Fluteman's Hunting Diaries
- Thread starter Fluteman
- Start date
10/30/12, E, 3h, N, 37F,
Pond Stand,
Helped a buddy hang a stand yesterday afternoon and decided to hunt since the rain had let up. Ended up being a really windy night, but on the walk out around 6:30, I noticed a big bodied deer with its head down running the fence line along the cut bean field. It was definitely a buck. He acted like he had lost a doe and was looking for her scent, and the wind was blowing from him to me. I decided to use this in my favor to try and get a better look, as I didn't have my binos with me. I started working in the direction he was headed in an attempt to cut him off, and as I got within 100y of the field edge, I could see him standing there. Keeping a close eye on him, I continued to work closer, until I was around 40y to the field edge. I couldn't move any further ahead, as I would have been exposed out in the open field.
I pulled my bleat can out and rolled it over once, and boy did it get his attention. He turned and was looking my way. I rolled it over again a second time, and saw a second set of ears pop up, he was with a doe. With light fading quickly, I decided to get aggressive and let out a few grunts. It got his attention, but he wasn't coming off that doe. As a last ditch effort, I threw out a snort weeze, but the doe didn't like it, and took off across the field, buck in tow.
I'm not sure how big he was, ashe was a good 70y away and there were trees in the feeling between us. I could tell he was a pretty good buck, and that was about it. Had I known he was with a doe, I probably would have just sat back and washed, but I figured I had to give it a shot. Looking back, I think he was trying to keep the doe between him and the fence line, so she was limited on where she could go. He was letting her eat while he kept a lookout for other bucks.
My buddy ended up seeing 10 does and a spike. He said the spike ran around and harassed several of the does, but they didn't want anything to do with him. He said all those does came out and were feeding in a cut bean field that had also been turned over, which is the same thing I saw from that doe. I may need to rethink my strategy a bit and set up closer to the cut beans.
Pond Stand,
Helped a buddy hang a stand yesterday afternoon and decided to hunt since the rain had let up. Ended up being a really windy night, but on the walk out around 6:30, I noticed a big bodied deer with its head down running the fence line along the cut bean field. It was definitely a buck. He acted like he had lost a doe and was looking for her scent, and the wind was blowing from him to me. I decided to use this in my favor to try and get a better look, as I didn't have my binos with me. I started working in the direction he was headed in an attempt to cut him off, and as I got within 100y of the field edge, I could see him standing there. Keeping a close eye on him, I continued to work closer, until I was around 40y to the field edge. I couldn't move any further ahead, as I would have been exposed out in the open field.
I pulled my bleat can out and rolled it over once, and boy did it get his attention. He turned and was looking my way. I rolled it over again a second time, and saw a second set of ears pop up, he was with a doe. With light fading quickly, I decided to get aggressive and let out a few grunts. It got his attention, but he wasn't coming off that doe. As a last ditch effort, I threw out a snort weeze, but the doe didn't like it, and took off across the field, buck in tow.
I'm not sure how big he was, ashe was a good 70y away and there were trees in the feeling between us. I could tell he was a pretty good buck, and that was about it. Had I known he was with a doe, I probably would have just sat back and washed, but I figured I had to give it a shot. Looking back, I think he was trying to keep the doe between him and the fence line, so she was limited on where she could go. He was letting her eat while he kept a lookout for other bucks.
My buddy ended up seeing 10 does and a spike. He said the spike ran around and harassed several of the does, but they didn't want anything to do with him. He said all those does came out and were feeding in a cut bean field that had also been turned over, which is the same thing I saw from that doe. I may need to rethink my strategy a bit and set up closer to the cut beans.
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rgecko23
*Supporting Member*
I heard something about low and high pressure yesterday. High pressure system hit the corn, low pressure system hit the greens? or Visa Versa. I think how I wrote it i correct. Thats someones personal preference though. Oh wait, it was on Mathews Dominant Bucks last night. They were talking about the rut, and weather. Good stuff if its on their website or soemthing.
10/31/2012, M, 3.5h, S, 37F, Pond Stand
Sat this morning from 7:30 to 11 and didn't see a single deer. It was a beautiful morning to hunt.
