Any Luck??

[MIBassKid]

Any of the hunters out there get anything yet? I've been out 4 or 5 times but nothin yet. i did pass up a wide 6 pointer on the youth hunt the day after the DK open. Last 2 times ive gone out haven't seen a hair.
-Kid

[djkimmel]

Where the ______ is Dan? He asked for this and now he isn't saying where the big bucks are??

I saw two 2-fork bucks in the back of the trailer parking lot at Aloha State Park. I almost got two does the next day with the two vehicle... I know that doesn't help.

[fowlmouth]

My deer season does'nt start until Nov 15th, with duck hunting, bowling,fishing,& turkey hunting I don't have enough time to fling arrows too.

[Dan]

I know I know I asked for this board, but you have to know that I live vicariously through these posts. I fish yes, but my experience is broadened exponentially by reading posts and surfing. It's what you do when you get old. Great Lakes Bass Forum is the Viagra of fishing for us old guys. I love to bow hunt, but when my dad died I lost access to my long time hunting spots. I had a brother-in-law that had some acreage near my old spot, but that has dried up as well. Now after many years I am at a point where I have to hunt public land. Near my cabin it's like WWII in November and hunting public land in that area is not too appealing to me. However, when forced to choose between no hunting and public I will be out there. Just have to find a place to hang a couple stands. Since retiring you would think there is more time available and there is, but I seem to be busier than ever. Retire as soon as you can. (Live for today you'll be paying bills forever anyway. Don't wait to retire to chase your dreams.)
I do have an invite from a good friend of mine to gun hunt and will be going up on his property with him for the week of the 15th.
I bought a new bow this year from Mr. Lucky. A PSE and have put my old red dot Pollington on it and last time I shot it I put two in the bulls eye at 32 yards. I still hope to get out next week and try a few sits with my bow before gun season. These next couple weeks are primo. One of my fishing friends drew a moose permit for Maine and as luck would have it also Vermont. He's been applying for years and never got a permit. This year he gets two. He shot a bull in Maine a few weeks ago and his Vermont hunt is coming up. His bull was a 50 incher and I will try and get the pictures to post. (He got 700 lbs. of burger back) He's going to get a shoulder mount. Shot it with his pistol.
Mr. Lucky is off to Canada for a whitetail hunt this weekend. He shot a big buck up there last year. He use to be a PSE rep and is a crackerjack shot with a bow and a gun. He has some property that I have been on before that is 100 or so acres of to die for deer property. Shot my first turkey there this spring. Sooooo, I am not a big time hunter, but I love to be outdoors. Always have been like that. As a kid I would be outside from dawn to dusk. Love to sit in a treestand and watch the sun come up, curse the dang squirrels that always make you feel that a big buck is around the corner. Not too mention having your heart start pounding when you hear a buck snort and know that he's coming in. If you hunt you know the feeling, and the excitement when the opportunity to draw or shoot comes. It's a high that you could sell on the streets. If I could bottle it I could augment my retirement check. No... I could give away my retirement check.
Then of course hunting can give you the knife and fork outcome. I always cut up my own deer and process it. If you haven't canned your venison before you ought to try it. You do need a pressure cooker canner and jars, but really nothing else but the meat. You can do beef the same way. Nice thing about it you never worry about freezer burn. You just store it on the shelf. Great for strogonoff, almost instant sloppy joes, soups, etc.? My kids use to come home from school  and eat it right out of the jar. It's really good and super easy.? I also like to make my own jerky. Being a gadget guy aquiring game meat gives me an excuse to use my newest accessory my food saver. Best appliance in the house, next to the dishwasher, dryer, toaster, microwave, coffee maker, can opener, and the refridge. How would we live without all this?
I'm already in the mood to do some stand hunting.? Guess I'll go out and shoot the bow off the deck right now... I'm back. Man once you sight those compounds in they are deadly. Only need to shoot a few arrows to be sure you are right on. No errant shots as long as you work on a good release. I'm an inch and a half or so high at 18 yards. This PSE shoots fast and flat.?
I have my .280 Remington up with my good buddy Ron doing some work on my scope to be sure it's ready to zero in. Ron was just up in the UP pat hunting this past weekend and was up earlier bear hunting. Don't know how he did on the pats, but the bear hunting was a bust this year. His wife got a bear last year with her bow.
I should have some first hand accounts soon....... I am looking forward to reading the posts here and would bet we'll see some nice bucks.
Got to be some bow hunters around that have gotten their deer. Let's see them!

