Early antlerlesss (doe) weekend was this past weekend. It's a chance to thin the herd and get some venison. Was seeing 5-6 doe on the front lawn every day leading up to the Saturday early opener. Weather had been in the 80s as well. Rained all day Friday and most of Sat. Didn't see a thing either day.
Deer showed up again on on the lawn Monday morning. There were 5 deer including a 6 point buck in the clearing about 100 yards from the house last evening.
Archery season opens on October 1 so now gearing up for that.
As an aside I'm having my garage at the woods house insulated, dry walled and paneled to make it into a man cave.
With my mom gone, I'm pretty much up at the woods house full time now
Hunting 2024
Hunting 2024
Last edited by Mac66 on Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Hunting 2024
Sounds like you have several opportunities to stock the freezer.
Re: Hunting 2024
Yeah, early doe weekend is a chance to get some meat and fill my doe license so I can concentrate on getting a buck during bow and rifle season.
Last year I passed on numerous doe and small bucks and finally got a buck at the end of bow season. Never saw a buck during the rifle season. Never did shoot a doe.
I'm sitting here right now looking at a button buck and a couple doe in the clearing about 100 yards from the house. I may just hunt there on the opening day of bow season next Tues.
I also built a couple box blinds out of crates I picked up. Finely got them up on platforms. One overlooking "the bowl" and the other overlooking the ravine. Getting too old to climb ladders, so I built stairs. Those blinds are no more than 5-6 feet off the ground.
Look at my deer blind 2024 thread. Just finished the stairs on all of them yesterday.
Last year I passed on numerous doe and small bucks and finally got a buck at the end of bow season. Never saw a buck during the rifle season. Never did shoot a doe.
I'm sitting here right now looking at a button buck and a couple doe in the clearing about 100 yards from the house. I may just hunt there on the opening day of bow season next Tues.
I also built a couple box blinds out of crates I picked up. Finely got them up on platforms. One overlooking "the bowl" and the other overlooking the ravine. Getting too old to climb ladders, so I built stairs. Those blinds are no more than 5-6 feet off the ground.
Look at my deer blind 2024 thread. Just finished the stairs on all of them yesterday.
Re: Hunting 2024
Looking forward to hearing about what you get this season.
Re: Hunting 2024
Opening day of bow (archery) season was on Tuesday, Oct 1.
Went out about 6:30 am with my brother. At about 6:50, it was still pretty dark but saw a shadow coming from the north end of the food plot. I couldn't tell what it was until it got close enough to shoot then saw it was small doe. I let it pass. At about 7:10 am a 4 pt came out of the south end. It was still pretty dark but it soon got close enough as well. I let it pass.
When I uncocked by cross bow after the morning hunt, the string came off. First time that ever happened and usually you need a press to bend the limbs to restring it. I didn't have a press so I used rachet straps to compress the limbs.
Took it out to test fire it and couldn't get it to hit the target. Lost 3 bolts (arrows) before I got it on target but even then it was shooting high then low. Couldn't center it.
Didn't see anything that (Tuesday) evening.
My brother couldn't hunt on Wed so I went out in the morning alone. Didn't see anything that morning.
Still couldn't center the Xbow during the day hoping that if a deer got close enough I could nail it.
Went out that evening and there was a doe in the food plot near the north end. I back tracked along the trail, took the long way around through the woods and managed to get into my blind without spoking the doe.
Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics. She was about 70 yards at this point.
She stayed right in front of my brother's blind for over an hour. (It was a beautiful evening). She came down towards me but never got inside of 40 yards. She was pretty small anyway and I wouldn't have shot her.
Eventually she went into the woods on the west side of the field. About 10 minutes later she came back followed by 2 4 pt bucks. A pretty big, older one with a narrow rack and a younger/smaller one with a wider rack.
The one with the narrow rack.
