First Few Hunts in November

Date - 11/2/10

Time - 3:00pm - 7:30pm

Location - Emersons - Climber tree stand located 50 yds into the woods from the NW corner of the field, facing butterfield rd.

Weather - Clear, Sunny, breezy

Temperature - 50 F

Wind Direction - NE 10mph

Number of Deer Sighted - Bucks - 1 Does - 5 

Age Structure - 1 1/2

Side Notes:  I went hunting with Tim tonight at Mrs. Emersons property.  We brought out our climbers because the stand I have over there would be terribly wrong for the wind direction.  We sat in opposite corners of the field about 150 yds apart.  Three does came out from the east side of the field and worked their way towards me.  After hanging around for a bit, a small 7 pt. came into the picture.  He was in "chase mode" but the does wanted nothing to do with it.  They crossed over into the neighboring field and walked into the woods about 50 yds to my right.  The buck then wandered over to my hang on stand and worked the scrapes underneath it.  He then went into the woods towards the city and disappeared.  At last light, two does came out of the woods where the last three entered and headed towards the road.  Tim saw another doe that came from the woods too.  

Date - 11/3/10

Time - 4:00pm - 7:30pm

Location - Sams -Hang-on stand in the fence row, half-way between the road and the grass field.

Weather - Clear, Sunny, Windy

Temperature - 50 F

Wind Direction - NW 15-20mph

Number of Deer Sighted - Bucks - 0 Does - 3

Age Structure -N/A

Side Notes: Not much happening tonight but it was good to get out.  This was my first hunt in this location after I put my trail camera out there.  I had some cool pics of some interesting bucks that I will share soon.  About 6:30 there were eating corn over in the corn by the swail.  They never came across to my field which was beans.  About 15 mins later, another doe came from across the road and headed in their direction.  I never saw anything else the rest of the night.  Deven was hunting about 100 yds from me so he must have scared them all off.  ;) haha

Sweet November

November has arrived with perfect weather to get the rut moving. I like to sit as long as I can during the month of November because a monster can come running by at anytime of the day. For the next few weeks, I will be sitting in the stand from about 6:30am to 7:30 pm on the days I have available. I have taken time off of work so I only have one day of classes and one day for my internship. Other than that, I will most likely be in the woods.

Here is an article that sums up my my exact thinking about hunting in November and also offers some tips on how to stay put all day.

Halloween Weekend

It has been awhile since I have updated but that is because I didn't hunt for about a two-week period.  I was busy with school and work.  Here are a few updates from the Halloween weekend.  I will add some trail cam pictures and videos soon as well.

Date - 10/30/10

Time - 4:00pm - 7:30pm

Location - Sam's - Climber tree stand located 50 yds into the woods from the back corner of mx track.

Weather - Clear, Sunny, Windy

Temperature - 50 F

Wind Direction -W

Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 0 Does - 0

Age Structure - N/A

Side Notes:  I was skunked tonight.  I believe it was because of the high winds and clear skies at night.  I think most of the movement was being done during the night when the moon was out.

Date - 10/31/10

Time - 6:30am - 8:30am

Location - My house -  Ladder Treestand down front next to the path.

Weather - Clear, Sunny, Calm 

Temperature - 32 F

Wind Direction - N

Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 1 Does -

Age Structure - 1 1/2

Side Notes:  I didn't see much movement, which was to be expected.  Sitting down front at my parents on a small parcel of land doesn't hold too many deer.  I usually only see one or two deer during morning sits and at most, four deer during the evening.  All I saw was a 1 1/2 year old 5 point.  He came walking down the path from our yard and walked right by me a few minutes before it was light out.  The only reason I know he had five points was because the trail cam took a picture of him as he walked by.  I will post a picture soon.

Date - 10/31/10

Time - 10:30am - 3:00pm

Location - Sam's - Treestand on the back side of the property behind sugar shanty, facing the house.

