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Deer starting to move

jkratz5

jkratz5

Well-Known Member
Well I am happy to say that the deer are moving a little bit better the last few days. Friday night I had a 130" 8 pointer at 8 yards, decided to let him pass since I have a few on my wall that size already (was a tough decision). Also had 4 does come through friday night. The buck was working scrapes that were fresh about 15 yards from my stand.

Hunted again saturday evening and saw 9 deer total 7 does 2 bucks (1 1/2 year olds). One of the bucks came in anxiously after a little rattling session looking to participate in a fight.

Sunday again same story, 7 does, 1 decent 8 pointer again let him go, and I finally got to see a little rut/pre-rut action. Three times I had does come through on a dead run with their tongues hanging out from being chased and I heard several grunts during the evening. The hunting is picking up, now I just need that big boy to move.
 
Well had to head out again last night with the good action I had over the weekend I couldn't resist. Got to my stand a little late, about 4:00, and was sitting there at 6:00 wondering where all the deer were since I hadn't seen a single thing. This is a stand that I haven't hunted since Oct. 4 and is positioned on an open white oak ridge between a big thicket/bedding area and a corn field. Well as I was wondering where the deer were at I caught my first glimpse of a doe heading my way. Then from the west side of the timber near the corn field I hear deer running so I just stand up hoping an early chase is on. It ends up being two more does, that fly by my stand on a full run and never stop to present a shot. 5 minutes later some more running and crashing through the woods, and two more does, again by my stand without thinking about stopping. I am thinking by now that a buck is probably being a little fiesty and getting the girls stirred up so I just stay on my feet. Some more running and 4 does and a small spike come flying up on my ridge, the spike stops 4 yards from my tree and just looks behind him for about 60 seconds and proceeds on his way. Finally, things settle down a bit and it is about 6:25 when two more does are headed right up the main trail leading from the thicket to my ridge, I haven't taken a doe yet in IA so i though I will smack one of these girls when I hear some movement behind me, I turned my head and a nice buck was headed down my ridge from the corn, I grabbed the bow and by the time I had it ready to rock, he was 10 yards broadside, I hadn't even gotten a good look at him yet. I drew my bow and gave him a quick glance and noticed he had nice width and mass, but no height probably in the 120-130" range. I slowly let the bow back down and decided that I would let him walk since I passed on a similar buck Friday night. As he walked by me I noticed a 9th point, a kicker next to his left browtine that gave him some pretty neat character. All in all i had a great hunt, I wish i had the video camera with me (first night without it) hopefully I will see him again to get some footage.

Kratz
 
I commend you on letting the bucks walk... the payoff in a couple of years will be worth it... be sure to harvest some of those does to improve your local herd.... deer movement will definately start improving within the next week...
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somebody want to write the deer down here a letter to let them know to kick it in????? I went out this morning at about 9:30 and didnt have a good start at all. 4 wheeler wouldnt start. So i checked the gas. Well had my gloves on when i did it so i left them behind. Forgot my mask. Oh and forgot my release. When i crossed the river by foot and got up on the bank i spooked up 3 doe's got in the stand and about 5 min. later seen a doe in the thick brush. Then i sat their for about 2 hours and didnt see squat. Then i sat down at the edge of the stand. Was laid back and looked to my left and their was a small 2 or 3 point with one horn. Really small. He jogged off and i blew the grunt call. He stopped, looked around and started to eat. Blew it again and same thing happend then walked off. Then about 45 min late i went back to the truck, Tried the 4 wheeler and it started right up.
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wish it would have done that so i didnt have to cross the river by foot. Ill be out tomorrow morning to try it again. Hopefully i can get in the stand earlier so i wont spook anything.
 
Yeah they are starting to move now. Last night (October 24th, 2005) my mom and dad watched a nice 8 point buck chase a couple does around in the bean field below my house. My dad said that he would score in the 130's, so not to bad of a buck. I can't wait for this weekend! I'm trying to keep my mind on school up here at ISU, but it's hard when the rut is right around the corner and all I think about is bow hunting! This weekend is going to be awesome!
 
