Friday, October 31, 2014 am

Friday, October 31, 2014 am. Sunrise 7:49 am. Hunting opens: 7:19 am. Temperature: 28 degrees. Mostly sunny. Wind: N-NE 5-10 mph. I decided to get in a short hunt this morning before work. I was all set U in the VAT by 6:55 am. Heidi hunted here last night and saw a big shooter buck 45 yards to the south of her. It never offered her a decent shot, I am hoping that he works his way back through here this morning in the way to his bed. Nothing to report. Totals: Bob - 0 deer. 

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 pm

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 pm. Sunset: 6:04 pm. Hunting closes: 6:34 pm. Temperature: 42 degrees. Mostly sunny. Wind: S-SW 3-5 mph. Heidi has been traveling since Monday and wanted to spend some time with Charley, so she suggested that I go and hunt. I had a video conference that finished at 4:00 pm, so I was able to get out immediately after it ended. I was in the VAT by 4:15 pm. I decided to put out Stubby the decoy along with some scent and a Tinks 69 burning scent wick. At 5:45 pm, a small 7 pointer came down the trail from the west. He has 4 on his left and 3 on his right with no brow tine. I guess is would be considered legal to shoot. He walked right into the food plot at 15 yards. He didn't like Stubby, as he snorted and ran up the hill towards the house. He could have gotten wind of me as well. At 5:50 pm, I heard some chasing taking place behind me yo the SE, but I could not see what it was. At 6:10 pm, I looked over my left shoulder to th SE and there were about 20 turkeys. They ended up flying up to roost. That was probably all the commotion that I had heard 20 minutes earlier. Attached is a photo of some of them on the roost. Also attached is a photo of the 7 pointer that I saw. Totals: Bob - 1 deer. 1 buck

Monday, October 27, 2014 am

Monday, October 27, 2014 am. Sunrise: 7:40 am. Hunting opens: 7:10 am. Temperature: 44 degrees. Partly cloudy. Wind: E 2-3 mph. After last nights hunt, we drove back to the 009. Good to be home. This is Nate's last hunt. I went down to the point stand. Nate went to the VAT. We were all set up by 6:45 am. At: 7:10 Nate could hear Some deer crashing around behind him bAt 7:45 am, I looked to the SE and there was a small buck in the food plot south of the VAT. He slowly walked towards the sugar shack food plot. When Heidi was leaving to take Charley to day care, she saw a huge 10 pointer on the driveway. It ran down the driveway, crossed 90th Ave and headed north towards Arlie's. At 8:05 am, Nate had a small buck come through at 30 yards. He came from the sugar shack food plot. It was probably the same buck I saw below me in the stump food plot. We sat until 9:30 am as it was pretty quiet after 8:15 am. Totals: Bob - 1 deer. 1 small buck. Nate: 1 deer. 1 buck. 

Sunday, October 26, 2014 pm

Sunday, October 26, 2014. Sunset: 6:05 pm. Hunting closes: 6:35 pm. Temperature: 65 degrees. Mostly cloudy. Had a light rain shower blow through. Wind: W-SW 5-10 mph. Before we went to our evening stands, we set up a portable that had been at the sand trap and moved it to the NW corner of fort field. We set up Nate with Hairy the 1 antlered buck decoy. I went to the gun stand between 2nd and 3rd point. Taylor went to the metal ladder stand off 1st point. We were all settled in after some messing around by 3:15 pm. I did kick up a nice buck to the SW on my way into the stand. At 3:30 pm, Taylor texted and said that he had a for snd fawn come though but they winded him and fled. At 4:40, Taylor texted and said that he had a small basket rack 7 pointer come through below him about 50 yards away. He was heading to the north. That was it. Nate and I never saw or heard a deer. Totals: Bob : 0 deer. Nste - 0 deer. Taylor - 3 deer. 1 buck and 2 does. 

