There's 13 days left. I plan on holding out until the last day, and then having a lovely bowl of tag soup. It's my way.
MI Deer Opener - Live Hunt
- Thread starter Ben Lamb
- Start date
There's 13 days left. I plan on holding out until the last day, and then having a lovely bowl of tag soup. It's my way.
Addicting and Ben lamb, as someone who hunts just north of cedar springs. Had the 4pts on one side help? I passed on 4 Michigan basket 8pts 3 are still alive with no holes. The 4th got shot in the neck or face and is still running. One of the guys saw it briefly this morning prior to crossing a property line. Guessing someone in our group will get a another crack at him.
There are more deer now than in the past. In the 80s the 2% stand hunt and 98% drinking was true for most people.
Addicting
Well-known member
Now that’s a deer hunt! Sadly those traditions have mostly gone by the way side. It was never really about the deer as it was camp and stories. Which is why I go to the buck pole, it’s still stories there and the hosts don’t put it online. However, with horn porn TV in the last few decades everything has changed for the worse. Camps have disappeared and leased up property has taken over.
@williaada in southern MI we have more deer now than ever. APR hasn’t done anything productive to speak of. If a deer lives past 3 it’s a miracle. If a hunter doesn’t get him, a car, EHD, or a coyote will take out most. Last night there was maybe 3 bucks out of 27 that were 4+.
Folks just need to shoot what makes them happy.
I'm pretty new to the MI hunting scene, but my FIL loves the APR. He hunts on the east side of TC and says the quality of bucks is improving significantly.
I don't see a lot of folks being selective on deer. I think it's still a harvest culture first, trophy potential second deal.
One day, I want to have a cabin in the UP and have a real UP Deer Camp, blackberry brandy & smoked everything included.
I don't see a lot of folks being selective on deer. I think it's still a harvest culture first, trophy potential second deal.
One day, I want to have a cabin in the UP and have a real UP Deer Camp, blackberry brandy & smoked everything included.
Another good sig line. Sooooo many ways to take this one.
I was Up North
about a month ago and it really got me how much the landscape has changed. We used to have a cabin in Baldwin and there was a whole lot of nothing and dirt roads in all directions. Now it seems like all exits off of 75 are advertising breweries and wineries and casinos. I hope there are plenty of parts that still have nothing but it just seems more built up than ever. We did used to joke (but actually true) that you could find more deer and pheasants in the run down parts of Detroit than you could in Northern Michigan.Sounds much more promising than past years, I need to get back out. I haven't gone in 6yrs, but when I did...it was basically identifying birds/trees and seeing how long I could go before I had to pee.
Cousins have a cottage on Big Star. Been there a handful of times in the last 30 years...I'm not sure Baldwin will ever change lol. Ludington got a little crazy though.I was Up North
Addicting
Well-known member
Lot depends where you go. Where I live it’s all farms and edge habitat. Deer thrive down here. However, there is a road every mile and mostly all private. There are places to hunt by knocking on doors. Most farmers just want them killed from the crop damage they do.
I know northern MI is different, but by the sheer amount of does along M22 or in Grayling/Kalkaska are in the winter shows it’s a decent population. Hardest part hunting up there so the vegetation. If you can’t see it makes it hard to kill one.
DNR is doing managed openings, etc but yeah - it ain't as simple as sitting an edge and waiting. It's a learning experience for me for sure. First time in years I've been excited about deer hunting rather than just happy to be out.
Lots of critters, populations are high all around. 3 tags & all antlerless if you want, plus the APR. It's pretty generous. You still have to work for those critters though.
RealMuddyboots
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2021
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- 428
Was out SW MI yesterday, at 72 was little farther to my "spot" in swamp on public. Somehow, it keeps getting farther. Dunno how. On stand at 6 full hour before first light. Damn long wait! Couldn't sleep so went in early. When that feeling stops, time for checkers! Few shots early but really not as many as you think. Decided for full day sit. Both sandwiches gone by 9AM even though I had decent breakfast. Snacks gone by 11, and still have until 6? Nothing came by until 12:30 when most are out of woods. I have killed some of my best bucks 11:30-1:00. They know when coast is clear it seems. Hear twig snack, here we go! Nope, spike cruising in to 15 yards, few min later another twig and here comes a 4Pt. They push each other around 15 yds from me. No clue I am sitting between couple trees decent back cover. Orange vest and hat so shows NBD. They move off no clue I was there. About 4, I stood up and couldn't believe how stiif the old bones got. Could not hardly move so decided 10 hours on stand good enough. This is a 25 min walk from truck into swamp normally. Took prob 40 to get out. I know prime time but I could not move from spinal stenosis and arthritis. I am scheduled for back surgery in Jan for bottom 5 vertebrae have to be fused. Yeah hurts but its opening day gun in MI. Maybe Friday back out if I can get it going again.
Southern Elk
Well-known member
Loving all of these updates. 
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Addicting
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You all didn’t realize he meant he was going to procrastinate till the last day then have soup.
How a person hunts is a deeply personal thing. I don't give you chit for drinking a fifth of Sambuca & spotlighting, you don't give me chit for being a delicate flower. That's how this works
Work is getting in the way of having fun, and we had to switch out the bucket for the blower. Waiting out the lake effect and plan on getting out tomorrow & Sunday. About a foot in the ground now & it's still coming down. Deer are hunkered. Making a plan to explore a nearby swamp.
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