Well I suppose this is an exercise for myself to kind of go thru what has transpired over the last few weeks. I dont post all that often, but I am always here. First of all I would just like thank the Beast community and of course Dan, for this tremendous resource. At the age of 44 this is my third full season hunting whitetails. I discovered the Beast when I began, and it was how I began to learn how to hunt.
Well over these three years I have logged probably 500 or more miles of boots on the ground scouting, combined with countless hours of practicing with my bow, saddle, and sticks. Not to mention glassing, summer deer drives, and monitoring pressure in the areas I hunt. I didnt mention how hard I have worked to toot my own horn, but rather to ackknowledge how the Beast has influenced my development as a semi-new hunter. Heck I have only killed 5 deer! I dont let the "pressure" get me down. Its just another factor ,along with all the rest to consider in planning a hunt.
I have been on a perpetual learn and confirm misson since the spring of 2015. I live in Mid Michigan and hunt only public land. I love it. Its hard. Perhaps since I have begun later in life I dont have the typical public land sucks, no big bucks , too many hunters attitude that seems to be prevalant around here. I just try to be ghost and go about my biz un-noticed.
"You have to learn how to kill deer". Hmm, pretty sure I heard that a time or two around here. I took those words to heart and still do. Mature bucks are the focus on the Beast My attitude has been since the get go that I want to kill a big deer some day, but I will have to work my way up the ladder. However, I scout and hunt like I am going to kill one, even though any 2.5 or older is gettin the arrow. This mind set has helped me to get on deer consistantly.
I didnt kill a deer my first year, but I did see quite a few from stand. I had opportunities for sure. Second year I killed 3 deer, 2 does and my first buck. Missed a 3.5 10 point in Nov (still stings) and wounded a doe the last day of the season. Looked for that deer for 5 days. Hunted Ohio late season and had an encounter with a real nice buck .
So its a progression for sure. If I were to list all of my mistakes, this post would be a mile long! But I consider mistakes as valuable as success.
Fast forward to 17'. Goals were a bit different. I really felt like I had put in the work and if I just keep at it, I would get an opportunity at a 3.5 yo deer. 2.5 s would also get the arrow. Generate the encounters and progress to the actual kill.
I only bow hunt and probably have 35-40 sits in for the year. Never the same tree twice. First time sits. Man are
they important. Killed 2 does early season, saw quite a few bucks, mostly 1.5 s. From Holloween to Nov 14 I had three 3.5 yo within 20 yards. No shot opportunities.
What all three of these encounters had in common were first time sits, overlooked spots in thick areas near bedding, and setting up on fresh sign. I know these areas well, but in all of those occasions I made slight adjusments based on new sign showing up.
Nov 9 was a great day. I went in early that day. Parked in the lot. Hopped on my bike and headed down the rd to enter the corner of a game area where no one goes.Who loves riding thier bike at 4 in the morning when its 17 degrees out! Ya gotta do whatcha gotta do!
On my way in I noticed a big rub and a single set of big tracks leading to and away from the the rubbed tree. Looked like it was made the same day. Super fresh.Walking a hard transition between thicket and cattails i decide to follow a bit furthur. I had a good idea of where he was headed to bed down and the rubs lead right to his trail heading east into a small patch of brush in the marsh.. Overlooked big time. This deer was bedding down 70 yards from a a guys house and road. Any how I find a small 15 yard opening in the thicket that is just shredded. Figured its a staging area and set up immediately.
Choices and decisions. I stood thier for a minute trying to decide if I was going to go up 2 sticks and be able to cover the opening or sit on the ground and be able to shoot to where the the trail following the transition with all the rubs and his exit from bedding intersected.I decided to hop up in the tree 2 sticks. 5 inch diameter river birch. Stanleys posts of " you have to have a shot" going thru my brain. Well I had one shot to the trail crossing in front of me thru the opening.
4 oclock rolls around and 2 does appear at about 15 yards. Standing right on the intersecting trails I didnt have a shot to. A minute later the biggest buck I have ever seen appears out of nowhere behind them. Def a 3.5 or older deer. Broadside 17 yards. I can see him clearly but the tangled mess in front of me doesnt allow a shot. I came to full draw , risky, trying to see if I could get an arrow thru the mess but nothing. Close quarters, lucky I got away with it. Anyhow the does peal off and walk the trail right thru the opening I do have a shot to. I am thinking, " This is going down right now"! Well Mr Big decides to slowly wander off back east out into the tails. Somehow I dont get busted by the does and as darkness approaches and it begins to rain, my mind is thinking did that really just happen.
Decisions. I had seen 2 really good bucks a couple days prior on another property which I have the bedding nailed down really well, and I was struggling with the idea of heading back over there or taking another crack at this deer the next day. I am no where near thinking I have the ability to target an individual deer. Yeah right.
