Hunting Results

[Havin' Fun]

This past opener weekend was tremendous for some and abysmal for others. There were a TON of big bucks shot this opener. Many I perssonally saw will score very high both in the typical and non typical categories. Father and son in Wausara CO. bagged 2 huge typical bucks simaltaneously which both will score over 150 each.

The high number of big bucks is really due to last years earn a buck program and I strongly believe this program is very effective. Many people have seen some great bucks and tought this was the best year EVER hunting. It's unbelievable how many disagreed with it being because (as the DNR states over 20% of last years bucks weren't shot that would have been because of the program) which inevitably results in bigger 2.5 and 3.5 year old bucks.

Earn a buck is a great program and will certainly with QDM improve the buck population and size.

FYI. I sat at a registration station in NE wisconsin for about an hour and counted 35 bucks registered vs. 2 does. One of which was mine(I hunt public land FYI). I was ashamed of the fact it was 35-2. Not of my very large doe.

I'm off my soap box. Wisconsin has a tremendous deer population and is vastly superior to Minnesota in numbers and size, something I'm excited and happy to promote and protect.

Good luck all. I have my buck tag to fill and there is one Winnebago Co. buck with my name on it that eluded me during the bow season.

[Cooter]

Yep, sounds like a great opening weekend. I didn't see squat but I had a great time and ain't complaining. I think it was a combination of things: the EAB in the past, more QDM, an early opener and more rut activity, perfect weather. I got LOTS of tags to try to fill yet before Jan.

[Jim Hudson]

Well, it's time to go look for some ice now!! Took this northern WI bad boy yesterday!!!

Main frame 10 with a 19" spread that dressed out at 190lbs. Definately a lot smaller then he should of been, as he did not have an ounce of fat on him when I took his hide off. He was a bruiser though, a definite breeder buck. His body had bruises and gouges throughout every inch of him. Probably would of never made it through the winter.

I would have to agree with mixed results of opening weekend. In my area, the deer seem to be in pockets this year, with not as many does from years before. A good thing, but a bad thing I have seen.... There are hardly any fawns around.... But... there were some really nice bucks taken the past few days!!! Good luck to the rest of you guys and gals!!!

[Xplorer]

Nice buck Jim

I'm waiting to hear from my FIL to see if he got anything yet, he hunts about 20 miles SW of Hurley at the cabin. He had a couple wolves hanging around his stand last week and wasnt too happy about it but we've seen their sign nearby before and still done OK. Good luck to the rest of the guys still filling tags.

[Jim Hudson]

Thanks Xplorer... I do have to say I am pretty lucky when it comes to the deer...

And I hear you on the wolves, more and more of them around. Too many is a bad thing, but a few around is alright with me.... keeps the deer population a little bit more in check.

[Cooter]

That sure is a dandy you got there Jim! How bout a quick little story of your hunt? Any idea how old he was? Congrats to you fine sir

[outdoor ran]

I took this buck on saturday on public land in northern wisconsin. Looks like I'm taking seconds, nice buck Jim. This buck was so busy chasing a doe he didn't realize I was in the tree above him. Its always nice to get that buck early in the season, I'm happy with him. Wish I could have gotten a better picture, but I had to make due with what I had.

Hammer Em, I have to disagree with a couple of things you said. I work at a taxidermy shop in minnesota and I believe that bucks in minnesota on an average are larger. Its amazing how many bucks that are brought in between 200-300 pounds with absolutely huges racks. I just think minnesota manages their deer better than wisconsin. For example, minnesota doesn't have all these doe blast seasons that kill most of your buck fawns and little bucks. But you're right that this has been a very good year for wisconsin buck hunters. I believe its mostly because we hit the rut perfect and the bucks were on the move. We didn't have earn-a-buck up here in my area. This is just my opinion. Now just don't ask me about the big buck that I missed before I got this one

[Xplorer]

ORan,

Wow, thats a great deer!!! You guys are making me really envious and wishing i had been able to head over and hunt the season with the in-laws instead of being stuck at work

I've never had trouble getting a deer in WI (always come home with venison for the freezer), but only have one nicer buck (9pt #173) in 15 years of hunting either near LaCrosse or near Hurley. One of these years its gonna be me and not the FIL who gets the big one (hes got a 13 and 11 on the wall)

Good job guys and take a few more so i dont have to dodge them on Hwy 2 on my way over to Hurley this winter!

[kjgmh]

Got lucky and bagged a 14pt on Sunday afternoon. Will post a pic if/when I figure out how. Was small bodied deer only wieghed 140lbs.

[Jim Hudson]

Randy... Nice deer man!! Ya gotta love it when they only have one thing on their mind!!

kjgmh

Sounds like a nice deer, send me the photo via my e-mail and I can post it for you....