Sunday, October 26, 2014 am

Sunday, October 26, 2014 am. Sunrise: 7:32 am. Hunting opens: 7:02 am. Temperature: 38 degrees. Wind: S 2-4 mph. Mostly sunny. This morning I decided to give the oak tree stand west of fort field a try. Taylor went out to the gun ladder stand on 2nd point. Nate went to the ladder stand on the north side of first point. We were all settled in by 6:40 am. At 7:05 am, Taylor had a nice shooter buck come through to the north of him at 30 yards. He could not get turned fast enough for a shot. At 7:55 am, I had two does come along the ridge going from south to north about 70 yards up the hill from me. At 8:00 am, I had a small one antlered buck come down the road from the north west. He got to 15 yards and spooked for some reason up the hill. I did get some video of him. At 8:10 am, Taylor texted that he had two does hanging around by him. For the next 20 minutes I could hear a buck chasing a doe up to the SW of me. I could never see what it was. At 8:25 am, I heard something behind me to the east. I looked and it was a beautiful shooter buck about 40 yards away. His head was behind a tree so I was able to turn all the way aroun to the right to prepare for the shot. The morning thermals must have switched pushing my scent down yowards him. He ended up blowing and taking off to the north. I am so pissed. That was it. Nate never saw a tail. Totals. Bob: 4 deer. 2 bucks and 2 does. Taylor: 3 deer. 1 buck. Nate: 0 deer. 

Saturday, October 25, 2014 pm

Saturday, October 25, 2014 pm. Sunset: 6:05 pm. Hunting closes: 6:35 pm. Temperature: 66 degrees. Mostly sunny. Wind S-SE 5-10 mph. We decided to change things up a bit and go to Romance. I went to the Badger Hole. Taylor went to Everest. Nate sat in Theron's stand until 4:30 pm then moved down to the creek bottom. We were all in and settled by 2:00 pm. I saw nothing. Taylor saw one small spike at 5:00 pm. Nate saw 2 does as he was getting into the creek stand. Totals: squat. 

Saturday, October 25, 2014 am

Saturday, October 25, 2014. Sunrise: 7:34 am. Hunting opens: 7:04 am. Temperature: 49 degrees. Mostly sunny. Wind: N-NW 3-5 mph. Another beautiful morning. A little warmer than I would want, but comfortable for sitting. Nate went to Rick Out. I went back to the ladder on the north side of 1st point and Taylor went to the ladder on the NW side of the second point. At 7:45 am, I looked down to the NE and saw a really nice buck coming up the hill towards me. He walked through my shooting lane at 15 yards. I am pretty sure he is the same 8 pointer that Taylor passed up yesterday. I did get some pretty good video. He ended up crossing the road and heading off to the south. Fun to see. At 8:45 am, all hell broke loose. I did two long bleats and followed it up with two loud grunts. I looked to the west and I saw a doe running for her life. Behind her was a least one mature buck. It may have been the same buck I passed on this morning. After running around some she came flying down the hill and though my shooting lane from west to east at 10 yards. He was chasing right behind her. It happened so fast that there was no way I could even get my bow drawn. However I did get some video. One word..."exciting."  They ran around by me for a few minutes and then they were gone. At 9:00, I did two loud doe bleats and followed it up with a couple of grunts. At 9:05 am, I heard branches breaking and deer running. A doe and fawn came running in from the east down the hill to the north of me. They both stopped in my shooting lane to the north of me at 10 yards. I thought for sure there was gong to be a buck following them but nothing came out. They just wandered off on there own to the west. At 10:00 am, a saw a big doe trotting along the hillside towards the west. Taylor couldn't find the metal gun stand on 2nd point, so he ended up going to a wood ladder stand out on 2nd point. He saw a doe with a small 7 and then a small 8 pointer following her. Walked by at 5 yards. Never saw him. Nate didn't see anything from rock out. Totals: Bob - 5 deer 1 buck (saw the same 8 pointer twice) and 4 does. Taylor - 3 deer, 2 bucks and 1 doe. Nate - 0 deer. 

Friday, October 24, 2014 am

TFriday, October 24, 2014 am. Sunrise: 7:31 am. Hunting opens: 7:01 am. Temperature: 49 degrees. Mostly cloudy and foggy. Wind: S 3-5 mph. After a short nights sleep, I was up by 4:55 am. We had breakfast and got ready. I dropped off Nate so he could walk into Black Diamond. I then dropped of Taylor at the base of Rock Out and I went out to the ladder stand on the north side of the First Point. I was all set up by 6:45 am. I sat until 11:00 am, but didn't see a tail. Taylor passed up a nice 2 1/2 year old 7 pointer. Nate ended up seeing a buck chaing a doe but it was 10 minutes before shooting light. He also saw 3 more does in the corn field. Totals: Bob- 0 deer. Taylor: 1 deer, 1 buck. Nate: 5 deer, 4 does and 1 buck. 

