The rut is kicking into gear in Wisconsin! It sure seems like we had an exceptionally strong pre-rut this year. I started rattling the second weekof Oct this year, and I was surprised at what came in! I normally don't rattle that early in the season, but I carry the horns in case I see a buck that is out of bow range, and I want to get him a little closer..as a final option.
Well this year on Oct 8th, I hunted a stand that I had hung in late July. I crawled up in the stand, and as I sat down, I was bothered by the fact that I had not cleared a few limbs in one of the shooting lanes to my left. I climbed back down, snuck over, and tried to pull the branch off the tree (dead limb) as quiet as i could. Well, it didn't work, and the branch cracked and snapped. Instantly, I heard a dear snort (stand is 80 yards or so from a bedding area thicket). So since I had the rattling horns with, I thought I would try and get back up the tree, and rattle..figured that if it was a buck snorting, he might think that the limb breaking could be from a buck rubbing a sapling and snapping it.
So I start ratting, then took the base of one of the rattling horns, and raked it up and down on the tree I was in..Did a few grunts, and sat down. Within 5 minutes, I had a deer walking over from the bedding area. He got within 40 yards, and I saw him..Very nice buck. He had that "shooter buck" look, the look that the instant you see him, you start shaking. Well, he came in a little closer..and grunted a few times. At 20 yards, I was drew back, but he was into some brush where I couldnt make a certain shot, so I had to watch him walk away. Was a perfect 10, heavy beamed, and Im guessing 18 inches inside. He then turned and walked straight away, and I left him alone, hoping I could get a better shot the next weekend.
So the next morning, I relocated that stand over about 40 yards, in hopes of getting an arrow into that one. I moved the stand in the morning, went home and did a few things, then went out to a different stand that evening (oct 9th). I was up in the tree around 3 Pm, and thought I might as well try some calling, since the night before it seemed to work. So at 4 PM, I rattled for awhile, and sat back. Wasnt long before a 7 point and forkhorn were within 30 yards, rubbing trees and sparring. They passed after awhile, and around 5:30 I rattled again, and this time I used the snort wheeze before I rattled. In 2 or 3 minutes, I heard some deep grunts along with some footsteps, and over the point walks a high racked 10 point. He got in to around 12 yards, and I let the arrow fly. Went through the shoulder, through the top of the heart, and out the bottom into the ground. He ran about 70 yards and I stopped him with a loud grunt, and then he tipped over. What an awesome pre rut! Now my bowhunting season is over, but I've been goin around the block each night with the binoculars before dark, or after dark doing some shining, and there are bucks all over that seem to be in the breeding mode already. Co worker saw a doe get bred from his treestand last weekend, and I've been seeing alot of younger bucks, and a few mature 8 and 10 points in a rut frenzy! First week of Nov will be HOT this year. Good luck to everyone!
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I snagged a dandy 10pt 4X6 on oct. 9th too. I can't wait for the earley season to start! T- 4hrs! LOL! Have a good one! Joe
this is my first time bowhunting and i am only 13 can anyone give me any pointers.