Wednesday, September 26, 2012 pm

Wednesday, September 26, 2012. Sunset: 7:06 pm, Closes: 7:36 pm, Temp: 66 degrees, mostly sunny, Wind: N-NW 3-5 mph.  I was down in the stump food plot today preparing the area that had not gotten planted this Spring because of the floods. I was able to get it all turned over, so it should be good next Spring. Because I was down there with the tractor, I decided to give the VAT a try.  I was in position by 5:00 pm. I had not been sitting for more than 5 minutes, when the same nubbin we have been seeing came running towards me from the SW. He must have been bedded down by the tree that the old VAT was in. I am guessing he watched me climb into the stand and get set up, then it was time for him to take off. He ran to 20 yards to the south of me and just stood there. Then over the next 10 minutes he slowly crossed the creek and disappeared to the south. He was not really spooked at all. Pretty fun to see.  At 7:10 pm, I saw the small 3 point mutant buck. He came in from the west and stayed to the south of the old VAT tree. At 7:15 pm, the small nubbin buck came back. He entered the food plot to the west of me and stayed and ate clover, oats, turnips and brassica till dark. Brave little guy.  I will say he is one fat nubbin.  He will be really nice if he can make it to next year or the year after.  Good genetics and a great appetite.  Totals: Bob: 3 deer, 1 buck

Monday, September 24, 2012 pm

Monday, September 24, 2012. Sunset: 7:09 pm, Closes: 7:39 pm, Temp: 69 degrees, mostly sunny, Wind: W-NW 10-15 mph. I helped Luke cut up his deer for an hour and a half and then Joe Nobach showed up. I figured they could finish up the work and I could go hunting. I was getting in late and the Packers are playing on Monday Night Football so I decided to hunt close. The logical spot was the ladder. I was in position by 5:20 pm.  Nothing going on tonight. Totals: Bob - 0 deer.

Sunday, September 23, 2012 pm

Sunday, September 23, 2012. Sunset: 7:10 pm, Closes: 7:40 pm, Temp: 58 degrees, mostly sunny, Wind: N-NW 5-10 mph. Heidi's driving back from Mankato, so I am hunting solo tonight.  I have been changing things up this year and hunting a lot of different stands, so I decided to give the Apple tree a try. I was all settled in at the stand by 5:00 pm. At 6:00 pm, Luke texted me that he just shot a nice doe at 5 yards. She ran about 20 yards and fell over dead in sight. Congats man. He is going to be bringing her over after dark to the Rack Shack for processing.  At 7:20 pm, I was glassing the far food plot and I saw the small 6 pointer heading across it to the NE. I tried rattling, but he just kept on going. Totals: Bob - 1 deer, 1 buck.

Sunday, September 23, 2012 am

Sunday, September 23, 2012. Sunrise: 7:01 am, Opener: 6:31 am, Temp: 31 degrees, Mostly Sunny, Wind: N-NW 0-2 mph. I overslept this morning, but was still able to climb in the point stand by 6:15 am. Nothing to report. Totals: Bob - 0 deer. 

Saturday, September 22, 2012 pm

Saturday, September 22, 2012. Sunset: 7:11 pm, Closes: 7:41 pm, Temp: 58 degrees, partly cloudy, Wind: N-NW 10-15 mph. Heidi is out tonight and she decided to try her luck at the Apple Tree. I went to Fish bowl. We were all set up by 5:15 pm. At 7:25 pm, I had 2 does come off the hill from the NW. Unfortunately, they stayed on the other side of Arlie's fence and never presented a clear shot. That was it. Totals: Bob - 2 deer, 2 does. Heidi- 0 deer

New - Decent 10 pointer at 009

Here are some pictures of a new 10 pointer that has moved into the area.  He has a split on his right G2.  He really needs another year, but he is going to be tough to pass up if he walked by during shooting hours.  What do you think?  Is he a shooter?

Friday, Spetember 21, 2012 pm

Friday, September 211, 2012. Sunset: 7:13 pm, Closes: 7:43 pm, Temp: 58 degrees, partly cloudy, Wind: N-NW 10-15 mph.  Jerry was over today with his skid loader putting in a used culvert at the north end of the "stump" food plot. I am pleased that he was able to find one and put it in for me this fall. The new drainage ditch should hopefully help prevent the erosion like we had this spring. He was also able to get some of the old grass and weeds scraped off, so it should make the spring planting easier. With the same wind that we have had all season, and with Jerry making noise over in the main valley, I decided to try my luck at the VAT.  If a nice doe presents a shot, I am going to plan on taking her. I was walking in and I stopped to take the memory card out of the camera, I heard something behind the fallen oak tree where the VAT used to be. Then I saw him. It was a nice mature Tom with a 10" beard. (See picture) He was only 20 yards away but in the brush. He ended up crossing the creek and walking up the hill to the SE towards the old dump. At 6:00 pm, Heidi's buddy the nubbin buck came charging in from the east. He stopped and got a drink from the stream, and the walked in and started eating. He sure likes the oats and the fall foliage. He fed right out in front of the camera and got his picture taken. After that, he slowly worked his way into the bean field. He stood out the and ate for 45 minutes to an hour before he finally left to the west.  That was it for me for the night. Totals: Bob- 1 deer, 1 nubbin buck.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 pm