This buck has it all, doe bedding in almost every direction, unhuntable land to the east, cover. What the heck, I decide to keep the pressure on. I felt I entered and exited cleanly so I gave it another try the very next day. I went into the same area 2 hours before light, switched trees , and set up. 15 yard adjustment.
0 dark thirty in the am and I hear very loud footsteps breaking thin ice. Yep thats him. Heading back to bed down I guessed. Same trail, same deer, game on. Flash forward again to 4 oclock and I hear him get up and start shredding up some small trees. Making all kinds of racket. Friggin crazy. Couple small bucks had been running does around most of the afternoon and when the big dog got up and started making all of that noise I see a forky put on the brakes, look in that direction and take off.
This is where it gets really wierd. This buck I figure is 50 yards out. It sounds like he his slowly making his way to me. I lift my bow off the hanger and get ready. High pressure crisp day. One of those days you can hear a squirrel fart a mile away. I am probably 200 yards from a road and house. I had been listening to a guy all day working in his garage. A garbage truck pulls in this dudes driveway , backs up, beep beep beep.Deer is making all kinds of noise. Man hes coming.. Then all of sudden I hear, " Hey!" can you guys hear that?" Old man speaking to the garbage guys. " That sounds like a very large animal making a ton of racket out there"! Man that must be a giant buck making all that noise!" Yeah..for real. Now I know deer are used to certain things in certain areas and they could care less. I have no idea if this sudden conversation held up this deer, but thats what happened. Not one footstep was heard until dark.
Exhale....Dropped a cam and left. You cant gun hunt this particular spot so I thought what the heck, if he makes it thru and stays put, why not try to kill em in December.That was Nov 13. Hoping hes still around.
I guess what I take away from that experience is that even if you lack hunting years under your belt , it pays to be aggressive. If you want to learn you have to push other wise you will never learn when the appropriate time is to back off. I have had a tremendous number of encounters where I have made subtle mistakes. These mistakes and what I have learned will no doubt result in dead deer in the future.
So its been a great season so far, I have continued to bow hunt during gun season, know of a few bucks still alive, and I intend to drop the hammer on one before the end.
Thankyou to everyone here for helping me slowly evolve into a hunter.
Regards
Chad
Still grinding
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- Jackson Marsh
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Re: Still grinding
Good luck with the rest of your season lastcast!
You are clearly doing a lot of things correctly with all the close encounters with 3.5 y.o. You'll reach your goal soon I bet, if not this year it will be next year. Sometimes a guy does everything right but the buck doesn't cooperate. Sometimes a guy just needs a little good luck. Continue putting yourself in a good position and you will get lucky soon.
You are clearly doing a lot of things correctly with all the close encounters with 3.5 y.o. You'll reach your goal soon I bet, if not this year it will be next year. Sometimes a guy does everything right but the buck doesn't cooperate. Sometimes a guy just needs a little good luck. Continue putting yourself in a good position and you will get lucky soon.
- Hawthorne
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Re: Still grinding
Great write up!My two best spots are close to houses where I could hear people talking and making racket. Your doing really good to get on public bucks like that in Michigan. Keep it up, i bet you’ll score on one
- Jonny
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Re: Still grinding
Way to keep plugging
You are definitely on the right track with it though. Keep moving in the right direction and I think you might have a date with a big buck sooner rather than later
You are definitely on the right track with it though. Keep moving in the right direction and I think you might have a date with a big buck sooner rather than later
You have a monkey Mr. Munson?
- vtbuck
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Re: Still grinding
Really good stuff. Attention to detail is huge. Your definitely on the right track. I’m no expert on beast tactics. Just dabbling in it myself. But having consistent encounters with deer and especially bucks that are 3 years old and up tells me you’re doing a lot right.
Stay after it. You’ll connect soon. Hunting isn’t easy or everyone would do it. Bowhunting separates the men from the boys. You have to be close, patient, and precise. There’s little room for error. You are close.
Good luck!
Perfection is a dream, practice is hard work, and achieving a goal is making that goal a reality.
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Re: Still grinding
I could write my own book on hunting near houses with crazy occurrences....some deer you can run off regardless, and others the sound of keys send them running.
Great write up and admire the attitude!
Great write up and admire the attitude!
"One of the chief attractions of the life of the wilderness is its rugged and stalwart democracy; there every man stands for what he actually is and can show himself to be." — Theodore Roosevelt, 1893
- Bedbug
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Re: Still grinding
Kinda wish I had that start up.! Very inspiring post and I can relate in many of the ways to the way you combat obstacles on public land.
- creepingdeth
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Re: Still grinding
You paint an awesome picture in your words and determination...we learn firsthand how hard it is, bow, public, this late in a long season,getting cold...keep learning and never give up
Yesterdays common sense is no longer common
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