok thank you!!

[Wolf_Dancer34]

Ok I must be really dumb tonite because I have tried to follow the directions to copy the banner and cant seem to do it....oh well I give up it was a nice thought.

[Wolf_Dancer34]

Good thing I can shoot deer better than I can use my computer.

[7MM Magnum]

Ok I must be really dumb tonite because I have tried to follow the directions to copy the banner and cant seem to do it....oh well I give up it was a nice thought.

Instead of just pasting the link in the signature line,... click on the little picture icon at the top,...
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/images/editor/insertimage.gif
then paste the address into that just like you were going to post a normal picture while your in the edit your signature mode.

It will show up like it's suppose to in the signature area. ;)

[Wolf_Dancer34]

Ok the dumb moment is gone----thanks eveyone for your help!!!! Now lets go shoot some deer!!

[7MM Magnum]

OK,.. I'm out of work,.. fixin' a quick warm stick to your ribs dinner,.. and am going out back again to sit in the tree stand in the tree line.

I't's been raining ALL day and there's a break in the sky and I can see blue. :) It's still pretty windy out but I'm going to give it a shot tonight and see what develops.

Good luck to the rest of the team,... we NEED MORE points!!! ;)

[7MM Magnum]

Well,.. nothin' movin out there tonight except me and the tree! :dizzy:

Pretty gusty at times and the temps dropped pretty good to boot.

Tomorrow's a new day. ;)

[Wolf_Dancer34]

Same here. I did not dress warm enough and about froze to death. I saw a red squirrel, a grey squirrel, heard some wood ducks and one partridge but no deer. Oh and one owl!!! Hopefully when this storm passes the deer will start moving again.

Good luck everyone

[7MM Magnum]

Well I gotta' ask,... what's up with the REST of our team??

No team input regarding their hunts, or,... hunting at all for that matter. :(

I've picked us up from page 2 a few times already,... anyone out there on our team hunting besides Wolf Dancer34 and myself ?? :sad:

I won't be out again until tomorrow night as my wife and I have a dinner function to attend tonight and I work tomorrow morning so let's see if the rest of our team can contribute to our thread with some info. :rolleyes:

[BuckRubnMI]

Just checking in and will do so more often.

I've only seen one deer so far and that was tonight. I'm not sure what it was but it was skirting a thicket at the bottom of a ridge about 100 yrds away. I just seen bits and pieces of it.

I'll be putting alot of time in the woods this year due to the fact that I am unemployed since last monday. I'll def. check in more often hopefully with some pics :)

[lawnguy]

I'm headed out tomarrow for the first time. I'll be on at night to post pics and give detail (positive thinking!!!!!!)

[Just_One_More]

I'm signed up for firearm only so I'm not hunting until then. But I have been reading the posts of late just haven't replied. It's been a bad few days for an opener at least up here, windy, rain, cold.

But I'll be out once the 15th roles around.

[7MM Magnum]

That's a little BETTER,... :D at least NOW we know some of you are stlll alive out there ! ;)

Yeah,... I know what your saying about the weather,... pretty much the same over here. We aren't that far apart from each other.

[7MM Magnum]

Well I just got back in from out back tonight,... saw 3 does.

2 adults 1 fawn,... a bit too far off for a bow shot (ranged them at 72 yards) but it was nice to see them out and moving around again. ;)

It's suppose to be a halfway decent weekend up here so we'll see what happens.

[Wolf_Dancer34]

Saw 7 deer last night and nothing tonite(no bucks)........well spooked 2 on the way out tonight....maybe tomorrow night will be better.

[BuckRubnMI]

Shot at a doe this morning. She caught me drawing back and jumped the arrow when I shot. Clean miss fortunately.

[7MM Magnum]

Boy I'll tell ya',... there's 3 teams out there just kickin' butt! :SHOCKED:

Team 13
Sabre03
HunterHawk
wyldkat49766
Ernurse Buck 10pt+5=15+Doe 5=20pts
Huntinggirl
1wildchild
buck snort
gunfun13 Doe=5pts
TOTAL= 25

Team 23
Lyle7289
Tip-up Teaser
Backwoods01 Buck 8pt+5=13
koz bow Doe=5pts
Smoothz1977
Captain
QDMAMAN Doe=5pts
boogemaster Doe=5 pts
TOTAL= 28

Team 25
cmk86
Armstrong4Life
hedaman
Andy K
spiritofthewild_06
outdoor junkie
Buckgrunt77 Buck 8pt+5=13
lotzamatza99
TOTAL= 13


And there's also a couple with just 2 does giving them a total of 10 points.


