Saturday, November 21, 2009 Wisconsin Gun Season

Saturday, November 21, 2009 a.m., 33 degrees, mostly sunny, wind 0 mph in morning then from NE at 5-10 mph, sunrise 7:07 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:37 a.m), sunset 4:29 p.m. (Hunting closes 4:59 p.m.) With all of the amazing pictures taken at Romance, I just had to head up there and give it a try. After staying the night at Copper with all the guys, I decided to drive up to Romance and hunt. I was in position at Octopussy by 6:00 a.m. I sat all day!! Lon went up the side hill S of the Blue bird field. Mike went to the Hog back. Dan goat prairie. Chris and Riley at Lon's gun fort. Jon tower to the North. Steve in Valley on new 20. At 6:40 a.m., I heard the first shot of the season. Throughout the rest of the morning I heard a few shots around me, but fairly far away. Then at 8:55 a.m., I heard a single shot that was pretty close to me to the north east. Right after the shot, I heard some deer moving, but I never saw anything. Finally, at 11:45 a.m., I saw my first deer. It was a medium size doe and she came down from the north along the edge of the corn 50 yards to the west of me. She came out across the opening and walked off to the south west. At 12:15 p.m., I had a doe with 2 fawns come down the hill from the north. They came to within 15 yards of me. I am sure that the Cuddeback got a picture with me in the back ground. When they got to the bottom of the draw, they went east and back up the valley. At 1:40 p.m., the exact thing that happened at 12:15 p.m. happened again. A different doe with 2 different fawns came off the hillside to the north of me. The big doe got to within 10 yards of my stand. The wind must have swirled a bit because she got nervous and walked off to the south east. At 1:50 p.m., 5 more does came off the hillside from the same direction. They must have sensed something because they all stayed back up the hill in the brush to the north east of me. It took an hour, but two of the original five does worked their way down the hill towards me and got to 40 yards away. Something must have spooked them (they were up wind of me), but the slowly worked their way uphill and out of sight. At 3:15 p.m., I looked up the hill to the north west and saw a small doe sneaking across going east about 100 yards up the hill. At 3:30 p.m.' I heard something behind me to the south west, I turned around in time to see a doe trotting down the old logging road 100 yards away going west. Totals: Bob - 12 deer, 12 does and fawns. Steve - 2 in am 1 buck and 1 doe), 11 in evening in back field west of me at Romance, Chris an Riley - 0 in am, 19 in hay bales at Romance, Lon - 0 in am, 1 doe from Twin Towers in pm, Dan - 0 in am, 9 does and fawns in pm, Mike - 0 deer all day, Jon - 0 deer all day (he did see a tail while walking in from morning hunt).

Thursday, November 19, 2009 p.m.

Thursday, November 19, 2009 p.m., 45 degrees, mostly cloudy, wind W 5 mph, sunset 4:41 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:11 p.m). Well, it is good to be out again. This will be my last bow hunt before the 2nd gun season starts (opens again on Saturday the 21st). I got home early and decided to go out and give the dump ladder stand another try. I laid down a scent trail from down by the bridge with some cotton balls up the hill and across the fence line up to the stand. I was all settled in by 3:30 p.m. I noticed that the corn to the south of me had been picked, so I hope the big 8 will work his way up there for an early dinner. We will see. At 4:40 p.m., I started hearing shots from over on Arlie's. WTF? The gun season is now closed. For the next 25 minutes, I heard single shots fired periodically. A total of 12. They were not all coming from the same place either, so I don't think they were sighting in a gun. I am fairly certain that there is some illegal stuff going on over there. Bastards! Totals: Bob - 0 deer.

Friday, November 13, 2009 p.m.

Friday, November 13, 2009 p.m., 50 degrees, mostly cloudy, wind S-SW 15-20 mph, sunset 4:44 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:14 p.m). Well we finally have wheels and the wind is right for my old oak tree stand. I am 200 yards uphill to the south west of Lon's gun fort. I had him drop me off down by Dan's gun stand and I walked up from there. Lon was going to check out the dance floor on the North side of Hwy 171. I put down a scent line, so we will see what happens. I was all setup and ready to go by 1:55 p.m. At 4:40 p.m., I could hear one blowing a warning call down in the valley to the NE of me. She must have been 200 yards away or more. I am not sure how she could smell me. At 4:50 p.m., I could hear one walking down the ridge to the south of me, but I just couldn't seem to see it through all the brush. That was it. Totals: Bob - 0 deer, Lon- 4 deer, 1 buck. Lon shot, but missed. He had a decent buck com through going to the field from the south about 17 yards to the east of him. I think he shot high, over the back. We found the arrow, but there was no blood.

