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Summer Velvet Progress Report

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
I know we are all starting to see some deer that we'll be able to keep track of for the rest of the summer, so I figured it might be a good idea to have a place to keep track of sightings and such that might not have pics or vids to go along with them...

We did a little back roading last weekend and the first loop took me behind my parents 10 acres. About 600 yards from their place, I caught a pretty nice buck feeding in one of the hay fields. Definitely a mature buck that was 18"+ wide already with 4" brows and 5" G2's with beams and 3's in process. I wasn't overly impressed with his mass just yet, but that will lack until mid/late July. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for him as it looked like he could be a borderline shooter 8...
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
Saw a pair last night. I have seen plenty on trail cams so far which are growing, but not overly impressive. On the farm i saw these two last night I would call the one "respectable" and the other one "Dynamite!"

Let's just say several inches of brow tines and just the main beams heading straight east and west approximately 6-8" each. This is okay, but we all know antlers grow at different rates and while one my start out awesome and fizzle out, another might start off a little disappointing and explode the last couple months of growth. I think Jesse knows a few deer like this. However, the "Dynamite" buck had the big body and sagging back showing already. I don't know where he will end up, but I would say he is mature, and I will say I think I have a history with him! Let's see what the season brings boys!
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Sitting in a field last night looking for groundhogs I had a deer walk out of the woods about 300 yards away. It saw me and walked towards me until it got about 30 yards then just stood there watching and feeding.. Had the split for his G1, just a 2 year old.
 

RedCloud

Super Moderator
Super Mod
17,381
193
North Central Ohio
Seen one in a hay field the other day that is looking good so far. Out to his ear tips with splits and about as big as a soda can. Will have to try and keep an eye on him and see what he turns into over the next few months.
 

Schu72

Well-Known Member
3,864
113
Streetsboro
I mention him in my trailcam thread, but didn't elaborate much. Sunday at just about noon, I went to pull my SD card and jumped a very nice buck from his bed. I was coming through chest high grass in what at one time had been a large pond. He jumped about 40 yards staight in front of me and ran straignt away from me. I know deer always look larger from behind, but his main beams were already clearly beyond his ears and had good mass. This happened about 80-100 yards from my camera and about 150 yards from where I killed my buck last year.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
Spotted a pair tonight. Due west of my house. Just across the street from where I killed my 2010 buck and 1.5 miles from "Farm West" and 2 miles from "Farm East". Good to see the one deer as he was really tall already. Not terribly wide, but I bet he was 8" tall so far. Should be interesting to see where he ends up.
 

RedCloud

Super Moderator
Super Mod
17,381
193
North Central Ohio
Spotted a pair tonight. Due west of my house. Just across the street from where I killed my 2010 buck and 1.5 miles from "Farm West" and 2 miles from "Farm East". Good to see the one deer as he was really tall already. Not terribly wide, but I bet he was 8" tall so far. Should be interesting to see where he ends up.

Sounds like you have some work to do to try and keep an eye on all of them. Good luck and keep us posted on how they do.
 

hickslawns

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
39,721
248
Ohio
I am feeling pretty fortunate right now Adam. I have seen more bucks lately than does. Seems all I am seeing are bucks and plenty of them. However, with the does birthing or tending to the newborns, this sort of makes sense. Seeing lots of bucks and only three to keep an eye on doesn't mean much either. It isn't where they are now, but where they will end up that I am concerned with. lol
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
I checked cams last night and was severly disappointed. Neither mineral site is being hit and I'm thinking the rain has a lot to do with that. My own Primos 60 shit itself and my one BEC is having trouble. I only have two cams running right now. I'll attempt to get the 60 replaced ASAP. I can fix the BEC and should have all 3 back in action next weekend. I'm going to take my money from the 35's and buy a Cuddeback instead of another 60. That or a Bushnell Trophy Cam. I want to hear more on the new Cuddes before I go that direction again...

With that being said, my visual sightings have been alright. I saw a solid buck across the road from one of my properties on Tuesday night. Seemed like he would be a shooter. I also saw the buck I started the thread about last night and he is still showing promise. I'm concerned with his height, but the width and mass seem solid so far. Still a lot of time to find one. I moved a cam over a small pile of corn last night on the ridge I expect to be my hot spot this fall. With any luck, I'll return in two weeks and have something good on there!
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
I checked cams last night and was severly disappointed. Neither mineral site is being hit and I'm thinking the rain has a lot to do with that. My own Primos 60 shit itself and my one BEC is having trouble. I only have two cams running right now. I'll attempt to get the 60 replaced ASAP. I can fix the BEC and should have all 3 back in action next weekend. I'm going to take my money from the 35's and buy a Cuddeback instead of another 60. That or a Bushnell Trophy Cam. I want to hear more on the new Cuddes before I go that direction again...

With that being said, my visual sightings have been alright. I saw a solid buck across the road from one of my properties on Tuesday night. Seemed like he would be a shooter. I also saw the buck I started the thread about last night and he is still showing promise. I'm concerned with his height, but the width and mass seem solid so far. Still a lot of time to find one. I moved a cam over a small pile of corn last night on the ridge I expect to be my hot spot this fall. With any luck, I'll return in two weeks and have something good on there!

That sucks, dude. Hopefully you can get those cams back in operation soon. If I were you, I'd look pretty hard at the Bushnells... Mine's been in the woods non-stop for about 18 months and I've had absolutely no issues (*knock on wood*).
 

Rutin

Senior Member
2,029
0
Ina Duck Blind
LOVE my bushnells... Have 8 of them and wouldnt trade them for any other camera in the same price range.... new cudde attacks havnt impressed me at all... hate the 4 big bright screws on the front and size.... My little pop can bushnells have been bullet proof so far, except when someone steals them!