10/31/2012, E, 3h, 40F, Shelf Stand
I made a move down the ridge where the Oak Flat Stand is this evening. Last week, I scouted around a bit and found a few scrapes, and noticed a shelf that ran down the ride at about 20ft of elevation change from the top of the hill. I don't know what it was about that shelf, but I could just imagine a big buck running that shelf looking for a hot doe. I got set up this afternoon a little later than I wanted. I hung in a tree 40y from the edge of the ridge where I could see the shelf, and 30y from the field edge. As I was putting my coat on at , I noticed a doe on the shelf watching me dress. She then decided to head on down the hill and work out around me. It was slow again until a little after six, when I had a 110" eight come through grunting and chasing a doe and her two fawns. They ran right underneath my stand and stopped at 20y straight down wind. The buck chased the doe around more, but she didn't want anything to do with him, and took off over the hill. He decided to stick around though, and make a few scrapes, before disappearing back towards the Oak Flat Stand. It was starting to get pretty dark, so I began packing up. Just as I was getting ready to lower my bow down, I heard deer crashing behind me, and I could hear a buck grunting. I turned around to see a young six point chasing a doe around. She took off back towards the Oak Flat Stand, and he walked right behind my tree, disappearing in the direction she went. Since three deer went the direction I wanted to take to leave, I decided to walk the field edge, and bumped three deer feeding in the field, and a fourth just inside the wood edge. All in all, a pretty good evening.
Headed back to the same stand in the morning to see what happens.
Sat this morning from 7:30 to 11 and didn't see a single deer. It was a beautiful morning to hunt.
10/31/2012, E, 3h, 40F, Shelf Stand
I made a move down the ridge where the Oak Flat Stand is this evening. Last week, I scouted around a bit and found a few scrapes, and noticed a shelf that ran down the ride at about 20ft of elevation change from the top of the hill. I don't know what it was about that shelf, but I could just imagine a big buck running that shelf looking for a hot doe. I got set up this afternoon a little later than I wanted. I hung in a tree 40y from the edge of the ridge where I could see the shelf, and 30y from the field edge. As I was putting my coat on at , I noticed a doe on the shelf watching me dress. She then decided to head on down the hill and work out around me. It was slow again until a little after six, when I had a 110" eight come through grunting and chasing a doe and her two fawns. They ran right underneath my stand and stopped at 20y straight down wind. The buck chased the doe around more, but she didn't want anything to do with him, and took off over the hill. He decided to stick around though, and make a few scrapes, before disappearing back towards the Oak Flat Stand. It was starting to get pretty dark, so I began packing up. Just as I was getting ready to lower my bow down, I heard deer crashing behind me, and I could hear a buck grunting. I turned around to see a young six point chasing a doe around. She took off back towards the Oak Flat Stand, and he walked right behind my tree, disappearing in the direction she went. Since three deer went the direction I wanted to take to leave, I decided to walk the field edge, and bumped three deer feeding in the field, and a fourth just inside the wood edge. All in all, a pretty good evening.
Headed back to the same stand in the morning to see what happens.
1hornwilly
*Supporting Member III*
huntn2
Senior Member
Good luck Greg! Lay a biggin' low! NOW is a great time to be hunting. Hunting the seeking and chasing phase beats the breeding phase IMO.
Hunting the Shelf Stand again this morning. It is raining and cold and right now I haven't seen squat. I will be so glad this afternoon when the rain is done!
11/1/2012, M, 3h, W, 36F, Shelf Stand
Got skunked this morning, seems to be more of an evening stand. Did walk by five fresh scrapes on my way out this morning.
11/1/2012, E, 2.5h, SW, 49F, Shelf Stand
Man, what a great hunt!
Got in there late this evening because a neighbor pulled in the drive as I was walking out the door. Ended up talking to him for almost an hour before I finally got outta there. Got on stand around 4:30, and around 5 decided to rattle. I started tickling the antlers together and hear something crashing down the hill beside me. Looked over to see young forkhorn coming in to check out what all the noise was about. He milled around below me for almost 15 minutes downwind, but I believe the smoker and the Evercalm saved my tail. He ended up working his way down the field edge making a few scrapes and disappearing into the timbered stuff. Around 5:30, I heard a doe bust out across the field. I kept looking for a buck behind her, and a few minutes later, the same forkhorn pops out in the same spot she came flying out of. He worked across the field, hitting all the scrapes he made half an hour ago, then disappeared over the hill.
Around six, I heard more deer busting out of the timbered stuff behind me, and I turned around to watch a big doe and her fawn come flying out into the field. The doe kept looking behind her, and I half expected to see a young buck come out of the thick stuff. I waited and waited, and then I saw this big white rack appear out of the brush. He came out and took off on a dead sprint at the doe and ran her in a circle around the field grunting. She returned to her fawn and he went along the field edge just tearing it up, slinging dirt and making several scrapes. After he finished establising his territory, he came back for more. The doe was right at the edge of the wood line at 45y, all I needed her to do was to lead him into the wood line and he would be within range. I watched the buck, which appeared to be at least an eight, and most likely a ten, pushing 140"m work his way back across the field and chased the doe around again. This time she had enough and went up around the corner and out of sight. I tried grunting at him, and even bleated once, but he was fixated on her, and slowly wandered off in her direction. I still had plenty of light left, so I was hoping she would bring him back my way, but that wouldn't be the case.