Friday, November 13, 2009 a.m.

Friday, November 13, 2009 a.m., 47 degrees, partly cloudy, wind S-SE 15-20 mph, sunrise 6:53 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:23 a.m). Things are starting to turn in my favor. I just hope it is not too late. Yesterday afternoon, Lon and Sue went down to Prairie du Chein to pick up the now fixed Ranger. Now I am able to access some of the property that I could not previously access without the Ranger. I was excited and out the door by 5:20 a.m. I went out on the first point (birch) and sat in my newly built permanent stand on the last saddle before the goat prairie. I laid a scent trail down with both a drag rag as well as urine soaked pieces of cotton. I walked past the stand and up towards the goat prairie as well. I was all set up and ready to go by 5:55 a.m. Lets hope a nice buck will cooperate. Nothing. Totals: Bob - 0 deer, Lon - 0 deer.

Saturday Evening November 14th, 2009

With Bob still in Wisconsin and a buck already slayed, I decided to head out to get some video and see if any big does present me with a shot. I was getting into the stand late and didn't want to be close to Arlies crew so I decided to go to the VAT. I also wanted to check out the camera down there. I sat for about an hour and had a doe being chased by what I would think would be a buck over towards the dump stand. I mainly just saw tails as they were running on the other side of the ridge by the Dump.

After getting down and checking out the camera I found some great pictures. There were a lot of small bucks that made it through the first week along with my Big 8 that I had on video earlier this year. There is also another bigger 8 (first picture). I am pretty sure he is different than the one I have on video. I hope all of these bucks lay low and make it through this year because they would all be great bucks next year!

There is also a doe with a huge growth below her neck. I thought maybe it was Heidi's doe that she shot earlier as there seems to be a dark spot on her neck. Maybe it is pooling blood under the wound. You be the judge! Let us know what you think.

We also got a sweet picture of a coyote running through.

Totals: Taylor 2 deer, 1 for sure doe, maybe 1 buck

Fawnslayer Out!

Friday, November 13, 2009 a.m.

Friday, November 13, 2009 a.m., 47 degrees, partly cloudy, wind S-SE 15-20 mph, sunrise 6:53 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:23 a.m). Things are starting to turn in my favor. I just hope it is not too late. Yesterday afternoon, Lon and Sue went down to Prairie Du Chein to pick up the now fixed Ranger. Now I am able to access some of the property that I could not previously access without the Ranger. I was excited and out the door by 5:20 a.m. I went out on the first point (birch) and sat in my newly built permanent stand on the last saddle before the goat prairie. I laid a scent trail down with both a drag rag as well as urine soaked pieces of cotton. I walked past the stand and up towards the goat prairie as well. I was all set up and ready to go by 5:55 a.m. Lets hope a nice buck will cooperate. Nothing. Totals: Bob - 0 deer, Lon - 0 deer.

Thursday, November 12, 2009 p.m.

Thursday, November 12, 2009 p.m., 54 degrees, mostly cloudy, wind S-SE 15-20 mph, sunset 4:44 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:14 p.m). After the morning hunt at Romance, I decided to head down and try my luck at Copper. With a south wind, I decided to give the Twin Towers a try. I snuck through the corn and was all set up by 2:30 p.m. Nothing to report. I did go and check the cameras tonight after the hunt and there was a giant 10 pointer + that came into the fort field about 20 minutes before I picked up the disk from the camera. Too bad I wasn't in my stand up the hill. He may have come by during shooting light. I will be there tomorrow night that is for sure. Totals: Bob - 0 deer.

Thursday, November 12, 2009 a.m.

