C’mere deer!

[Pullstart 68,217]

I love processing deer.  It makes me feel like I’ve harvested the meat full circle.  Mrs. P does not so much any more.  It’s $100 right down the road to have processed deer vacuum sealed.  As long as I bring them in for processing, it sounds like I can keep hunting does!  

[adsm08 3,637]

Nice. We are still trying to get our first one one. I have two, maybe three nights I can take the boy out this week. Construction on the new garage is starting end of this week, so of course I am having some weird health stuff going on, and I don't have everything cleared out yet.

[SylvanLakeWH 29,368]

Woohoo!!!!!

 

[Pullstart 68,217]

I talked to my Farmer today. He is going to test the moisture tomorrow, and maybe pick soon! More deer!

[Pullstart 68,217]

Not a very eventful video here, which helps explain even more excitement about the next one coming…

 

 

[Pullstart 68,217]

If I did not mention it, the first buck of the night on Saturday was shot with my new 4  blade solid Tooth of the Arrow Broadhead.  The bow is extremely fast.  Opening up the hide, there was damage and gelling in the rib cage very similar to a rifle shot.  The hole was about as big as my thumb through the rib cage, but lots of damage.

[Pullstart 68,217]

My second buck was shot with a Muzzy three blade replaceable blade Broadhead.  Two of the three blades are twisted and mangled, and the arrow snapped.  It was a spine shot, so I understand how damage to the goods could happen.  The TOTA 4 blade is ready for more action!

[Pullstart 68,217]

My double down video from last week!  It was a feeling like no other to be so close to these animals and so undetected!  Fun times, and now I have two more doe tags to fill!

 

 

[adsm08 3,637]

Oh we had a heart-breaker tonight. Bumped a big doe on our way in, I got a decent look at her, but he wouldn't have had a shot, too much brush. Then after about 30 minutes we saw a buck at the end of the lane that stand is along, watched it for about 5 minutes, but it walked off the other way.

 

It was already 6:15, so we left and got to the edge of the field and there was one standing alone out in the field, about 40 yards from the woods. He isn't setup to shoot past 20. Car came along while we were watching it and moved back towards us. At 10 yards it turned broad-side to him, while he was drawn, and right as he went to shoot the release slipped down his arm and made him jerk. Deer saw it and ran, and he never got the shot off. He cried the whole way home, and I can't blame him. Deer wasn't anything special, couldn't tell if it was a small doe or a button buck, but still.

[Pullstart 68,217]

Corn is being cut, and my Uncle and his buddy have their blinds up for the rest of the season.  I went scouting in my truck for rubs and scrapes.

 

 

[Pullstart 68,217]

Last night one of the boys sat in my ladder stand for the evening.  My bucks were done being processed and I was on my way out, then he told me two does out of his range were working their way towards the water hole and my tall tree stand.  I grabbed my bow and ran out in stealth mode.  The big doe was head first in the water hole and I was 25 yards in full draw waiting for her to stand and show her vitals.  She stood, turned 180 and looked toward me but could not pinpoint me.  I was crouched behind enough grass, I was not visible.  My wind was in my favor, but there is that intuition.  She blew and ran off, and ruined my chance to get a good shot off.  They ended up running away from the both of us but I still have a freezer filling up with good aim!

 

 

[Pullstart 68,217]

I’ve got a buddy coming for the weekend to camp in the driveway one last time before the season is over.  He wants to learn to hunt.  I figured the best way to see if he can handle it, is to shoot one and get his hands inside it.  I’m heading out for a doe!  

[Pullstart 68,217]

One of my biggest struggles having multiple stand locations, is choosing which one to sit in (and the possible regerts watching deer walk past the others!). 7:55 this morning I saw one large deer (likely a buck being solo) walk out of the corn and past the ladder stand on the tree line, while I sat 200 yards away watching through partial light.  With no deer on the tail, I’m assuming it would have been off limits for me but still exciting to watch closer if I’d have been in the ladder stand.

[Pullstart 68,217]

33 degrees and frost this morning.  Foggy daybreak and super calm!

 

 

[Pullstart 68,217]

Today is the first day I physically observed bucks chasing does.  Happy Rut!

 

 

[Pullstart 68,217]

Corn is still coming down, and the does are still using it to hide.  They only came out twice yesterday, for the most part.  First light, and just before dark.  I tried to play the combine’s timing last night to nab the big fat one but was just moments too late.  This spot is a trail I mowed at a stee angle from the corn to my water hole.  I feel like sitting on a Grey Stone 3d Printed camp stool might be my best way to approach this morning’s hunt.

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 29,368]

The girls are on the move... front yard, first snow...

 

 

[Ed Kennell 43,120]

4 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

The girls are on the move.

Being chased by the Guys.     I passed 27 deer smears in 100 miles on interstates 81 and 70 this weekend and that was only on one side.

There are gigantic signs on 81N stating      Caution Stay Alert for increased Deer Activity

[Pullstart 68,217]

I had an exciting night!  I decided to stand in some tall grasses right where I had some does patterned for evening runs.  I shot at a doe at 15 yards, but she ducked super deep and I trimmed some hairs.  The arrow was clean, no blood.  1/4 mile of dead sprint, there was never a blood splatter.  5 minutes later, I shot one at 30 yards.  That one went about 50 yards.  But it was a button buck .  Still legal for my antlerless tag, but sad to see a little guy down.

[Pullstart 68,217]

[adsm08 3,637]

The boy wiffed another shot Saturday. Spike came right in to us, he got a little impatient and didn't wait for a clear shot, tried to shoot it across the Y of two small trees and hit the first tree in line.

 

He's gone this weekend, but has off school the 17th. That's his last day for archery this year, so my dad is going to take him up to a friend's place where they have been regularly seeing a big spike buck for a few years now. Sounds like the spikes are at least 6 inches, they just never split into points, so my son is the only one in our group that can even take a shot at this guy.

[adsm08 3,637]

31 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

But it was a button buck 

 

 

Happens. Sucks, but it happens. I've shot two buttons in the last two years thinking they were decent mid-sized doe. It's really hard to judge the size when they are alone.

[adsm08 3,637]

On 10/26/2025 at 9:48 AM, Pullstart said:

love processing deer.

 

I do too. I used to hate it, and I still don't love handling raw meat, but we have turned it into a generational event. My dad, my son and I sit down with a deer or two, a bunch of knives, but an old radio drama or three on, and spend a few hours butchering.

[oliver2-44 10,980]

I also enjoy butchering.  I shot this doe last Wednesday at the farm. Back home Friday  was butcher day. The large pan with cubed meat was frozen to have sausage made later. The other meat was thin sliced to make jerky with our dehydrator. Tenderloin was marinated over night then wrapped in back and added to sundays bbq ribs and chicken. 

 

Hopefully one more something joins this before seasons end. 

Edited 18 hours ago by oliver2-44

[WHX?? 52,951]

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