We got to start gettin' REAL SERIOUS about our hunting here,... come on,... at
least a couple more does to boost our teams score a bit.

It may not put a record breaker on the wall for ya',.. but it will put some :corkysm55 in your freezer!


OR ,...I'm gonna' start talkin about all the venison snack sticks and jerky I've been makin'....... :lol: :corkysm55 ;)

[7MM Magnum]

Maybe THIS will get everyones's jucies flowin' :


http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Warlock49766/venisonjerky-snacksticks2008002.jpg?t=1223227545

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/Warlock49766/venisonjerky-snacksticks2008001.jpg?t=1223227732

Now,.. go get em' !!! :D

[BuckRubnMI]

Ha Ha!! That's some motivation right there!!

Went out this morning and seen a 4pt with a button buck tagging along. First time I've seen that. Getting ready for this evening. Hopefully the rain stays away.

Right now I'm basically focusing on trying to fill the freezer with a doe. I don't really focus on bucks right now unless I get a decent one on cam which I haven't. About two more weeks and I will turn all of my attention to bucks.

[Just_One_More]

Seeing all that jerky and sank sticks reminded me I still have some in the freezer from last year... lol. Thanks for the reminder I haven't had any since last December, totally forgot that I froze some. But that will definitely get my blood flowing. Can't wait until nov. 15th

Go team!

[lawnguy]

saw 7 all does with 2 fawns. That pic motivates me to drive to Ossineke (where ever it may be). A deer's a beautiful creature but they look soo much better in that form!:D

I should be able to get a out a few more times this week so I'll keep everyone updated....btw..... if anyone has private land and within range from me that needs thier herd thinned (wink wink);):D

[7MM Magnum]

saw 7 all does with 2 fawns. That pic motivates me to drive to Ossineke (where ever it may be). A deer's a beautiful creature but they look soo much better in that form!:D

I should be able to get a out a few more times this week so I'll keep everyone updated....btw..... if anyone has private land and within range from me that needs thier herd thinned (wink wink);):D


lawnguy,.. IF you would have tagged into just 1 of those does you saw it could have been 5 points for the team,...and some of those yummie treats in my pictures setting in your fridge. ;)

The pics I posted are the rewards from my EAS doe I took,.. the temps are still too warm to let em' hang like I normally do so she had to get processed quick or loose her.

[lawnguy]

only one was within range and still didn't feel comfortable with shooting through a few twigs. No need to wound. I think I found a pretty nice spot for the year so we should have some points coming!

[woodychevy38s]

Sorry for the delay, long week (end) with my Bachelor party falling in there.

Got out in the woods a few times....

Day one- rainy, ******, windy, saw nothing, not even squirrels
Day two- cooler, fairly calm, patchy drizzle, had one loan doe walk the trail about 75 yards out.
Day three- another cooler, clam, night, 2 does and a little one on the trail way out in front, brought it around to where it loops in to me only to have the neighbor go for a walk with his two kids on the powerlines, all three turned and walked away. This is the a typical neighbor that does hunt, but has no respect for others during hunting season except for the days that he hunts.

All three hunts have been in the evening, does were early 5pm style, the trail cam has not come up with a deer in the am in over 3 weeks, so I sleep in.
Working afternoons the last couple of nights and 4-5 more in a row here might actually make me get up and get out there in the am.

good note is that the rye is coming up, with lots of tracks on those runs, and the primary small plot is a good 8 inches and getting thicker (just some cheap stuff from Wallyworld "no till")

[7MM Magnum]

Yeah,... I know the feeling. My schedule is the total opposite of yours, I work from 4 am - noon so morning hunts are out of the question for me except for my days off (Sunday & Monday)

Hey... while I'm thinking of it, there's a team member on our list that I don't recall hearing from on our thread: mtan1104

Has anybody ever heard from him ???

It'd be nice to have a complete team working together. :rolleyes:

Ok... I just checked the beginning of the thread. He made a couple of posts in the beginning

[Wolf_Dancer34]

No deer tonite---only red squirrels!!! Maybe tomorrow evening!!

