Off to a bad start from the get go! Only got out for two afternoons this year with the Exomag. The first night was the very first time I ever got to see deer from the vantage point of a tree stand, it was very COOL. A doe with her calf first came in, then was quickly bumped out by a medium 8 pt. buck. I watched him for about 20 minutes eating some screening of oats. I could of taken him no problem at 18 yards, but he just wasn't big enough to tag out on. Its just so neat to watch wildlife at quite moments.
The second afternoon was a totally different story. It was what I considered my best tree stand location. Its located about 3/4 of a mile in the bush from my Alfalfa fields, smack dab in the middle of their bedrooms. After some delays, I got to my tree stand late, about 4:00 P.M. Just as I was approaching my tree stand, a huge (what looked like a 10-12 pointer) jumped up from its bed, 50 yards north of my tree stand, in a dried up slough bottom. He ran behind some willows, which I could see his chest clearly. I estimated him about 30 yards away and had what I thought was a big open area to his boiler room. I let my lazer II, 100 gr. slick trick fly. Ting, ting, ting, failed to see a twig half way between me and him. Lost my buck, but most of all lost a bolt with broadhead. If I'd of had a rifle or muzzleloader in my hands, he'd be in my freezer now. I missed my best chance of a biggy, but still went in the tree stand. Not more than 30 minutes later a small 8 pt. buck came in, again watched him eat some oat screenings for at least 15-20 minutes. Off he went, then a doe and calf came in, the doe was startled by something and off she went with her baby, snorting and stomping. I looked down to see my nylon rope that I use to pull my equipment up on, swinging away in the breeze at eye level. The final deer that came in was a 9 pt. buck, a decent buck for most, but just to soon to tag out on.
That was the only 2 days that I had to hunt with my Exomag. On Monday rifle season opens up, and it shouldn't be a problem catching up with these critters. There should still be snow in the bush up there, making it easy to see deer and track deer.
Good luck to all.
Grey Owl
Missed a big buck!!!!!
Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude
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Red Label
Grey Owl you will get another chance.
I called in a rack buck (60 yards) Thursday AM, killed one Thursday night, didn't hunt on Friday, saw another this morning (150 yards pushed by pheasant hunters) and another tonight in gale force winds (40 yards - he was actually tracking RJ after he did a little walk through the bush)
The wind was frightening and this is the first time I have ever felt in imminent peril in my climber...never again!
Mikey Vee
I called in a rack buck (60 yards) Thursday AM, killed one Thursday night, didn't hunt on Friday, saw another this morning (150 yards pushed by pheasant hunters) and another tonight in gale force winds (40 yards - he was actually tracking RJ after he did a little walk through the bush)
The wind was frightening and this is the first time I have ever felt in imminent peril in my climber...never again!
Mikey Vee
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Guest
I was contemplating waiting for a bigger buck than what I got but in the end figured why pass up a sure "first buck".
The few I did pass up on (due to angles, distance) just turned the experience into one of learning.
I found that watching them is more than half the fun. I just had a little 4pt buck come walking up my driveway. I'm going to go out shortly and just watch the deer come out into the field where I got mine the other night. More time spent learning is a good thing IMO.
Knowing there's a big one out there (especially when you took a shot at it!) makes you long to go back out even more, doesn't it?
The few I did pass up on (due to angles, distance) just turned the experience into one of learning.
I found that watching them is more than half the fun. I just had a little 4pt buck come walking up my driveway. I'm going to go out shortly and just watch the deer come out into the field where I got mine the other night. More time spent learning is a good thing IMO.
Knowing there's a big one out there (especially when you took a shot at it!) makes you long to go back out even more, doesn't it?
, You will get another chance at the one you missed. Good luck on the rifle hunt.
Grey Owl,
Wow, you sure do see a lot of action out there. What you saw in one day is about as many as I see within range in a whole season. Sooner or later, as it seems you can choose either, you'll have your buck in the cooler. I've been out three times in the last week and have seen nothing. Nada. Zilch. Gotta take more time off work.
Do you have one tag to fill, or can you take two deer?
Maple
Wow, you sure do see a lot of action out there. What you saw in one day is about as many as I see within range in a whole season. Sooner or later, as it seems you can choose either, you'll have your buck in the cooler. I've been out three times in the last week and have seen nothing. Nada. Zilch. Gotta take more time off work.
Do you have one tag to fill, or can you take two deer?
Maple