michaeloutdoor

Hunting Report: Sweet November

November 9, 2016 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

Glad this election is over and we can concentrate on the important things, such as hunting the rut. I have been out numerous times over the past few weeks and noticed that the bucks are starting to heat up (as early as later October). Warm weather pauses the seeking phase, but this weekend looks like a cold one and will definitely turn up the buck activity. I was able to shoot a buck in New York this past weekend, but not much action other than him showing up on Sunday morning. The weather was horrible with it being warm and extremely windy. I shot him walking down hill from a major rub line and think he was pushed off by a bigger deer. Most of the buck activity I’ve seen on cameras is at night, but there were a ton of new scrapes/rubs popping up daily.

If you plan on taking time off during November, I would start right now. Temperatures in the Northeast look pretty good and if you are up for a long sit, folks who hunt all day tend to have the most activity. I plan on heading back to NY to film some buddies on a few of my private land spots. Friday looks like a “hella” wind day, but chilly. I’ve had success hunting less than perfect conditions usually near thick cover, swamps or in some sort of conifer location/draw. Deer like to hang tight in those areas and not wander too much. Hunt where the does are, bucks are sure to catch the scent and make a mistake. Capitalize on this! November is my favorite time to be in the woods, because you never know what can happen during the rut.

Pretty cool watching this deer grab a licking branch and make a scrape.

I hope to have some exciting footage of a first time hunter taking his first deer this weekend. More to come. Thank you for reading. Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for more great pictures!

-Michael

Hunting stories/Viewers Choice Article

Viewers Choice Article

October 4, 2016 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

It has been an exciting past few weeks for the Green Lake Chronicles crew and I am happy to share this first hand story about an awesome hunt Walter experienced in mid-September. Walter is a hunting veteran from Catskills, NY, who has harvested many great animals in his day, but this was going to be his first adventure chasing elk with a bow. Enjoy!

“My first elk hunt was going to be an archery season trip to the Bitterroot Mountains of Montana. Our son, Max, had taken a teaching job in Darby four years earlier and had spent many hours afield learning the ways of Wapiti , the Indian name for elk.

Recently retired, my wife, Jeanne, and I loaded up the truck camper and headed for Big Sky country. Mid-September, prime time for the elk rut, was our target date to be in the mountains. We set up camp in a valley meadow by a small trout stream several miles back in on a National Forest Service dirt road. I spent the first few days hiking ridges looking for elk sign and acclimating to the higher elevation. A freshly-used wallow presented itself on one such hike. “This would be a good place to sit,” I told myself, based on the warm, sunny days we were experiencing. I sat two mornings there in my blind and saw nothing. It was now day five and I was starting to feel a little discouraged with locating elk in the vast wilderness, though I had read that elk are where you find them.

“Tomorrow will be an adventure, no matter what,” Jeanne said, reminding me that Max would be my hunting guide for the weekend. I had mixed feelings on that. Max knew of some great spots and could “talk” elk, but his reputation for death-march hiking scared me. I slept fitfully that night, reviewing my gear and rehearsing the perfect shot in my mind.

“Dad, wake up. It’s time to go!” came a voice from the door of the Bear Den, a guest room Max had recently built. It was a clear, frosty, full-moon morning as we drove up into the mountain pass. “We’ll be hiking up this drainage today,” he said, pointing to a trailhead as he parked at the end of the gravel road. We worked our way up the trail in the darkness with the moonlight providing enough illumination to see the rocks and blowdowns in our path. A cool, balsam scented breeze down drafted from the Continental Divide above.

After almost an hour, we veered off toward the first in a series of north facing alpine meadows. All of a sudden, I felt this supernatural sense of consciousness come over me: the smells in the air stronger, the colors brighter, and a feeling of calm and heightened awareness. “Something is going to happen today. Something good, ” I thought. I have had this feeling of the presence of God in the deer woods before and knew not to dismiss it.

Max stopped, took off his pack and said it was time for us to ready our bows As I removed my pack, he hushed me: “Listen!” A cow’s mew, then another, broke the silence from the lodgepole timber above the first meadow. We scrambled to put on our releases, nock arrows, and get the calls ready. He instructed me to take a stand between him and the elk while he called to them from behind. I quietly moved up to the bottom edge of the meadow and concealed myself in the trees.

