Wolves Get All The Credit
-
- Posts: 1705
- Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:28 am
- Location: SE Wisconsin
- Status: Offline
Wolves Get All The Credit
I have hunted Wisconsin northwoods for over thirty years. There were a lot of deer back in the early days, but that has changed slowly over the decades, and now hunters are leaving Wisconsin northwoods in droves heading to greener pastures for killing mature bucks. Wolves are the main scapegoat.
Basically, I now have 3 million acres of national forest to myself. Not to mention county and state lands. Thanks wolves!
Each year is different, and this year was the most abundant acorn crop I have ever encountered. Literally every red oak was dropping acorns. Eventually I figured out that the deer did not need to expose themselves in order to feed on acorns. There were vast areas of open ridges loaded with tons of acorns that were untouched by deer. The key was to find spots with thick bedding cover immediatly adjacent to oaks that were also mixed with some pines for cover.
On the second to last day I scouted an area with known doe bedding cover and oaks as described. I found disturbed leaves in the oaks. I was set up by 2 pm. I saw 2 different doe groups come out of bedding and feed around me. I also had a young buck cruise past. The next day was forcast to be the same wind so I went back in to the same tree the next morning (which I almost never do).
I was set up shortly after gray light and had 4 different young bucks cruise past by 10:30, all upwind of the bedding, but between bedding and the acorns. It was a light drizzle rain day that never stopped. It rained all day. At 3:35 I again caught movement about 75 yards away. I instinctivley stood up and got my feet into position for a potential shot. Well, a giant rack was floating my way and I searched for shooting lanes trying to gauge his path. I ended up shooting at 25 yards at a slowly walking deer without stopping him. The shot looked good and I could see only the fletching sticking out so I knew I had an exit hole. He bolted out of sight at 100 yards and was swerving like he was drunk so I knew he was hurting. I marked a compass reading to his last known spot. 1 minute later the sky opened up and started pouring rain and didn't stop till the next morning. We had 2" of rain that night so there was no chance of a blood trail.
The next morning (still pouring rain) my buddy and I went in and found him exactly where I had lost sight of him. Thank goodness I double lunged him, because there was zero chance of following his trail.
Basically, I now have 3 million acres of national forest to myself. Not to mention county and state lands. Thanks wolves!
Each year is different, and this year was the most abundant acorn crop I have ever encountered. Literally every red oak was dropping acorns. Eventually I figured out that the deer did not need to expose themselves in order to feed on acorns. There were vast areas of open ridges loaded with tons of acorns that were untouched by deer. The key was to find spots with thick bedding cover immediatly adjacent to oaks that were also mixed with some pines for cover.
On the second to last day I scouted an area with known doe bedding cover and oaks as described. I found disturbed leaves in the oaks. I was set up by 2 pm. I saw 2 different doe groups come out of bedding and feed around me. I also had a young buck cruise past. The next day was forcast to be the same wind so I went back in to the same tree the next morning (which I almost never do).
I was set up shortly after gray light and had 4 different young bucks cruise past by 10:30, all upwind of the bedding, but between bedding and the acorns. It was a light drizzle rain day that never stopped. It rained all day. At 3:35 I again caught movement about 75 yards away. I instinctivley stood up and got my feet into position for a potential shot. Well, a giant rack was floating my way and I searched for shooting lanes trying to gauge his path. I ended up shooting at 25 yards at a slowly walking deer without stopping him. The shot looked good and I could see only the fletching sticking out so I knew I had an exit hole. He bolted out of sight at 100 yards and was swerving like he was drunk so I knew he was hurting. I marked a compass reading to his last known spot. 1 minute later the sky opened up and started pouring rain and didn't stop till the next morning. We had 2" of rain that night so there was no chance of a blood trail.
The next morning (still pouring rain) my buddy and I went in and found him exactly where I had lost sight of him. Thank goodness I double lunged him, because there was zero chance of following his trail.
-
- Posts: 294
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 8:03 am
- Facebook: No Facebook
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
Congrats that's a giant!
