Redsquirrel
First off, where did you come up with the name redsquirrel.
The tag is on the antlers at the taxidermists. I should have it back within a month and will try to remember to get it to you.
Am writing an article about the buck and it was likely the easiest and quickest hunting scenario I've ever had in Michigan.
A brief of what transpired.
I found out about the buck from an acquaintance and he was in an area I hunted about 10 years ago. I quit hunting the property because in all my hunts there I had never seen a buck that would score 100 inches.
I immediately called the same lady property owner and she gave me permission as we have stayed in touch. In early August I set up a motion camera in an oak flat and this year there are acorns everywhere and that is what the deer are feasting on. On August 28th I got him on camera at 1:36 am and again the same night at around 3:30 am. I was also getting pics of 4 other bucks with the largest being maybe an 85 inch 8 point.
On Sept. 9th I got my next pic of him and he was out of velvet and all the other 4 bucks were still in velvet. On the 9th I went looking for some fresh rubs as I knew if I found any, they would be his and I might get some sort of pattern leading to a bedding area. I knew of a small cattail marsh and that's where I started and ended. There were 3 fresh rubs on the outside perimeter on some red brush. I walked around looking for the right tree and after about half an hour decided on a pine about 15 yards from the marsh and within distance of the rubs and 3 runways into the marsh.
I left and came back during the first hard rain to set it up. Because the marsh was so small and so close to the tree I wanted to make sure I didn't spook the buck or any other deer that may be bedded close to its perimeter when setting up the location and cutting shooting lanes. Also wanted the rain to dissipate whatever residual odor I might leave even though I was wearing a Scent Lok suit. When preparing a location it's almost impossible to totally contain odor due to profuse sweating.
There wasn't a lot of clearing to do and within an hour or so I was done. Not wanting to snap any dry branches or twigs with my entry, I also, with carbon gloves on, picked up every branch and twig from the tree for about 100 yards and threw it to the side.
There was another issue with another hunter trespassing and baiting prior to season, but I won't go into that here.
On opening morning I was in the tree at 5 am and at 8:15 a 5 point came sauntering in and went into the marsh and he was shortly followed by the 85 inch 8 point, they both passed within 14 yards. Just before the 8 point disappeared into the marsh I caught another movement coming down a steep hill from the oaks. It was the 10 point and he came in on a different runway and at a distance of 12 yards I took a hard quartering to me shot and the hit was good and he went about 150 yards before expiring.
I think it was the first time in at least 15 years in Michigan that I took an early season buck due to pre season scouting and location preparation. It was fun.