The Peak is Passing

The weather was good once again this week.  The difference in deer activity was significant.  In the previous weeks, 15 or so does would be out in the fields each evening.  This week, 3 to 5 does were out in the field and, on close examination, they were button bucks.  It seems that the mature does and bucks have gone on honeymoon.

Three button bucks.

There is still some chasing activity.

But it's mostly the immature bucks.

It was a full moon and quite bright out even before sunrise.

A young buck on the hunt.

Some videos from this sit:

Buck Interested on Left

Same Buck Behind

Sunrise progression.

Passing thru. Fork Video

Buck in the background.

I got the 45-70 ready for gun season.  I had forgotten how stout both the trigger and recoil are.

I had four loose shells.  I was trying to figure out if they were the 250 or 325 grain version.  I couldn't tell without shooting them.  They were the heavy ones and I'm currently zeroed for the 250's.

Walking the camera tour.

More button bucks.

Great sunsets and sunrises.

Poop of the week.

This is the brassica field.

There's evidence of them eating the greens, the radishes, and the turnips.

The cameras had lots of chasing activity.

By all ages.

The objects of desire.

On the hunt too.

And, the usual suspects.

Prime Time - Lots of Chasing

I had a great night in stand on Friday.  I saw 3 or 4 bucks chasing (wasn't sure if one was a repeat).  I had at least 14 does in sight at one time.  I was presented with easy shots on what I would consider "shooter bucks".  But I chose not to shoot in the hope that a bigger one will appear.  Always a difficult choice.

I was in the pond stand - one of our best because it is so high that we rarely get scent busted,

I had a little buck chasing does for a while and then this 8 point stepped out.

He has nice long tines including brow tines.  And he has a sticker on the left base.  He chased but stopped repeatedly to pose for me broadside at 30 yards.

It was difficult to pass but he isn't very wide and mass is a little lacking.  It might be a different decision late in the season.

I also had another very decent 8 point chase does out between me and the barn.

And another 8 point behind me in the brassica.  Followed by this young buck near last light.

He was on the chase too.

It was a very exciting evening.  Check out these videos of some of the buck action.

Tempting

Very Tempting

Chasing

Exhausted and Needs a Drink

Saturday morning I spent in the barn stand.  It was calmer but I did have a few does for some time before a young buck came out to chase them around. Forkhorn Chasing

So, I went in for breakfast and then took the dogs out for a good run.  They helped me check some of the cameras.

The brassica ended up ok, not great.  But it is attracting traffic.

The best clover is at the driveway stand.  It was frost seeded last winter.

And I put the dogs up and finished the cameras by myself.

It always amazes me that the bucks pick certain trees and just assassinate them by rubbing.

Pines are often a favorite.

I made some elk chili.  I've got some pretty old ground elk meat still in the freezer. One of my better efforts.

Saturday evening I spent in the driveway stand.  The food is good here but the chance of being scent busted is much higher. The wind was mild and somewhat favorable.  It was fairly slow and then I heard leaves rustling.  But it was these guys.

Eventually I got a few does out.  They were very nervous.  I think that they got a little whiff of me on the way out into the field. 

The only buck that showed this evening was this little guy. Dink Visit  I only saw 3 does up in the main field too.

Some chore photos from last week.

On the cameras, there was a lot of chasing activity.

And the bucks were out in daylight.

This photo looks like a shoulder mount - just positioning.

The does are so exhausted, they just lay down anywhere.

Lots of curiosity.

The turkeys are just doing their thing.

A lousy photo of a bobcat.

A little better of a fox.

And the coyotes.

The Sunday hunt is a wash - more than an inch of rain in the forecast and constant downpour this morning.