[BuckRubnMI]

I sent a PM to MTAN. Hopefully he has a report for us soon.

Woody, have you captured any photos of the bucks you posted earlier out of velvet??

Monday morning is the last time I've been out. I had a spike present a shot at about 20 yrds but no does. I'm not sure when I will get out again, it looks like the weather is unfavorable until thursday but we will see.

[woodychevy38s]

Woody, have you captured any photos of the bucks you posted earlier out of velvet??

.

I have been moving the camera around, most nights when I get home 11pm-12mid, I see deer in the field so I am trying to find the best/most common daylight trails, lots of hits and misses with almost 8 days of a bad camera card....:rant: The stand that I am going to do 99% of my hunting from (at least early bow) had 115 new events registered but did not save a single picture to the card. put the card in my handheld digital and it still won't take a picture. so after 3 years on that card and lots of pictures I think it finally told me that it is done. (I tried reformat with the trail cam, digital cam, and computer, its done)

I am going to go out tomorrow and see if I have anything new, about 100 yards on a 3 trail cross from the stand I have been in. But with no bait and seeing deer on the trails scouted so far I feel like I have acomplished more already this year. (Usually have a corn feeder in the field, sit on one of two trails they used to use) This year they are all over the map.

Also I am going to take down my snow fence, I put it up around the new food plot to try and let it grow, got 5 afternoons that I can hunt here, hopefully can tag something. Will update tomorrow night and throw up picks if there is anything good on the camera.

Any of you guys around the Traverse City area? Let me know, have more than a few spots to do pushes come rifle, a couple of duck blinds out too

[7MM Magnum]

I've decided not to go back out until the weekend. We've had some nasty wet, windy days for the past couple of days now. The weather report is calling for mid-60's and clear sunny sky's on Saturday and Sunday. :)

I figure I'll let things quite down a bit and let them feel a bit more comfortable. They've been starting to get skittish lately, and not showing up until it's pretty dark out. Course having those damn yotes singing at the moon for the last 3 nights aren't helping a whole lot either. :16suspect

When firearms deer season opens I'm going to put my small game license into effect also. Those yotes roll over a few times when the 7mm "touches" em'!

Next year I'm breaking in my 6.5x55 Swiss Mauser that I'm building just for that purpose. :D

[woodychevy38s]

went out tonight, saw 3 does, all walking the same trail over to the brother in laws stand, doesn't provide a shot for me.

Of course had to check the camera too, 46 new pics, all does, but almost 40 of them are during shooting hours, 6 pics from this afternoon at 2:30....I went out there at 3:17 (pic on the cam) This year might be pretty difficult trying to time it right.

[Wolf_Dancer34]

Different stand---nope still no deer!! Rough start to the season for me!!

[BuckRubnMI]

I went out last night and seen a doe and a fawn about 80 yrds out. I didn't make it out this morning and am very pissed off about it. To beautiful not to be an the woods right now.

Last week I made some mock scrapes and set up trail cameras on them. I haven't checked them yet but I'm getting ready too after lunch. Very anxious to see what is roaming around this year in these areas.

[mtan1104]

Hey... while I'm thinking of it, there's a team member on our list that I don't recall hearing from on our thread: mtan1104


Sorry Gang,
It's been tough finding time to log on and when I do I usually do more reading than typing. But enough excuses! I've only been out twice so far with mixed results. I got out on the fifth and saw 15 deer(mostly does, some fawns), but couldn't get a shot because they were on me before I was ready, and couldn't get my bow drawn. A few days later I sat and only saw two does with a fawn, but too far for an ethical bow shot. And that's basically been the story. I haven't seen a buck(in person or on a trail cam) for at least 3 weeks on my property, but the wife says she sees them all the time(figures).
I'll be in the woods all weekend though, and hopefully we'll have some points for the team, and meat for the freezer by Monday. And if I'm lucky, maybe in a few weeks I'll start seeing some bucks on all these does. Best of luck to the whole team, and I'll try to show you more often that I'm still with you.

[BuckRubnMI]

Well I haven't seen a deer since Wed night. I checked my cameras and only a few does and fawns. 3 pics out of a total of 68 were during shooting hours. 9 pics were of coyotes. I haven't captured a buck on cam since Sept. 24th. I don't know what is going on. I got alot of coyote sign this year but I'm not going to use that as an excuse. Tomorrow I'm going to check out some of my state land spots and see how they are looking.

