Friday, September 30, 2011 am

Friday, September 30, 2011, Temp 60 degrees, Wind N-NW 5-10 mph, mostly sunny. Sunrise 7:02 am, Hunting opens 6:32 am. The rain has stopped, the wind has died down, and things are starting to dry up. I got up at 5:10 am, made some breakfast got things organized, and was out the door. I was all set up in Everest by 6:20 am. A little later than I had hoped. Totals: Bob - 0 deer

Thursday September 29, 2011 pm

Thursday, September 29, 2011, Temp 58 degrees, Wind N-NW 20-25 mph, mostly cloudy. Light drizzle. Sunset 6:50 pm, Hunting closes 7:20 pm. I just arrive to Romance Farm, WI this afternoon. I had a series of conference calls that lasted until 5:20 pm. I was already packed an dressed and as soon as the calls were over, I was out the door. On my way in, I kicked up 2 does and 4 fawns on the edge of the main corn field. On my way up to Everest, I kicked up 2 more does as I went up the hill to the north of Octopussy. I was all settled in by 5:45 pm. It is going to be kind of a short sit, but based on what I saw on the way in the deer appeared to be up on their feet and moving. Well, the hunt got cut short due to the weather. The weatherman said that it was going to stop raining at 5:30 pm. He was wrong. At 6:30 pm, it absolutely started pouring rain. I decided to cut the sit short, and head out. I stopped by one of the new stand, put in steps, a permanent seat, and a safety rope and called it a night. I finished up after dark. I still need to finish up the same things on a few other stands tomorrow. Totals: Bob - 0 deer.

September 26, 2011 at the 505

He's back!  I just hope that he starts showing up during the daylight!

Romance valley, WI

Romance Valley, WI

More bucks from Romance

Bucks from Romance

Here are some bucks from Romance. It appears as though "Crab Claw" survived from last year. He is back and bigger than ever.

Bucks of Copper Creek

Here are some nice ones. There are at least 3 nice bucks. I think there are two 8 pointers and one 10 pointer with a split on his left G2.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Saturday, September 24, 2011, Temp 45-56 degrees, Wind W, Sunset 6:54 pm, Hunting closes 7:24 pm. After a short nights rest, I was up before my alarm was set to go off at 5:45 am. After a light breakfast, I was out the door by 6:15 am. this morning I was back at the river stand. I was able to sneak in at get situated by 6:35 am. When I got there at first light, I was pleased to see that the bait had been hit overnight. The plan was to sit until 11:00 am, head in for a few hours then head back out around 1:00 pm for the afternoon sit. Today had to be the day, as I planned on driving back to Cannon Falls after the evening hunt. At about 10:30 am, I heard something coming from the west. I then saw a porcupine come through. This was the first one I have seen in the wild. Pretty cool. I sat until 11:10 am, then got down and walked back to the cabin. I kicked up 2 grouse on the way back in. After eating lunch and taking a 25 minute nap, Dick took me back to the stand, re-baited, and checked the camera. I was back in position by 1:30 pm. Nothing. Totals: 0 Bear.

Friday, September 23, 2011 pm

Friday, September 23, 2011, Temp 45-56 degrees, Wind W, Sunset 6:55 pm, Hunting closes 7:25 pm. It has been an exciting week. After skinning and capping my buck on Tuesday morning, I took it up the taxidermist in Lakeville. Then I was off to the airport for a week long meeting in Chicago. The boys were kind enough to cut it up, grind it, vacuum seal at put it in the freezer. I got back from Chicago on Friday morning and I left straight from the airport for bear hunting in Wisconsin. I arrived at Dick's place around 2:30 pm. After a quick shower, I was off to a new stand. This was the original stand that I shot my first bear with a bow back in 1999. I was all settled in by 3:10 pm. At 6:15 pm, I heard something sneaking around behind me. I looked over my left shoulder in anticipation, and it was two does about 25 yards away. Totals: 0 Bear.

September 19th at the 505

With all the excitement of Bob shooting his deer Monday night my dad decided to check our cameras at his place.  Well, the pictures didn't let us down as our big 9 is back after not getting a picture of him for just over a month.  As you could guess he is hardened up and he is not disappointing!  He showed up just after light on the same day that Bob's deer was out! Must have been a great night for movement.  Also we got a nice 2 1/2 year old either 9 or 10 pointer on the 17th.  This deer was in the daylight and would have been a great deer for Mindi!  Here are the pictures.  Hopefully we will be able to get out this weekend as see if we can get a crack at him.  Good luck to all.