[Dan]

As I mentioned in the post above I got my first turkey this year up on Mr. Lucky's primo deer spread. My good buddy Ron did the calling. Here's a pic. I did post this earlier in the year.

[fiker]

I was lucky enough to bag a 5pt. a couple of weeks ago with my bow.  I haven't seen anywhere near the deer this year I have in the past.  I haven't been out as much either.
Well at least there's venison in the freezer.

The next couple of weeks things should start to pick up.  I've seen a lot of sparring between the bucks in the field just before dark most nights.  Lately, they're a little more than sparring.  They're down right mean. 

Oddly enough, the big bucks just go about their business and let the subordinates fight. I  guess they've got winners. 

[djkimmel]

Dan - you redeemed yourself admirably (and get extra bonus points for using the word vicariously in a sentence ).

Congrats on the turkey. And congrats to fiker50 on the deer (btw, I'm finally getting your t-shirt from the DK Open in the mail tomorrow).

[stackenem]

I got a nice 4 point last night. 15 yd shot He walked 20 yds and fell over. It was right next to the two track so there was only a 20yd drag. Back straps on the grill.

[smbassman]

Got a nice 1.5yr old doe last night.? I know, no horns, but unless it is getting a shoulder mount - I don't shoot.? Young does taste much better!!!

I really haven't seen much buck sign though!? New neighbors bought a previously unhunted 80acre parcel and built tower blinds all over it.? Some of them 70 yards apart from the other. ? (and 3 of them within 20 yards of our property line looking my way? ).? Oh well, I used to share a nice open swail in the middle of thick bedding cover and could watch little spikes and forks running does all over the place.? Now I get to look at two giant tower blinds and listen to corn feeders going off.?

[McCarter]

i dont hunt cuz im a sissy but all of my friends do.  My buddy Garry called me yesterday and told me that he just shot an 11 point out of his wifes uncles property in deerfield twp ( nextdoor to hartland ).

It had been 2 years since he has hit anything ( other than carp ) with an arrow and the first buck he has ever taken.  Just thought i would pass it on.

a week ago, another of my friends shot a 'huge' 8 point but after tracking it for 9 hours, thats right 9 hours, they gave up.  I seen the pictures of the deer from his tree camera thingy.  it was big.  and a very wide spread.

We should all get together and have some back straps this weekend.  You guys bring the straps, ill bring the appetite.

PB himself

[spinninbug]

Ok I have been trying to post these two pictures of my nephews in the youth hunt.  Of course some of you know me and I'm not very good with these computer things...(thank you Brian and Josh for having Brian help me)  Anyway I think I finally got it.

My husband took both of the boys out for their hunts.  I'm not really sure who was more excited the boys or my husband.  But I know we are now mounting two nice bucks for two happy boys.  (Did I mention we do taxidermy) Anyway both bucks were taken in Mason County. 

[Dan]

Hey Lt. Dan now we're talking bucks right! Thanks for the picks Spinni and Terry does look like a happy camper. It's all about the experience. Doesn't have to be first hand to be exciting. I probably have had to veer off the road for one of those bucks on my drives to Hamlin. There are a ton of deer in Mason on that back road in to Hamlin from Irons.

[spinninbug]

The other thing that I forgot to say is these were both of the boys first deer.  They had never shot at a deer before and in fact the one that Terry is with missed a couple other before he finally got this one,  oh hunting stories....

These were taken a little farther south in the county Dan but there are a few around this year.  In fact we just had the county record broken with a 162 in 10 point.  The record has been in tact since 1925.  That is a long time.  An 18 year old kid from Custer got it.  It was a dandy.

[jcox7]

     I stayed behind a few days from BFL regionals to hunt the opener best move I have ever made.  I shot a big 10 with two stickers that grossed 155 1/4 that is the biggest I have ever shot.  Then on sunday I shot a crap buck a 3 year old that was all of 5 pts to have a healthy deer herd you must take those out of the picture it always helps to be hunting in your back yard too.  almost 400 acres here in saline.  Remember dont kill all the does that is what makes big bucks...