Weather - Clear, Sunny, Breezy

Temperature - 40-50 F

Wind Direction - N 5 -10mph

Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 4 Does -1

Age Structure - 1 1/2, 2 1/2  

Side Notes:  After sitting at my house during the morning, I decided to head over to sams for a mid morning hunt.  Now that the rut is getting closer, I will begin to hunt the mid-day because bucks will be cruising, trying to find the first hot doe.  I got set up about 10:30 and a little after 11am, 7 does came in trotting from my right.  When they were about 40 yds behind me, a 16in 8 point came running down the hill towards them.  He was grunting and all fired up.  He chased them all off behind the swamp behind me and they disappeared for the rest of the day.  About an hour later I noticed some more chasing about 100 yds behind me to the left.  It was a few small bucks and a couple does.  Another hour later a different small buck came in behind me, pushing more does around as well.  It was an exciting sit and by far the best of the year.  It was good to see that many deer.

Down Baby Down!!

Date - 10/15/10

Time - 6:30am - 9:30am

Location - Sam's - Treestand on the back side of the property behind sugar shanty.

Weather - Clear, Sunny, Calm 

Temperature - 50 F

Wind Direction - N

Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 1 Does - 6

Age Structure - 1 1/2 

Side Notes: It was a great morning in the deer woods!  I brought my climber to one of my favorite spots to hunt, hoping to shoot a mature buck.  But if a nice doe stepped within 15 yds I was going to take a shot.  At about 8:45 I had four does come out in front of me, probably coming from the mx track.  As I was watching the does move towards me I noticed them looking off to the right.  I turned to look and a doe and fawn were closing in fast being followed by a small six point.  He was grunting as he was following them which was pretty cool.  I also heard him "growl" which I have never heard before.  Apparently, bucks make a growling sound as well but I had never heard it first-hand until yesterday morning.  

The Story:

The does continued to move closer and I was surrounded by four deer.  All of them were 10 yds or less.  When I decided to draw on the doe, another doe and fawn were directly under me to my left.  I was holding on the doe at about 7 yds so I had to stand on my tippy toes to clear my cam over the rest of my climber.  When she cleared the tree, I let it fly and put it right through her chest around 9 am.  She ran off quite fast towards the grass field and I could tell she was hit hard.  My arrow was left stuck in the ground with the luminok shining bright.

  

Long story short, we had a hell of time finding this deer because we couldn't find any blood after the initial hit.  Dustin and Deven helped me do a search and rescue through the entire woods, but to no avail.  Jack ended up finding blood at about 1:30pm with the help of his dog Mercedes.  Apparently, the deer made a huge circle around my stand and ended up going in the complete opposite direction from where I last saw it after the hit. 

We recovered the deer at about 2:00 pm on the other side of the house towards the mx track but it had been tore up by a coyote or possibly a cougar.  The hind quarters were torn up and so was the front shoulder so we salvaged what we could for meat.  It was too bad that we didn't find the deer before the critters did but we tried our best.  I ended up hitting it through one lung, which is typical for that close of shot with a severe downward angle.  The weird thing is that it didn't bleed until it had ran about 200 yards.  

All in all, it was a great morning!  

The picture to the left is showing the coloration of the deer.  It was a full size doe with white spots on its back.  I had never seen a deer like this unless it was a spotted fawn.  I thought it was a truly unique deer and I will remember it forever.  

-Adam        

October 14th

Date - 10/14/10

Time - 3:30p - 8:00p

Location - Fitzner's - Treestand on the other side of the lane next to the creek.

Weather - Overcast, Cloudy, Breezy, Gusts 10-15 mph 

Temperature - 60 F

Wind Direction - WSW

Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 1 Does -4

Age Structure - 1 1/2 

Side Notes:  I brought the climber back to the same tree as last Sunday.  All the deer followed the same pattern as last time and circled behind me at about 40 yards.  It is nice to see the does following the same patterns because as the rut gets closer, the bucks will be following.  The buck I saw tonight was only a little four point.  I will probably save that spot until November so I don't disturb any deer.  I am still not seeing many bucks but any day now it will pick up fast. They are out there but most mature bucks are moving at night.  I have more trail cam videos of some of the same bucks but were all taken at night or early morning.  I will post them sometime next week.  

