The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Got a nice turkey this afternoon. I'll get a pic or 2 up a little later and a story to go with it. Awesome day in the woods!!
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In a blind in the woods, ask me anything (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Cowboysfan8
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The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Great day in the woods yesterday. 70 degrees, blue skies, absolutely perfect weather. Got to the cabin early afternoon and saw a few turkey's on the drive down, so i was fired up to get out.
First set up had a couple hens go through, but no gobbles. On the walk to my next setup i have a small food plot for deer and there were these huge tracks like a moose or something. There are some farther north so it was possible. I keep heading towards where i want to try my second setup and all of a sudden this giant animal goes barreling up and out of super thick underbrush. It was a huge bull, like a cow bull. This was a first. Thing was enormous and took off faster than anything that big has a right to. No idea where this thing came from and what I'll do about it if it hangs around. I'll probably contact the sheriff and see what they think. Obviously it belongs to somebody. Tried to get a picture, but this thing kept running and never looked back. Crazy.
Second set up I got on a gobbler and had a pretty perfect setup. I was at the top of a ridge and him at the bottom. I'd call, he'd gobble, this went on for an hour or so before a deer ran through an opening and pushed him up an old logging road i was hoping he'd take. 30yd shot with the Remington 870 and that was that. Really beautiful bird, 8 ínch beard and probably somewhere in the low 20s for weight.
I got back to get everything cleaned up and into the cooler and not paying attention right before I open the door i glance down and there's a huge fox snake. This thing was a good 4ft. I won't lie, I screamed like a little girl and was glad to be alone
. This sucker i did get a picture of 
. Picture doesn't do it justice. It was big, ugly, and mean.....
First set up had a couple hens go through, but no gobbles. On the walk to my next setup i have a small food plot for deer and there were these huge tracks like a moose or something. There are some farther north so it was possible. I keep heading towards where i want to try my second setup and all of a sudden this giant animal goes barreling up and out of super thick underbrush. It was a huge bull, like a cow bull. This was a first. Thing was enormous and took off faster than anything that big has a right to. No idea where this thing came from and what I'll do about it if it hangs around. I'll probably contact the sheriff and see what they think. Obviously it belongs to somebody. Tried to get a picture, but this thing kept running and never looked back. Crazy.
Second set up I got on a gobbler and had a pretty perfect setup. I was at the top of a ridge and him at the bottom. I'd call, he'd gobble, this went on for an hour or so before a deer ran through an opening and pushed him up an old logging road i was hoping he'd take. 30yd shot with the Remington 870 and that was that. Really beautiful bird, 8 ínch beard and probably somewhere in the low 20s for weight.
I got back to get everything cleaned up and into the cooler and not paying attention right before I open the door i glance down and there's a huge fox snake. This thing was a good 4ft. I won't lie, I screamed like a little girl and was glad to be alone
. This sucker i did get a picture of . Picture doesn't do it justice. It was big, ugly, and mean.....
Last edited:
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Nice bird!Great day in the woods yesterday. 70 degrees, blue skies, absolutely perfect weather. Got to the cabin early afternoon and saw a few turkey's on the drive down, so i was fired up to get out.
First set up had a couple hens go through, but no gobbles. On the walk to my next setup i have a small food plot for deer and there were these huge tracks like a moose or something. There are some farther north so it was possible. I keep heading towards where i want to try my second setup and all of a sudden this giant animal goes barreling up and out of super thick underbrush. It was a huge bull, like a cow bull. This was a first. Thing was enormous and took off faster than anything that big has a right to. No idea where this thing came from and what I'll do about it if it hangs around. I'll probably contact the sheriff and see what they think. Obviously it belongs to somebody. Tried to get a picture, but this thing kept running and never looked back. Crazy.
Second set up I got on a gobbler and had a pretty perfect setup. I was at the top of a ridge and him at the bottom. I'd call, he'd gobble, this went on for an hour or so before a deer ran through an opening and pushed him up an old logging road i was hoping he'd take. 30yd shot with the Remington 870 and that was that. Really beautiful bird, 8 ínch beard and probably somewhere in the low 20s for weight.