Shortly after they disappeared, I heard another deer coming down the field edge, and looked to see the same eight point I saw the night before. Another doe popped out down the wood line and he took off after her. She didn't want anything to do with him, and took off, running right under my stand and stopping just 10 yards away. The buck dropped in the woodline, and disappeared out of sight. The doe milled around under me until well after shooting light. After she fed down over the hill, I slipped out and of the tree and made my way back to the house.
I wanted to pull this set, as it was my mobile set, and make a move on this deer tonight, but with all the action, I decided to leave it. Gonna hunt it in the morning, and if I don't see something to change my mind, I'm gonna set up on the field edge. This area is loaded with does, and I knew it was gonna be good. After watching this buck tonight, I feel a confidence that I haven't felt for a long time. I dunno, maybe it was just gas pains or my empty stomach gurgling, but I just have a good feeling about the next four days! Who knows, I may even take the camera with me in the morning.
Thanks for all the encouragement fellas, you're keeping me in the game.
Got skunked this morning, seems to be more of an evening stand. Did walk by five fresh scrapes on my way out this morning.
11/1/2012, E, 2.5h, SW, 49F, Shelf Stand
Man, what a great hunt!
Got in there late this evening because a neighbor pulled in the drive as I was walking out the door. Ended up talking to him for almost an hour before I finally got outta there. Got on stand around 4:30, and around 5 decided to rattle. I started tickling the antlers together and hear something crashing down the hill beside me. Looked over to see young forkhorn coming in to check out what all the noise was about. He milled around below me for almost 15 minutes downwind, but I believe the smoker and the Evercalm saved my tail. He ended up working his way down the field edge making a few scrapes and disappearing into the timbered stuff. Around 5:30, I heard a doe bust out across the field. I kept looking for a buck behind her, and a few minutes later, the same forkhorn pops out in the same spot she came flying out of. He worked across the field, hitting all the scrapes he made half an hour ago, then disappeared over the hill.
Around six, I heard more deer busting out of the timbered stuff behind me, and I turned around to watch a big doe and her fawn come flying out into the field. The doe kept looking behind her, and I half expected to see a young buck come out of the thick stuff. I waited and waited, and then I saw this big white rack appear out of the brush. He came out and took off on a dead sprint at the doe and ran her in a circle around the field grunting. She returned to her fawn and he went along the field edge just tearing it up, slinging dirt and making several scrapes. After he finished establising his territory, he came back for more. The doe was right at the edge of the wood line at 45y, all I needed her to do was to lead him into the wood line and he would be within range. I watched the buck, which appeared to be at least an eight, and most likely a ten, pushing 140"m work his way back across the field and chased the doe around again. This time she had enough and went up around the corner and out of sight. I tried grunting at him, and even bleated once, but he was fixated on her, and slowly wandered off in her direction. I still had plenty of light left, so I was hoping she would bring him back my way, but that wouldn't be the case.
Shortly after they disappeared, I heard another deer coming down the field edge, and looked to see the same eight point I saw the night before. Another doe popped out down the wood line and he took off after her. She didn't want anything to do with him, and took off, running right under my stand and stopping just 10 yards away. The buck dropped in the woodline, and disappeared out of sight. The doe milled around under me until well after shooting light. After she fed down over the hill, I slipped out and of the tree and made my way back to the house.
I wanted to pull this set, as it was my mobile set, and make a move on this deer tonight, but with all the action, I decided to leave it. Gonna hunt it in the morning, and if I don't see something to change my mind, I'm gonna set up on the field edge. This area is loaded with does, and I knew it was gonna be good. After watching this buck tonight, I feel a confidence that I haven't felt for a long time. I dunno, maybe it was just gas pains or my empty stomach gurgling, but I just have a good feeling about the next four days! Who knows, I may even take the camera with me in the morning.
Thanks for all the encouragement fellas, you're keeping me in the game.
badger
*Supporting Member*
Leaving your set up might just be the ticket. Like you stated, the does are there as are a few bucks. I think patience is going to pay off for you here. Good luck in the morning Greg, I think there's going to be another "I know something" thread when I check tomorrow!
huntn2
Senior Member