[Dan]

Sometimes people get carried away with the buck thing. I use to feed deer during the winter.  When it gets cold and the weather gets tough on the deer the strongest dominate. You know the survival of the fittest thing. When there are too many bucks shot then all that makes it to winter are the nubber bucks and the mature does chase them off the feed. The yearling bucks then are more often than not the ones that winter kill. Skews your herd population. I was amazed at all the hair on the winter feed piles from the does raising up on their hind legs and delivering some pretty hefty blows on subordinates. There is none of that in Bambi.  Actually, they say you should harvest your does early so bucks don't spend too much of their energy impregnating them only to have them harvested later in the season. Just was watching a program on deer management that involves managing your land to hold bucks. The key according to this guy was all about bedding areas. Bucks always bed downwind of does .  If you only have one bedding area on your property then when the buck gets up he only spends a little time on your land marking and scraping before he's off to check the neighbors. If the buck has to make a round around your property to check out multiple bedding areas then he spends more of his daylight hours on your property and doesn't get to your neighbors until after dark. It was a very interesting program and he presented information that quite frankly I hadn't thought too much about. This guys business was to come to your property and assess it and design a layout that would keep deer (bucks)  on your place longer so if you do have a buck management program the bucks don't get shot on your neighbors place.

[smbassman]

? ? ?I stayed behind a few days from BFL regionals to hunt the opener best move I have ever made.? I shot a big 10 with two stickers that grossed 155 1/4 that is the biggest I have ever shot.? Then on sunday I shot a crap buck a 3 year old that was all of 5 pts to have a healthy deer herd you must take those out of the picture it always helps to be hunting in your back yard too.? almost 400 acres here in saline.? Remember dont kill all the does that is what makes big bucks...

I am from the side that believes letting small bucks go is what makes big bucks.? Does only make small bucks 50% of the time at best.?

Making sure your antlerless deer is actually a doe is the biggest problem with Michigan.? Buttons are dumb and easily get harvested by hunters that don't pay attention.? The next biggest issue is two bucks.? This is what I believe.? Don't want to get political.

BTW - Nice buck, that is definitely a giant!

[spinninbug]

Ok you guys might think this is kind of goofy but,  I sent an email this morning to Vicki Cianciarulo from Archers Choice.  She is like my all time hero.  She is so way cool.  Anyway,  I have been having some troubles bow hunting and thought what the heck she's a women maybe she could help me.  I sent my email out around 10 and she responded back to me already.  Wow I called my husband all excited,  she gave me some tips to try and I'm going to try them and see if they help.  I just thought it was cool that she responded so quickly and wants me to let her know how I do.   

They are taking 5 couples to Africa with them next year,  this really impressed me,  they get to hunt with Ralph and Vicki,  they don't know these couples, it's just the first 5 that sign up. OH I wish I could go that would be so fun. 

I will just settle for bow hunting here for the time being and see if I can't finally get that deer with my bow.

[MIBassKid]

Bug i saw those pics you put up of this years youth hunt. I unfortunately passed up a 6 point that i am regretting terribly. However, i've got a couple of real bruts to show everyone from last years youth hunt, a 12pt. a monster 8pt. and my dinky 6pt. All three of the deer were our first bucks. Anyone want to help me with posting pics?? Greatly appreciate it , PM me

[spinninbug]

I know most of you guys are probably still out hunting.  I unfortunately had to be back to work today.  However,  I did get lucky yesterday and got my buck.  And when I say lucky I mean lucky,  talk about waking up from a dream and having a buck standing in front of you..well,  I wasn't dreaming and he was standing right there.  The best part was my husband was napping right along with me....he actually woke up first and tapped my knee,  there was a doe standing there,  he hadn't seen the buck.  Wow,  was that fun.  Not a giant but to me he was a trophy!  I will get pictures on here later when I can get them to Josh, so maybe  he will  resize them for me,  (I just can't seem to get that).  I still have a few days that I get to go out so I'm hopeful to fill my other tag and I still have doe permit to fill too.  Maybe the big guy will step up for the next dream!!

OH by the way it was a 3 point. 

You know I think the best part of hunting with my husband is the memories we have,  but the look on his face when I shot,  and the excitement in his voice,  unexplainable...  He is always so proud of me when I get a deer or catch a big fish.  It's just great to be able to enjoy all I enjoy with my best friend.

Good luck everyone...I'm waiting for stories!!!

[djkimmel]

Bug i saw those pics you put up of this years youth hunt. I unfortunately passed up a 6 point that i am regretting terribly. However, i've got a couple of real bruts to show everyone from last years youth hunt, a 12pt. a monster 8pt. and my dinky 6pt. All three of the deer were our first bucks. Anyone want to help me with posting pics?? Greatly appreciate it , PM me

Read this thread and see if that helps.
http://www.greatlakesbass.com/forum/index.php?topic=138.0

Let me know if you have a specific problem you need help with.