MITCHMO
Well-known member
It’s always bittersweet when you punch that last tag. I spent a ton of hours in a tree this season and had tons of fun. I waited for Mr big and never got him. I had a close call with the buck I wanted at the same time someone had three dogs chasing deer by me and ran him off. Michigan outlawed baiting this year and it really changed the deer activity. All the deer were heavily focused on acorns and I used my climbing tree stand to follow the squirrels and stay on the best acorn spots.
One night during bow, I knew I could hear a deer and kept looking around to finally see a buck sneaking behind me. I turned around and snuck an arrow through some pines to get him. I tracked him about 75 yards and saw blood everywhere.
I looked up and in disbelief I saw a buck take off at full speed running away and was dumb founded. I almost turned around but went a little further to find my buck piled up. It was a second buck that ran off and made my heart sink.
Friends quickly arrived on the scene to high five and start dragging.
I hunted hard during rifle and never saw a decent buck. I was starting to get frustrated. But at least I was seeing animals. I even saw 5 bobcats one afternoon right in the middle of the day! 3 were kittens and they acted as if they were spring loaded. Watched for at least 1/2 hr. Towards the end of the season I took my climber into to some oaks that still had acorns under them. Just when I thought my rifle season wasn’t going to pan out, I caught movement over my shoulder and made a quick shot on a nice big body 8 point.
That was a special night for me as it was the first time I was able to take my kids tracking. Normally I’m way too far in some hellhole to get them in there.
I decided I was done until a buddy was having some tough luck. I told him we could try one of my spots and off we went. Thanksgiving morning found us sneaking up a big oak ridge and spreading out a couple hundred yards from each other. Once again I had my climber and found a tree on a small finger that came down the ridge. Shortly after daylight I heard my buddy shoot. Two does ran over to me a few minutes later and started feeding on acorns under the snow. One got about 40 yards and I couldn’t resist. After a well placed shot from my old 44mag, we had ourselves a thanksgiving double.
I’ll probably head to Kentucky to visit a friend and I’ll be bringing the smoke pole. If there is a continuation of this story, I’ll be sure to add to it.
One night during bow, I knew I could hear a deer and kept looking around to finally see a buck sneaking behind me. I turned around and snuck an arrow through some pines to get him. I tracked him about 75 yards and saw blood everywhere.
I looked up and in disbelief I saw a buck take off at full speed running away and was dumb founded. I almost turned around but went a little further to find my buck piled up. It was a second buck that ran off and made my heart sink.
Friends quickly arrived on the scene to high five and start dragging.
I hunted hard during rifle and never saw a decent buck. I was starting to get frustrated. But at least I was seeing animals. I even saw 5 bobcats one afternoon right in the middle of the day! 3 were kittens and they acted as if they were spring loaded. Watched for at least 1/2 hr. Towards the end of the season I took my climber into to some oaks that still had acorns under them. Just when I thought my rifle season wasn’t going to pan out, I caught movement over my shoulder and made a quick shot on a nice big body 8 point.
That was a special night for me as it was the first time I was able to take my kids tracking. Normally I’m way too far in some hellhole to get them in there.
I decided I was done until a buddy was having some tough luck. I told him we could try one of my spots and off we went. Thanksgiving morning found us sneaking up a big oak ridge and spreading out a couple hundred yards from each other. Once again I had my climber and found a tree on a small finger that came down the ridge. Shortly after daylight I heard my buddy shoot. Two does ran over to me a few minutes later and started feeding on acorns under the snow. One got about 40 yards and I couldn’t resist. After a well placed shot from my old 44mag, we had ourselves a thanksgiving double.
I’ll probably head to Kentucky to visit a friend and I’ll be bringing the smoke pole. If there is a continuation of this story, I’ll be sure to add to it.