Thursday, November 12, 2009 a.m., 32 degrees, mostly sunny, wind S-SE 5-10 mph, sunrise 6:52 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:22 a.m). I had to give the climber one more try. I got up this morning at 4:00 a.m., because I knew it was going to take me a while to get in. I brought an extra wick-away t-shirt to change into once I got to the stand. That proved to be a good idea as I climbed up to the top only wearing a t-shirt at carrying the rest of my clothes and I did work up quite a lather. Nevertheless, I was up the tree and all settled in by 5:55 a.m.
At 7:55 a.m., I heard something below me to the SW. I turned and saw a nice shooter buck 8-10 pointer walking across the hillside going to the east. He was about 70 yards below me and just walking slowly. I tried grunting, rattling and even the snort wheeze, but he just kept on going. Very frustrating.
At 8:35 a.m., I was just about to get down when I heard a buck growling up hill to the NE of me. I stayed quiet for 15 minutes then did some light rattling, grunting, bleating, etc., but nothing. That was it Totals: Bob - 1 deer, 1 buck, Lon, 2 deer, 2 does.

Wednesday, Novemeber 11, 2009 p.m.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 p.m., 53 degrees, mostly sunny, wind S-SE 15-20 mph, sunset 4:45 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:15 p.m). Well another new adventure. I was able to borrow a climbing stand from my parents neighbor and handy man Mark. I wanted to get up the hill to the north where I have been hearing all of the action. It took me a while to climb up there (those hills are steep) and find a tree to set up in. I had worked up quite a little lather wearing only a short sleeve shirt on my climb up there. It was my first time using a climber, so it was a bit awkward, but I like my set up. I trimmed a few branches before heading on up to my perch. I made sure to put on my safety harness an attach it to the tree so as to avoid any major problems. I was all set and ready for Mr Big to show by 3:25 p.m. Nothing. I climbed down and left the climber attached to the tree so I can give it another try in the morning. Totals: Bob - 0 deer.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 a.m.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 a.m., 27 degrees, mostly sunny, wind NW 2-5 mph, sunrise 6:51 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:21 a.m). One more try. I stayed last night at Romance, and this afternoon my plan is to head to and hunt Copper Creek. It is another beautiful morning and a little bit cooler. Virtually no wind to speak of. I got out early again today with Stubby in tow. I hope that he is able to bring me some luck. I was able to run a scent line from the end of the field to the west, all the way to the stand and beyond. I actually walked up the hill past the camera (I got my picture taken twice) about a 100 yards) in order to lay a trail back to me. Over the past two days, I saw multiple bucks cross up that direction. I was settled in the stand and ready to go by 5:55 a.m. When I got out of the stand last night, I figured out that I had spent 24 of the past 36 hours in a tree. I hope that I will eventually rewarded for my patience.
At 7:30 a.m., I looked back to the west down the trail I walked in on, and there were 4 does on it about 80 yards away. They ended up crossing through the woods going north towards the corn. When they got to the south edge of the field, they turned left and walked west (away from me) along they edge of the corn. I tried to bleat them back, but they all just kept walking away. That was it for me. Lon ended up sitting on the ground near the base of the field and he saw 4 does and 2 small bucks. Totals: Bob - 4 deer, 4 does. Lon - 6 deer, 2 bucks and 4 doe