[woodychevy38s]

Well I haven't seen a deer since Wed night. I checked my cameras and only a few does and fawns. 3 pics out of a total of 68 were during shooting hours. 9 pics were of coyotes. I haven't captured a buck on cam since Sept. 24th. I don't know what is going on. I got alot of coyote sign this year but I'm not going to use that as an excuse. Tomorrow I'm going to check out some of my state land spots and see how they are looking.

I had the yotes running the horses on the property, threw out a couple rounds of goose load at a pack and have not had one back since, two days later the deer were back in the area, I would suggest doing a little coyote thinning and see how that helps.

Been out two more nights saw 5 first night, again no shots ( I am starting to think the neighbor may have bait out) second night, about 3:30pm had 2 walk through, 4:45 had 3, then about 20 min before dark the big boy came out of the swamp....only to turn and follow the trail onto the neighbors property. all of the deer that were using the trail that I am sitting on are making a 90 degree turn and heading off my property. I am going to "make sure a tree falls" right on the trail they have been using to leave the property and place some fresher stuff by where they make their turn.

(When I talked to the neighbor last year he said that he only rifle hunts and he is the only one that has hunted this area for as long as he can remember....informed him we have been hunting the last 7 on the parcel next door....I am just wondering if he has bait out)

[7MM Magnum]

I just received my Michigan Department of Natural Resources test results on my EAS doe that I shot in todays mail,...

2.5 year old female,... NO evidence of TB was found in this deer. ;) :D :cool:

[BuckRubnMI]

I just received my Michigan Department of Natural Resources test results on my EAS doe that I shot in todays mail,...

2.5 year old female,... NO evidence of TB was found in this deer. ;) :D :cool:


Very good news. Has the TB cases decreased in your area the past few years??

[7MM Magnum]

Very good news. Has the TB cases decreased in your area the past few years??


Ya' know,... ever since they had imposed this DMU#452 as the primary infected area I have always submitted the head into the DNR for testing. I have never "opened one up" to find the telltale pea sized lesions anywhere within any of the deer I have harvested in this DMU,... or any surrounding DMU's but I still have them tested every year and every single one has come back NEGATIVE. :16suspect

So,.. to answer your question I think that the percentage of deer that are tested as positive is VERY low. I tried researching it on the DNR website but haven't found any percentages for last year to justify my beliefs.:(

[Just_One_More]

no updates team? I still haven't decided where I'm going to hunt yet so I don't have any stands up but I will here soon. I know the weather here has been great for hunting the last few days. Good luck to everyone.

[BuckRubnMI]

no updates team? I still haven't decided where I'm going to hunt yet so I don't have any stands up but I will here soon. I know the weather here has been great for hunting the last few days. Good luck to everyone.

I haven't been seeing any deer. Why? I don't know. I didn't bait last year, my dad did though but thst isn't my problem I don't think. I'm going to be hunting the local wastewater property starting monday and will hit the property I hunt now after halloween. I'll just stay out of there and hopefully the bucks and does will start moving. Its disappointing b/c I passed on 5 different yearling bucks and seen 3 other yearlings on camera on top of 2 2.5 yr old bucks and 1 3.5 yr old. In 06' I passed up 3 different yearlings. This year, a 4pt is the biggest on cam so far and I have seen a spike and 4pt. I'm hunting hard too due to the fact that I'm unemployed. It's a mystery why they have no pattern out there this year but oh well. I am a little frustrated though to say the least. The wastewater property looks promising though. 6000 acres of land and as of friday, only 212 hunters. No rifles aloud. Corn, alfalfa, soybean, rye, swamp, ditches, oak woodlots, everything a deer needs is there. I just have to find them!!

[Wolf_Dancer34]

2 raccoons, 5 turkeys, 3 red squirrels, 2 wood ducks and one deer blowing in the distance.....this is one crazy season for me....lets hope the rut starts soon so the deer will start moving a little better than they have.

