I got my wish tonight. Haven't seen any rutting activity from the stand yet and really was longing to. I pouted to my wife and kids all week about not getting to hear my favorite sound, brrrrrrrp, brrrrrrrrp.
So to remedy that I went to my "Old Reliable" ridge where I just relocated a stand. The landowner was cutting wood when I got there and unbelievably tried to apologize to me. See, there are some good folks left out there.I offered to help with the wood but in so many words he told me to get on up the hill and hunt.
"Not so fast dude." I tell him and tell him to walk with me to my truck so I could show him something. Tonight I gifted him a Bear Montana at 50# and some CX 150s. He was in his glory and now he could shoot with his 8 year old son who I gave a Mad Dog pup long bow last year. Im just hoping he catches the fever and lays that x bow down.
Now it was time to hit the tree stand. About 2 hours in I saw a line of 3 deer walking down from the bedding area and one was acting kinda wild, hopping and dashing but I didn't see any antlers. They mosey away and a half hour later a little 60#er came walking from downhill, all intent on finding out what she was smelling (Evercalm) on my tree. She stayed for a long time just milling around and then my wish was granted when I hear grunting coming from behind me. I turned slowly to see a big body coming through the hemlocks and grunting away. No mossy horn but I just needed this performance. The 3 pointer walked directly to my tree and began licking the Evercalm!!! After he had his fill he checked out the fawn and she didn't care for him and he didn't care for her. He just foraged for beech nuts 10 feet in front of me until 5 more deer came running up the hill and he lit off after them. Never saw what they had on their heads but it was chase.
Just wanted to share an exciting evening and again tell you how much confidence I have in that Evercalm. Good luck out there folks.