Hey guys
Will write articles on both deer when I get back from Kansas (leaving on the 16rth). In short the 11 point (11-12-2016) grossed 140 and was taken at a very tight pinch point leading into a cattail marsh at 7:45 AM and I hit him about 4 inches back and in the liver. I didn't trail him until dark and he died in a nearby river.
The 10 point (8 point with stickers on each brow) grossed 144 and he was taken just before dark at a primary scrape area next to an apple tree that never produced apples this year. Both bucks were chasing does when they came in.
I almost can't believe the big bucks I've taken the past 3 years in Michigan and that they have been moving relatively frequently during daylight hours. Although I'm hunting in a very pressured area, the majority of hunters are now passing on 1 1/2 year old bucks (almost all others will take 2 1/2 year olds) and I think it's making a slight difference in their movement habits and times. When they pass by hunters as 1 1/2 year olds without consequence, they don't alter their movement habits very much during their second antlered season and many of the other hunters are taking nice 80 to 95 inch, 12 to 15 inch wide 2 1/2 year old 8 points (especially during gun season).
So the 2 1/2 year olds that make it through get a lot smarter, however they were only targeted one year instead of 2 and I believe it's making a difference in the vulnerability habits. May be wrong, but it's the only reason I can think of for the dramatic change in movement habits as 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 year olds.
I've taken 6 - 3 1/2 year old or older bucks in Michigan in the past 3 years and the only one that came in late when I shot him was the 10 point this year, however he came in an hour earlier and worked one of the scrapes and was facing me the entire time at about 13 yards so I never took the poor shot angle.
John