I got back to get everything cleaned up and into the cooler and not paying attention right before I open the door i glance down and there's a huge fox snake. This thing was a good 4ft. I won't lie, I screamed like a little girl and was glad to be alone
I hate fn snakes. I would’ve let him have a taste of that 870
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Thanks!Nice bird!Great day in the woods yesterday. 70 degrees, blue skies, absolutely perfect weather. Got to the cabin early afternoon and saw a few turkey's on the drive down, so i was fired up to get out.
First set up had a couple hens go through, but no gobbles. On the walk to my next setup i have a small food plot for deer and there were these huge tracks like a moose or something. There are some farther north so it was possible. I keep heading towards where i want to try my second setup and all of a sudden this giant animal goes barreling up and out of super thick underbrush. It was a huge bull, like a cow bull. This was a first. Thing was enormous and took off faster than anything that big has a right to. No idea where this thing came from and what I'll do about it if it hangs around. I'll probably contact the sheriff and see what they think. Obviously it belongs to somebody. Tried to get a picture, but this thing kept running and never looked back. Crazy.
Second set up I got on a gobbler and had a pretty perfect setup. I was at the top of a ridge and him at the bottom. I'd call, he'd gobble, this went on for an hour or so before a deer ran through an opening and pushed him up an old logging road i was hoping he'd take. 30yd shot with the Remington 870 and that was that. Really beautiful bird, 8 ínch beard and probably somewhere in the low 20s for weight.
I got back to get everything cleaned up and into the cooler and not paying attention right before I open the door i glance down and there's a huge fox snake. This thing was a good 4ft. I won't lie, I screamed like a little girl and was glad to be alone
I hate fn snakes. I would’ve let him have a taste of that 870
Yeah, not a huge fan either, but they eat the mice, ticks, and any other varmints so they get a pass. Scared the **** out of me though. There's an old covered well near the cabin and they hibernate in it. This time of year there's probably 50 that come out of this little hole in the ground a few at a time when it gets 65-70 degrees. It's nasty, but after they come out i never see them again until the next spring.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Ugh that’s creepyThanks!Nice bird!Great day in the woods yesterday. 70 degrees, blue skies, absolutely perfect weather. Got to the cabin early afternoon and saw a few turkey's on the drive down, so i was fired up to get out.
First set up had a couple hens go through, but no gobbles. On the walk to my next setup i have a small food plot for deer and there were these huge tracks like a moose or something. There are some farther north so it was possible. I keep heading towards where i want to try my second setup and all of a sudden this giant animal goes barreling up and out of super thick underbrush. It was a huge bull, like a cow bull. This was a first. Thing was enormous and took off faster than anything that big has a right to. No idea where this thing came from and what I'll do about it if it hangs around. I'll probably contact the sheriff and see what they think. Obviously it belongs to somebody. Tried to get a picture, but this thing kept running and never looked back. Crazy.
Second set up I got on a gobbler and had a pretty perfect setup. I was at the top of a ridge and him at the bottom. I'd call, he'd gobble, this went on for an hour or so before a deer ran through an opening and pushed him up an old logging road i was hoping he'd take. 30yd shot with the Remington 870 and that was that. Really beautiful bird, 8 ínch beard and probably somewhere in the low 20s for weight.
I got back to get everything cleaned up and into the cooler and not paying attention right before I open the door i glance down and there's a huge fox snake. This thing was a good 4ft. I won't lie, I screamed like a little girl and was glad to be alone
I hate fn snakes. I would’ve let him have a taste of that 870
Yeah, not a huge fan either, but they eat the mice, ticks, and any other varmints so they get a pass. Scared the **** out of me though. There's an old covered well near the cabin and they hibernate in it. This time of year there's probably 50 that come out of this little hole in the ground a few at a time when it gets 65-70 degrees. It's nasty, but after they come out i never see them again until the next spring.