Thursday, October 23, 2014 pm

Thursday, October 23, 2014 pm. Sunset: 6:10 pm. Hunting closes: 6:40 pm. Temperature: 52 degrees. Mostly cloudy. Wind: S-SE 3-5. It rained most of the day today. I took off work for a solid 5 day hunt. Nate flew in from Oklahoma, and I picked him up around 11:45. Thankfully, all of his gear made it. Since we were short on time, we decided to hunt Romance. Nate grabbed a quick shower and we were off. Nate went to the front lower portable stand above fort curve and I went to Sherpa. It didn't take long. I had just climbed in, pulled up my bow,and was getting set up, when I heard footsteps and a loud grunt to the NE. First I saw the for come out. Then I saw the big 9 pointer. I think he has to be related to Captain Hook. I had not even gotten on my release or nocked an arrow, but was able to do so.  He never came any closer then 40 yards, but he stayed in the brush. He ended up heading back to the NE. At 4:45 pm, I heard more foot steps and another grunt up behind me to the NW. A big fat doe ran down behind me to about 10 yards. Unfortunately, I could not get turned around to see the buck. She walked off to the west towards Nate, and I never did see or hear the buck again. At 5:45 pm, I heard another grunt behind me to the NE. I saw a deer run off to the east. At 5:50 pm, I heard deer running down below me and heard a deer chasing and grunting moving from west to east. I never did see the deer again. That was it for me. Nate had 2 does and a small mutant 3 pointer come through at 10 yards away. He also saw a die skirt the field edge below him. Totals:  Bob 4 deer. 2 bucks and 2 does and maybe more. Nate: 4 deer. 1 buck and 3 does. 

Sunday, October 19, 2014 pm

Sunday, October 19, 2014 pm. Sunset: 6:20 pm. Hunting closes 6:50 pm. Temperature: 68 degrees. Mostly sunny. Winds: S-SE 6-10 mph. It is a little warm, but the rut is near. I just had to get out and see what was going on. I decided to give Spaghetti Junction another try. I was all set up by 4:20 pm. At 5:00 pm, I heard an ATV driving on Arlie's to the north of me. It was two guys riding down along the creek. They didn't stick around too long and they headed back to the north. Complete "Ass Clowns."  Nothing to report. Totals: Bob - 0 deer. 

Saturday, October 18, 2014 am

Saturday, October 18, 2014 am. Sunrise: 7:32 am. Hunting opens: 7:02 am. Temperature: 50 degrees. Mostly cloudy. Wind: N-NE 7-10 mph. This morning I took Stubby my deer decoy down to the VAT for the first sit of the year in that stand. I did lay a scent trail of buck urine from the driveway down to the decoy. I was ready to go by 6:40 am. Adam is hunting this morning too and he decided to try the Ladder stand. Adam saw one small deer about 80 yards to the south of him. All I saw was about 25 turkeys. I watched them feed for over an hour and a half. All of them were within 20 yards. I guess I should get a fall turkey tag. Totals:  Bob - 0 deer. Adam: 1 deer. 

Sunday, October 12, 2014 pm

U Sunday, October 12, 2014 pm. Sunset 6:30 pm. Hunting closes 7:00 pm. Mostly  cloudy. Temperature: 52 degrees. Wind: S-SE 10-12 mph. Heidi was missing Charley, so she agreed to let me go and hunt. I decided to sneak into Spaghetti Junction. Adam went to the dump stand.  I had not cleared any shooting lanes, so I had to get down and trim a few branches. I climbed up into the stand  and I saw some movement to the west of me. It was a small 6 pointer about 40 yards away. He was going north but he ended up turning around and went to the south and the circled to the east about 50 yards out. He never had any idea that I was there. At 6:05 pm. I had a nice 2 1/2 year old 8 pointer come in to the scrape to the SE of me. He came from the south and walked pass at 12 yards. He smelled around the scrape for a minute or two and then walked off to the north. I did get some great video. At 6:40, Adam had a nice shooter buck walk through on the trail 60 yards down the hill going from east to west. He headed over to the VAT food plot. Had he been at the VAT, he may have had a shot opportunity. The wind would have been bad for the VAT. Totals: Bob - 2 deer, 2 bucks. Adam - 1 deer, 1 shooter buck. 

