Stinger-Hunter

I love this pic because it was a huge scrape in Dec - perfect location about 3/4 of a mile away from any parking lot. This doe is hitting that licking branch and a few others are hanging around. Trail cameras are new for me - first year I've had them. They make the entire scouting experience even better.

Curious who is scouting for trails, beds, and travel routes in the late Winter and early Spring, 2023. I've found that the worn trails are easier to see between Jan-April, especially those paths in and out of thick cover. I drive along the roads looking for those paths that are used to cross the street and often follow them back as far as I can. I did this after 2022 deer season and found a few good Scrapes only about 50-80 yards off the main walking trail, but was too difficult to walk through after May-November. Great pics from my trail camera and always super excited to find areas like this especially when I walked or drove past them a dozen times during hunting season, but didn't know they were there. Taking my girlfriend out tomorrow to reset a camera and hopefully set another one up.

In my experience any entity that manages game, is not agile. I had an out of state hunt in Montana for antelope several years ago and it happened to be the fall after a horrendous spring snow. That spring snow killed an estimated 60% of all the antelope in that section of Montana but no DNR said a damn word about it. They wanted those out-of-state fees. It was very difficult hunting. So one of the things that I do now is I pay attention to the weather wherever I’m going to hunt in the spring and summer to find out what it might be like in the fall. Perhaps that might be where your answer lies. Disease? A hard winter? A drought in the summer? You will never get proper management decision of any federal government or state agency in a matter But I am curious, so if you ever find out please let us know.

I think those high shoulder shots drop them in their tracks because the spine drops down right there. I say go for it

Thank you brother. Going out Saturday one last time in Indiana and then one more trip in Illinois and that will wrap her up

After learning a lot about deer Bedding from Dan Infalt, I started to wonder about Willow Slough beyond the self-imposed boundaries from previous years. I began scouting around the swamp areas and transition lines. Online and boots on the ground scouting for 2 months and marking Leeward side of hills and learning advanced wind and thermals... I have seen a lot of deer lately. I began seeing 10 to 20 deer every weekend and found a few honey spots as opposed to 1 or 2 deer in a weekend. This is my second doe in three days of hunting since finding the secret spots. 120 meter shot with my CVA optima 50 caliber muzzleloader and Konus 3–9 X 40 scope.. (the scope came with the muzzleloader). She dropped and that was that. They of course checked her for chronic waste disease and aged her at 3 1/2 years. Which, to me, was very surprising. At the butcher’s right now. Can’t wait. And while pulling up to the parking lot with my doe after 8/10th of a mile with the game cart (still not easy). I see this guy after not seeing him for 5 years. Old hunting buddy. Win/win/win.

That was my 2017 season in a nutshell. Good things to come in the future.

I bought new broad heads this year but had one muzzy left. That muzzy performed flawlessly and now I really don’t know if I want to use the others.

A Trophy Hunter is somebody who only hunts for the trophy. And does not care about the meat and even though they may donate the meat they don't kill for any other reason than the prestige. People who would rather shoot a buck that a doe are not Trophy Hunters that's just somebody with a preference. They might want to shoot a buck because they already shot does and suddenly they become a Trophy Hunter? I don't think so. Also there's more meat on a buck so wanting to shoot a buck does not necessarily make you a trophy hunter. Some states and in some areas, like Indiana Public hunting ground you cannot shoot a doe with a shotgun you must shoot a buck. All of a sudden does that make everybody A Trophy Hunter in Indiana who hunts public land? That's ridiculous. A Trophy Hunter is someone who hunts for the rack, but there's nothing wrong with that as long as you use the meat as long as you donate the meat and as long as you do not waste it. I think what a lot of people mistake is the difference between Market hunting and trophy hunting. Market hunting is what put the Buffalo into almost Extinction trophy hunting is taking the best animal that you can, which makes it likely more difficult which means you shoot less of them. Market hunting destroys entire species. Trophy hunting does not. Sent from my LG-M210 using Tapatalk

Louie Stinger-Hunter 46yrs Indiana Bow, Shotgun, Muzzleloader Oct 1 - Jan 5

NW Indiana had a lot of rain and warmer winters over the past several years. I had 3 ticks last season and early spring scouting this year. I thought I had Lyme disease and even got tested for it, but luckily no. Doctor had to remove 2 of them since no one at work (surprise surprise) would get the 2 off me. Pitiful when you live and work near a city. Will be getting this beginning Sept. Another mild winter is assured to have more ticks out in the field in 2018.

You missed a horrible weekend anyway.... worst opening day of Indiana History.

You looking to hunt this weekend? Indiana shotgun season starts Saturday. I live in Chicago.

So Cool! That's a great buck, brother!

Little Update: Working the public land hard. 5 weeks of hunting 2 days per week. I've seen a few, not a bunch, but a few. Had a chance at a little buck, but he was too small. Walk darn near up to me while I was climbing the stand. 10 meters away, facing toward me and didn't see me. Don't ask me how. Standing behind a tree, looked down for 10 seconds, looked up and there was a doe, less than 10 meters away from me. We gazed into each others eyes and then she took off. No way I could have pulled back on her. Learned a lot about this little parcel of public land and will be hunting next weekend on different public land, but I'll be back at #1 in December. Getting my groove back and remaining patient takes a bit of time. Loving it, though!

This weekend should be beautiful for normal people... horrible for deer hunters. But next weekend - dropping 30 degrees. Should be 38 in the morning on Saturday (Oct 28th). Cold weather + Doe in Heat Urine = Success!!

Those are great deer!!

Congratulations!!!

Good Luck to Everyone - First day out, farmer decided to cut their beans (day before and opening day). That ruined everything, but I learned more about the land I'm hunting.

Watched it. Good stuff man.

I've done a lot of Google Earth and Bing (BirdsEye View) Scouting on places on public land that I've hunted before. Not much new information, but just preparing myself for alternative spots if there are hunters near places I know are deer. I am definitely headed to Lasalle Fish and Wildlife in Indiana just east of Kankakee IL tomorrow early morning. There is a spot that I seriously do not think any hunter actually hunts. I need boots on the ground to check it out. If it is as good as I think it is, there will likely be a county record buck in there (or 3). Can't wait to check it out, I'm sure it will be loaded with mosquitoes. LOL

Just happened to me 2 weeks ago. I probably could have just pulled up and started hunting, but I haven't been there in 3 or 4 years. I went by (90 minute drive) and asked.. The guy didn't even remember who I was. LOL. That's alright, I'll likely stop by a few times this year and next year and every year because he is a decent guy with probably the best 10 acres in the state of Illinois. Even if he never let's me hunt there again, the 5 years I did hunt there were great, so why not stop by and chew the fat, right? This is America.

I've been a member of this forum since the early 2000s. I took a few years off hunting with a bow and arrow. Frankly public land in Indiana got boring and the drive became too arduous and time consuming. I also worked basically 6-7 days per week for the past 5 years. However, the compulsion has returned. I was able to shotgun hunt the last 2 years and finally got another bow (Hoyt) and have been practicing 3-4 days per week. I have been super excited to get back to bow hunting and there is only 18 days left before I hide behind my secret tree 30 feet from a backroad where I know 4 or 5 does will cross the street and walk within 15 meters of me (at least on the first day). Been motivated for months and now I'm just getting plain antsy. Yay 2017!!!

PSE Stinger has a great setup for $399.00. If possible check on Craiglist for used bows. Might not be a great selection before hunting season but around December to February, used bows are being sold all the time. I shot a PSE Nova for years and bagged many a buck including the 10 point in my signature.

I will begin checking the weather in about 10 days. in 20 days, I'll have tenderloins for lunch.