Marshal
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2020
- Messages
- 5
I'm new to the forum, so I wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone that has made my saddle hunting transition smooth (mostly) with all the informative posts. This is my first year in a saddle and I am really enjoying it. I've been hunting for a while but this is the first year that I've really 'caught the bug' if you guys know what I mean.
Anyway, I'm here in South East Michigan and desperately trying to do my part for the Urban Deer Management of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties. The extended archery season goes through January 31st here and I really could use another deer in the freezer. The thing is, I'm hunting public and seeing very, very little activity. In the past two weeks or so, I've been out about 6 times and the only time I've even seen deer was yesterday when I had 4 does come blazing past my tree. Clearly spooked by what I can only guess was another hunter walking to their stand. I didn't even have time to grab my bow off my hanger before they were past me and out of range. It was windy (16mph) so I didn't have the audible heads up that accompanies fast-moving deer.
Given all this, I would usually conclude that there are just no deer left in the public areas I am hunting (I've heard numbers up to 80% of bucks are killed each season here) but I am seeing loads of sign. Fresh tracks, droppings, rubs, and scrapes. All this is leaving me thinking that either I am really smelly and loud... or these highly pressured deer are completely 100% nocturnal.
Does anyone have any experience in SE Michigan public? Is this normal? I would also be happy to hear any late-season tactics you guys think I should be using.
I am not giving up yet!
Anyway, I'm here in South East Michigan and desperately trying to do my part for the Urban Deer Management of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties. The extended archery season goes through January 31st here and I really could use another deer in the freezer. The thing is, I'm hunting public and seeing very, very little activity. In the past two weeks or so, I've been out about 6 times and the only time I've even seen deer was yesterday when I had 4 does come blazing past my tree. Clearly spooked by what I can only guess was another hunter walking to their stand. I didn't even have time to grab my bow off my hanger before they were past me and out of range. It was windy (16mph) so I didn't have the audible heads up that accompanies fast-moving deer.
Given all this, I would usually conclude that there are just no deer left in the public areas I am hunting (I've heard numbers up to 80% of bucks are killed each season here) but I am seeing loads of sign. Fresh tracks, droppings, rubs, and scrapes. All this is leaving me thinking that either I am really smelly and loud... or these highly pressured deer are completely 100% nocturnal.
Does anyone have any experience in SE Michigan public? Is this normal? I would also be happy to hear any late-season tactics you guys think I should be using.
I am not giving up yet!