Saturday, October 11, 2014 pm

Saturday, October 11, 2014 pm. Sunset: 6:25 pm. Hunting closes: 6:55 pm. Temperature: 57 degrees. Mostly sunny. Wind: S-SW 3-5 mph. Because of the Badger football game, I was not able to hunt this morning. It also caused me a shorter sit in the stand tonight. I decided to give the "Recliner" stand a try. I was all set up and ready to go by 5:10 pm. Nothing while I was in the stand. I did kick up a deer in the valley floor ask I was walking out. Totals: Bob - 0 deer

Friday, October 10, 2014 pm

Friday, October 10, 2014 pm. Sunset: 6:20 pm. Hunting Closes: 6:50 pm. Temperature: 54 degrees. Mostly sunny. Wind: N-NW 5-10 mph. Tonight, I decided to climb up and sit in the point portable stand on top. It is a long tough climb, so I hope it is going to be worth it. I was all set up and ready to go by 3:30 pm. At 5:30 pm, I heard some leaves rustling to the north of me. I got excited and started to get ready. Unfortunately, it was just a group of turkeys. At 6:10 pm, I had two coyotes come through from east to west about 20 yards to the south of me. I tried to get turned to my right to get a shot, but they sensed something and took off to the west. It was close. At 6:45 pm, they came back through from west to east but stayed in the brush at about 35 yards. I think they are screwing up my hunt. They did. That was it. Totals: Bob - 0 deer. 

Friday, October 10, 2014 am

Friday, October 10, 2014 am. Sunrise: 7:11 am. Hunting opens: 6:41 am. Temperature: 25 degrees. Mostly sunny. Wind: N 3-5 mph. I got down to Romance last night. Mom and Dad agreed to watch Charley while I was hunting. I decided to give Everest a try and was all set up by 6:20 am. I did lay a scent line this morning of stinks buck lure so we will see if anything catches my trail in. At 7:30 am, I looked off to the west and there was a decent 2 1/2 year old 6 pointer in the logging road about 50 yards away. He ended up heading uphill to the NW. He was not a shooter, but still fun to see. Nice potential. Unfortunately, I was not able to get any video. I ended up sitting until 9:45 am.  That was it. Totals: Bob - 1 deer, 1 buck. 

Tuesday, October 7, 2014 pm

Tuesday, October 7, 2014 pm. Sunset: 6:40 pm. Hunting closes: 7:10 pm. Temperature: 58 degrees. Mostly sunny. Wind: W-SW 10-15 mph. I got home a little early, so I just had to get out and hunt. Heidi was going to pick up Charley, so she gave me the nod to go and hunt. I decided to give the dump stand a try, hoping to catch a big boy in the woods before he hits the food plots. I was all set and ready to go by 5:00 pm. At 6:15 pm, I had 6 hens come through from east to west at about 10 yards to the south of me. At 6:35 pm, I looked over my left shoulder and I saw a fawn down by the VAT on the SE edge of the food plot. That was it. Totals: Bob - 1 deer, 1 fawn. 6 hen turkeys. 

Sunday, October 5, 2014 am

Sunday, October 5, 2014 am. Sunrise: 7:11 am. Hunting opens: 6:41 am. Temperature: 35 degrees. Mostly sunny. Wind: N-NW 3-5 mph. I stayed at the Blue House at Copper Creek last night by myself. I didn't get down to Wisconsin until 9:30 pm last night. I was up by 5:30 and ready to go. I decided to give the double ladder stand on the north side of birch point a try. I was all set up by 6:30 am. It was a little later than I wanted to get there, but it feels great to be out. At 7:20, I had a nice 2 1/2 year old doe with twins come through from west to east about 20 yards to the north of me. They hung around for about 15 minutes. At 7:30 am, I heard some leaves rustle and then heard a soft grunt. Then I had a small 3 pointer (his left side was broken off) come through following the same path as the other deer. I did get some video of him. He then headed off to the NE. At 9:10 am, I had a doe and nubbin fawn come through on the same trail, except this time it was from east to west. I got down and headed in around 9:30 am. Totals: 6 deer, 5 does and fawns and 1 buck.