[mtan1104]

Does, yearlings, and more does. Not a single shot in range. I am starting to see alot more deer sign off the trail than on it. I'm seriously considering dumping this spot in favor of one closer to all the sign I'm finding, but a considerable distance off the beaten trail they've been using for months. The camera is getting less pics every time I check it and I wonder if they're spooked by my stand. Anyone run into this kind of thing recently? My scent control is just short of obsessive-compulsive and I feel like I have good concealment and great shooting lanes. Do you guys think I should bite the bullet and make a move, or stick with the known(or formerly known) travel route, or would it be wiser to maintain what I thought was a textbook setup. I have a few other locations setup but this is my most promising stand(between bedding and feeding areas). If I do make a move it'll only be about 30-40 yds. from my current location, and the wind won't be AS favorable. I've been struggling with this dilemma for near a week so if any of you with more experience(or less for that matter) has any advice, it would certainly be appreciated to help me get off the fence on this one. Thanks gang.

[7MM Magnum]

Don't be afraid to move your location to where your seeing them,... they may have changed their route for whatever the reason. Re-set your stand to a spot CLOSER to where your seeing activity and remember to place your stand where the wind is in your favor.

GOOD LUCK !! :D and go get em' ! ;)

[7MM Magnum]

I forgot to ask as I was at work when I last posted and was paged away,... are you in a tree stand (ladder or climber), ground blind, What ???

If your as scent control conscious as your saying I wouldn't worry too much about favorable wind direction but still try to find an area that's as favorable as possible. You could also try to use some "Doe n' Heat" or other attractant to help your cause a bit. It never hurts to try some different things to your normal repertoire. How long has your stand/blind been setup where you have it now? Private or public land?

I always try to get my places set about 3-4 weeks in advance to the season to allow the deer time to get accustomed to the new addition to the normal surroundings. If you own a climber stand I wouldn't think it would matter where you put it in the new area. I utilize all 3; a Viper climber, 15 ft ladder, and 3 assorted pop-ups and have have still experienced the same problem as you: "Wrong stand choice for the day" ,..I guess that's why they call it hunting and not killing. :lol:

Keep at it,.. you'll hit the right combination eventually, persistence is the key. Ya' can't tag one unless your out there tryin'. ;)

[lawnguy]

just checking in. Been extremly busy with work lately.

[Wolf_Dancer34]

I shot a doe last night at 6:15pm and recovered her this morning. She only went about 75 yards but someone (uuummm rrrr ME) forgot her flashlight--so I just waited til this morning to track her. The coyotes had already started eating at the entrance hole...they tore more hide than anything...

Does anyone have a digital camera near me so that I might take a pic and get it posted faster? I live in the Shelby area.

[mtan1104]

I forgot to ask as I was at work when I last posted and was paged away,... are you in a tree stand (ladder or climber), ground blind, What ???

Hanging tree stand w/climbing sticks. It's been in the tree for about a month on private land. I have a climber but it's deployed elsewhere. After talking to a few other hunters, and listening to your advice, I think I'm gonna hunt the stand tonight(maybe tomorrow if luck prevails) and Saturday(since I won't have an opportunity for a move until Sunday anyway), and if the current trend continues, I'll make the move for sure. A friend also mentioned that if moving to a less favorable wind(which is inevitable to get on the new sign) that I should get my stand a little higher up the tree. Does this really make a difference with amount of swirling winds up here in NW LP? I'm probably around 15-18 feet up now and that's the height I've had alot of success with in previous years, but I've been told that's far too low. Opinions?

[7MM Magnum]

15-18 feet up is plenty enough,... another 2-5 foot wont make any difference regarding swirling winds especially when your as scent free as you mentioned in your other post. You might want to hang a scent wick on a branch or limb up in the tree to help mask whatever other scents your afraid of with the swirling wind. It will help mask whatever may be lingering. ;)

Hell,.. I just head out and up in "normal camo" and a couple of those "Earth Scent" wafers pinned to me. I'm not a big believer in scent lock outfits. It's been TOO many years that I've hunted without any of it, and in my own personal opinion it's just sales hype for marketing new gear to sell.

I remember back when I was a kid smearing a manufactured "acorn paste" all over myself for a cover scent,.. I stunk like acorns for a week ! :lol: That kinda' stuff was all they had to offer back then.

Now there's more tricks and "gimmicks" then a person can count. :rolleyes:



Whoa,.. almost forgot! Congrats Wolfdancer,.. thats another 5 points for the team and good eatin' for YOU ! :cool:

[mtan1104]

Thanks for the input Magnum.
Congrats Wolf Dancer...I hope the coyotes didn't get too much.

