Earlier in the year I decided I'd changed my hunting style for the season. My goals were as follows:
-Don't hunt the same stand twice
-Don't hunt the same property twice in a week
-No cams
-No bait
-Ultra scent control
-Only hunt when the wind is right
-Good note taking and journaling
The idea was to make as little impact in the woods as possible. Since I was hunting the same properties basically for the last few years I didn't even scout.
I've got to say it really paid off. I'll have an article on it published at some point and I'll be sure to link the details to it when its live, but that could be a while.
-Sept 27-Sept 29th
I hunted 4 times in these days at 4 different properties, all under 15 acres. I saw deer 3 of the 4 hunts and took doe #1 of the season the night of the 29th.
-Oct 1- October 9th
2 Hunts at 2 properties, and saw deer every hunt. Passed a few dink bucks and a doe. I would've liked to hunt more, but the wind didn't cooperate. So I stuck to plan and stayed home
-Oct 10- 25th
Didn't hunt at all in Ohio. I was either in Wy or cutting meat!
-October 26 th
I started hunting bucks. I hit a property that holds good deer, and sat an observation stand a hundred yards from where I thought deer would be. didn't see a thing!
-Oct 28 th
Hunted an area with good deer, saw one small buck showing signs of rutting. I made a large stalking loop on my way out and saw two more small bucks.
- Oct 29th
I hunted a 7 acre spot where I killed my buck last year. I climbed the same tree about 30 yds off a bedding area where the bucks travel and scent check for does down wind. I saw a good 3.5 yo half rack. he cam in down wind of me and had his nose in the air. my scent control was working well! I'll post another thread with my regiment for the year later.
- Oct 30th- PAYDAY
Today was the only deviation from my "ultra super low impact" plan. Due to hunting a few hours before work and the hike and a half uphill with my stand, I elected to leave my stand the day before and hunt the same tree twice in a row. I climbed up and settled in about 40 mins before shooting light. Right at first light the 3.5 half rack showed up. About an hour later, a herd of does piled through. Followed by another half rack, I think a 2.5 year old. I watched the 9 deer chase and eat and play for half an hour. a few does gave me great shots but I passed hoping for a buck.
At 9:00 I rattled in a 4x1 buck. I was playing with him grunting at him for a little when I heard some close leaves crunching. I turned and saw a 10 pointer heading right for me. He wasn't a giant. In fact my initial thought was "He's not a shooter" but the closer he got the better he looked, and, with a baby due any day now I decided he was good enough. I waited as long as I could to draw. He had his head down sniffing when I drew and he caught me. The buck pause just long enough at about 18 yds for me to aim and let fly. My arrow hit him high and passed clean through
I listened intently and was pretty sure I heard a crash about 10 seconds after the shot. It sounded like he was only 60-100 yds away. I was pretty unhappy with the high quartering to shot. I knew I got 1 lung and liver and saw blood pumping out but it just wasn't that "perfect shot". I backed out and called Wildman. Luckily he wasn't working and put his life on the line leaving his wife at work with no car to come help me!
We got on the track and the was very little blood. I mean it looked bad. It was good blood with some bubbles but it was very scarce. Fortunately, he had fallen where I thought I heard him crash just 60 yds from the shot. We got him out as quick as we could and as far as I know Wildman is still married (Thanks again for your help!)
This deer marked a big personal milestone for me. It's the first time I've killed a buck with my bow back to back years. I've gone gun. bow, gun, bow for a while and really had my heart set on crossing that barrier.
I've been so blessed this year hunting from Ohio to Wyoming and still a few doe tags and a bear tag to fill. I'm looking forward to compiling my journal and numbers into some hard data for the low impact hunting. I'm going to continue hunting the rut "low impact" and continue the research. So far I've spent less days and seen more deer than last year when I ran cameras, bait, and used fixed stands. Here's some pics!
Pic1- the 3.5 half rack 10
Pic2- Trophy taker ulmer edge (I know we discussed these in an earlier thread) They performed as well as rages but IMO are more reliable.
