I had to go way back in my archives to find this picture. It’s my first deer with a bow taken in Lewiston many years ago. The reason I’m posting this picture is because the season is winding down, and I can’t seem to be in the right place at the right time.
I was out again last evening, and didn’t see a thing! Before going to my blind I walked the perimeter of my property, and did not come across one set of fresh tracks. My friend Mike Heil was stationed about 5-miles away at my second spot, and he didn’t see anything either. He said he only saw a few tracks on the 160 acres he was hunting.
Now I know there are a few deer left out there, as I did a little exploring on my way over to Hillsdale. On one of the back roads, in Lenawee county, a nice 6-pointer jumped the road in front of my truck. A doe was on his heals. About a mile down the road I saw 11 deer running across a cut corn field. Two of them were huge, but I couldn’t find my binoculars to check for head gear! Could it be that the snow from last week has them yarding-up already? I didn’t think that southern Michigan deer were as prone to congregate, as their northern cousins do. That would explain the lack of deer sign in both the areas I hunt, but I’m not convinced that’s the problem either. Deer sightings were way down this year (at least where I hunt) and quite frankly I think the D.N.R. has really inflated the number of deer statewide.
Anyway I probably will only make it out one more time before I have to call it a season. I really want to put a deer in the freezer so we can enjoy some venison for those long winter months. I did get a doe during gun season, but I had that whole deer made into “jerky!” I figured it would be no problem filling another tag, but obviously that plan isn’t coming together so far. There’s still hope – keep ya posted.
Mike
Good luck Mike if you do get out again. Hey, jerky is good too! Not quite what it takes to fill the freezer though I suppose!