Another Disappointing Deer Season in the North

Well, I hope your gun, Whitetail deer hunt was a safe one. Mine was.

That is all I can say about my family's deer hunt this past season. It wasn't the only good thing, but it was pretty hard to find a deer. We did have a good time of laughing and discussing strategies, etc. But, we just couldn't see any deer.

The numbers here in Northern Wisconsin, must be way down. I saw 2 deer and heard a third one as I was getting down out of my tree-stand shortly after shooting hours on Opening Day. After that I have seen nothing on the stand, or during shooting hours. I did see several deer at dark while driving back to camp or home.

My younger brother did kill a small buck on day 2 of this season. I think that was one of the two deer he saw all year.

My nephew had a wolf come to within 5 yards of him while in a tree-stand. It bounded away and maybe never knew he was there. I know there must be several around the area where we hunt, because a fellow hunter found several fawn bodies and adult deer bodies in February of '09 while he was in that area.

So, I have cleaned the gun and changed the barrel on my Thompson Center over to a muzzle loader barrel. I enjoy being in the woods too much to completely stay away from hunting the rest of the year.

So, what is going on with the deer population in Wisconsin? I believe several things are occurring that are hurting our chances in the woods.

First of all, I believe there are more predators in the woods these days, than in the past. There are way too many bears, coyotes, and wolves in the state today, and no one wants to admit it. The DNR admitted underestimating the bear population recently. Thank You, but what makes us believe you can estimate the wolf population then? or the coyote? or the deer?

Second of all, we allow deer baiting in this state, and we shouldn't. Most people in the woods today couldn't even hunt if baiting wasn't allowed. What ever happened to scouting, calling, using scents and trying to outsmart a buck, and therefore, really being proud and deserving of a trophy buck once he was harvested?

How many different hunting tools does the DNR need to try and reduce the deer herd? We have so many seasons(tools) now. Let's start listening to the people that actually do the hunting not the politicians and insurance companies....

The deer are being pushed by the predators closer and closer to the towns and cities across this state. Baiting has congregated the deer into an area and allowed the predators to have a feast when they are found. We just keep adding more seasons and charging more fees to the hunter to control the deer herd.

Well, stop the baiting and start trying to manage the predators better, and let the hunters manage the deer herd.

Let me apologize for the tone of this blog, but this was obviously the talk of the hunt this year in many if not all camps.

I hope you continue to enjoy the outdoors. I know I will. Good Luck with the muzzle loader.

--Outdoorwiz

Buffalo County Hunting in 2009

What a great 6 days of bow hunting!

Not only the hunting. but the scenery was awesome too. I forgot hot nice it was over in that part of Wisconsin. I'm from Northeastern Wisconsin. We don't have the sudden elevation changes like they do. They sure have the better food sources for the great deer herd over there, that is for sure.

Several of the party arrived on Saturday and set a few stands on a piece of property that produced last season. I wasn't along last year, but the place to be was a pine tree plantation surrounded by corn and bean fields. We put the stands and then unpacked our gear at the house we stay at. We then wanted to find some other properties and the land owners to see if we could expand our hunting area for the future. We saw 33 deer just riding between properties, as the day was coming to a close. Seeing that many deer was promising.

Our first morning out my brother took a doe with his crossbow. It was his first time using it and wanted to make sure he could hit something, besides we are in a herd control unit and needed to harvest some does. At around 8:10 I noticed a deer to my right maybe 80 yards away. I looked through my binoculars for a few minutes, hoping to find movement and get a fix on his direction. When I turned to my left that deer had already passed 25 yards in front of me and almost made it past without me seeing it. I never heard a noise. It was a buck but I didn't get a good look. It wasn't a shooter. At least not on the first morning.

I waited a few seconds, and then used my doe in estrous can call. Within several minutes that buck and circled and came in from dead down wind. It came over a hill looking just as proud as could be. Majestic, was the word that came to my mind as the sun glimmered off the white rack. He came down to the trail app. 30 yard away. He turned and circled back the way he came from. I decided to get a picture with my camera. It was a broken off 8 pt or small six.

He heard me start the camera, and scuffling around but let me get a photo at about 45 yards. Then he knew something was us up, and bounded off not alarmed too badly.

I knew right then and there, I had to keep my eyes peeled. The leaves were wet and with the wind, you would never hear anything coming before you could see it. I had two does come past in the evening on that same trail behind me, and I would probably would have never seen them had not my hunting partner texted me they were coming.

Well, I passed on that deer and really didn't see a lot on that property. But, the other property we hunt was heating up. The other guys in our party were seeing bucks like crazy. I think they saw 20 bucks in one day. Anyhow, we all decided to concentrate our efforts over there the next few days.

I did pass on a fork horn on my second to last day hunting. And also on some does the last day. But, I had a great last day. I shot at a coyote while hunting on the ground. I saw a rooster pheasant walking through woods, and I walked up on a bedded doe. Now that was an experience.

I was on my knees for an hour-and-a-half trying to get a shot at a bedded doe. The wind was in my face and it was noisey, so she didn't know I was there. After sometime, I texted my brother and we tried to get her up and move to my left so I could get a shot. But, as usual she bolted the other direction. Still, what a great hunt. I was with-in 14-15 yards of here while she rested for over an hour-and-a-half..... My poor legs!

Anyhow, all told I believe the group saw 47 bucks for the week. We passed on 3 or more. We had 4-5 clean misses. We killed one doe and a nice 8 point. But the best part: is the friendships we made while there and the outdoors we enjoyed. It is a different land sturcture, and it takes a lot more skills for shooting.

Before I go again, I'll make sure I'm in better physical shape. And, I'll practice longer and more severe down sloping shots with my bow.

So, thanks Buffalo, and we'll see you next fall, if not later this year.

Outdoorwiz.