Had a great morning out!!

[davet]

Left the house a bit later than I wanted to. I still wonder why when I get up at 5:00 I seem to arrive at the same time that I get up at 7:00?

Had a blanket of snow in Ligonier this am. Temp on my truck said 28, and wind gust had to be 30+ at times. Stopped at the top of a hill I usually go by....but with snow everything changes. Got out....made it to the top edge and hit the grunt tube......CRUNCH, CRUNCH....a very nice shooter buck comes out of the thick stuff. He was looking at\towards me but I froze leaning against a tree. He was about 50 yards away but way to many scrub brushes to even attempt a shot at that distance.

Grunted a few more times.....but I screwed up. I was to quick to hit the grunt tube and he stopped and looked directly at me .....I can only think he was looking for another buck (that wasn't there) so he wasn't all that fired up to come up and investigate.

About an hour later, after I setup, a smalll Y rack came close. He stopped on the other side of a small field I was hunting. I hit the grunt tube just to see what he would do. He trotted off likely not wanting to come over and get a whooping.

Saw 3 separate doe as well. Had a nice morning out!!

[rusty]

I have only seen one deer in the last two days. This may be the worst archery season I have ever had. The only bucks I passed on were two six points. I saw two large bucks out of range earlier in the season and did get a doe. But I have never had as many hours on stand seeing so few deer. There were tons around all summer.

[davet]

I had one very nice 10pt still in velvet along with two other trophy 8pt bucks. About two weeks before the season they just "disappeared".

I am leaning somewhat to the coyote population....but coyotes are everywhere so I don't know if that is the sole reason. I've also spent many evenings on stand and not had one deer come by. This is the first time I've had that occur in the area I hunt.

Welp....if not rifle....mebby flintlock!!

[dougl]

I would lean more towards food sources changing and doe patterns changing as a result.Coyotes don't bother mature bucks.

[Dutch]

I'd consider poaching

[davet]

Nov 18, 2022 13:28:44 GMT -5 Dutch said:

I'd consider poaching

BTW….last day of archery in 2B is November 24th. There’s still a nice 8pt running around here checking the doe. 

[moosemike]

Nov 19, 2022 6:18:07 GMT -5 davet said:

Nov 18, 2022 13:28:44 GMT -5 Dutch said:

I'd consider poaching

BTW….last day of archery in 2B is November 24th. There’s still a nice 8pt running around here checking the doe. 

I had a Doe come by me yesterday with FOUR buck on her tail!