Max started cow calling and then I heard the clashing antlers of sparring bull elk. Max kept up the cow calling but, after hearing the real cows drifting away, resorted to bugling. That did the trick! I saw a bull appear in the distance at the top of the steep meadow. Another blow on the bugle call brought two bulls trotting down toward me. “This is it,” I said to myself, still calm from the feeling that came over me just a short while before.

As the first bull disappeared behind some shrubs, I drew my bow and estimated the yardage. He reappeared, still moving toward Max, and I followed him with my 20-yard pin. Just as I found the spot behind and below the shoulder, he stopped. I touched off the release. The arrow flew true and buried to the fletching in his chest. The bull ran off into the timber 50 yards away and fell.

I ran down to Max who was running to me and met with an emotional embrace.

Max expertly dressed, skinned, and quartered the 5 x 5 bull, readying the excellent meat for the two backpack trips back to the truck. By noon we were back on the road to Darby where the elk quarters would hang for five days in Max’s cooler and be butchered into fine fare for the table.

I am a blessed man!”

mt-elk2016 — Bearman and his father, Walter, with a great Montana archery bull

Thank you for the great story Walt. I welcome others to share stories of exciting memories afield. Email me at greenlakechronicles@gmail.com with your story along with a few pictures and you could be the next Viewers Choice Post! Thank you for reading. Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for more great pictures!

-Michael

Fall/Scouting

Scouting Update

September 28, 2016September 29, 2016 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

For the past month or so, every Sunday morning before football kicks off, I drive out to my Massachusetts spots to collect pictures and put down more Big & J. We are extremely happy with the BB2 granular mix, the deer cant seem to get enough of it. I look forward to this all week, as the bucks are starting to come around during daylight hours and sometimes you never know what will be on camera. We started to name to deer and having a fun time figuring out their patterns.

ma-stinkybigj — Crotch horn we named “Stinky” enjoying some Big & J

Stinky is the name of a younger buck that shows up on all three cameras, everyday and takes a crap right in frame. He’s a little stinker!

ma-bucksfight — “Stinky” and “Little Richard” squaring off

We have five different bucks showing up on this small piece of private land. Most of which show up during early morning or late at night. “Stinky” has been the most camera friendly deer, usually showing up within twenty minutes on all three cameras. Big & J BB2 has definitely helped with patterning these deer to a specific schedule.

“Little Richard” getting up close. He has a small sticker coming off the main beam.

Unfortunately one of the negatives from having high deer activity on this parcel, is the frequent coyote movement. Every other day, we have a small yote coming in, checking out the Big & J and pissing on the pile. He needs to go!

Checking trail cameras is a blast and once the rut kicks in, I am hopeful we have some bigger bucks venturing into this area. Only a few weeks left until we get into a treestand! Be sure to check out more stories and pictures on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Thank you for reading!

-Michael

montana/Travel Review

Travel Review: Big Sky Country

September 26, 2016September 26, 2016 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

Montana is unreal, let’s just start with that. My wife and I just returned from a great trip to our good friend “Bearman’s” house in Southwestern, MT, where the Bitterroot Valley abuts two mountain ranges. It’s been a few years since I was out there and since then, Bearman has been telling me unbelievable stories of his outdoor adventures (some of which you may have previously read about). September is an awesome time of the the year to visit the mountains. The temperature is brisk in the morning, then typically warms up to a comfortable mid-70s.

What to do in September?

Fishing- Traditionally the Bitterroot river is most well known for it’s rainbows and once the water calms down after ice-out (later May/early June) the action heats up. In September, fishing can fire up with larger trout hitting trico hatches. The pressure from tourists is limited and you can have exclusivity on certain parts of the river. During our trip, I fished the west fork a few times, but enjoyed non-stop action on some of the local mountain lakes. I primarily used elk hair caddis drys, but the cutties in those mountain lakes would have probably crushed anything.

mt-lakepano — Epic Scenery and non-stop cutthroat action

Hunting- If you are from the Northeast, the time September comes around, the hunting itch becomes almost unbearable. Montana and many other western states, can be your remedy to get back into the woods early. The more popular species for the 2016 Montana archery season shown below:

Elk- September 3rd – October 16th
Whitetail- Same as elk
Black Bear- September 3rd – September 14th
Mulies- Same as elk
Antelope- September 3rd – October 7th

Hiking- Aside from the hunting and fishing options Montana offers for the outdoor enthusiast, the Bitterroot Mountain ranges provides excellent hiking terrain for beginner to expert trailblazers. Click this link to learn more.