Trail Camera Videos

I put my trail camera out on a very active scrape.  I was happy to see that I got some cool video footage of some "up and coming" bucks.  All of the videos are at night or very early in the morning.  Within the next few weeks, they should become more active during the day.

I left the camera in the same spot and lets hope that there will be new and bigger bucks on there next week!  

October 9-10 Update

1. Date - 10/9/10
2. Time - 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM
3. Location - Guzy's, Treestand on the corner of selens and fitzners.  
4. Weather - Clear, Sunny, No Wind 
5. Temperature - 50 F
6. Wind Direction - NE
7. Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 0 Does - 0
8. Age Structure - N/A

Side Notes: I was skunked again!  Very slow morning with no action.

1. Date - 10/10/10
2. Time - 1:30 - 8:00
3. Location - Fitzner's - Treestand on the other side of the lane next to the creek.
4. Weather - Clear, Sunny, Breezy 
5. Temperature - 80 F
6. Wind Direction - WNW
7. Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 1 Does -2
8. Age Structure - 2 1/2 

Side Notes: I took my climber out tonight and set up on the other side of the lane.  I decided to try out this location because there is a creek that runs through a low bottom behind the cow pasture.  Since it was hot, I was hoping a nice buck would get thirsty and need a drink during the mid-day but nothing ended up showing up until about 7pm.  Two does worked along the cow pasture and circled behind me about 40 yds around 7pm.  Then at about 7:20 noticed movement out in front of me on the other side of the creek.  A 15 inch 8 pt was walking parallel along the creek, scent checking the area.  He came up out of the creek and circled behind my stand, similar to the two does.  At about 7:45, I had another deer walk by at about 30 yds but it was too dark to tell what it was.  A few minutes after that, another deer walked directly under me but I still couldn't tell what it was.  

When I got down out of the stand, I checked a scrape that was underneath me and there was fresh urine in the scrape, covering the leaves.  The deer must have worked the scrape as he walked by my stand after dark.

   

Still Slow

1. Date - 10/5/10
2. Time - 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM
3. Location - Sam's - Tree stand located on the edge of a cut bean field.
4. Weather - Clear, Sunny, No Wind 
5. Temperature - 33 F
6. Wind Direction - N
7. Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 0 Does -2
8. Age Structure - N/A

I only saw two does that were about 200 yards away.  They came out of the grass field and were headed across the road towards Power's property.  There is not much rubbing and scraping activity over there yet.

I am heading home again this weekend to hit it hard again.  I put my trail camera in a different location this week.  I set it on video footage instead of pictures so I am expecting some cool videos from a different scrape area.

-Adam 

Opening Weekend Update

I was able to make it out three times over the past weekend.

1. Date - 10/01/10
2. Time - 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM
3. Location - Emerson's, Olivet - Tree stand located on the edge of a cut wheat field.
4. Weather - Clear, Sunny, No Wind 
5. Temperature - 40 F
6. Wind Direction - NW
7. Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 1 Does - 0
8. Age Structure - 1 1/2 yr old spike.  

Side Notes: While walking in, I scared off a deer that was right under my stand.  It sounded like a bigger deer and there was a fresh scrape about 20 yds away.  At least I didn't get skunked on opening day.  This property is 50 acres that is primarily field with only 5 acres of woods and some fence rows.

1. Date - 10/02/10
2. Time - 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM
3. Location - Gordon's, Kalamazoo - Took the climber and sat at the end of the lane behind the horse pasture.
4. Weather - Overcast, Drizzle, Windy 10-15 mph
5. Temperature - 50 F
6. Wind Direction - N
7. Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 0  Does - 2 
8. Age Structure - N/A

Side Notes:  Took the climber and sat at the edge of the lane behind the horse pasture.  Two does came by me at 15 yds.  Could have shot them both but I was strictly trophy hunting that day.  This property is approximately 20 acres, mainly all field and fence rows.  Urban deer hunting at its best!