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 All day Sit

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 a.m., 34 degrees, mostly sunny, wind NW 2-5 mph, sunrise 6:50 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:20 a.m). Sunset 4:49 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:19 p.n.) Well, we are back at it again. After a good nights rest (I was in bed by 8:45 p.m.), I was up again before my alarm went off at 4:25 a.m. I decided to give Octopussy another try. I was all set up with the scent wicks and with Stubby by 5:50 a.m. Lon was coming it later then me, and was going to set up at the other end of the field (but back up in the woods) from me. Lon said that he was going to go back to the house by 9:00 to meet with Mark the new handy man.
At 8:00 a.m., I did a short rattling sequence with the pack rack. As soon as I set it down, I heard a deer over to the NW. I hadn't realized it, but a doe had snuck in over by the edge of the cornfield. She didn't like the "fight" that had broken out, so she wagged her tail and slowly ate and worked her way up hill to the north.
At 8:20 a.m., I got down an went and double-checked to make sure I had missed that 7 pointer yesterday. In addition, I wanted to walk up the hill and drag a scent line from there back to my direction. I was right, no blood or body, just white belly hair. Right after I got back into my stand, I heard a buck growl again up the hill to the north of me. I growled back, and even tried a snort wheeze, but he wouldn't come down the hill to investigate.
At 10:50 a.m., Stubby got blown over by a gust of wind. I decided to take the opportunity to stand him back up and take a leak. I stood Stubby back up, and went over to the wash out to take a leak. I walked back to the stand and I used my grunt tube to make it sound like I was a buck on the move. I climbed in my stand and two minutes later I looked to the NE and there was a nice shooter buck coming. Unfortunately, he stayed to the east of me and back in the brush. The closest he got was 60 yards away. I think he was a nice 10 pointer. I was looking back into the shadows and staring into the sun, so I am not sure where he went. I am guessing up the hill back to the SE.
At 3:40 p.m., I could here a buck chasing a doe about 150 yards up the hill to the N- NE. I never saw them, but I listened to them for at least 60 minutes. I just prayed the doe would run my way.
At 4:45 p.m., I looked over my left shoulder and there was a big thick 10 pointer crossing the trail I came in on. He was 10 yards from Lon's pop up blind. He looked at my decoy and i grunted to him. He wanted nothing to do with it. He took off along the edge of the corn field going to the N-NE. The closest he got was 50-60 yards. He stopped on the hill after I grunted again to him (I had placed scent on the ground up there too. He wanted nothing to do with it. He kept going up the hill so I tried to snort wheeze and he just kept going.
Right as I was about to get down, I looked over my shoulder to the east and there was a small doe walking my way. She walked within 5 yards of the pop up blind. I got down and she left Totals: Bob - 4 deer, 2 bucks (both shooters) and 1 doe, Lon -

Monday, November 9, 2009 All day Sit

Monday, November 9, 2009 a.m., 54 degrees, mostly sunny, wind NW 2-5 mph, sunrise 6:49 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:19 a.m). Sunset 4:46 a.m. (Hunting closes 5:16 p.m.) Well yesterday was a long day, and it was a short night. I drove back yesterday to Minnesota for a couple of reasons. First, I needed an afternoon off from hunting. And secondly, I had to play in my hockey game last night. Fortunately, we won and I actually scored the first goal of our 4-1 victory. After the game, I drove home, grabbed a quick shower, and drove back down to my parents Romance farm in Wisconsin. I got in this morning at 12:30 a.m. After four hours of sleep, I was up, recharged, and ready to go. I decided to go Octopussy. It is the new portable stand on the back of my parents no till field. I am sure that we will end up putting in a permanent stand as it is a perfect location 15 yards off the road where we have been seeing all of the scrapes. It is also on the trail that all of the bucks have been using. I knew that I was going to be putting down a scent line, so I wanted to get out early. I parked the ATV at the end of the field and got off at 5:25 a.m. . After I did, I could here deer scattering from all directions. I quickly put some scent on a drag rag and filled up my two scent container wicks. On the way in, I was kicking up deer everywhere. They never blew any warning calls, but they just ran further up the hill. I pray that they come back and decided to check things out once it gets light.
At 8:00 a.m., I could hear a deer coming off the hill behind me to the SE. I finally was able to see him as he was working his way down the hill. It was a decent 8 pointer right at the ears. When he came off the hill, he stayed in the brush about 75-100 yards east of me. He came all the way down into the valley and down to the logging road that I was sitting on. Unfortunately, instead of turn left and coming west, he went right and went east. By so doing, he never picked up any of the scent trail I had put down on my way in this morning. The story of my season. Oh well, at least it was fun to see a deer and better yet a buck. I hope that more deer will be on the move today.
At 8:20 a.m., I used my Rattle pack. At 8:25 a.m., here came the buck. He came right down the trail, when he stepped behind the tree trunk, I drew. Of course, he stopped just short of my shooting lane. I had to hold my draw until he finally stepped out. And, you guessed it, I missed again. Actually, this time it was a "close shave". I took hair off his belly. A 15 yard shot. No excuses, I just plain missed. Unbelievable. I don't know what is wrong with me. I can't believe that I am missing these easy shots. I will have to look at the video, but I am fairly sure he was a tall 7 pointer. The "deer gods" must be trying to tell me that there are bigger ones out there to be shot. I must say, my confidence is at an all time low. Take a look at the attached picture. That is me preparing to take the shot up in the tree in the background. I will post the video later.
At 11:00 a.m., I heard some loud noises up on the hill to the north of me. I was finally able to make out the body and rack of a mature buck. He was significantly bigger then the one I missed this morning. Unfortunately, he came down to the trail and went east as well. I tried everything to bring him back. Doe bleat, buck grunt, snort wheeze, and some light rattling. Nothing.
At 11:45 a.m., I herd some chasing and something I had never herd before. It was a buck growling. Absolutely amazing. I watch a giant 150" + deer chasing and try and tend this doe. It was incredible. I am so glad that I missed that buck this morning as this was unbelievable and I would not have been in the stand to see it. I watch the two of them for an hour and a half. Again unfortunately, they were both uphill and down wind of me. The doe was on high alert and she was 100 yards away and in the heavy cover. At 1:30 p.m., I am not sure what exactly happened, but the big boy took off up hill. I think he was still trying to tend that doe. I could hear him running, grunting, roaring, and chasing up the hill from me. I just sat and prayed that he would come my way. He never did.
At 2:45 p.m., I could hear one walking behind me coming from the east and heading west. He was a big 8-9 pointer. He walked right down the old logging road about 75 yards away up on the hill side. A beautiful buck. Bigger the the one I shaved this morning. I tried everything to try and get him to come down my way. Grunting, bleating, rattling, growling, but he just kept on his way along and up the side of the hill towards the SW. I never saw him again.
At 4:45 p.m., I had 5 does come down from the NE to about 10 yards. They all came through my shoot lane at 10 yards. Several of them stopped to smell the scent wicks I had put out. They all ended up taking off to the NW towards the portable stand I had previously been hunting in (last week).
Totals: Bob - 12 deer, 5 bucks (4 were different for sure and all shooters)

