Hi Mike: This deer might not have a monster rack but I thought you would appreciate the sheer size of it! I arrowed this 10-point buck on public land in Minnesota in October. The brute field-dressed at 260 lbs. Then I weighed the guts too, and added that in for a total of 320 pounds! You can read the full story here. Thanks, Leif Wow, that’s a pig! On public land impressive, way to go man!
Field report from our friend Kim R.: Hi Mike: This year the deer numbers are back up close to where they should be in northwest Wisconsin. This is the best year I've seen in a decade for this area near Siren WI. I hope you made plans to hunt up here this year. There are some great bucks out there, a year not to be missed in my opinion. With the rut heating up 2 of my big guys are back. A farmer a mile and half away planted soybeans so the deer were there. The good population of does remained on my place, eating the clover and oats I have planted in my food plots. I was hoping the 6-year-old [...]
The main thing to remember for the next two weeks is that many if not most bucks will cover two or three times the terrain they traveled back in September and early October, circling and contacting as many doe units as they can, hoping to get lucky with as many does as they can. As the bucks come and go, they might not stay on your hunting property every day, but they’ll drift through from time to time, though you cannot predict when. Right now, as bucks begin to lengthen their daily movements and roam more in daylight hours, expand your hunt area, too, if you can. Spread out, scout and hang some more tree stands in likely ambush spots [...]
#1 Spot On: Best time, scraping/seeking, November 1-8 Details: Let’s say you spot a giant 10-pointer in a food plot or crossing a road…Once the buck moves on, sneak over there and check it out. If the nearest wooded ridge or draw is laced with fresh scrapes and rubs, Mr. Big will be back through there--maybe later that afternoon, or tomorrow morning or on the third day. But the big dude will back because he’s not yet gone on the lam for does. Move in tight, try to hang a stand on a trail near all those rubs and scrapes and hope for a shot at the buck as he trolls back through. #2 Cover Scrape: Best phase, scraping first [...]
I hate to say I told you so, but… On Twitter in July and August, I tweeted several times that 2017 was setting up to be the best whitetail season since 2010. In September I posted here on the blog: I like the way this year’s moon sets up… It exposes and enhances the seeking phase of the pre-rut in late October… Halloween into the first week of November is a good time to bowhunt in any season. This year, with the moon waxing toward full–91% visible on November 1 to 100% bright on November 4-5–the hunting should be especially good near food sources in the afternoons. If a cold front sweeps into your hunt area, better yet… In the [...]