As you can see the one on the left is bigger/thicker than the younger one on the right. The shorter legs/thicker body would indicate and older deer. Maybe 3 or 4 years old. The one on the right is probably a 2 year old. I would have taken the older one if he got close enough. Both different deer than the 4 pointer the previous morning. That buck was smaller than these two. They are about 60 yards away at this point.
The grazed for awhile. The bigger one started coming toward me. He got about 40 yards away, then alerted to to something at the south end of the field. Deer will often freeze in place and stare with their ears up. The little doe and small buck took off for the woods with their tails up. The bigger one stayed awhile then took off.
A short time later 4 deer, 2 doe and 2 smaller deer (one a button buck) came out from the south end. I was kind of surprised those bucks took off, usually they will wait to see what comes out and won't take off if they see another deer. The does and fawn came toward me and got out right in front of me when they alerted as well. They went into the woods. By then it was about 7:20 and was getting dark.
It was fun seeing so many deer but I started packing up. I uncocked my xbow and was getting ready to leave when I glanced up and there was a 6 pt and a doe at about 40 yards heading my way. By the time I got my bow cocked he was at 20 yards standing broadside to me. An easy shot. I center the crosshairs for a heart/lung shot and let one loose, it went a foot under him. How could I miss? Damn bow.
He jumped when the bolt went by him and ran about 20 yards and started looking around. Eventually he and the doe walked into the woods on the other side of the field.
Sorry, no crappy cell phone pics of the 6 pointer. I was kind of busy when he showed up.
I did not hunt this morning but got up and tried to sight in the bow again. Couldn't hit anything with it. Dragged out my dad's old crossbow and couldn't get it sighted in either. I had run out of bolt (arrows) and bought a new batch this summer. The only thing I can think of is I got a bad batch of carbon fiber bolts. A couple would be way high, then a couple more way low. Went through all 6 bolts and couldn't get any consistency with any of them. Eventually I either lost or broke 4 or the 6 I'd bought. Very frustrating.
Not hunting this evening as I came home this afternoon to beat rush hour. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning. I'll buy some aluminum arrows tomorrow and try to re-sight the bows in when I get back up north. Otherwise, I'll switch to my old compound bow and take my chances with it if I can even draw it with a torn rotator cuff.
As I said it was beautiful evening and fun seeing so many deer.
Update, I went and bought some aluminum bolts today (Friday). Will try and sight them in tomorrow.
.
Went out about 6:30 am with my brother. At about 6:50, it was still pretty dark but saw a shadow coming from the north end of the food plot. I couldn't tell what it was until it got close enough to shoot then saw it was small doe. I let it pass. At about 7:10 am a 4 pt came out of the south end. It was still pretty dark but it soon got close enough as well. I let it pass.
When I uncocked by cross bow after the morning hunt, the string came off. First time that ever happened and usually you need a press to bend the limbs to restring it. I didn't have a press so I used rachet straps to compress the limbs.
Took it out to test fire it and couldn't get it to hit the target. Lost 3 bolts (arrows) before I got it on target but even then it was shooting high then low. Couldn't center it.
Didn't see anything that (Tuesday) evening.
My brother couldn't hunt on Wed so I went out in the morning alone. Didn't see anything that morning.
Still couldn't center the Xbow during the day hoping that if a deer got close enough I could nail it.
Went out that evening and there was a doe in the food plot near the north end. I back tracked along the trail, took the long way around through the woods and managed to get into my blind without spoking the doe.
Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics. She was about 70 yards at this point.
She stayed right in front of my brother's blind for over an hour. (It was a beautiful evening). She came down towards me but never got inside of 40 yards. She was pretty small anyway and I wouldn't have shot her.
Eventually she went into the woods on the west side of the field. About 10 minutes later she came back followed by 2 4 pt bucks. A pretty big, older one with a narrow rack and a younger/smaller one with a wider rack.
The one with the narrow rack.