[Wolf_Dancer34]

Nope they really did not get much at all----pretty much just a little rib meat and the back of the front leg.....the deer last night were pretty weird so I figured it was coyotes that were hurassing them and that is the exact direction my doe went... oh and I did forget to mention that my boyfriend shot an 8 point on the other end of the property where we were hunting so I now have lots of meat to cut up and jerky to make to send to my son....he will be surprised and happy.

[SPITFIRE]

I shot a doe last night at 6:15pm and recovered her this morning. She only went about 75 yards but someone (uuummm rrrr ME) forgot her flashlight--so I just waited til this morning to track her. The coyotes had already started eating at the entrance hole...they tore more hide than anything...

Does anyone have a digital camera near me so that I might take a pic and get it posted faster? I live in the Shelby area.
Congradulations on your deer.

[lawnguy]

congrats dancer! send some of that luck this way! I'm hoping to spend some time in a tree next week

[BuckRubnMI]

Congrats WolfDancer!!


Doe down for me too!! I will post pics tomorrow...

[7MM Magnum]

HEY,... Good goin' there Buck ! :)

Another notch in the teams totem pole and more snack sticks to make! ;)

[Wolf_Dancer34]

congrats on your doe buckRubnMI!!!!

[BuckRubnMI]

Thanks guys!!

Here she is...

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/00317.jpg

Shot her from the ground quartering away at about 30 yrds and she went about 60 yrds. No snack sticks for me though. My grandpa is dying of cancer and he is a big part of why I love hunting and fishing so much therefore I am giving the meat to him so he can eat like a king in his last days here on earth!!!

[mtan1104]

Congrats Buckrub.

[7MM Magnum]

by BuckRubnMI: No snack sticks for me though. My grandpa is dying of cancer and he is a big part of why I love hunting and fishing so much therefore I am giving the meat to him so he can eat like a king in his last days here on earth!!!

Buck,... gotta' hand it to you, your one helluva guy ! :cool:

Your one of those persons who make the rest of us seasoned hunters PROUD of the new generation of hunters with selfless actions like that.


GOOD JOB! :coolgleam

You can make those snack sticks outta' your NEXT harvest that I KNOW your going to get.

I commend your actions! ;):):)

[BuckRubnMI]

Thanks 7MM, I really do appreciate it :) I haven't been able to spend time with him afield in 6 yrs due to his medical issues so I make it a priority that he gets half of everything I catch or kill. Heck I should be giving him everything I catch or kill as fast as he eats it. I can't keep up with his appetite!! Its just the right thing to do and it makes my days afield much more meaningful and his knowledge has made me much more successful so that success I have to pay back!!

[SPITFIRE]

Awsome deer buckrub and even more awsome what your doing with it, your the man! If you need deer meat I have no problem sharing some of what I have with you, let me know.

[Just_One_More]

Way to go Wolf_Dancer34 and BuckRubnMI. More points for the board.

[BuckRubnMI]

Awsome deer buckrub and even more awsome what your doing with it, your the man! If you need deer meat I have no problem sharing some of what I have with you, let me know.

Thanks Spitfire!! I might be sending you a PM after Jan 1st depending on how the season ends up. I still have a doe permit and regular combo tag left so I should be alright but there's no guarentee when you are hunting. Thanks again.

[Wolf_Dancer34]

BuckRubinMI it is really a wonderful thing you are doing for your Grandfather. I was always taught to take care of my elders and that is what I do with alot of things I hunt. And they all apreciate it more than anyone can know.

If you need some venison---give me a yell. I am going to be making jerky here in the next week to send of to my son---would be more than glad to pass some on to you...

Once again congrats on your doe and will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.

WD

[lawnguy]

nice deer buck! Way to keep the points rollin for us!

[7MM Magnum]

Well... I had to take down BOTH the popup blinds this morning in anticipation of what we are now experiencing.

