LAST UPDATED: May 8th, 2015
‘Tis the season, folks! As I write this blog, I am washing my clothes, fine tuning my Mathews Monster, cleaning out my truck and doing anything bowhunting related to pass the time before the Wisconsin archery opener this Saturday! Ah, bow season is finally here! After a terribly long offseason, I can’t wait to get up a tree Saturday morning and enjoy the beautiful scenery that Central Wisconsin has to offer.
After a slow start to the offseason with my Camtrakkers, I was finally able to get some Wisconsin shooter bucks showing up on my cameras, just in time for the season! Honestly, while getting pictures of big bucks on trail camera during the summer is fun, it does little to help me kill them come fall, because I know their patterns will change drastically. However, knowing where mature bucks are spending their time on my property during late August and early September can really help me get a bead on those bucks heading into the hunting season.
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I am hoping that any of these nice Wisconsin whitetails will make the mistake of walking under my stand this fall!
With the bucks seemingly coming out of the wood works in the last couple weeks, I have decided to try and implement a new strategy this fall to better my chances of harvesting a mature buck: hunting out of a ground blind. I recently set out a hay bale blind that will enable me to hunt (successfully, hopefully) off the ground this fall. This is a new tactic for me and one I am excited about trying. Normally, my hunting strategy consists of me hunting out of a Lone Wolf Hang-On and set of sticks and staying mobile to keep the deer from patterning me. In fact, my 2010 Illinois buck was a result of moving my set to get closer to the action. However, sometimes there simply isn’t a tree suitable for a treestand of any sort where the deer are congregating, and hunting out of a ground blind is the next best option. One thing is for sure, I can’t wait to get up close and personal with the deer this fall!
Hopefully this hay bale blind will allow me to get up closer and personal with some monster bucks this season.
It’s hard to believe, but in just a couple of days, I will be up a tree hunting whitetails. Even harder to believe is that following my first couple hunts in Wisconsin, I will be making a trip out to Table Mountain Outfitters in Wyoming to hunt with longtime friends Scott and Angie Denny. I am particularly excited for this trip, and am hoping to duplicate the success I had last year antelope hunting. If you remember, Justin Zarr and I both shot good antelope bucks hunting with Scott and Angie. I am hoping that Table Mountain Outfitters can turn into my little Western honey hole!
My little man, Craig, standing next to some native grasses. If I were a deer, I would definitely want to hide in there, then come out for an afternoon snack on some clover, wouldn’t you?
Craig and his friend, Sammy, are looking forward to hunting together out of this comfortable condo. In fact, when those brutally cold Midwest temperatures arrive late season, I may even sneak up there for a hunt or two.
I genuinely wish each and every one of you the best of luck this fall, but more importantly, wish you safe travels and time afield. I’ll be spending a lot of time in the woods between Illinois and Wisconsin, so if you see me out there keeping the roads hot, stop by and say hello! I always have a little free time to talk hunting! If you guys are hunting out of a tree, please be sure to wear your safety harness, and remember you have a family waiting for you at home. No buck, regardless how big, is worth risking your life over! Also, if you are fortunate enough to enjoy some success, we here at bowhunting.com want to share in your success! Please send us your trophy photos to this link here! Good luck this fall everyone, stay safe and happy hunting!