As you can see the one on the left is bigger/thicker than the younger one on the right. The shorter legs/thicker body would indicate and older deer. Maybe 3 or 4 years old. The one on the right is probably a 2 year old. I would have taken the older one if he got close enough. Both different deer than the 4 pointer the previous morning. That buck was smaller than these two. They are about 60 yards away at this point.
The grazed for awhile. The bigger one started coming toward me. He got about 40 yards away, then alerted to to something at the south end of the field. Deer will often freeze in place and stare with their ears up. The little doe and small buck took off for the woods with their tails up. The bigger one stayed awhile then took off.
A short time later 4 deer, 2 doe and 2 smaller deer (one a button buck) came out from the south end. I was kind of surprised those bucks took off, usually they will wait to see what comes out and won't take off if they see another deer. The does and fawn came toward me and got out right in front of me when they alerted as well. They went into the woods. By then it was about 7:20 and was getting dark.
It was fun seeing so many deer but I started packing up. I uncocked my xbow and was getting ready to leave when I glanced up and there was a 6 pt and a doe at about 40 yards heading my way. By the time I got my bow cocked he was at 20 yards standing broadside to me. An easy shot. I center the crosshairs for a heart/lung shot and let one loose, it went a foot under him. How could I miss? Damn bow.
He jumped when the bolt went by him and ran about 20 yards and started looking around. Eventually he and the doe walked into the woods on the other side of the field.
Sorry, no crappy cell phone pics of the 6 pointer. I was kind of busy when he showed up.
I did not hunt this morning but got up and tried to sight in the bow again. Couldn't hit anything with it. Dragged out my dad's old crossbow and couldn't get it sighted in either. I had run out of bolt (arrows) and bought a new batch this summer. The only thing I can think of is I got a bad batch of carbon fiber bolts. A couple would be way high, then a couple more way low. Went through all 6 bolts and couldn't get any consistency with any of them. Eventually I either lost or broke 4 or the 6 I'd bought. Very frustrating.
Not hunting this evening as I came home this afternoon to beat rush hour. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning. I'll buy some aluminum arrows tomorrow and try to re-sight the bows in when I get back up north. Otherwise, I'll switch to my old compound bow and take my chances with it if I can even draw it with a torn rotator cuff.
As I said it was beautiful evening and fun seeing so many deer.
Update, I went and bought some aluminum bolts today (Friday). Will try and sight them in tomorrow.
.
Re: Hunting 2024
I'm sitting in my blind as I write this.
My brother missed a doe on Tuesday. Haven't seen anything but turkeys since.
Temps been in the 50s and 60s during the day. Was in the 50s at night earlier in the week then got into the low 30s. Been pretty nippy hunting at dawn. It was 41 this morning. What a difference 10 degrees make. Supposed to be in the 70s today.
Those new arrows I bought solved my problem. I was putting them within an inch of each other at 40 yards. Multiple groups.. I hope I see some more deer to use them on.
Edited to add...got up to 76 this afternoon. Sat out for the evening hunt in a t shirt. Didn't see anything.
And...I started hunting different blinds. Now rotating around.
My brother missed a doe on Tuesday. Haven't seen anything but turkeys since.
Temps been in the 50s and 60s during the day. Was in the 50s at night earlier in the week then got into the low 30s. Been pretty nippy hunting at dawn. It was 41 this morning. What a difference 10 degrees make. Supposed to be in the 70s today.
Those new arrows I bought solved my problem. I was putting them within an inch of each other at 40 yards. Multiple groups.. I hope I see some more deer to use them on.
Edited to add...got up to 76 this afternoon. Sat out for the evening hunt in a t shirt. Didn't see anything.
And...I started hunting different blinds. Now rotating around.
Last edited by Mac66 on Mon Oct 21, 2024 9:31 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Hunting 2024
Was out in the tar paper shack blind (see page 3 of my 2023 deer hunting report) ladt night (Saturday) when 2 doe walked up to it. She was pretty close, maybe 10 yards. Heavy blood trail, heart shot. She still managed to run 150 yards through the woods before going down. Nice big fat doe.