Pic3- Bloodsport arrows
Pic4- Me and my deer
-Don't hunt the same stand twice
-Don't hunt the same property twice in a week
-No cams
-No bait
-Ultra scent control
-Only hunt when the wind is right
-Good note taking and journaling
The idea was to make as little impact in the woods as possible. Since I was hunting the same properties basically for the last few years I didn't even scout.
I've got to say it really paid off. I'll have an article on it published at some point and I'll be sure to link the details to it when its live, but that could be a while.
-Sept 27-Sept 29th
I hunted 4 times in these days at 4 different properties, all under 15 acres. I saw deer 3 of the 4 hunts and took doe #1 of the season the night of the 29th.
-Oct 1- October 9th
2 Hunts at 2 properties, and saw deer every hunt. Passed a few dink bucks and a doe. I would've liked to hunt more, but the wind didn't cooperate. So I stuck to plan and stayed home
-Oct 10- 25th
Didn't hunt at all in Ohio. I was either in Wy or cutting meat!
-October 26 th
I started hunting bucks. I hit a property that holds good deer, and sat an observation stand a hundred yards from where I thought deer would be. didn't see a thing!
-Oct 28 th
Hunted an area with good deer, saw one small buck showing signs of rutting. I made a large stalking loop on my way out and saw two more small bucks.
- Oct 29th
I hunted a 7 acre spot where I killed my buck last year. I climbed the same tree about 30 yds off a bedding area where the bucks travel and scent check for does down wind. I saw a good 3.5 yo half rack. he cam in down wind of me and had his nose in the air. my scent control was working well! I'll post another thread with my regiment for the year later.
- Oct 30th- PAYDAY
Today was the only deviation from my "ultra super low impact" plan. Due to hunting a few hours before work and the hike and a half uphill with my stand, I elected to leave my stand the day before and hunt the same tree twice in a row. I climbed up and settled in about 40 mins before shooting light. Right at first light the 3.5 half rack showed up. About an hour later, a herd of does piled through. Followed by another half rack, I think a 2.5 year old. I watched the 9 deer chase and eat and play for half an hour. a few does gave me great shots but I passed hoping for a buck.
At 9:00 I rattled in a 4x1 buck. I was playing with him grunting at him for a little when I heard some close leaves crunching. I turned and saw a 10 pointer heading right for me. He wasn't a giant. In fact my initial thought was "He's not a shooter" but the closer he got the better he looked, and, with a baby due any day now I decided he was good enough. I waited as long as I could to draw. He had his head down sniffing when I drew and he caught me. The buck pause just long enough at about 18 yds for me to aim and let fly. My arrow hit him high and passed clean through
I listened intently and was pretty sure I heard a crash about 10 seconds after the shot. It sounded like he was only 60-100 yds away. I was pretty unhappy with the high quartering to shot. I knew I got 1 lung and liver and saw blood pumping out but it just wasn't that "perfect shot". I backed out and called Wildman. Luckily he wasn't working and put his life on the line leaving his wife at work with no car to come help me!
We got on the track and the was very little blood. I mean it looked bad. It was good blood with some bubbles but it was very scarce. Fortunately, he had fallen where I thought I heard him crash just 60 yds from the shot. We got him out as quick as we could and as far as I know Wildman is still married (Thanks again for your help!)
This deer marked a big personal milestone for me. It's the first time I've killed a buck with my bow back to back years. I've gone gun. bow, gun, bow for a while and really had my heart set on crossing that barrier.
I've been so blessed this year hunting from Ohio to Wyoming and still a few doe tags and a bear tag to fill. I'm looking forward to compiling my journal and numbers into some hard data for the low impact hunting. I'm going to continue hunting the rut "low impact" and continue the research. So far I've spent less days and seen more deer than last year when I ran cameras, bait, and used fixed stands. Here's some pics!
Pic1- the 3.5 half rack 10
Pic2- Trophy taker ulmer edge (I know we discussed these in an earlier thread) They performed as well as rages but IMO are more reliable.
Pic3- Bloodsport arrows
Pic4- Me and my deer
Attachments
Last edited:
