2009 Wisconsin Muzzy Season

Another Muzzy Season is over - 2009

In Wisconsin, we have a 10-day muzzle-loader season directly after the regular gun season.
Since the regular season ended so pathetically, I was hopeful to find some deer during the
muzzle-loader season. Well, it did turn out to be better, and I'm glad I didn't give up.

We ended up getting some snow, which did help the situation, as well. After hearing all the
horror stories around deer camps in the north woods, snow at least gave us hope to find
some tracks. And where there are tracks, there are deer.

We didn't find many, but we did find a few. The weather turned worse and we ended up getting the worst storm I can remember in a while. In one night we measured out approximately 14 inches of the white stuff. It was very fluffy, but still deep. And along with the snow came high winds. As you can imagine the storm was predicted for several days, so the plan was to hunt the night before and try to catch the deer moving and feeding before it hit.

This turned out a few deer, and I know of a nice buck that was shot that night. However, the hunter didn't recover his 8 point until the next morning, and by then the coyotes had eaten every bit of meat on it. That sure has been the story in the north woods. Anyone that has left a deer overnight, or who couldn't recover it promptly, had it eaten by bears, or coyotes, or wolves.

The next day brought high winds and 14" of snow. I planned to be in the woods on the last day of muzzy season. So, I talked a young hunter into going out. We pushed snow with my front bumper all the way back into the property we were hunting. We walked in knee deep snow, and weathered 20+ mph winds. But we knew this could be the day.

At app. 4:15 I saw a flash of a deer about 125 yards away. I waited for it to get to the next
lane of openings. As, I watched both lanes I notice movement again, and put the binoculars on
a nice 10 pt buck going in the same direction as the other. So, with plenty of time before
closing, and darkness, I was sure to get a crack at this nice buck.

What happened? They never showed up. At 4:30, I saw a deer walk back the way it had come. I'm sure it was the buck going back the same way it came. I don't know why, but my heart sunk. I thought for sure our perseverance was going to pay off. But, it wasn't meant to be on this last day.

At least I got to see a dandy buck. At least I got to get excited. At least it paid off to be
in the woods on the last day, again. What a treat.

Now what? Late bow season, I guess. Hopefully, I can fit in some late season archery around
working and some coyote hunting. Yup, I've changed the barrel to a 22-250 and I'm going to start hunting coyotes this winter.

I'll ask you to join in and do the same.

--Outdoorwiz