She was about halfway between me and that tree.
The arrow went through her and is halfway stuck in that tree.
Decided to sleep in this morning but was wide awake at 6 am.
She was about halfway between me and that tree.
The arrow went through her and is halfway stuck in that tree.
Decided to sleep in this morning but was wide awake at 6 am.
Last edited by Mac66 on Fri Oct 25, 2024 3:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Hunting 2024
So my deer is off to the butcher to be processed.
Spent most of last week preparing for our annual Mactoberfest festivities. One son and family came in on Wednesday. Other son came in from Chicago on Thursday, daughter and husband came in on Friday.
Weather was in the 60s most of the week. It was 70 on Saturday, the day of Mactoberfest and 75 on Sunday. Bright and sunny and the fall colors were/are at peak. Absolutely beautiful days. Indian summer. The party went well. Everyone enjoyed it.
Another warm and beautiful day today. Not seeing many deer though.
In other non hunting news, I've had the attached garage interior finished. Insulated, drywalled, and paneled. The floor gets coated tomorrow. Turning the garage into a man cave, recreation room kind of thing.
Spent most of last week preparing for our annual Mactoberfest festivities. One son and family came in on Wednesday. Other son came in from Chicago on Thursday, daughter and husband came in on Friday.
Weather was in the 60s most of the week. It was 70 on Saturday, the day of Mactoberfest and 75 on Sunday. Bright and sunny and the fall colors were/are at peak. Absolutely beautiful days. Indian summer. The party went well. Everyone enjoyed it.
Another warm and beautiful day today. Not seeing many deer though.
In other non hunting news, I've had the attached garage interior finished. Insulated, drywalled, and paneled. The floor gets coated tomorrow. Turning the garage into a man cave, recreation room kind of thing.
Re: Hunting 2024
Currently my garage is being used as a chicken coop. Maybe some day I will get it back.
As far as deer season around here, at work, we have killed three deer so far and done of $20,000 in damage to the vehicles.
The State will fine you and take you to jail for hunting without a license, yet they will take no responsibility for their deer damaging your vehicle. Such double standard.
As far as deer season around here, at work, we have killed three deer so far and done of $20,000 in damage to the vehicles.
The State will fine you and take you to jail for hunting without a license, yet they will take no responsibility for their deer damaging your vehicle. Such double standard.
Re: Hunting 2024
They came and did the garage floor today. At least the first part. Clear coating goes on tomorrow then have to wait 24 hous before we can walk on it.
I was surprised how labor intensive it was. First they "diamond grind" aka sand the cement. Then they clean out any cracks or seams and fill them in and seal them. My floor is relatively new so no cracks. Then the had to go around and hand paint the cement baseboards and spread the color chips. Then the painted the floor and spread the chips. Doesnt sound like much but it took two guys about 6 hours to do that. Tomorrow they come back and put down tow coats of clear coat.
Another beautiful 70 degree day. Colors peaked over the weekend, starting to wane now. But still very pretty. I sitting out in my deer blind right now. Pretty much too warm to hunt, but its better than sitting inside.
I was surprised how labor intensive it was. First they "diamond grind" aka sand the cement. Then they clean out any cracks or seams and fill them in and seal them. My floor is relatively new so no cracks. Then the had to go around and hand paint the cement baseboards and spread the color chips. Then the painted the floor and spread the chips. Doesnt sound like much but it took two guys about 6 hours to do that. Tomorrow they come back and put down tow coats of clear coat.
Another beautiful 70 degree day. Colors peaked over the weekend, starting to wane now. But still very pretty. I sitting out in my deer blind right now. Pretty much too warm to hunt, but its better than sitting inside.
Last edited by Mac66 on Wed Oct 23, 2024 5:30 pm, edited 4 times in total.