Wednesday, September 19, 2012. Sunset: 7:19 pm, Closes: 7:49 pm, Temp: 63 degrees, partly cloudy, Wind: N-NW 18-22 mph. Today marks the one year anniversary of shooting "Turkey Foot" from the Apple Tree stand. I really wanted to return there and celebrate, but I just couldn't maker myself do it with a north wind. Therefore, I decided that my next best option would be Right Field. I was sent and ready to go by 5:05 pm. Heidi didn't get home from work until later, so she decided to head back down to the VAT. Heidi was able to make it to her stand by 5:30 pm. At 6:55 pm, Heidi texted that she had a 6 pointer in the food plot. He ended up on the hillside to the north of her up wind. At 7:15, Heidi's friend the small fawn was back in the food plot. At one point, it fed directly underneath the stand. Totals: Bob - 0 deer.  Heidi - 2 deer, 1 Buck and 1 fawn.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012. Sunset: 7:20 pm, Closes: 7:50 pm, Temp: 60 degrees, partly cloudy, Wind: N-NW 5-10 mph. After much debate, I decided to give the Ridgeback stand a shot. I was all set up and in position by 5:10 pm. I don't think that this is one of the better stands on the property, but it is easy and quiet to get into, and it works pretty well with this wind. Heidi decided to head back to the VAT. Heidi had not been in more then 15 minutes and she had a fawn in front of her in the food plot. It offered her a shot, but she decided to pass since it was too small. Good choice.  At 5:35, Heidi texted that there was a buck behind her to the east. She couldn't tell how big he was. He ended up going towards the NE over by the Sugar Shack food plot. Still nice action for her. At 6:20 pm, Heidi had a couple of does and a fawn in the food plot. They must have seen or smelled her, because they took off. At 7:15 pm, I had 2 does come down main street going from west to east. As I was getting ready to grab my bow, she must have seen me. She blew a warning call and took off back towards the SW. Damn. I wanted to take her as the lead doe was really nice and fat. Totals: Bob- 2 deer, 2 does.  Heidi- 5 deer, 4 does and fawn, and 1 buck.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012 am

Tuesday, September 18, 2012 am. Sunrise: 6:56 am, Opener: 6:26 am, Temp: 37 degrees, Mostly Sunny, Wind: N-NW 5-10 mph. What a beautiful morning. Light winds but cool. Almost had a frost last night. I was up and out the door by 5:45 am. I was all settled in at the point by 6:00 am. It didn't take long. At 6;25 am, a small buck came up from the food plot on the trail to the NE of me. I was hoping that he would continue up the hill to the west, but instead he turned on the trail and went south. He walked through all 4 shooting lanes at between 15 to 18 yards. Unfortunately, it was still to dark to get any video.  We he got downwind of me he just froze. He stood there for a few minutes and then turned around and went back to the north. When he got to the east of me, he must have got a good whiff or seen something he didn't like because he took off like a cannon to the NE. When he got to the other side of the food plot, he blew a warning call and took off. You just can't fool their noses. They are smart bastards. Still, it was fun to see and nice to get some action. At 7:45 am, a nice little 7 pointer came up the trail from the NE. He walked right through all 5 shooting lanes from 8-12 yards. He was on me so fast that I couldn't get my bow off the hook and camera on him until he passed by. I did get some video of him, but it could have been better. Totals: 2 deer, 2 bucks.

Monday, September 17, 2012 pm

Monday, September 17, 2012. Sunset: 7:22 pm, Closes: 7:52 pm, Temp: 60 degrees, partly cloudy, Wind: N-NW 5-10 mph. Little showed up at 3:30 and we cut up his deer until 5:00 pm and I needed to leave to go hunting. Kenny had just showed up and they can finish it. Heidi n I grabbed a quick shower and she was off to the VAT and I went to the point. She kicked up a deer on her way into the stand. I decided to head into the stand through the wood behind the shed to avoid spooking any deer that were in the main food plot. About when I was passing the ridge stand I looked down the hill and saw a deer moving down by the original gun stand. It was a doe and she was slowly feeding down towards the SE. I didn't want to spook her, so I just waited and watched her through the binoculars. I heard some noise, and then saw about 25-30 hen turkeys moving from the south going north right by the point stand. Right after that, at 5:45 pm, 3 small bucks, spike, 3 point, and a 4-6 pointer walked past the point stand. I guess I was a little too late getting into my stand tonight.  Oh well. I did shoot some quick video from the ground through the trees about 60-70 yards away.  After they left to the north, I snuck down to the stand. I was in and all set up by 5:50 pm, because of the delay. At 6:55 pm, Heidi texted me that there was a doe in the food plot. It was too far away. At 7:00 pm, she texted and said that a small 5 point buck came from the south behind the old VAT and came into the food plot. It was a little far (35+ yards) and too small (not legal either). Still exciting to see your first buck of the year.  At 7:30 pm, Heidi texted me that the buck n doe were back in the food plot. Totals: Bob- 0 deer in stand but 3 bucks, a doe and 25-30 turkeys. Heidi- 2 deer. 1 buck and 1 doe

