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teamasc
Forum Admin
1348 Posts |
 Posted - 10/06/2009 : 08:23:00
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Ok, figured I'd give my opening weekend synopsis to promote some more posting on the board.
Planned to head down to Hillsdale Thursday evening after work to hunt and set up camp. Rain and the flu virus caused me to rethink, and plan to head down Friday morning. Alarm went off at 4 am Friday, and between the way I felt and the rain, decided bed was a better option. Headed down to Hillsdale about 1:30pm, met up with Jason to set up camp, ran my dogs, and headed out for the evening hunt.
Friday night I have 3 deer come in. A doe and 2 fawns. I have an easy shot at the doe fawn, pass a 40 yds shot at the doe, and the little buck literally walks under me, about 1' from my tree. The doe fawn winds me 20 yds out, but can't figure it out. However, she keeps looking in my direction, so when mom finally comes to where I might have a shot, I can't draw. Mom finally winds me at 20 yds, and and leads them away with no shot presented.
After tracking deer until the wee hours of the morning on Saturday and still feeling wore out by the cold I was fighting, I sleep in on Saturday, skipping the morning hunt. In the afternoon, I take the dogs out to some local public land and try to find some woodcock, with no luck. Saturday evening, I set up my lock on stand in one of my favorite spots, and at 7:30pm get rewarded with a nice big doe and her fawn at 40 yds. However, with the wind gusting I wasn't fully comfortable with the shot, so I had to let her go.
Sunday morning, I'm back in the same stand and all is quiet until 8:30 am when I hear something out of the ordinary. I turn my head north and spot a deer body through the brush and a glint of antler about 100 yds out. Turns out to be 2 bucks sparring. I grab the grunt call and give a few doe grunts and lose sight of them. Sit quietly and a couple minutes later, here comes the bigger of the two right toward me. He walks in and presents a nice 19 yd shot, and so does his littler partner. However, both are 1 1/2 yr old bucks a 4pt and a 7pt, which is not what I'm looking for, so they both live another day. I did take a few pictures, but my darn zoom wasn't working.
Sunday afternoon, I take the dogs for another run and wait for Jason to make it to camp. While waiting, I set up my target and shoot my broadheads at 40 yds in the gusting wind to gain confidence in case I get another long shot. For the evening hunt I decide to set up my climber in a new spot. Headed out, and get about 100 yds from the truck when I realize I forgot to grab my bow.  Back to the truck, and then get to my spot. Find a tree that looks decent and here come the rain clouds. I get set, climb up and here comes the rain. Luckily I brought my little umbrella that has been a lifesaver in the past and I stay nice and dry in the 10 minute downpour. As soon as the rain stops I hear a turkey. Turns out to be a hen and her polts. Saw her, but never saw the polts, just heard them chirping at her. About 6pm, I see a deer head to the NE along the edge of the woods coming toward a path that will take her right past me. Unfortunately she disappears and 20 minutes later comes by from the SE. She goes by before I can really get a good shot and feeds into the brush. I watch her for quite some time, then spot another deer where I origanlly saw her. Not wanting to mess up this time, I prepare for a shot where the first one passed. While waiting I see a big doe come from the S and cross to the east of me. By now it is getting awful close to dark and hard to see. I catch strange movement in the opening to my NE, and through the binoculars confirm it is a small doe (probably the first one I saw) at 30 yds. I'm having a hard time seeing her, until she turns broadside and I get a good view of the top of her back. I let the shot go, hear a loud crack and she collapses to the ground. At the impact another deer that is 10 yds behind her takes off. I get down and find a small doe fawn about 80# 10 yds from where I shot her. I ended up a little high and took out the spine. We'll be celebrating grouse camp next weekend with fresh venison loins. MMMM.
Todd Alexander
ASC Membership Services Manager
talexander@team-asc.com
www.team-asc.com
734-552-4839
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sburk
Starting Member
14 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2009 : 19:58:59
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Todd
Glad to hear you put one in the freezer and good luck up at grouse camp! Where abouts are you headed?
aim small miss small |
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frank
Average Member
841 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2009 : 20:17:00
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Nice job on the deer Todd. I ended up being a chauffeur for my daughter most of the weekend and only got out late saturday evening never seen a deer. Good luck up at grouse camp, like I said if it don't work out for you guys try that spot in pinconning its worked well for us lately.
Frank Manning
Mid Michigan/Thumb Area
LandManager
frankm1968@hotmail.com
(810)347-5292
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teamasc
Forum Admin
1348 Posts |
Posted - 10/08/2009 : 06:06:24
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We will be based out of Evart, MI for grouse this weekend. We shouldn't have a problem finding a few birds up there. Hopefully the winds will stay down a bit.
Todd Alexander
ASC Membership Services Manager
talexander@team-asc.com
www.team-asc.com
734-552-4839 |
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frank
Average Member
841 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2009 : 21:28:58
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Well I spent about 8 hours or so on the 105 property for some bow hunting. Friday morning found me sitting in the rain for about 3 hours with nothing seen but what I believe was a fox right at first light. Saturday morning I seen 10 ducks and no deer. Saturday evening I seen 15 ducks, about 30 geese, 7 turkeys and 1 deer just befor dark. I think all the wind and rain along with all the hunting pressure has changed the patern to most of the deer movement after dark.
I'm planning on going down to hillsdale this weekend for some deer and coon hunting. Hopefully I can get a deer and some coons this weekend down there.
Frank Manning
Mid Michigan/Thumb Area
LandManager
frankm1968@hotmail.com
(810)347-5292
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Opening Weekend
