Bow Season is Coming!!!

[Mayfly]

The love I lost

This summer has been moving by quickly. All I have been thinking about is fishing and then, out of nowhere, it happened.
The other day I was driving to work when out in a field I spotted a nice eight-point buck in velvet. That is all it took. Fishing became the furthest thing from my mind.
I immediately turned my thoughts over to bow hunting. It is only two months away and I am not even close to ready.
For a couple years, I was living next to the land I hunt. Now that I have moved away, it is easier to let this slip to the back of my mind. But all it took was that eight-pointer the other day to get the blood boiling.
Last year, I recorded more hours in the woods chasing deer than any year before. It was my first season back to bow hunting after taking three years off. I took the time off because of a new dog and my love for pheasant hunting. The thing about being an outdoorsman is that it is time-consuming and unforgiving on the wallet. I can’t do everything — but it doesn’t stop me from trying. When I moved into a nice place in Columbus Township two years ago, I gained access to some prime bow-hunting land, so I had no choice but to get involved again last year. The number of deer around drove me crazy; it was like they were everywhere.
There was one buck in particular that really motivated me. I skipped fall Muskie trips and pheasant hunting trips to pursue this monster. I thought he was out there, but it wasn’t until Oct. 24 that I knew for sure.
That next morning I pulled a trail cam in and checked the pictures. After weeks and months of watching the same deer, he finally made an appearance — a beautiful 10-point buck with a giant body to match. The picture was perfect, almost like he was posing for me.



That deer motivated me like none other and I was in the woods every chance I had. On days off, I would turn the phone off and lock my doors. Bow hunting became a great way to lose friends. But because it is a solitary sport, it requires time and dedication. Not only do you have to find the deer but you have to get within 30 yards of the animal to ensure a successful shot. Try getting that close to the mature bucks in your woods, and you’ll understand the frustration I endured last season. It got to the point that I was seeing deer almost every time I stepped into the woods. I couldn’t get myself to take a shot as I never knew if maybe my monster was lurking nearby and was going to offer me a glimpse. It never happened. I saw a few nice bucks while out, but nothing in range. I passed and passed and passed and then the season closed. It was like I was chasing a ghost, one that I could only get on a trail cam or in the yard after dark.
The worst incident was when I was cleaning in the house and happened to look out the window and I spotted a deer moving through the field. This was nothing new, as it is one of the main corridors the neighborhood deer use. I quickly noticed the size of the deer, and he was big. The next thing I noticed were antlers. I quickly grabbed my camera and got him on video. It was him! It was 11a.m., here I was cleaning my house, and the deer that I had been putting my life on hold for was taking a late morning stroll past all my stands and right through the field that I hunt. What luck.
Deer can be so unpredictable, and that is why any time of day can be a good time to be out there. I only have two months to get ready and start doing a little pre-season scouting.

Here is the above mentioned video!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14fx6CwvlMY[/youtube]

[Mayfly]

Some favorite pictures from last season......

[Randy Kaar]

that is one nice deer! i cant wait for the season to open.
we havent got a chance yet this year to hit the property
and do some scouting. it will come down to the weekend
before... we want to scout out the state forest down the
road, just didnt get the chance last year.

randy

[Cody Gruchow]

scouting begins the day after bow season ends

[Mayfly]

scouting begins the day after bow season ends

Thanks to off-season scouting I think we found one of the big boys bedrooms. I'm looking forward to getting out there again this year!! Last year it was about August 15th that the bucks starting coming into the apple trees. I plan on setting up a ground blind in a month to see who is out there. Should be fun

[repoman]

ive already been hiting the range at backwoods archery the last couple weeks , my bloods been boiling 

[Cody Gruchow]

i set-up atleast 3 different set-ups a year. well same stands most of the time just move them. i have hung my hang on a heavy used trail leading in and out of the swamp. my 1 ladder stand is just inside a potlatch thats connected to a corn feild. other ladder stand is  on the edge of a creekbed on the far side of the property. and my newest addition climbing stand (thanks tim!) ill have to decide on were i think i am going to use that one. More scouting!

[Spinach]

Good article Tim, got my blood pumping too.

We have been looking at the local deer on the way home from work every night, my kids make me drive down the street that all the deer are feeding. We had 2 of the smallest fawns about 6 weeks ago, they couldn't of been 18" tall and 20 pounds each, I tried to take pictures but you could only see the tops of their backs above the weedline.

[Cody Gruchow]

almost HERE!!!!!

[Mayfly]

Registration on MNO is free and easy........

Go here to become a member:

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[proangler16]

Wow, reading this post is getting me all pumped up for bow season, good job guys!!!      I'll have to dig the bow out soon and start pulling some string!  I think the scouting is just as fun as hunting.   

[Grute Man]

Aw man ya got me itchin now.  I've done a little bit of 3D with the boys this season so far and feel real good about my shooting.  I'd like to get out there more but time is precious right now.  Then when the season starts, I'll be on nights for a few weeks working 12-14 hours/night.  That's ok.  I'll wait till the weather cools down a bit anyway.

This also reminds me to go do my Metro Bow Hunters qualification shoot. 

[repoman]

time is just dragging by