Next year, I hope to get back out to Montana and fill an Archery Elk tag. The Big Sky Country is beautiful and I highly recommend a trip out there. If you have any questions about the information in this article or would like to be pointed to the right direction in planning a hunt, please feel free to contact me. Be sure to check out more stories and pictures on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Thank you for reading!

-Michael

mt-sheacoors — My wife and I, enjoying a nice Coors after a long hike

Fall/massachusetts/Scouting

Product Review: Big & J BB2 Granular

September 7, 2016September 7, 2016 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

It’s always a fun time when you head back to the woods to check trail cams. This year, we are running 15 in three different states all pointed towards a long range attractant. After speaking with Mike Hunsucker of Heartland Bowhunter last year and doing some research on my own, I decided to use Big & J products this season.

Since most of my hunting spots are located on private plots that border state land, I want to do everything I can in attracting deer and keeping them on my property. State Land in Central New York and Massachusetts becomes the wild west, bringing “hunters” from the cities that end up shooting at anything brown. After a week sit, I checked one of my Massachusetts spots and found positive initial results. I did not have a deer on camera the first night, then every day following, there was a tall 1.5 yr old 4 point and big doe coming to the Big & J BB2. Early results in Mass seem positive and hopefully these deer stick around all season. They are 95% running on nocturnal time.

Make sure you read up on the local regulations before dropping feed/attractant in front of your cameras. Most states allow this up until two weeks before the season begins. If you had planted food plots in the spring and fall, the deer would be more apt to stick around. We will keep using Big & J and share results as the season progresses. Be sure to check out more stories and pictures on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Thank you for reading!

-Michael

MOULTRIE DIGITAL GAME CAMERA — Mr. Fisher Cat making an appearance!

hunting/Scouting

We’re Back! New Season with New Expectations

August 30, 2016 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

After a long break, Green Lake Chronicles is back! Life takes you in many different directions in the off season. I got married in the spring, new work responsibilities with higher expectations and general time off. I look forward to get posting again and hope you enjoy the new stuff I plan on kicking out!

Last weekend marked the fifth annual pre-season scouting and winter plot planting on one of our properties in the Southern Tier of New York. The GreenLake crew has been slow to get into the woods, with “hellacious” work schedules and what not, but we were able to plant a few two acre “holding” plots throughout the property. These holding plots have been huge in keeping the deer heard somewhat fed throughout the winter months and during post-rut, the herd falls back into feeding mode. It’s been an incredibly warm summer and deer activity is almost exclusivity nocturnal. With last years success on this property, we installed more cameras, cleared lanes and drank Labatt blues on the cabin porch.

Last season I bought a handful of trail cameras to test and with high expectations this fall, I plan on doubling my output. I really enjoy the simplicity of the Wildgame Innovations Cloak. Battery life is slightly above average, but my favorite aspect is how moderately priced they are. I picked up four more this year and spread them throughout field entry/exit pinch points, food plots, active trails and the “honey hole” spots on the property. Along with the Wildgame lineup, the trigger finger gets pretty itchy in the off-season and with Amazon prime being idiot-proof, we picked up four additional “test” Moultrie M-88Oi cameras as well. My wife doesn’t seem to understand that only one trail camera is not nearly enough. The arsenal is full now, going 15 strong in three different states! The Moultrie cameras are pretty sweet, especially when you get nice text surprises with deer pictures. Makes the work day more enjoyable and fuels the hunting fire. Efficient scouting at it’s best! My buddy in Mass is utilizing them almost exclusively with positive results.

“I love the cameras as they have a ton of features and abilities with customization. There is nothing like getting a text message saying there is a deer under your stand right now. The only major downfall I see is a serious design flaw which is that in order for the modem to access the camera to send you pics, you cannot have a security password set on the camera.” -Nick

Fall is right around the corner and I can’t remember a more anticipated season! I’m headed to Montana in a week to chase Elk and fly fish for native cutties. Be sure to check out more stories and pictures on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Thank you for reading!

-Michael

Hiking/Hunting stories/National Park/National Park Service/Uncategorized

An Adventure to Remember- Lion Attack

February 3, 2016 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

Mountain Landscape — Rock ledge where the Lion attacked

Our Greenlake Chronicles celebrity, Bearman, called me on Sunday with a hell of a story. We talk weekly, to catch up, swap stories and 9/10 times Bearman has something better to chat about than myself. Living in Montana at the base of a mountain is definitely more exiting than a crowded apartment in Downtown Boston! Please enjoy his first hand account of his Mountain Lion attack!