Sunday, November 8, 2009 a.m.

Sunday, November 8, 2009 a.m., 34 degrees, mostly sunny, wind E-SE 0-2 mph, sunrise 6:47 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:17 a.m). Things cooled off overnight, but they are predicting another unseasonable warm fall day. Lon decided to try the wood ladder stand behind the two barns. I went to Rock Out. I left my car in the valley on the north side of the bridge and walked over from there. I was all settled in with Stubby by 5:45 a.m. At 6:40 a.m., I heard a deer blow a warning call down in the valley to the NE of me. I am not sure how it could have smelled me. At 7:40 a.m., I heard what I am assuming was a buck chasing a doe on the hill side to the E-SE of me. That was it. Where are all the deer?? Totals: Bob - 0 deer, Lon - 0.

More Old Videos from this year

These are two videos that I took from "Right Field. Both bucks are 8 pointers and are great looking young deer. I was able to finally transfer the video over to the computer. I can't wait until next year when I will have a better quality camera that will be computer compatible!



This first buck is wider than the next buck but he is still only a year and a half old deer. This video is from October 27th, 2009.

This buck is not as wide as the last buck but he is taller. He is also a year and a half old deer. This video was taken the next day from the same stand. (October 28th, 2009)

They will be awesome deer next year and if they make it two years they are going to be spectacular! Hope you enjoy!

I hope Bob has had some good luck in Wisconsin! We are waiting for some updates when he returns to the land of the internet!

Fawnslayer Out!

Remembering the Past: Bob's 9 Pointer from 2000 in Wisconsin

Remembering the Past!

I am pretty sure that Bob shot this 9 pointer in 2000 over at his old place in Wisconsin. It has been on tape ever since and I finally was able to get it put on to the computer. It hangs in his lonely basement right now so I figured somebody can take a look at him through video!

I hope you enjoy and I hope that Bob enjoys this also! Good luck to the rest of you that are out hunting down your trophy deer! Keep us posted on how things are going.

Fawnslayer Out!

More Pictures!

The Shot! Friday November 6th, 2009 PM

I finally had some time to get the video edited so I could post it on here for all of you! The best thing is that I am no longer a bow hunting virgin!

I entered the woods around 3:30 and kicked up a big doe on the way in. I decided to go to the VAT and set up some scents on the way in. I created a path to the south of me toward the rock query. They started at about 5o to 60 yards behind me at the base of the hill on the fence line. I used doe and buck urine on cotton balls and led them on the path to the food plot every 15 to 20 yards.

