I went for a walk in the woods and an atv ride. I was basically starting to search for shed antlers. This time of year is nice because you can get a pretty clear idea of where the deer are moving. This picture shows a "deer highway" around the top of the "bowl" above the valley stand and below the ladder stand. I walked the whole circuit around the top of the bowl, down to the creek bottom, across the atv trail, and back up to the ladder stand.
This is where they've been crossing the creek. Since there's some snow left but the mud is showing through, the trails stand out nicely.
This is where they were crossing the atv trail on the way up the hill toward the ladder stand.
This is a rub and scrape that is still active and right beside the atv trail toward the back of the property.
It's surprising that there are alot of turnips left. It's been a hard winter and food has been scarce. They've been hidden under the snow and ice until recently. The deer have found them now and there's lots of evidence of the deer eating them.
More turnips. The only shed antler that I found was right in the middle of the turnips.
This picture is in the clover field in front of the barn stand. You can see the stand in the background. In the foreground is a deer skull.
It's apparent that coyotes have been working on a deer carcas and this is all that's left. I don't know if they took a deer down here or just dragged it here. The remnants of the deer that Leo butchered was dumped in the woods about 500 yards from here. It's possible that they found and dragged those parts out here. There was also a 2' square chunk of hide.
I hunted the driveway stand Saturday night. These two black labs cruised thru the area and probably ruined any chance that I had. Leo has met these guys previously.
Here I am checking the camera below the barn stand. I spread some cracked corn in the new shooting lane below this stand.
The does are looking pretty healthy in spite of the severe winter. It is still a long time until "green-up" though.
Here's a one-sided buck. Not sure if he lost a fight or has started to shed. From what I've read, they usually drop both antlers within 24 hours of each other.
The racoons have an amazing ability to find any corn.
Here I am checking a camera by the ridge stand. I put corn between the two logs in front of the camera.
January 29th and this guy still has both antlers.
Here's 5 does on the corn before sundown - they're all looking pretty healthy.
Two more bucks that haven't started to shed yet. Those are long G-2's on the right buck but it's a short main beam.
For those hunters who enjoy seeing other hunters success, you may enjoy going to this link (hope that the link works):
Some of the losers in fights with the bruiser.
Took this picture in the shade and you can see me pretty well.