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Very. If they hung around there'd probably be a big fire right there, but since they don't, live and let live.Ugh that’s creepyThanks!Nice bird!Great day in the woods yesterday. 70 degrees, blue skies, absolutely perfect weather. Got to the cabin early afternoon and saw a few turkey's on the drive down, so i was fired up to get out.
First set up had a couple hens go through, but no gobbles. On the walk to my next setup i have a small food plot for deer and there were these huge tracks like a moose or something. There are some farther north so it was possible. I keep heading towards where i want to try my second setup and all of a sudden this giant animal goes barreling up and out of super thick underbrush. It was a huge bull, like a cow bull. This was a first. Thing was enormous and took off faster than anything that big has a right to. No idea where this thing came from and what I'll do about it if it hangs around. I'll probably contact the sheriff and see what they think. Obviously it belongs to somebody. Tried to get a picture, but this thing kept running and never looked back. Crazy.
Second set up I got on a gobbler and had a pretty perfect setup. I was at the top of a ridge and him at the bottom. I'd call, he'd gobble, this went on for an hour or so before a deer ran through an opening and pushed him up an old logging road i was hoping he'd take. 30yd shot with the Remington 870 and that was that. Really beautiful bird, 8 ínch beard and probably somewhere in the low 20s for weight.
I got back to get everything cleaned up and into the cooler and not paying attention right before I open the door i glance down and there's a huge fox snake. This thing was a good 4ft. I won't lie, I screamed like a little girl and was glad to be alone
I hate fn snakes. I would’ve let him have a taste of that 870
Yeah, not a huge fan either, but they eat the mice, ticks, and any other varmints so they get a pass. Scared the **** out of me though. There's an old covered well near the cabin and they hibernate in it. This time of year there's probably 50 that come out of this little hole in the ground a few at a time when it gets 65-70 degrees. It's nasty, but after they come out i never see them again until the next spring.
Fishboy
Footballguy
Congrats, nice bird.Great day in the woods yesterday. 70 degrees, blue skies, absolutely perfect weather. Got to the cabin early afternoon and saw a few turkey's on the drive down, so i was fired up to get out.
First set up had a couple hens go through, but no gobbles. On the walk to my next setup i have a small food plot for deer and there were these huge tracks like a moose or something. There are some farther north so it was possible. I keep heading towards where i want to try my second setup and all of a sudden this giant animal goes barreling up and out of super thick underbrush. It was a huge bull, like a cow bull. This was a first. Thing was enormous and took off faster than anything that big has a right to. No idea where this thing came from and what I'll do about it if it hangs around. I'll probably contact the sheriff and see what they think. Obviously it belongs to somebody. Tried to get a picture, but this thing kept running and never looked back. Crazy.
Second set up I got on a gobbler and had a pretty perfect setup. I was at the top of a ridge and him at the bottom. I'd call, he'd gobble, this went on for an hour or so before a deer ran through an opening and pushed him up an old logging road i was hoping he'd take. 30yd shot with the Remington 870 and that was that. Really beautiful bird, 8 ínch beard and probably somewhere in the low 20s for weight.
I got back to get everything cleaned up and into the cooler and not paying attention right before I open the door i glance down and there's a huge fox snake. This thing was a good 4ft. I won't lie, I screamed like a little girl and was glad to be alone
Saw a few hens and one tom. He was crossing a cut corn field about 200 yards out. He gobbled a few times, but just kept walking.
40's and steady rain all morning. Tomorrow looks to be a much better day in terms of weather.
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Good luck. That break in the weather might get them out looking for a date.Congrats, nice bird.Great day in the woods yesterday. 70 degrees, blue skies, absolutely perfect weather. Got to the cabin early afternoon and saw a few turkey's on the drive down, so i was fired up to get out.