"If you consider an unsuccessful hunt to be a waste of time, then the true meaning of the chase eludes you all together"
-
- 500 Club
- Posts: 1293
- Joined: Wed Oct 16, 2013 11:39 am
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
That is one of the coolest bucks I've ever seen man! Congrats!
- Dewey
- Moderator
- Posts: 36727
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:57 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
That’s an awesome northwoods buck. Love that chocolate rack. Huge congrats to you Klemz.
I was one of those who faded away from hunting the northwoods mostly due to lack of deer which of course had wolves factored in. Truth is poor deer management in the early 2000’s is what really wiped out the herd. After almost 25 years I moved on but still miss it every year.
Every time I see one of your nice bucks killed in the northwoods it makes me think about hunting up there again. Nice seeing the bigwoods can still produce a quality buck like that. Gives me hope that it’s still possible.
I was one of those who faded away from hunting the northwoods mostly due to lack of deer which of course had wolves factored in. Truth is poor deer management in the early 2000’s is what really wiped out the herd. After almost 25 years I moved on but still miss it every year.
Every time I see one of your nice bucks killed in the northwoods it makes me think about hunting up there again. Nice seeing the bigwoods can still produce a quality buck like that. Gives me hope that it’s still possible.
- Hawthorne
- 500 Club
- Posts: 6217
- Joined: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:13 pm
- Location: michigan
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
That’s a stud! Congrats
- hunter_mike
- Moderator
- Posts: 8294
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:24 pm
- Location: south central WI
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
Congrats klemz!! That's a beauty!! Great little nugget of strategy buried in there with the acorn situation
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
-
- 500 Club
- Posts: 666
- Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:19 am
- Location: NW IL
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
Congrats!! That is a monster. Love that chocolate rack.
- Lockdown
- Moderator
- Posts: 9957
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 4:16 pm
- Location: MN
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
That is a HAMMER. What a frame, and with a longbow?
Just incredible.
Just incredible.
-
- 500 Club
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2012 3:37 pm
- Location: S.E. Wisconsin
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
Dandy rack and what beautiful and unique rack coloration.
- NorthStar
- 500 Club
- Posts: 1518
- Joined: Thu Sep 15, 2016 6:43 am
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
Oh man...this is next level deer hunting! I am always amazed at the amount of knowledge the people have on this forum. Inspirational indeed! And I agree with others..what a cool looking deer!
“The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.”
Proverbs 12:27 NIV
Proverbs 12:27 NIV
- Jackson Marsh
- Moderator
- Posts: 19544
- Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2010 3:11 am
- Location: SE WI
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
When I think of a north woods monarch, your buck is what I picture. Phenomenal
-
- 500 Club
- Posts: 675
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:10 am
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
Tanker of a north woods buck congrats!
- greenhorndave
- 500 Club
- Posts: 13819
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2018 11:23 am
- Location: SE WI
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
My Lord, that is a magnificent northwoods buck Klemz!
Just absolutely gorgeous!
So happy for you!
Just absolutely gorgeous!
So happy for you!
----------
Sometimes when things get tough, weird or both, you just need to remember this...
https://youtu.be/d4tSE2w53ts
Sometimes when things get tough, weird or both, you just need to remember this...
https://youtu.be/d4tSE2w53ts
-
- 500 Club
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 1:19 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
Congrats klemz, what a tank of a buck. Them big north woods buck are few and far between nowadays. But when you know what your doing your going to drop them consistently.
I’m surprised that you have a bumper crop of acorns in your hunting area. Most of the acorns around where I hunt have been gone since mid October.
I’m surprised that you have a bumper crop of acorns in your hunting area. Most of the acorns around where I hunt have been gone since mid October.
- Quest1001
- Posts: 382
- Joined: Sat May 04, 2019 12:21 pm
- Status: Offline
Re: Wolves Get All The Credit
Congrats on an amazing deer!
-
- Advertisement
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 32 guests