I was settled in shortly after. At about 4:05 I had a small doe come down the ridge to my right (East) and walked toward the "Dump" stand. Then at about 4:30 exactly I heard some breaking branches behind me. I looked and there he was! I quickly noticed that he had 10 points and I was excited! He was sniffing the first scent balls that I put out. (This is where the video begins) He then walks directly to the next scent balls. (This is the second part of the video) After smelling around he decides to walk back away from me and into the woods. I was pissed about this thinking I wasn't going to get a shot at him. But much to my surprise he turned and walked directly at the fourth scent balls. (This is where the video cuts to again) So he skipped the third set of scent balls and went into the fourth where he turns perfectly broad side for me. I was hesitant to take the shot right away because there were some twigs between him and I. I decided though that I had enough of a lane and took the shot. I hit him perfect! Took out his lungs and he only ran about 60 yards to the other side of the food plot where he tumbled behind some brush and took his last breath!

I only gave him about 45 minutes and I got down to go get him. This is a great buck for my first ever! I want to thank Bob for letting me hunt on his land and I also want to thank my wife for dealing with me being gone a lot! The ladies that have to deal with all of us hunters are some good women!

Thanks and I hope you enjoy the video and the pictures.

Saturday, November 7, 2009 p.m.

Saturday, November 7 2009 p.m., 65 degrees, mostly sunny, wind W-SW 15-20 mph, sunset 4:49 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:19 p.m). After spending more then 2 hours looking for Lon's buck, elected to call off the search. We were able to pick up the trail from where we left off last night. We tracked it over 400 yards last night, and probably 200 more today. It just kept circling and back-tracking on us. It did lied down 4 times and found a good amount of blood, but no deer. I had to have walked 3-4 miles (much of it up/across) the hills looking for blood and a body. Unfortunately, no luck. I hope he will make it 2 more weeks to gun season. This afternoon, it was more of the same. I decided to go back to Black Diamond. We still don't have the Ranger, so my options are limited. I was settled in for the evening sit by 2:20 p.m. Beautiful night. Really too warm for hunting. The night cooled off nicely and the wind died down. Unfortunately, the deer did not respond as there is nothing to report. Totals: Bob - 0 deer.

Saturday, November 7, 2009 a.m.

Saturday, November 7, 2009 a.m., 54 degrees, mostly sunny, wind W 10-15 mph, sunrise 6:46 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:16 a.m). Lon decided he better sleep in, with the idea that his buck is already down. Heidi is under the weather and sounded awful this morning, so she elected to sleep in as well. The wind was out of the west, so with no Ranger I decided it would be perfect for another sit at Black Diamond. I wanted to get in especially early because it was so clear and a 3/4 moon. I was settled in the stand by 5:40 a.m. At 6:40 a.m., I had a nubbin buck come through from the north. He ended up behind (down wind) of me. Fortunately, the hill is pretty steep and my scent must have blown over his head. He was eating everything that he could find that was green. At one point in time he was almost directly under my stand. It was definitely a different nubbin then yesterday afternoon, as he didn't have the skin graft missing from his left front leg. He stuck around for about 10 minutes and then slowly fed off to the south. He was not the big boy I was hoping to see, but he was entertaining none the less. That was it. Totals: Bob - 1 deer, 1 nubbin buck

Friday. November 6, 2009 p.m.

Friday, November 6 2009 p.m., 60 degrees, partly sunny, wind S-SW 15-20 mph, sunset 4:50 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:20 p.m). With the Ranger being broken, and no wheels, Heidi and I had to stay close. We decided to go back to the same stands as this morning, but we would have to park on the road and walk in. I went to Black Diamond an Heidi went to the twin towers. At 3:50 p.m., I had a nubbin buck come through the woods from the north. He was going south and was 10 yards west of the stand. He the slowing fed out into the corn, and then took off towards Heidi. I took some video, because he was missing a big piece of flesh from his left front leg. Looks like he needs a skin graft. I am guessing an encounter with a car. At 4:30, Taylor texted me and said that he had just shot a giant 10 pointer. He was in the VAT and it followed a scent trail that he had put down right to him. He shot him at 25 yards and he fell within sight. Congratulation buddy. I guess he got some video that we can post later. At 4:40 p.m., Lon pulled up along the Hwy 171 and was honking his horn. He shot one too. He was at the wood ladder stand and the buck was 20 yards to the east of him. We followed a pretty good blood trail for 400 yards or more, until the buck bedded down. We had trouble picking up the blood trail, so we called off the search and will go after him in the morning. During all of this, Heidi saw 3 does from the Twin Towers. They were 40 yards to the east of her going south. Totals: Bob - 1 deer, 1 nubbin buck, Lon - 1 deer, 1 buck, Heidi - 3 deer, 3 does.