First set up had a couple hens go through, but no gobbles. On the walk to my next setup i have a small food plot for deer and there were these huge tracks like a moose or something. There are some farther north so it was possible. I keep heading towards where i want to try my second setup and all of a sudden this giant animal goes barreling up and out of super thick underbrush. It was a huge bull, like a cow bull. This was a first. Thing was enormous and took off faster than anything that big has a right to. No idea where this thing came from and what I'll do about it if it hangs around. I'll probably contact the sheriff and see what they think. Obviously it belongs to somebody. Tried to get a picture, but this thing kept running and never looked back. Crazy.
Second set up I got on a gobbler and had a pretty perfect setup. I was at the top of a ridge and him at the bottom. I'd call, he'd gobble, this went on for an hour or so before a deer ran through an opening and pushed him up an old logging road i was hoping he'd take. 30yd shot with the Remington 870 and that was that. Really beautiful bird, 8 ínch beard and probably somewhere in the low 20s for weight.
I got back to get everything cleaned up and into the cooler and not paying attention right before I open the door i glance down and there's a huge fox snake. This thing was a good 4ft. I won't lie, I screamed like a little girl and was glad to be alone
Saw a few hens and one tom. He was crossing a cut corn field about 200 yards out. He gobbled a few times, but just kept walking.
40's and steady rain all morning. Tomorrow looks to be a much better day in terms of weather.
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Food plot season for those that are into that kind of thing. Got 15 acres of oats planted so far in one plot and 3 acres of rye from last fall broken and scattered across the property into 4 smaller plots that I'll also get into oats before turning those into clover this fall. I also lease 40 acres to a local farmer that typically puts in corn or soybeans, this year he also did oats though.
Built a new 15ft tower blind over the winter and have all my pre set tree stands hung, so now i just need it to be fall.
I run 5 cell cams to keep track of what's around and in the last few days have a few bucks getting their antlers. Lots of bears and wolves on cam too. Got a wolf picture a couple days ago and yesterday found a fresh kill.
Built a new 15ft tower blind over the winter and have all my pre set tree stands hung, so now i just need it to be fall.
I run 5 cell cams to keep track of what's around and in the last few days have a few bucks getting their antlers. Lots of bears and wolves on cam too. Got a wolf picture a couple days ago and yesterday found a fresh kill.
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Got my food plots for the fall planted around labor day and they're all up nicely. Tons of deer in my neck of the woods and plots are getting hit heavy which is great to see.
Have a pretty decent 10pt i passed a few times last year that made it through the year and is back. I know his patterns, so if the conditions are right i should be able to sneak in and set up for early season success.
I primarily bow hunt and that season starts on Oct 1 for us in Michigan so less than 2 weeks away (i must have blinked because I'm not sure what happened to summer). Good luck to anyone that gets out in the early bow seasons, i know a lot of states started already. Getting excited, this is my favorite time of year.
Have a pretty decent 10pt i passed a few times last year that made it through the year and is back. I know his patterns, so if the conditions are right i should be able to sneak in and set up for early season success.
I primarily bow hunt and that season starts on Oct 1 for us in Michigan so less than 2 weeks away (i must have blinked because I'm not sure what happened to summer). Good luck to anyone that gets out in the early bow seasons, i know a lot of states started already. Getting excited, this is my favorite time of year.
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
yes.
ChiefD
Footballguy
I'm not a hunter but I've enjoyed watching the deer come across our property the last year and a half. One of the does had twins last year and they both have survived so far.
One of them turned out to be a buck. We've had two other young bucks this year as well. The only problem around here is everyone shoots the 6 pointers so they never get much bigger than that as far as I can tell.
We routinely have 8-10 deer that bed down in my front pasture every night. Cool to watch them grow. Lots of small fawns still though.
One of them turned out to be a buck. We've had two other young bucks this year as well. The only problem around here is everyone shoots the 6 pointers so they never get much bigger than that as far as I can tell.
We routinely have 8-10 deer that bed down in my front pasture every night. Cool to watch them grow. Lots of small fawns still though.