High winds, mixed with rain and hail! :( Last year in the winter season we had something similar come at us and I left the setups out there. The following day I went out to hunt and the winds had literally tore the blinds loose at the tent-stake hold down straps. The stakes and the eyelets for the blinds were still in the ground (Doghouse blind) and the blind itself was shredded when it slammed into the timber treeline. :mad:

They are projecting 10-20 mph winds gusting to 60 !!:SHOCKED:

[BuckRubnMI]

Thanks again guys :) I'm unemployed right now so my days pretty much consist of hunting and turning in resumes. I should be able to connect again on another doe. Hopefully during the rifle season b/c I have never taken one with a rifle and I'm looking forward to that!!

WolfDancer, do you know Wayne and Scott Erdman?? Whitehall area??


7MM I just thought I would pass along some info in case you didn't know that if you ever have the setup sticks break on the ameristep blinds, you can order them on their website. I have to order some right now since your post reminded me about them so thanks for reminding me!!

[Wolf_Dancer34]

Yes I do know them. I was married to Wayne a very very long time ago and he is the father of my sons!!! Why do you ask?

[7MM Magnum]

7MM I just thought I would pass along some info in case you didn't know that if you ever have the setup sticks break on the ameristep blinds, you can order them on their website. I have to order some right now since your post reminded me about them so thanks for reminding me!!

Thanks Buck,.. No I wasn't aware of that! :o But it's good to know as the blind that blew away last year had issues with those rods. They had started to crack and splinter (very sharp edges on them!) and I taped the both of them in those areas with some fiberglass tape. I thought that was a pretty poor design, even now after taking down my blinds for the next couple of days I had noticed that the G-20 blinds rods are starting to memorize the bends in them from just this year alone.:rant:

I'm going to go online when I finish this post and order 2 sets of them for backups. ;)

I had checked our current point standings as they were just updated and Buck and I are the only ones listed for our team. So it shows our team currently has only 10 points! :(

All of you on the team who HAVE taken a deer so far need to post those pictures of yourself with them so our team can be recorded accordingly.

Wolf Dancer34,.. and anyone else on the team,... lets get them posted OK ?

With the weather starting to hit us with a COLD snap things should start hopping anytime now !! :D

[7MM Magnum]

Now WHAT are we doin' back on page 2 again?? :rolleyes:

[BuckRubnMI]

Well it looks like Im getting a break in the weather for a few days. Time to get the big boys frisky if you know what I mean!!! All day hunts here I come :D

[Just_One_More]

Now WHAT are we doin' back on page 2 again?? :rolleyes:

I don't know but where back here again. :)
I really can't wait for the 15th now with all of these pic's being posted. It makes me want jerky :D

[7MM Magnum]

Well,... I finally got my popup blinds back out in the field this afternoon. :D

The worst of the hight winds has passed and I've been itching to get them back out. I almost did it yesterday but there still was the occasional 40 mph wind gusts and on flat farmland with a normal S -S/W wind there isnt ANY protection. The only way I could leave them out would be with a easterly wind as the timber would protect them.

Can't wait for the weekend!;)

[BuckRubnMI]

Well I finally found my goal so far of '08. Too bad he's missing his G3. I've been battling the flu since Sat. but I'm going out tonight. Hopefully the warm weather won't stop the bucks from roaming.

Here he is:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/00411.JPG

[7MM Magnum]

GOOD luck to you!

Don't worry about the weather, a little warm but it's much better than WINDY and hailing out. ;)

Sorry to hear about that flu thing,.. lots of people are coming down with it. So far I haven't and that's a GOOD thing!

[BuckRubnMI]

I ended up seeing 6 tonight but no horns. I'm debating whether to go out tomorrow morning or try to hit the voting booth early. The weather is telling me to HUNT!! I just hate standing in line to vote. Its a toss up..

[Wolf_Dancer34]

I saw a 3 point, 6 point and a doe this morning.....after hunting I decided to go and look around. There has been a monster buck that I have been trying to get for the last few years and guess what? He is back again this year. Only hope now he makes a mistake so that I can get a a shot at him. So cross your fingers because he is a real pig....Now I am pumped up.

[7MM Magnum]

There sure hasn't been much going on up here since all these warm temps had showed up. :rant:

BUT,.. the weather guy is forcasting things will be changing soon ;) Saturdays HIGH is suppose to be 43*
and Sunday - Tuesday: Highs of 37-38* with Lows for each of those days at 28* .... PLUS some SNOW ! :)

That ought to but things back into perspective!