Friday, November 6, 2009 a.m.

Friday, November 6, 2009 a.m., 45 degrees, mostly sunny, wind W-NW 10-15 mph, sunrise 6:45 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:15 a.m). Well, I had to change things up a bit. This morning Heidi went to the Twin Towers, I was in Black Diamond, and Lon went to his gun fort. We were all settled in by 5:50 a.m. Lon called me from the house at 7:30 a.m. He said that while he was heading across on plateau road the Ranger died. He had just walked back to the house. He had to go up and get the pickup and trailer so we can load it up and take it in to get fixed. The shit continues. At 8:15 a.m., I heard something to the NW. I looked and a nice buck was working his way south. I got ready and on one knee. He stayed back in the brush. I was at full draw, but had forgot to turn on the camera. After holding my draw for a minute, I was shaking too bad. I was able to let down and press record. The wind started to swirl and he quickly stepped into my shooting lane. See attached video. I thought I had settled my pin, but I felt like I had to rush my shot because he was going to take off. I shot low. A clean miss. Shoot. The bad luck continues. After stepping it off and reviewing the tape there may have been a couple of problems. First, the shot was 28-30 yards. I guessed it at 24 yards. Secondly, I am pretty sure that I hit a corn stalk. There was one on the screen between me and the buck kind of covering the vitals. I think it may have deflected my arrow. Right after I shot, Heidi heard one in the corn to the north of her. It was probably the buck I shot at. At 9:05 a.m., Heidi had a single doe walk down the trail towards her turn to the left and went across the shooting lane to the right (south) of her. Lon sat in the corn crib lean up and saw a doe and fawn at 6:30 a.m. Totals: Bob - 1 deer, 1 buck, Heidi - 2 deer, 1 buck and 1 doe, Lon - 2 deer, 2 does/fawns.

Thursday, November 5, 2009 p.m.

Thursday, November 5, 2009 p.m., 52 degrees, mostly sunny, wind S-SW 0-2 mph, sunset 4:51 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:21 p.m). This morning was uneventful again. Nevertheless, Lon and I were able to hung a old portable in a new place up at Romance. It is the perfect place along the old logging road were we have gotten several of the big boys on camera. I will be hunting there sometime over the next few days. After helping Lon and Sue rip out a beaver dam (I have those rodents) up at Romance, I drove down to Copper for the afternoon hunt. With almost no wind, I decided to go back to Rock Out. I was all settled in by 2:30 p.m. The last 4 trips to the stand and over 10 hours in a tree, I have yet to see a deer. This sucks. I am about to shoot a fricken squirrel. Totals: 0 deer, 0 bucks.

Thursday, November 5, 2009 a.m.

Thursday, November 5, 2009 a.m., 29 degrees, mostly sunny, wind NW 2-5 mph, sunrise 6:44 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:14 a.m). My season of mishaps continues. I got up this morning with the intention of sitting in Lon's pop up ground blind. I got to the blind about 15 to 20 minutes before shooting light. I climbed in and opened up all the blinds. The problem was there simply was not enough room to sit and draw a bow. The stand will work with Lon's crossbow, but the blind is just too small for a guy with a compound bow. After sitting and contemplating my bad decision, I decided to get out and to go where I hunted from last night. Unfortunately by the time I had made my decision, it was already shooting light. I switched to the other stand and nothing. Totals: Bob - 0 deer.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 p.m.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 p.m., 42 degrees, mostly cloudy, wind S-SW 10-15 mph, sunset 4:52 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:22 p.m). After an uneventful hunt this morning in Minnesota, I decided to try my luck down at the farm outside of Romance. On my way out to the stand, I kicked up two does that were already eating in the alfalfa field. I was settled in a new tree stand that Steve hung on the corner of the back field by 3:10 p.m. I am about 125 yards to the west of the big scrape along the logging road. After I get down tonight, I am going to look for a tree to put a stand in over by that scrape. That is where we have gotten the most photos of nice bucks from. That was it. Totals: Bob - O deer