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Same thing here, across the entirety of both states outside a few counties really.
I'm fortunate to have a pretty sizable parcel i can control and the neighbors are mostly like minded, so we sneak a few nice ones through most years. It's about the challenge for me mostly, so i want to hunt and harvest the biggest oldest deer available. To me that's were the sport of it comes in.
I do way more watching than hunting but there's something about it especially with a bow that scratches some kind of itch deep inside. It's hard to explain "buck fever" without actually experiencing it, but it's a rush you don't find many other ways. A definite high on your own supply.
We're also seeing a lot of very small fawns still and it does worry me if we get a bad winter. Those little fellas are gonna need all the help they can get. A little supplemental feeding if legal goes a long way.
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Having a pretty amazing archery season, possibly the best overall season I've had in 40 years of hunting with a bow. Lost a good friend a week ago that wasn't much of a hunter himself, but loved the woods, coming to deer camp, and hearing the tales of the chase. Had some success on a deer I've been hunting since last year. I passed a lot of nice deer to give myself the best chance to harvest the target buck. I'm gonna miss telling my buddy the story and sharing some of the harvest with him. I hope wherever he is he's smiling.
ChiefD
Footballguy
Very nice.
May your friend rest in peace. He would have enjoyed that for sure.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
My younger brother and I did a lot of fishing growing up. Matt would always catch a boatload of fish and I would have much less luck.
I recently went fly fishing with a group of 15. Everybody caught at least one (rainbow trout) but I caught 14.
I like to think Matt was right there next to me, helping guide them in. It’s the only explanation.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Awesome!
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Crossbow? Compound?
Either way that’s a shooter for me
I haven’t been out yet this fall. I don’t usually start until about now. Planning to get out tomorrow morning and hopefully Saturday and Sunday.
My cameras have been slow this fall :(
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
I shoot a Matthew's compound bow. Probably the same one for 20 years now. I live to archery hunt and as long as i can I want to keep the thrill of drawing back on a big deer.
This was a deer i passed last year. He was probably a 3yo 10pt then, but I had some luck on a bigger one, so i let him go to this year. As luck would have it he showed back up in September. I passed some really really nice deer this year to get an opportunity at him. In mid October i had him at 50yds, but that's outside of where I'm comfortable so i let him walk. I typically look for mature deer, so this one being 4 puts him there and he's a really cool looking buck. Mature deer in the northwoods are getting pretty rare, so it's fun when you can find one.
Rut is just kicking off here so i set up on a fresh scrape line and about an hour before dark i heard him working a scrape behind me. He got about 15yds from me when i drew back. Pretty sure he saw me draw, but it was too late and i got off a clean shot. He went maybe 50yds and fell. From shot to expiration was under 10 seconds, probably closer to 5, which is the ultimate goal, quick and clean.
Nice to get the freezer topped back off and since there's still room i do have 2 other really nice mature bucks that show up on camera here and there. One i rattled in to 20yds, but was on my offhand and behind brush. I wouldn't mind a redemption hunt on him.
You have your timing perfect. Things are really getting going in the woods. Good luck when you get out there. Anything can happen this time of year.
Cowboysfan8
Footballguy
Cool, same here
I had a Golden Eagle that I hunted with for probly 25 years. Killed alot of deer with that bow. Last year my wife had some store credit that she won at gun bingo so I used some and upgraded to a Bear Whitetail Legend Pro. This thing strikes like lightning compared to my old bow and I’m only shooting 59 lbs lol.
I started hunting with expendables about 10 or so years ago and I’ll never go back these thing shoot like darts. NAP 3 blade Spitfire
The Longtime Lurker
Footballguy
Same lol. 120gr spitfires have been my go to since they were invented and i also shoot 60lbs. I know i can make a shot out to 30 easy at that weight and when it's cold and awkward lighter weight is the way to go imo. There's no need to struggle if you're in a weird position.