[7MM Magnum]

TTT

We're back on page 2 again,.... :rolleyes:

[BuckRubnMI]

Well Friday morning I was close to filling the other tag. I had a good buck come in on the wrong side of me and offered a shot at about 30 yrds. I couldn't turn around though. He's a big 6pt that would have been an 8pt if his right side looked like his left. His right side unfortunately is a spike with a brow tine. Def a shooter in my book though.

This weekend I didn't see any deer (bad weather) and this morning was beautiful but I only seen a doe and a fawn. I have yet to see any chasing going on but the weather forecast looks great for the rest of the week so it has me feeling pretty good right now :)

[Wolf_Dancer34]

Ok here is my oh crap moment. I am sitting in my bow stand and from behind me a buck comes skirting out. I watch him walk around me and come within bow range. I draw my bow and just as I am about to release my arrow the rubber on my peep site breaks...so I have no choice but to drop my bow down in a hurry and put the rubber back on while the buck is messing around near me. I draw again and the same thing happens so have to let my bow down again and watch the buck finish walking away....gggrrrrr so after finishing the hunt off to the sport shop I went to fix the problem...just part of bow hunting. I certainly could taste some more jerky in the making.

[Just_One_More]

Good Luck Today Team!!!!! Just Getting ready myself.

[Just_One_More]

Saw one doe and that was then this morning didn't see a thing, then come to find out the area I'm hunting had major work going on just before season but you couldn't tell because they did it all in the road. My runways all cross this road and the road had a new gas line run down it and tomorrow down a ways they will be putting some more gas pipe down so I wasted one day and part of another on a poor spot. The bad thing is this spot never really has sign before season because the the deer don't go in these thick pines until the shooting starts or the bad weather so I had no idea, but this is the first year ever I haven't saw at least one buck in the first two days at this spot. So I'm going to my old faithful afternoon spot in a hour hopefully you did better than me. And man does this weather suck, windy and snowing.

[woodychevy38s]

Well opening weekend of rifle was spent at the family camp, not a lot of good hunting, but a lot of good games of cards and beers to be had. I was all over looking for any movement, but only saw one deer (15 in total for guys at camp)

I was on state land and after 4 hours and around a mile and a half walk I found 8 other hunters and 3 bait piles. This area had already been a no bait with the TB ban, but now it had the second ban on it too. I marked them on my GPS, walked to the area where these guys were parked, wrote down Plate numbers and called the poaching line. That afternoon talked with a Dnr rep and gave a better description of where to find them.

So pretty much my "golden spot" I had scouted out had a hunter on the bottom of every ridge that led up to me and 3 of those ridges had bait piles. Not a lot of need for the deer to come up for acorns. (Sunday by noon the stands were gone, the trucks were not in the parking area, and the bait piles were still there....I didn't dare to hunt by them sunday night)

Afternoons tonight, tomorrow, days next 5 so hopefully I can get out and on the right track of some meat around here.

[lawnguy]

Headed out again in the morning. I have a good feeling about a new spot so I'll update everyone tomarow night.

[7MM Magnum]

Ok,.. Ive been tryin' REALLY hard to tag into another one but good ol' Mother Nature isn't cooperating at all up here! :( I got out once during smokepole so far and saw nothin' !

I want to head out again tomorrow as we are experiencing a winter storm right at the moment and I figure that after the last 5-6 days of really nasty weather they are going to have to start moving again if for nothing else but to find some food.

Tomorrow, there is suppose to be a lul in the storms as it is suppose to once again start the nasty stuff again late Sunday afternoon till Tuesday.

Smokepole season ends on the 21st so I've only got another couple of days left to try and tag one untill the late antlerless season starts up.

[7MM Magnum]

Not a thing moving today ! :(

Tomorrow's the last day for smokepole,... gonna' make a all dayer out of it. ;)

Another storm is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon up here :16suspect I'm really hoping that the deer will know that and get out of the woods and cover to come out and browse while they can.

We'll see what happens,.. Good luck to whom ever else might be out there.

[7MM Magnum]

Well team,... I guess it's all over but the crying. :lol:

I saw a few over this last weekend but they were just to dang far away, skitish, and not supporting any headgear. :(

I wish I could have at least contributed one buck to the tally but it wasn't in the cards for me this year. I hope all f you had a great new years celebration,.... let's see, another 10 months and we can have at it again!! ;)

It was great compeating with all of you team-mates !! :D