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 a.m.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 a.m., 34 degrees, mostly cloudy, wind NW 2-5 mph, sunrise 6:47 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:17 a.m). I stayed at Heidi's last night, but had to drive down this morning for my final Minnesota hunt before the gun season. I was up by 4:45 a.m., and out the door five minutes later. I decided to give the dump one last try, and was settled in with Stubby down below by 6:05 a.m. That was it. I did see 2 does on the hill on my way up to the house. Totals: Bob - 0 deer

Do you recognize the rodent in the picture? Take a guess. You want a hint. He is from the state next door. You guessed it. It is a Badger! Pretty cool.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 p.m.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 p.m., 46 degrees, mostly cloudy, wind S-SE 15-20 mph, sunset 4:58 p.m. (Hunting closes 5:28 p.m). I got on an earlier flight back from Bismarck, so I was able to get in the stand a bit earlier then I thought. With a south wind, Taylor getting here late, and who knows what will be going on over at Arlie's (north), I decided to try my luck in Right field. On my way down the hill behind the house, I kicked up 4 deer towards the bottom of the hill on the south (right) side of the trail. They ran over the hill behind the sugar shack stand and towards the VAT. When I was walking up the hill to the east towards RF, I kicked up another deer that ran to the east. Lots of action thus far. I was settled in the stand by 2:55 p.m. Taylor texted me to tell me that he was on his way in to the VAT at 3:30 p.m. I guess Taylor kicked up one big doe that ran into the rock quarry on his way in to the stand. At 4:00 p.m., Taylor had a doe come down the hill from the north into the food plot. At 4:15 p.m., i looked to my left and into the corn and briefly saw a doe run through from east to west about 30 yards away. The same time, Taylor was texting me he said that he had deer "flying" all over the place. During this time, he saw a small 6 point buck walk up the trail that he walked down on. At 4:25 p.m., I looked down the hill to the west and I saw a doe running down by the wood pile about 50 yards to the east of the dump stand. There was another deer chasing it with its nose to the ground (I am assuming a buck) and then there was another deer behind it. The last deer was definitely a nice buck. A shooter for sure. Totals: Bob - 4 deer, 2 bucks, 2 does, Taylor - 7 deer, 1 buck, 6 does and fawns.

I got some nice pictures. See attached.

Monday Evening November 2nd, 2009

With the change in time and not getting out of school early enough I got to Bob's a little later than I hoped. I decided to go to Ridgeback and was in the stand and ready at 4pm. It was windy tonight but it was a nice night besides that. Shortly after getting in the stand I saw a fawn walking slowly coming from the ladder stand. She ended up walking behind me at about 35 yards and continued to the south. At about 5pm I saw another doe between the ladder stand and the "Ex" stand. A minute after I saw her I heard two fawns come crashing in at the bottom of the hill. They walked up to me and walked through the shooting lane. One stopped and ate for about ten minutes. That was it!

Totals: Taylor: 4 deer, 1 doe, 3 fawns

Sunday, November 1, 2009 a.m.

Sunday, November 1, 2009 a.m., 37 degrees, partly cloudy, wind S-SE 10-15 mph, sunrise 6:50 a.m. (Hunting opens 6:20 a.m). Now being back in Minnesota, and with Taylor not being able to hunt today. I had to give Right Field a try. I am only going to be able to sit until 8:00 a.m., because of Heidi's niece's baptism. Therefore, I decided to try and get in the stand earlier than usual. On my way in, I kick up a deer to the west over towards the dump stand. I was all settled in by 5:45 a.m. I grunted, rattled, and bleated periodically throughout the morning. Finally, at 7:30 a.m., I looked behind me to the NW and saw 4 does n fawns walking to the west about 40 yards to the north of me. They slowly walked over the hill and down towards Pisa. One stayed up on the edge of the hill. At 7:45 a.m., I had to get down. I tried to scare the fawn away, but she would leave. I got down and walked past her at 10 yards, she never spooked at all. She just watched me walk right past her down the hill. It was really cool. Totals: Bob - 4 deer, 4 does and fawns.