Oh it was actually fun, I had to laugh while I was getting undressed at the truck, all you can do is shake your head and hit it again! Might get out tonight, depending on the weather here...

I've passed on a lot of small bucks so far and it's becoming somewhat frustrating. Saturday morning I had one 4 yards from my ground blind, stopped, broadside, and looking the other direction. Torture!

I decided at the beginning of the season I would shoot does and wait for Mr. Big. But all I see is bucks (at least I see something) and I'm itching to let one fly.

Patience, Brad! That's a bowhunter's true virtue.
My deer stand is 150 miles from home, so I've sat a total of 4 evenings so far. Opener, and this weekend. Opener was very promising. 1st night had a fork and a six right under me for about 20 minutes. 2nd night the same two youngsters came by at 6:30, then right on the verge of darkness I had 5 bucks go by, one a shooter for sure. Too dark for a confident shot. This weekend I hunted Fri and Sat eves. Not a single deer. I'm not sitting in a specific doe area, so I wasn't really surprised at seeing none of them. I did see a big scrape 20 yds up the trail from my stand, and 2 rubs as well. I go extreme on the scent killer and precations, and have a good way in and out, so I don't think I bumped them in any way. Bucks are there, but I'm wondering if they are starting to go nocturnal only. Either that or it was just bad luck. Anyone have any ideas or experience a phase like this?

This is about the time where they go under cover, it gets a bit tougher now until the end of the month. At least with the mature bucks. The one buck I saw tonight was just coming out into a hay field and crossed the road in front of my truck on my way out, well after dark....other than that a windy cruddy night.

Congrats tunrevir! Nice shooting. With the does that you saw in that spot, you can bet they will lure in the bucks in another month.

I agree with Stratosman. Right now is the October slump. The bucks seem to go underground for the next 2-3 weeks. Once the corn gets picked and the prerut starts, the deer start moving again. Thats why last Saturday was disappointing, if someone hadn't shot that .22, he might have followed the same path as the two baskets and been hanging in my shed right now. Still good to see the two small bucks walk by without a care in the world. One had a nice high rack, the other was perfect basket.

Nice job guys, season started great for me with easy pass shots on deer I didn't want to shoot the first two outings, then screwed up & missed a doe my third time. Been out 4-5 times since then & have one long distance sighting to show for it. Seems like the nights I can go the wind's not right for the spots that should be good right now or it's pouring. That's why they call it hunting I guess.

Friday night Beman #2 carved another notch in his fletching. I was a little worried about him, as I was shooting down at a doe about 7 paces from my tree. But alas, he punched a lung, clipped the heart and shook off his collision with the ground underneath her. I put new blades in his Muzzy, and he'll be looking for lucky number seven this weekend.

46 lbs. of freshly cut, trimmed and vacuum packed venison sure makes a freezer look right. Yes, it was a tasty little yearling.

I lost my favorite a/c/c Saturday as its third doe rolled over on it. . Not third for this year but second anyway.

So, two in the cooler so far - after 3 hours of hunting between two sits. The average is definately up this year.

Sunday however, I saw the coolest little buck. He had somewhere in the 8 inch range spikes with brow tines. Not a forkhorn - brow tines - with alot of little sticker junk on his fairly stout bases for his age.

I hope to watch him grow into something spectacular.

We didn't see any scrape activity in the SE part of the state over the weekend but my buddy did witness an 8 pointer doggin a doe for a while and a couple 6's do some sparring.

I got to stick my first Fort McCoy Wisconsin doe on thursday night at about 5:45 and the rage did it's job. The shot was a nice center punched double lung shot at 15yds and she went about 60 and it was game over. It was nice to get another one under the belt she was a nice dried up doe. Pics are on other post

sounds like it will start picking up i hope. after 12 days out there with no sightings ...

Was out Saturday night. Got a good stand and been letting it sit and finally hunted it. Was on the stand for 30 minutes when heard crashing in the woods. Look over two bucks running to me. Grabbed the bow got ready looked at rack's. First one was a 2x2 and he kept running bye and the back one was bigger. It stopped BELOW me and it was 3x3. Counted him 3-4 times because I told myself I want an 8 and no matter how many times I counted could not get more then 6. Watched him for a little bit then finally he took off. Was fun though.

Well finally got some steaks for the freezer. A nice tender doe. I have been seeing a ton of deer hitting this isolated green field of about 10 acres. This was my fourth sit on this field and including tonight I have seen at least 30 deer on it. All out of range until tonight a doe walks by at 20 yards at 6:00. Montec found its mark, she ran about 10 yards, walked about 10 yards and dropped dead, never knew what hit her! No dragging required. Time to fish for a couple weeks and then chase the big boys!

Congrats Strats!

Way to go Strats! Sounds like some good eating for the winter months.