“The morning started off as a normal midwinter Sunday in search of sunshine, exercise and time away from the norm. This adventure satisfied each of those needs. Shortly after sunrise, my dog Angel and I began our trek up the mountain. Two lung and leg burning hours later we reached top of the ridge where we would drop down and loop around the south side slopes in hopes of finding shed deer antlers. As many shed hunting days go, we found nothing, but did stumble on the unexpected.

To gain a better look at the terrain below I headed towards an abrupt rock outcropping. Underneath was a thick patch of mountain mahogany and tall grass among the otherwise bare sage hillside. It was almost noon and the sun beat strong enough to start melting the skiff of snow laid down the night before. Suddenly Angel hit the brakes hair on her back stood up tall. Her hears alert and tail straightened told me something was definitely up. Cautiously approaching the edge, I drew from its holster my Ruger Superblackhawk revolver chambered in .44 Magnum. I came to the edge and saw nothing below. “Maybe there is a bear den down there” I thought to myself. “I’ll sit here for a few minutes and look around, then drop down to check things out.” I’ve always wanted to see a bear sleeping in its den. Pistol back in its holster I picked up my other piece of equipment for the day’s adventure; my new 12×50 Vortex Diamondback binoculars to survey the landscape. Meanwhile, Angel had detached from my side and wandered to the left side of the rocks twenty feet away, separated by a narrow, near vertical crevasse descending to the thicket below.

In the blink of an eye, a mountain lion bounded up through the rocky crevasse towards Angel, poised to attack! With little time to think, I drew my pistol again from it holster and cocked the hammering in one motion as I watched the lion twenty feet away as it approached my dog. Lips curled and teeth showing, I knew that it one thing on its mind. The cat, now eye level to me, crested the edge within feet of angel when I fired. It quickly wheeled around and bombed down through the crack in the rocks and I fired again. Moments later I saw the cat sprinting over the ridge below. Heart thumping I spotted movement in the mahogany below. The reason for the predator’s aggression was two or three large kittens. The young cats worked their way over the hill and were soon out of sight. Looking beyond I saw the big cat working its way through the burnt timber across the draw atop hard packed snow.

The lion appeared to move along uninjured, though I always follow a trail beyond the shadow of a doubt. Sure enough, my bullet made contact. Angel and I tracked sparse blood for nearly half a mile through snow and bare ground until blood dissipated and the encounter became un-walkable for two legged creatures. Confident that the lion was not fatally wounded, and far from my location, I sat down to refuel on food and water. Sun began to peak out from behind the clouds which dusted snow on the big mountains across the valley. Elk were feeding on grasses on the adjacent hill. In that moment I glanced at my revolver and to my hiking partner Angel bedded in the snow and panting. “Guess I won’t be leaving my gun at home any more” I thought to myself. Thankful for a memorable day I stood up, gave a whistle, and said, “Let’s roll Angel, on to the next adventure!”

Awesome story Bearman! Mountain lions are tough animals and I’m sure this one will walk away with a small scratch and a bit wiser. Be sure to check out more stories and pictures on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Thank you for reading!

-Michael

Ice Fishing/Winter Activities

Ice fishing Montana

December 28, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

Ice fishing lunch — Bacon wrapped mule deer backstrap lunch

With the busy holiday season and end of the year sales financials coming to a close, I am pumped to post this successful ice fishing article from our Montana celebrity, Bearman. Sorry for being quiet the last few weeks! Bearman has been experiencing some solid fishing action during the start of the 2015/2016 Winter. Temperatures have dropped significantly in the Bitterroot Mountain range and the local lakes have started to solidify.

Ice fishing Montana — Good day on the ice

Bearman and his local crew had success on one of these lakes in mid December. Law requires a five fish per person limit with two lines per person. Worms on tip ups , and teardrop jigs tips with worm or soft plastic on jig pole got it done. The trout were basically jumping out of the hole! Ice fishing can be a cold drubbing or a fun filled action day (pending conditions and ice). Be sure to dress for the weather and read the local regulations for every area you plan to fish. The Montana boys limited out and spent the day ice skating from hole to hole! I have personally spent many hours on the cold ice with little action to brag about, but if you prepare for a fun day outdoors with friends, you will enjoy yourself no matter the fishing outcome.

