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Official Entry Thread
- Thread starter redsquirrel
- Start date
Nice big doe Boswell! Congrats!
That one will eat just fine!
bmulnix
New Member
Oh if only I could get points for a blood trail. Hit and no recovery last week. Haven't seen a deer since. Hope this contest lasts through Jan 1st, because late doe season is where I see all my action.
bmulnix said:
Better luck next time! Yes the contest runs through January 31st.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2014
- Messages
- 700
How do you get in the contest, and what is the team thing? I took a really nice 10 point on opening morning in Northern Michigan and while it was my 6th biggest Michigan buck, it was the largest buck I've ever taken in Northern Michigan. It will score just over 150 and had 9 inch brows.
Attachments
John Eberhart said:
Congrats on the awesome buck John! If you get a chance we would love to hear the story! I am hoping you got it out of one of the tree's you told us you were setting up in the spring!
I just added you to Team 7. The rules for the contest are here: http://www.saddlehunter.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=258
If you can take a pic of the tag and send it to saddlehunter.com@gmail.com, we'll make it official
Woohoooo Team 7! I'll be adding some points this weekend. Buck or Doe it's got to go! If it's brown, it's down!
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2014
- Messages
- 700
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.
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.
What a story. That was some pretty serious site prep in the rain. Congrats!
John- Don't worry about the pic of the tag on this one. I trust you!
redsquirrel- I grew up on the edge of the pine barrens and we have a ton of red squirrels, they're also called pine squirrels. They are noisy and territorial and they're always chasing the gray squirrels and making a racket. Apparently when I was a little kid I was quite chatty when we were hunting so my dad said I was as noisy as a red squirrel and the name stuck. Our family used to use CB radios for hunting and red squirrel was my call sign. I'm also a redhead so I guess it is even more appropriate.
Great story on the buck, thanks for sharing it with us! I look forward to reading the full article!
On a side note, you mention your use of trail cameras. Have you transitioned to using them? This is the first mention I've ever seen of you using them, you have always said your reason for not using them is due to the scent left. I am currently using cameras as long term observation posts to try to observe patterns in new areas for future seasons. No cameras anywhere near where I hunt right now.
Congrats again!
redsquirrel- I grew up on the edge of the pine barrens and we have a ton of red squirrels, they're also called pine squirrels. They are noisy and territorial and they're always chasing the gray squirrels and making a racket. Apparently when I was a little kid I was quite chatty when we were hunting so my dad said I was as noisy as a red squirrel and the name stuck. Our family used to use CB radios for hunting and red squirrel was my call sign. I'm also a redhead so I guess it is even more appropriate.
Great story on the buck, thanks for sharing it with us! I look forward to reading the full article!
On a side note, you mention your use of trail cameras. Have you transitioned to using them? This is the first mention I've ever seen of you using them, you have always said your reason for not using them is due to the scent left. I am currently using cameras as long term observation posts to try to observe patterns in new areas for future seasons. No cameras anywhere near where I hunt right now.
Congrats again!
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2014
- Messages
- 700
I began using them at secondary locations only last year. Never would use them at a destination or primary location. At a show otherwise would elaborate.
John Eberhart said:
If you can elaborate when you have a chance I'd love to hear it. Thanks!
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2014
- Messages
- 700
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2014
- Messages
- 966
John, When I talked to you last Thurs, you said yours was the size of a softball. You weren't kidding! You also never mentioned your buck! Congrats! What a beaut!
1. There's no way in the world that is comfortable! I don't think I could sit in that very long.
2. How do you climb the tree? Are you using climbing sticks? Ladders? Screw in steps?
2. How do you climb the tree? Are you using climbing sticks? Ladders? Screw in steps?
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2014
- Messages
- 700
I've been hunting from harness style systems exclusively since 1981 and this system is far and away the most comfortable (not even close). The cool thing about the sling style seat is that you can make the seat section as wide as you want at any moment as the 2 parts of the seat are separate and can be adjusted. The hook-up is also key, not only for mine but for any type of harness system.
The saddle company used to show a really high hook-up in their set-up DVD and I tried to get then to change it but they didn't want to spend the money. If I had no option but to use the old saddle the way they showed it in the DVD, I wouldn't use it because it makes your upper body too upright and uncomfortable.
A head height hook-up aids dramatically in comfort vs. an arms reach hook-up. The higher you hook-up the more upright your body has to be. The more straight down you are from hook-up, the more upright your upper body has to be and also the lead strap has to be dealt with when drawing your bow on a deer directly to the side as the lead is in the way of your elbow during the drawing process. With a head height hook-up the lead comes to your waist at about a 45 degree angle and when you draw on a deer to the left side (if right handed) your elbow will not come close to the lead as the lead is lower. With the low hook-up your upper body can lean forward as the lead is not in your face as it is with a high hook-up. With the low hook-up you can lean forward onto the lead, wrap your arms around it, and nap if you want. No way with a high hook-up. Also much more comfortable.
Will say this, if in a large tree (with mine there are no diameter restrictions) the lead needs to be a bit higher so you can move farther around the tree and have the necessary lead to do so. When I'm stepping the ring at the top on a large tree I also screw in the steps going around the tree about an inch to an inch and a half higher per step. When going around a large tree the lead wraps as you go and forces your body up and the steps have to adjust for the raise.
The saddle company used to show a really high hook-up in their set-up DVD and I tried to get then to change it but they didn't want to spend the money. If I had no option but to use the old saddle the way they showed it in the DVD, I wouldn't use it because it makes your upper body too upright and uncomfortable.
A head height hook-up aids dramatically in comfort vs. an arms reach hook-up. The higher you hook-up the more upright your body has to be. The more straight down you are from hook-up, the more upright your upper body has to be and also the lead strap has to be dealt with when drawing your bow on a deer directly to the side as the lead is in the way of your elbow during the drawing process. With a head height hook-up the lead comes to your waist at about a 45 degree angle and when you draw on a deer to the left side (if right handed) your elbow will not come close to the lead as the lead is lower. With the low hook-up your upper body can lean forward as the lead is not in your face as it is with a high hook-up. With the low hook-up you can lean forward onto the lead, wrap your arms around it, and nap if you want. No way with a high hook-up. Also much more comfortable.
Will say this, if in a large tree (with mine there are no diameter restrictions) the lead needs to be a bit higher so you can move farther around the tree and have the necessary lead to do so. When I'm stepping the ring at the top on a large tree I also screw in the steps going around the tree about an inch to an inch and a half higher per step. When going around a large tree the lead wraps as you go and forces your body up and the steps have to adjust for the raise.