I could not go out west for an extended elk hunt this year, so I opted for a couple of four-day weekends in Wisconsin for early season whitetail hunting. I had never hunted the western part of the state’s high bluff country before, but its deep ravines and rock ledges quickly reminded my legs of September in the Rockies.
The deer season opened September 14th, and with no prior scouting I was off choosing a stand site where agriculture meets the tall ridge lines. Hoping to catch a bachelor group of bucks still together, I looked for deer sign and trails at the corners of soybean fields, and at the headers of deep ravines. I had to resist the erg to explore the dense timber and river bottoms along the areas I intended to hunt for fear of spooking game. Once I had selected a few spots to hang tree stands, I did leave that area during midday to explore vast timbered ridges for secure spots to hunt later on during the rut, when food is of slightly less interest to cruising bucks.
On the first evening sit, I saw four does and fawns and two eight-point bucks. The largest I judged to be a three and a half year old whose rack would score in the mid-130s. He was a nice looking deer, but with only one buck tag, I chose to wait. I passed up a six-pointer and another 8-point buck at 15 yards during the second evening hunt. I would take a doe, but was only presented close encounters with two fawns.
On the fourth day I found a spot where a CRP field, thick woods, and a standing corn field came together. There were acorns dropping and several apple trees growing nearby. I located a place where a dry ditch rand down through the timber that created a slight terrain edge that may have gone unnoticed if it weren’t for a line of rubbed saplings. This transmission area looked like a great place to hunt during the rut, but I could not resist sitting in the newly hung stand. It was quite warm as I listened to the acorns drop through the canopy striking dry leaves or bounce loudly off of fallen tree trunks. Of course there were a few squires and mosquitoes to keep me entertained.
As the sun set, I heard soft crunching of approaching footsteps. Three deer were coming through the woods just eating fallen leaves as they walked. I did not see any antlers and decided to try for the lead doe if she came close. It seemed like they were downwind of me, but the warm still rising air must have kept my scent above them. They circled my tree and started heading towards the CRP field, but just when I thought they would pass out of range, the lead doe turned and came back toward me. She had stopped eating and was just walking through. I ready for a shot and took it just after she cleared a dead fall and stopped broadside at 18 yards between to saplings. The wood hexshaft arrow tipped with a Woodsman broad head slipped between ribs in line with her heart. She only ran about 80 yards before bedding for the last time. The other deer were confused, and a second doe walked up to me before realizing I was the intruder to their world, and fled.
Taking an early season doe was a great way to start the season and put food on the table. I can’t wait to go back and find out what other stories these ridges hold for me. Mike
Topic: Early Wisconsin Whitetail (Read 1112 times)