1. Date - 10/03/10
2. Time - 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
3. Location - Fitzner's, Bellevue - Sat in the stand next to the cow pasture in the the woods.
4. Weather - Sunny, Windy 
5. Temperature - 50 F
6. Wind Direction - NNW
7. Number of Deer Sighted -  Bucks - 0  Does - 0 
8. Age Structure - N/A

Side Notes:  I was skunked!  Didn't see a single deer.  It was quite windy and calmed down as the sun was setting.  Very surprised I didn't see anything since this is one of the best stands on the property.  This property is primarily woods with a five acre hay field.  A bean field is to the west on a neighboring property about 80 yards away.   

To say the least, it was a very slow weekend but I still had a lot of fun.  Keith, who also hunts on my neighbors property said he saw a total of two does in two different hunts.  My brother Phil was hunting up north and only saw a few little does.  Nathon and Dustin also said they did not see much either.  

I checked my trail cam again last night and there were no pictures of deer from my mock scrape location.  Deer movement is definitely on the low end, which is kind of strange for opening weekend of bow season with temperatures reaching the low 40's.  Lets hope for more action this coming week/weekend!         

  

Mock Scrape and Trail Cam Pics

It's the day before the opener and I went out and checked my trail camera this afternoon.  Not too many pictures but enough to get the blood flowing.

Less than a week ago I made a mock scrape and set up my trail cam to see if the deer were using it.  For you greenhorns out there, I will describe what a scrape consists of. 

I like to use the analogy of a bulletin board to humans.  Deer use a scrape in a similar way people use bulletin boards in high travel areas.   When there is a lot of deer activity in a certain area, deer make scrapes to see who is hanging around and what is going on.  The only difference between humans and deer is that a human will look with their eyes(at the bulletin board), while a deer will use its nose to find out what is happening(at the scrape).  A deers sense of smell is unbelievably good and both does and bucks use scrapes all year long.    

When a deer makes a scrape, it will paw the ground, removing all leaves and grass.  Once all debris is removed, they will pee in the patch of dirt.  Then, they will use a licking branch.  A licking branch is a tree branch that overhangs the scrape that a deer will lick with its tongue and mouth.  Both peeing in the dirt and licking the branch help deer identify one another.

Earlier, I said that I had made a "mock" scrape.  Essentially, I created the scrape for the deer so that I could get pictures on my trail camera in the exact spot I wanted.  To make one I took a small rake and made a bare patch of dirt that was directly below an overhanging branch.  I  make "mock" scrapes around my tree stand to attract deer closer for a good shot.

Here are a few pics of bucks using my mock scrape:

8 point using the licking branch above.

He's nice but I think I will have to pass on him.

Now he is smelling the dirt.

I'll save this one for Nathon!! haha

 

 

 

 

 

Opening day is tomorrow but I will not be hunting this spot because the wind direction will be wrong.  Deer will smell me and I could possibly scare them off.  I will be hunting a different property tomorrow.

Good luck to everyone going out tomorrow and be safe!  Let me know if any of you get one throughout the season because I would like to share and post your stories with everyone.  Ta Ta for now.

-Adam Parr    

Opening Day is Closing Fast!

I am, to say the least, excited for the opener of bow season in Michigan starting this Friday.  I look forward to bow season more than anything in the year.

I am starting this blog because I want to share my stories and sightings with you throughout this upcoming season.  But my main reason is to document everything that happens each and every time I am in the deer stand.  Basically, I want to keep a journal/hunting log that I can analyze and will help me predict patterns of deer for future seasons.

My daily log will include the following criteria to help with my documentation:

1. Date - Day/Month/Year
2. Time - I will tell what time I arrived on stand and how long I sat for.
3. Location - I have three to four different properties I hunt regularly.  I will give a brief description of the set up and which property I hunted.
4. Weather - Sunny, Overcast, Rain, Snow, Frost, High/Low Pressure, Windy/No Wind, Moon Phase, ect.
5. Temperature - Self Explanatory
6. Wind Direction - Self Explanatory
7. Number of Deer Sighted -  Both does and bucks. 
8. Age Structure - Estimated age of bucks sighted.

Hopefully, years of documentation will help me become a better deer hunter.  I will post as often as I can, most likely every few days throughout the season.

That's all for now.

-Adam Parr