As the winter progresses, I will continue posting ice fishing, skiing, hiking and other short stories. Please feel free to share pictures or your stories on our Facebook or Instagram pages! Thanks for reading.

-Michael

Ice Fishing Bearman — Beautiful color on these winter Montana trout

Fall/hunting/Hunting stories

South Dakota Pheasant Hunting

November 24, 2015November 24, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

Group Pheasant Shot — Northern Plains Outfitters

It’s hot and heavy into whitetail season here in the Northeast, but there are some other awesome hunting adventures available during the fall. Chronicles pro-staffer, Shawn D wanted to share a great hunting story from his recent South Dakota Pheasant trip. Please enjoy his written account from his traditional bird hunt out west.

“South Dakota is a magical place where the pheasants thrive and shot gun barrels stay hot! Two weeks ago, I went on the annual South Dakota Pheasant hunt (PheasantFest) for the 12^th year running. I flew out of Boston Wednesday morning to be picked up by my Dad and the crew in Minneapolis where we drove another 4.5 hours to Northern Plains Outfitter in Athol, South Dakota. (http://www.northernplainsoutfitters.com)

If you have ever been to South Dakota, you will know that it is the pheasant capital of the United States. This year there was a projected 40% increase in pheasant being tracked across the state. With a warm and dry spring and summer, the local guides said that they were seeing third hatch amongst the pheasant population. Which I can attest to, seeing plenty of young or immature birds as well as seasoned birds with long tails and spurs.

Overall, it’s a great experience to be out with friends and family. There was plenty of CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) grasslands where pheasant like to nest and live without having too much pressure from local predators such as coyotes. There was still some standing feed corn where you can let your dog’s run loose popping them out as they feed as well. We have three German Shorthair pointers (which in my opinion is the best upland bird dog money can buy) that have great hunting instincts in their blood.

My recommendations if you are planning your next pheasant hunting trip out in the Midwest, is bring plenty of guys to block and wing, plenty of shells, and some good bird dogs to find and retrieve your game. Having enough guys walking in a straight line prevents the birds from running behind you and having blockers at the end of the field prevent them from running out before they flush. Be sure to zig-zag as well if you don’t have enough to cover every corner they might be sitting.

Lastly, BE SAFE! Know where everyone is at all times and communicate. Everyone will be fully armed and the last thing you want is to load someone up with a bunch of bird shot. Especially if you are getting close to the end of the field, the blockers will be very close and you want to make sure your shots are above 45 degrees and not in the line of fire of someone else. Remember, you can always find another bird, you can’t replace your friends face if acting recklessly. This will ensure a successful hunt and loads of fun for shooters and dog handlers.”

Thanks for the great article Shawn. If you have any questions about this post, please email us at greenlakechronicles@gmail.com. Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for more pictures!

-Michael

Fall/hunting/Hunting stories/Uncategorized

Viewers Choice Article

November 18, 2015 michaeloutdoorLeave a comment

Kuppens-8 — Chris with his biggest archery buck to date

I started this site as a platform for folks to enjoy outdoor articles, post cool pictures of their pursuits and to share their adventures for everyone to enjoy. I am pleased to post our first “Viewers Choice Article,” a first hand perspective written by one of our followers. Chris is a die hard bow hunter from Massachusetts, where the huntable land is limited and big bucks are scarce. You definitely earn your stripes hunting in the bay state. Please enjoy his recap of this awesome hunt.

“On 11/5 (a Thursday) I took a ½ day off from work and Packed my Climbing Stand deep into a Swamp. I found a hill located in the middle of the swamp made up mostly of Pine Trees. I was drawn to the spot by the aerial photos I have seen of the green trees surrounded by what looked to be swamp. There was a large Holly tree (30-40 feet tall) located in the middle of the Pine cluster. I noticed the Holly had 2 scrapes under it and decided I should set up on the edge of the Pines but within 20 yards of the Holly Tree. The wind was blowing out of the South West. I set up on the Eastern Edge of the Pines and saw a large bodied deer come in at the very last moment of the day. It was too far away and too dark to shoot. I left my Climber locked to a tree and decided to go back on Saturday and sit all day.