Do you guys think that next week's temp will hinder buck movement at all?? high's in the upper 50's to 60 and lows in the low 40's?

Thanks,
Xtec
 
No. From what I have been hearing from other hunters, and people who are aware that I hunt (friends, family, etc.) is that they have been starting to see some big bucks out cruising. This weather is not that bad. It could be a lot worse. Once those bucks feel the urge to breed, they'll be up moving. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS WEEKEND! Also, the last two years my uncle has harvested a PY/BC buck during the last week of October. Both deer were rattled in. On October 31st, of 2004 he harvested an 8 pointer that scored 141. Last year, on October 30 of 2004, he shot a big 10 pointer that grossed out at 176inches. Also, the end of October is a great time for calling in monster bucks. Actually, in my own opinion, I feel that it is the best time of the whole year to call in a monster. One reason for this is because most of the does have not come into heat yet, but the bucks "sense" that it's getting close. Also, they have not been hunted much, or called to much, therefore they will be more susceptible to calls.
 
Glad to see you are letting the smaller bucks grow! I know in Northeast Iowa we have taken the stance of no bucks shot under 150. its a big task but we have noticed a big diference in the quality of deer over the last five years. Always important to take a doe from time to time as well! Good Luck on your hunting!
 
Just watched a small 14" 8 point and a half-rack (4 point) posturing with each other in a hay field over a very small doe in the last 45 minutes. I think the doe was more confused then anything. Still a little early but the time is drawing near! Maggs
 
I saw a nice wide racked 8 eating waste corn in a field ont he way to work. THen on the drive home, i saw a nice mature buck(not sure how big, it was over 4oo yards away thru binocs) nosing a doe around in a alfalfa field whiile a smaller buck watched. IT is getting reeeeaaallll close.
 
Same stand, same story last night. Had the same buck and another tall 8 pointer both in the 120-130" range come in last night after a little rattling and grunting. I got both deer on film for about 2 minutes, the bigger of the two chased a doe around for a little while but she was not interested at all.

As far as letting them walk, we have employed the same philosophy in IL on our farm, except ours goes if you shoot it you hang it. So a 110" can get expensive when you put it on your wall. It is really hard to let alot of the 130" walk, but we now have several bucks in the 150-180" range, including a 189" harvested last year.

Here in IA I hunt some private ground where 4 other guys (that I don't know) also have access. I shot a 130" 8 last year there, but decided nothing under 140 this year. It is kind of hard to have a management scheme however, when the rest of the hunters will shoot the basket rack 6 pointer everytime over the big doe.

As for does, I have one down already and plan to take 2-3 more in Iowa and 4-5 more in IL.

Kratz
 
Went out this morning and seen one deer in the whole 3 hours i was their. Im sure it was a nice looking buck but he was in some very thick brush. And about 70 yards away. Sure hope the deer around here start to move. Got some deer pee and a call just in case!
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We got a long ways to go

average kill day for The Hood, November 14 and the deer are always moving good that day...........
 
I always see bucks consistently cruising starting around this time of the year until the end of November. Maybe they are not out cruising as much, as lets say the 5th or so of November, but this weekend is going to be good, and many of us are going to see some monster bucks out cruising. This is my favorite time of the year to bowhunt for big, mature whitetail deer.
 
I agree sureshot, I think this time of the year is when you have a great chance of calling in a monster buck that has just started to get agressive and show himself during daylight hours. I can't wait to see the pictures come Monday, good luck to all this weekend.
 
I think things are a little slow in my area, So i moved my vacation back to 11/3. I was going to start on the 31st.
 
Went out again this morning. When i was walking in i spooked up 3 does and a nice 8 point. But they were about 50 yards away in some heavy brush. All he has to do is come alittle close next time
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Im sure the deer are starting to move around here. Looks like their is a cold front coming in so ill be out their tonight
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