Big 9





Big 9





Either a 9 or a 10



September 19, 2011 pm - Wacko "Crows Foot"

Monday, September 19, 2011, Temp 70 degrees temp dropped to 58 degrees at close. Wind NW 3 mph, Sunset 7:04 pm, Hunting closes 7:34 pm. I had an office day with a bunch of conference calls. The last of which finished at 4:40 pm. The Apple tree has been hot with activity, so I decided to try my luck there. I didn't get into my stand until 4:50 pm. Still should be a good sit. I am not really expecting any activity until around 7:00 pm. Taylor came out to sit in the ladder stand. He didn't get in until 6:00 pm. He kicked up a decent sized buck on his way to the stand. It ran up towards the NW. At 6:15 pm, I looked to the south and 100 yards away was a doe and fawn. They stayed out in the field for a few minutes about 30 yards from the stump and then walked back towards the SW. At 6:35 pm, Taylor texted and told me that he had a spike in front of him. He forgot his video camera, so he used his cell phone to take some video. At 6:45, I had a different doe and fawn (nubbin) come in from the south. They both were right under the stand eating walnuts. I have to fly out tomorrow afternoon otherwise I would have taken the bigger doe. It would have been an easy shot. At 7:05 pm., I looked to the SW and 100 yards away was the big 12 pointer with the triple brow tines. At that time, I thought that needed to be in the creek stand or border patrol to have gotten a shot. At the same time, Taylor texted and told me that he had a doe nearby that he could have shot. Crazy enough at 7:15, I saw him over by the road that goes to the big bridge. He must have went past BP and crossed the bridge. He then slowly walked past the Stump blind and started walking up towards the Apple tree. I got some great video. He got to within 25 yards and he took a hard right to the north and into the thick brush. For about 10 minutes as light was fading fast, I could hear him eating apples under the tree. I was not sure if he was going to go to the north or back to the SW. Finally after 10 anxious minutes he stepped out at 14 yards. I drew, looked for my pin (it was tough to see with 2 minutes before the end of shooting time) and I released my arrow. It felt like a perfect shot as the arrow nearly took him off his feet. The arrow was stuck in the ground with the luminock lit up. He crashed off to the east down the hill, I heard him cross the creek and then I heard a loud splash (listen closely to the video and you can hear him crash and die in the creek). I quietly got down, put down a glow stick where the arrow was, grabbed it and headed for the shack. After all the boys arrive, we grabbed our lights, the ATV, the sled, and went out to look. It didn't take long. Ken Pagel found the blood trail and it was pretty quick. He went about 60 yards and died in the creek. We pulled him out, dressed him, took some photos and dragged him back to the shack. That is when the celebration begun. Totals: Bob: 5 deer, 1 Buck dead. Taylor, 2 deer, 1 buck.

BUCKSLAYER STRIKES AGAIN!

Bob Shoots The Big 12

Monday Evening September 19th, 2011

Bob was hunting the apple tree when he had the big 12 approach him.  He did not let us down as he put an arrow through him and heard him crash not far away in the creek bottom.  Here are a couple of pictures. There will be plenty more to come, so please stay tuned!  Congrats again Bob on a great MN whitetail!

Saturday September 17th PM

8 Pointer Video

We decided to hunt at Bob's this evening as Bob was still bear hunting.  I sent Mindi to the ladder stand and I went to Right Field.  Mindi had one doe come through but she stayed out of shooting distance. I had a nice little 8 pointer come up behind me and I got great video of him.  He is pretty thick but not very tall.  I call him the palmated buck because he is a little thicker, almost like he could end up being palmated in his future.  That was it for me.

Totals: Mindi 1 doe: Taylor 1 buck

Saturday September 17th AM

Mindi and I went to my parents house for opener morning.  I put Mindi in the Watchtower stand and I went to the Y-not stand.  Mindi saw a skunk and that was it.  I spooked a deer around 7 when I was reaching for my coat.  Then at about 7:45 I saw a small six pointer behind me at about 20 yards. That was it.

Totals: Mindi 0  Taylor 1 buck 1?

Saturday, September 17, 2011 Bear Hunt - WI

Saturday, September 16, 2011, Temp 32-55 degrees, Wind S-SW, Sunset 7:02 pm, Hunting closes 7:32 pm. I am leaving to head back home tonight. There was no sense lounging around the cabin so I headed out. I walked out and was in position by 7:45 am. I sat until 11:45, and came in for lunch and to pack my stuff and I was back in by 1:10. Dick was kind enough to drop me off and her re freshened the bait. Fortunately the bait had not been hit when I was in for lunch. Of note, I heard from Heidi this morning at 7:50, she had a nice big buck under the apple tree stand this morning. She had fallen asleep (long week of work at her national meeting) and heard it eating walnuts under the tree. By the time she woke up and realized what was going on it was too late. Too bad for her. Still exciting. I can't wait to see the trail camera photos. At 2:30 pm, I had a big doe sneak in behind me. She was in the brush about 15 yards to the N. I hope tomorrow I will see some deer tomorrow. Nothing the rest of the night. Totals: 0 Bear.