Saturday’s wind was West/ North West so it was still going to be in my face and keeping the Pines and Holly Tree upwind from me. I hiked into my stand site at 5AM. I set up 2 Scent bombs about 20 yards away from me at the 10 and 2 o’clock positions. Sunrise was 6AM and by 7AM a small button buck came into the area. He stayed for about an hour or so offering me several shot opportunities under 10 yards. I took a video of him walking under my stand. It was difficult having him around because I needed to sit very still as he was never more than 50 yards away but I felt it was a good sign that he was in the area. I debated getting down and walking out for lunch but decided to stay. The walk was simply too long and I figured I wouldn’t make it back to this spot in the afternoon and I wanted to see that big bodied deer again from Thursday night.

Around 11:15 the button buck returned. He stayed for at least an hour. He was eating mushrooms from under the pine needles. By 1 in the afternoon he was gone and I was getting really tired. It wasn’t worth the effort to shoot this small deer although I considered it several times. My hope was that he would make another buck come in and run him off. I was starting to second guess myself… I was thinking maybe the button was hanging in this area because he knew he was safe here as the other deer had moved into another area. I was worn out and discouraged. By 3:30 the Button had returned again. I figured I would spend the last hour and a half frozen up in my stand by this small deer.

At 4:30. I heard the bushes behind me and to the right crashing. I then heard the distinctive sound of a grunt. I checked the Button Buck’s last location and he was nowhere to be found. It seems like he moved on. I thought to myself that he may have been looking back in my direction all day waiting for this buck to come chase him off. I grunted and the deer started barreling in. It was a large body and I knew right away that it was something I would want to take a shot at. It was moving as if it was going to pass behind my tree. I could tell it was a Buck. A large buck probably at least 6 points, but maybe more. My heart was pounding. I started turning around to face the tree in order to be able to shoot at the deer. He was 20 yards away at my 4 O’clock position heading as if he was going to pass right behind me. Somehow he either heard me or saw the movement because he looked right up . He stared at me for over a minute. My legs we tired and my heart was absolutely pounding. My heart was beating so hard I thought the deer was going to hear it. After a full minute of both of us frozen he finally started moving forward. He took 2 more steps and came downwind of one of my scent bombs. The Buck turned 90 degrees and headed straight to the scent. The Westerly wind blew the scent right across his nose.

There were two trees that were going to come between me and the Buck’s line of sight. When he moved behind the first tree I got into position. When he moved behind the second tree I drew my bow back. I was so nervous at this point I think I tried to shut my right eye instead of my left eye to line up the shot. He stopped behind that tree for what seemed like a minute. My heart was still exploding in my chest. He took one step and only his head appeared beyond the tree. I held my bow back until he started walking forward. I let the arrow loose and watched it fly towards the deer. I could see the lighted knock heading for the deer. The shot looked like it was back and a little high. I was immediately nervous that it was a bad shot. I watched the Buck run off with his tail down. A few seconds later I heard a “Snort Wheeze” from the same area the first buck came from. I grunted and the 2^nd buck started tearing a tree up, snorting, and stomping his feet. I knocked another arrow and got ready to shoot at the second buck if he came into view. The second buck ran out of the swamp about 50 yards away from me. He was large but seemed smaller than the one I shot at. He trotted up in the direction of the first buck. When the 2^nd buck got to the point where I lost sight of the first one I heard a lot of crashing sounds. I wasn’t sure what happened.

I climbed down the tree and went over to the spot where I shot the deer. I found the arrow and it was covered with blood and hair. I walked about 10 feet and found a few drops of blood on a log. I decided to back out and give the deer a few hours. I decided to go back into the woods at 9PM to look for the deer. We picked up the blood trail. And followed it for about 40 yards. The buck was pumping blood out of both sides and the trail was easy to follow. We found him piled up right in the area I had heard the crashing earlier.

To me the Buck was the bigger than I had imagined. He was a 3.5 year old 8 Pointer that dressed at 190 Pounds. His rack was solid and very symmetrical. He weighed a TON. We had difficulty moving him around at first. I knew it was going to be a long walk out. After field dressing the buck and a few photos we started dragging him out. It took us over an hour to drag him through the swamp and out to the road. I plan on mounting this deer so I can relive this awesome hunt for a long time. Great hunt!”

Awesome story Chris, thank you for sharing with us. I welcome others to share their stories of great memories afield. Email me at greenlakechronicles@gmail.com with your story along with a few pictures and you could be the next Viewers Choice Post! Thank you for reading. Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for more great pictures!

-Michael

Author: michaeloutdoor