Deer Hunting in MI

[Bhoesl]

Someone suggested cutting generous shooting lanes and that’s a good idea, the only thing I would add is to take the time to drag all the trees, limbs, etc away to one pile somewhere. If you just leave everything where it falls, your shooting lane can end up so thick with debris that the deer will choose an easier path around it rather than crossing it.

 

[Addicting]

One less for you to chase, boy shot his first this morning.

 

[Dave N]

One less for you to chase, boy shot his first this morning. View attachment 340243

 

[Addicting]

Not to be out done by her brother, my Daughter’s first deer was bigger! She even got a few chapters read.

 

[Addicting]

@ammo I hope you have as much success and enjoyment with your Dad as we did today.

 

[Dave N]

Not to be out done by her brother, my Daughter’s first deer was bigger! She even got a few chapters read.


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Heck of a day for you guys!

 

[Redman2216]

Welp we're shirking our traditional bird hunt in South Dakota this year because my dad bought some land in N Michigan and can't wait to deer hunt on it. Last time I was deer hunting was when I was 11:

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I'm used to tromping up ridges and kicking my own ass out here hunting elk.

Sitting in a deer stand and freezing my ass off...well I have questions.
Odds of deer actually walking by?
Timing - dawn 'til dusk in a blind/tree stand?
What else do I need to know? If freezing ass off in tree stand - what do you do to pass the time/not freeze ass off/not spook deer?

Find the does and the bucks will come. Hunt the food source in the evening.

 

[Redman2216]

Hand warmers are your friend lots of hand warmers everywhere. I get slammed by friends occasionally for bringing a book especially on dark to dark sits. I don't think it's any more distracting then looking at your phone especially if you don't get to engrossed. I read a paragraph then scan another paragraph and scan and never during prime time.

Stay off the phone is key. Eyes peeled

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Hopefully your land is far enough north to be outside of the EHD affected areas. SW Michigan is getting hammered by EHD right now. Lots of shooter bucks now maggot condominiums. Its starting to shape up like the bad EHD kill we had years ago. I took ride along swamp of neighbors farm and plenty of awful smell in those areas. I am not hopeful public land will not be wiped out again.

Its going to be slim pickings I'm afraid.

 

[gwhunter]

Welcome back! Haven’t seen you for a while.

I was going to say the same thing! The Midwest section of the forum was getting thin!

Nice bucks that your kids got @Addicting

 

[CollegeDad]

I'm pretty sure they still bait in MI. I'd build a portable ground blind, and put a heater in it if you are hunting gun season..

Baiting in the LP is not legal.

 

[CollegeDad]

Dumb question - I can't bow hunt during rifle season (Nov 15th) right?

You can if you wear orange.

 

[Cornbread]

-Don’t push the property. You’re much better off letting the deer feel at ease and move around on their own.

-Pac boots +1 your normal size, wear heavy socks over light socks.

-Practice shooting when you are dressed up like the Michelin Man. Practice shooting at a target from a stand/blind before trying on an animal.

-If you hunt a stand, make it comfortable. Seat cushion, back rest, wind break, roof, weapon and pack hooks, etc. Invest in a decent fall arrest system. Have a rope to hoist your gear and weapon up, after you climb up.

-Don’t be shy about cutting generous shooting lanes

-I like to bring binos and bird and squirrel watch, helps pass the time. Also, play a game of trying to identify every little sound in the woods. Or small game tips to try and arrow a squirrel…extra challenge to try and hit one on the ground - they usually jump the string.

-Set a couple game cams in alternate stand spots to keep tabs on deer movement in places you can’t see from your stand.

-The odds of seeing a deer are high…if you set up in the right location. I like to set up between doe feeding and bedding areas. Does are creatures of habit and tend to walk the same route day after day. I like to hug the bedding areas and catch them in staging areas. They often stage just inside cover, and then venture out in the open after dark.

-Staying warm is doable. I wear a heavy puffy over a light puffy, puffy pants, fur hat, chopper mittens with thin liners and hand warmers. I’m good to about -10, as long as I’m out of the wind. My nose runs, but I bring Vaseline and a handkerchief.

I’m a dark to dark sit hunter, but most people can’t stand the boredom. If you do get down and take a break, 10 AM to 3 PM is a good window. The first 3 hours of light and the last 1 hour of light have the most movement during the rut.

Ive killed a few between 10am and 2pm because of other hunters going to lunch back at the truck or home. They push the deer to me. And during the tail end of the rut the bucks are moving around during the day too. I never leave my spot. I get in an hour and 15 before daylight and sit through the dark. Pleanty of bucks can be shot the last 10 mins of hunting.

 

[ammo]

Blind selfie! This may be the most boring hunttalk “live hunt” ever but what the hell else am I doing.

Saw eyes on the way into the blind.

Games of Euchre Won: 1/1
Books read: 0
Deers: 0

 

[ammo]

Walked back to the blind a different way and flushed a grouse but couldn’t locate him. His friend apparently got nommed by a yote.

It’s cold! Midwesterners do this for fun???

Lotsa blasting going on around us. Fam in another blind saw some running butts and *think* they heard a rutting buck scream.

The rest of us have seen nada.

Currently I have a nalgene of hot tea shoved into my puffy jacket and it’s pretty nice!

Games of euchre won: 6/10
Grouse flushed: 1
Deerz: 0
Expectations: 2/10

 

[Bhoesl]

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Walked back to the blind a different way and flushed a grouse but couldn’t locate him. His friend apparently got nommed by a yote.

It’s cold! Midwesterners do this for fun???

Lotsa blasting going on around us. Fam in another blind saw some running butts and *think* they heard a rutting buck scream.

The rest of us have seen nada.

Currently I have a nalgene of hot tea shoved into my puffy jacket and it’s pretty nice!

Games of euchre won: 6/10
Grouse flushed: 1
Deerz: 0
Expectations: 2/10

It wouldn’t be a true Michigan deer camp with any other card game besides euchre.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Escabana in da moonlight is a mandatory watch back at camp for your first Michigan deer season. Good luck!

 

[ammo]

Day 2: still freezing my tits off even with the water bottle trick. Brain is mush from too much phone euchre.

Cams caught a spike wandering around last night then pictured above was a deer busting out from brush when fam was walking to the blind this morning. Dad also saw two on the trail on the way into his stand this morning.

Overheard at breakfast “at least we know they’re not all dead!”

Games of euchre won: lost count
Deers: ??? … 0
Sound off to my left likely a squirrel gangbang: 17

 

[Dave N]

Sounds familiar. Well, except for the tittie freeze! You can try doing some squats in the blind to warm up. Work your arms up and down. Get your blood moving with the exercise. It works for a little while at least. I was a Candy Crush guy for staying awake and killing time.

 

[Pucky Freak]

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Day 2: still freezing my tits off even with the water bottle trick.

I keep typing and deleting responses, but I can’t quite find the intersection of funny yet still marginally appropriate. @Nick87 I need some help.