Friday, September 16, 2011 Bear Hunt - WI

Friday, September 16, 2011, Temp 35-49 degrees, Wind N-NE, Sunset 7:03 pm, Hunting closes 7:33 pm. Today I thought there was no sense lounging around the cabin. I figured u can't shoot a bear unless you are in the woods. After a light breakfast with some coffee, I thought that I would do my best "Haag" imitation and try sneaking into the stand early. I was all settled in by 9:00 am. Unfortunately, the bait had not been hit since Haag's encounter yesterday morning. I only intended on staying till noon n then heading in for lunch and then come back out in the afternoon. As I was sitting there, I figured that I might as well stay all day. I texted Eric and asked him to bring me some lunch and to freshen up the bait sometime in the early afternoon. Eric delivered a pork chop sandwich, an apple, granola bar, venison stick, and a bottled water at 2:45. We talked briefly, I stretched my legs, he freshened the bait and I settled back in. At 3:45, I heard something move behind me. I was excited. I turned slowly and saw 2 does about 40 yards away in the brush. They ended up getting wind of me, snorted and took off. Oh well. Still entertaining. Only thing to report. 10 1/2 hours in a stand and one sore butt. I guess it will be good training for the rut. Of note a rifle hunter named Russ from Michigan shot a big sow on another piece of property about 15 miles away towards Phillips. It was about 260-280 lbs. 3 of 5 hunters have now tagged out. Totals: 0 bear.

Thursday, September 15, 2011 Bear Hunt - WI

Thursday, September 15, 2011, Temp 43 degrees, Wind N-NE, Sunset 7:04 pm, Hunting closes 7:34 pm. It was an exciting day at Bear camp. I had to do some work in the morning, but Haag decided to head to his stand. He left camp about 10:15 am and walked out very quietly. As he got near his stand, he thought he heard something take off. He check the bait and it had been hit. He quickly got in his stand, set up his camera, and nocked an arrow. About 5 minutes later a 130 lb boar came into the bait. He thought it was a smaller bear, but he told himself if it offered a good shot he was going to take it. It was really nervous and was facing away from him and constantly kept looking over his left shoulder. He then quickly ran off to the north offering no shot opportunity. After an anxious 10-15 minutes, it returned. He offered him a perfect 15 yard broadside shot at he took it. He hit him a little high, but probably got a lung as well. The bear flopped over on his back and wrestled around in the bait. Eric quickly nocked another arrow and hit him again. This time it was quartering towards him and it went through the entrails. The bear then dragged himself off the bait and back into the brush. After a few nervous minutes he hear the "death moan.". He got down, checked to make sure he was dead and then walked back to the cabin. He bust through the door with his hands in the air and a huge smile. It was 11:05 am. Dick and I got the ATV's and camera and help him dress it and drag it out. The bear later dressed at 138 lbs. Congrats. I hunted Erics stand that afternoon from 2:45 pm till close and never saw a bear. When Eric came into get me on the ATV, I am pretty sure that I heard one talk of that was to the SE of me. One other hunter in camp who was a woman from Prairie du Chein shot a 200 lb boar with a 7mm .08 rifle. Totals: 0 bear.

September 14, 2011 Bear hunt in Wisconsin

Wednesday, September 14, 2011, Temp 50 degrees, Wind N-NE, Sunset 7:05 pm, Hunting closes 7:35 pm. Eric Haag and I drove up today and met at Dick Heitkemper's cabin on the north side of the south fork of the Flambeau river. It is in Price County Wisconsin about 15 miles NW of Phillips. We both arrived at camp about 1:45 pm. After shooting our bows, we took our stands about 2:45 pm. I was hunting about 200 yards North of the road into his cabin about 1/3 of a mile east. Haag was hunting NW of Dick's cabin about 1/2 mile in. Right at close, I had about a 200 lb bear come in from the SE. He stayed on the trail and never came into the bait. It was going to be too dark to have shot anyways. No video either. There are 5 other hunters who are here and I was the only person to have seen a bear. Totals: 1 Bear, 0 shot.

The Newest Hunter to the Group

So, my wife Mindi decided that she wanted to give this hunting thing a try. So we went out and had to buy a pink limbed bow, pink mayem arrows with pink luminocks. We have been practicing and she is doing great! She is just as excited to get started as I am. Good luck to her and all the other bow hunters out there for this fall!

Here is her first set ever! Not too bad!

So, now with Bob and Heidi, and Mindi and myself, I think it is about that time to start a hunting show, kind of like Lee and Tiffany!

Anyways, good luck to all again,

Pagel Out and can't wait for Saturday morning!

September 12, 2011

Two new Shooters. Both 10 pointers here in Minnesota. Very happy to have these guys appear on camera. Only 5 days to go. Good luck this fall. Buckslayer

12 pointer has hardened up

Here is the nice 12 pointer with the 3 splits on his brow tines. He is all hardened up. He is the only shooter that I have targeted for the year. Only 8 days till opener!

I will be bear hunting in Wisconsin starting on Wednesday of next week (September 14, 2011). Hopefully, if "blackie" cooperates, I will be back by Saturday. I will be shooting my Matthews bow and I hope to get some video that I will be able to post. I have the camera mounted to the tree and the bait is set up 13 1/2 yards away. More to come.

Buckslayer