Sunday, September 16, 2012 pm

Sunday, September 16, 2012. Sunset: 7:23 pm, Closes: 7:53 pm, Temp: 78 degrees, Mostly Sunny, Wind: S-SW 5-10 mph. I finally got my hunting partner out tonight. Heidi's been entertaining her friend Pam for the weekend and got out here this afternoon after dropping her off at the airport. After grabbing a quick shower we were off to our stands. I have been saving the Apple Tree for Heidi to hunt. I went up to Right Field. I was in position by 5:45 pm. At 5:55 pm,I had just cut a branch and I was marking yardages with my range finder when I heard something moving in the corn. I caught a glimpse of a deer about 35 yards in moving east to west. They finally exited the corn about 40 yards to the SW of me, and headed off down towards the VAT. At 6:00, Heidi texted me that she had seen a deer in the main food plot and it was heading my way. She wasn't sure if it was a buck or a doe as it was too far away. Little texted me at 7:05 pm, and said that he was bringing over the first deer of the year. He shot a nice doe. The first of his archery career. 10 yards - double lung, she ran about 100 yards and piled up.  See photos attached.  Congrats. That was it. Totals: Bob- 2 deer, 1 doe and fawn. Heidi- 1 deer.

Sunday, September 16, 2012 am

September 16, 2012. Sunrise: 6:47 am, Opener: 6:17 am, Temp: 62 degrees, Mostly Sunny, Wind: S-SW 5-10 mph. Another beautiful morning. Thankfully it was uneventful until I left the house. The alarm worked and I was up at 4:55 am. After a great breakfast, I was out the door and in the ladder stand by 6:00 am. Fortunately; to my knowledge, I didn't spook any deer on my way to the stand. Nothing to report. Bob: 0 deer

September 15, 20012 pm

September 15, 2012. Sunset: 7:25 pm, Closes: 7:55 pm, Temp: 72 degrees, Mostly Sunny, Wind: S-SW 5-10 mph.  After this mornings hunt, the 009 boys had some more processing work to do from last years deer. We harvested a total of 7 deer last year which produced over 250 lbs of venison and over 500 lbs of pure protein. Today we finished 130 lbs total. 100 lbs of black n blue burger patties and 30 lbs of wild rice brats. Yummy. It only took us about 4 hours from start to finish as all of our meat hand already been ground last winter. I was able to grab a short nap and was in the Jolly Roger by 5:45 pm. Unfortunately, I kicked up a couple of deer that were in the valley as I neared my stand. I still figured this would be my best option with a S-SW wind. Nothing to report. Bob: 0 deer

Opener 9-15-12 am

September 15, 2012. Sunrise: 5:46 am, Opener: 6:16 am, Temp: 62 degrees, Mostly sunny, Wind: W-SW 2-3 mph.  Well it is the Minnesota opener and things got off to a rough start. We were out in the "Rack Shack" a little too late last night. I was planning on getting up at 4:30 am this morning to make breakfast for the 009 guys. I woke up at 5:10 am to Luke's voice in the hallway and Pete Gabriel's "Your Eyes" playing on the alarm clock. Whoops. I was able to make a quick breakfast, pound down a cup of java, and get to the VAT by 6:00 am. At 7:50 am, I was adjusting my binocs strap and I saw a deer moving about 40 yards to the south of me heading west. I am pretty sure it was a small buck. I also bumped a small doe when I was walking out that was in the sugar shack food plot. Totals: 1 deer, 1 ? 

Opening night at the 009

Season is close

Well I haven't written any posts in forever since I moved south. I am excited for my northern friends as their season begins in the morning. It looks as if there are some potential targets on a few farms and I know the crew would be ecstatic if opening day produced a giant. Goodluck to my friends.

More Romance Targets

Here are some other potential targets for 2012.  Enjoy

8 Pointer Romanance- Curved Brow tine

We had some photos of this buck from last year.  Now a 3 1/2 year old.  Great potential for 2013

Couple other nice bucks- Copper

Here are a coupld of other decent bucks.  I love the brow tines on the one buck.

Split G2 - 10 Pointer

Nice 10 pointer with a split G2.  Guessing a 3 1/2 year old buck.  Great potential for 2013.  Maybe be tough to pass him up this fall.

Massive 14+ pointer - 170"+?

Check out this beast.  I think he might be pushing 170"+  I will post some more photos of him.  WOW!!

10 Pointer- Wild brow tine on left

Copper Creek, WI - 10 pointer and Split brow 9 pointer