Oh, a little about my hunt.... I really don't know if I should say... people might hate me... Anyways, I went to an area that I have hunted in the past that doesnt get much pressure. My thoughts were, I was going to still hunt along a ridge that led to an area where I had an old stand site. Well walking the small trail to this ridge, this buck met me on it, his nose to the ground, where I kneeled down and as he looked up it was over. Total hunting time, ummm 10 minutes or so... Lucky I told you...

[outdoor ran]

Jim, nothing wrong with being lucky. Ya still need to put yourself in the right spot and make the shot. After 10 min. of hunting you must of been wondering if you were ever going to see a deer I suppose you'll be shifting in to ice fishing mode now.

[Jim Hudson]

Yup, the shift has been made. Tomorrow, we will see if Hannah and I can get onto some local inland lakes...

Oh, and Happy Birthday Randy!! Hope the day treated you well!!

[Jim Hudson]

Well here is Kjgmh's 2005 gun season buck. A beauty of a deer!!! Congrats man!! So, give us the details, tell us how he fell prey to you.....

[kjgmh]

First have to start with the fact that I had to pass on a beautiful 9 pointer right away Sat morning. It was about 200yds out and 300yds past that is a house. Hoped to get a shot once it cleared the house but did not happen.

Sunday afternoon got in my stand after luch about 1:30. I am overlooking a river bottom and a field. I saw movement in the brush along the field but could not pick out what it was at about 2. A couple of minutes later I saw an outline of a deer about 140yds up the field still in the brush. I glassed it and in the brush I could tell it was a "shooter". I was going to wait for it to come out into the field, but about then the nieghbor was headed to his stand on his 4 wheeler and deer started to get antsy. It took a couple of steps and I thought that I had a clear shot, not much of a opening but clear. I fired and the deer did not move. Fired again and deer disappeared. I waited 15 minutes and went and looked for sign. Turns out there was more brush in the way then I thought. I found were both shots were deflected by brush right next to the deer. Only sign found was a tuff of hair. I followed tracks for 20yds and found no blood on ground or trees it was rubbing against going through the brush.

So I go and get my wife to help track and by now I am really doubting my shot and getting pretty ticked. We look very hard for the 30yds we can follow the tracks and nothing. I loose the tracks and decide to do a small loop and see if I can find any sign. I take 5 steps and see him down no more than 40yds from were I shot. Really makes me think about how many people would have given up since no blood was found. Was a good clean kill, just no exit wound since bullet was tumbling.

[outdoor ran]

kjg, very nice buck. Congrads!

[JAR JAR]

We ended up with three deer for two guys (two bucks and a doe) nothing too big.But I did get out for the waterfowl finale.and boy were the blue bills flying!!!! ended up with a limit for two guys and had a blast just watching them decoy and fly away time after time.I just wish we had another day to do it again, it figures that this would happen on the last day

[Jim Hudson]

Well another Gun Season is in the books... Sounds like a few FMers had some decent luck!! Am glad we all had a safe and fun season!!

Seen some pretty dandy bucks get taken this year, but no real monster racked deer that I know of yet. The biggest I seen was taken by my friend on Friday, where I put the tape on it and tallied up 170 gross, with just a little over 6 inches in deductions. Big tall tined 10 Point typical!!! I am sure there are still quite a few big boys running around out there, and the late season guys should have a good shot!!

[outdoor ran]

Yep, a good one for sure. Seemed like everyone I talked to did well and had some wall hangers. I seen 3 bucks during the week and I think the other 2 were bigger then the one I got. With the ice conditions after that warm spell I think I'll do some bow, pig ,coyote and maybe even some rabbit hunting in Dec. Might not even get on the ice till Jan.

[Xplorer]

Father-in-law report.

He hunts unit 28 by Hurley, west of Island Lake area. 9 days hunting out at the cabin, 5 days dark to dark, 4 days a short lunch in, and zero deer seen. Some were moving at night coming into his apples but no daytime movement. Did see a fair abount of wolf and bobcat tracks, including where 2 wolf had visited his bait the night before opener. In total, he was out at the cabin 14 days and didnt see one deer. He heard 4 shots on opening day and then 2 the rest of season. He did take a 125# doe the week prior with the bow near Iron Belt.

He's pretty disgusted and most likely wont be hunting from the cabin next year, back to an old area that we used prior to building the cabin 10 years ago. Luckily for him he's retired, and can bowhunt the rest of the year.

[barebackjack]

Opening Day in 22A took a good doe, tuesday here in 60M took a big doe fawn and today I got a nice big 4 pointer with a 2 tines busted off and a good look at buck running away that I would have liked to called mine. Does only from here on out unless I get the ambition to go sit in the bow stand. For those who arent aware check out your metro areas, some are open till the 7th of Dec. for bucks and does.

[Cooter]

Great to hear some dandies were taken, congrats! If you didn't do squat, you aren't alone cuz Cooters with ya! Time to get serious now - the muzzleloader is ready as of last night, the late zone T is coming, and I've found a honey hole for the late bow season. Skinheads beware - my freezer is calling

[Cooter]

Got two with the bow Sat night, good to have some venny. Still got more tags...