• Bowhunting Articles
  • Interviews
    • Straight Shot Blog
  • Bowhunting Videos
  • Deer
  • Wild Turkey
  • Scouting
  • Bear
  • Cooking Wild Game
    • Cooking With SusieQ
    • Wild Game Cooking
Sunday, June 4, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
Bowhunting.Net
  • Interviews
    • Straight Shot Blog
  • Videos
  • Deer Pictures By Robert Hoague
  • Cooking Wild Game
    • Cooking With SusieQ
  • Wild Hogs
  • Bowfishing
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Bowhunting Articles
  • Bowhunting News
  • Bowhunting Gear
No Result
View All Result
  • Interviews
    • Straight Shot Blog
  • Videos
  • Deer Pictures By Robert Hoague
  • Cooking Wild Game
    • Cooking With SusieQ
  • Wild Hogs
  • Bowfishing
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Bowhunting Articles
  • Bowhunting News
  • Bowhunting Gear
No Result
View All Result
Bowhunting.Net
No Result
View All Result
Home Bowhunting Posts

A Lesson in Predator Management

Jana Waller by Jana Waller
December 23, 2010
in Bowhunting Posts
0 0
A A
3
Happy to have recovered the buck, the author poses with her 2010 Wisconsin 8 pointer.

Happy to have recovered the buck, the author poses with her 2010 Wisconsin 8 pointer.

An intrusive buzzing interrupted my deep sleep as the green glow of the alarm clock filled the cabin’s dark bedroom. Mid November not only brings early mornings in Wisconsin, but it’s typically the heart of
the rut which will get any avid bowhunter’s heart pounding.

After surveying an aerial map of the property, my Dad and I along with 4 other hunting buddies, selected our stands and headed out agreeing to meet back at the cabin for lunch and a “deer report”.

Sitting on a small water hole on the north end of the woods, I felt confident that a big bruiser would come in for a much needed drink. Three long hours into the sit I spotted movement off to my left. I watched as an 8 pointer meandered through the downfalls, working his way towards my stand. The two year old buck needed another year’s growth so I wasn’t disappointed when he simply turned and slowly walked away from me, more interested in acorns then the water hole. Climbing down at noon, I was puzzled with the lack of action in the woods, but it turned out to be the consensus.

Three days of long, lonely sits left us all a bit bewildered. Where had all of the deer gone? It wasn’t uncommon to see over a dozen deer per sit just a couple of years ago. All of my hunting partners were reporting the same disheartening intel- the woods were very quiet this year.

After a hardy bowl of venison chili for lunch I headed to the south end of the property to sit in a spot we call the ‘hard-to-find’ stand, situated among some thick brush and oaks. Three long hours had passed with only one forked horn buck spotted. With 30 minutes of light remaining, I stood at the ready with my release clipped to the string. A slight crunch of leaves suddenly grabbed my attention. A brown body of a deer moved quickly through the thick brush as I pulled back my bow in case it was a buck.

Antlers appeared as the 8 pointer stepped into a small opening at 25 yards and I sent my arrow flying. My broadhead made a resounding thump, hitting the buck at a slightly quartering angle. The shot was a few inches back than I had intended, but I felt confident the shuttle T broadhead would do it’s job as the buck went crashing through the trees. I waited the standard 20 minutes until climbing down and rushing back to the cabin to share my exciting news.

Finding good sign

After dinner we donned our headlamps and began the search. Entering the woods at 7:30pm, we shined the leaves and quickly found a great blood trail where the buck had crossed an opening. Excited about the sign, we followed the trail for an hour before it started to lessen. Coming across a huge downfall, we searched left and right but the trail seemed to vanish. Backing out of the woods, we decided to resume our search in the early morning.

Resuming the search in the morning light we found my buck but the coyotes found him first.

In the bright morning light we were able to pick up the trail where we left off. Scanning the downfalls, my boyfriend Jim spotted the 8 pointer’s rack lying among the branches. “There he is!”, he shouted. Sprinting over the buck, my excitement quickly turned to disgust as I realized the coyotes found my buck before we did.

Happy to have recovered the buck, the author poses with her 2010 Wisconsin 8 pointer.

From the amount of destruction, it was obviously a pack of coyotes that dined on what was to be my year’s venison. Elated to have found the beautiful buck, I couldn’t help but also feel disappointed in the waste. The answer to our question “What happened to all the deer?” was evident.

Along with back to back harsh winters, it was likely we were losing a large number of fawns to coyotes and other predators that have gone unmanaged on our property.

Salvaging a portion of the backstraps, we fired up the grill that evening and enjoyed a wonderful venison dinner at the cabin. Raising our glasses in thanks for the harvest, we made plans for next month’s hunt- a hunt that included a coyote call and a 17HMR.

Tags: jana waller
Previous Post

Paper Tuning for Success

Next Post

Bear Kodiak Magnum Celebrates 50th Year

Next Post

Bear Kodiak Magnum Celebrates 50th Year

Something to be Thankful For

The Gobbler was about the tenth one we'd set up on that season. The wait and work made Cory's big day even bigger.

Investment Advice for Dads

Treestand Hunter Dies

Comments 3

  1. Jana Waller says:
    12 years ago

    All I want for Christmas …. is a yote’s two front teeth! ~ Jana

    Reply
  2. Collin Cottrell says:
    12 years ago

    Great article Jana! Congrats on a nice buck! I agree with you the coyotes and wolves are doing a lot of damage. Its not just out west either!

    Reply
  3. Nancy Jo Adams says:
    12 years ago

    Jana…I had the exact same thing happen to me this year with the coyotes. My buck harvest laid out over night and the coyotes had devoured 80% of his hindquarters. The coyotes are getting worse, it seems, in all regions.

    Congratulations on a beautiful buck and I loved the story.

    Nancy Jo

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • How To Tell The Gobblers From The Hens?
  • Is This The Year For You To Get A Bow?
  • Consider Frost Seeding Now (This Spring)
  • 6 Spectacular Father’s Day Gifts
  • Planting Logging Trails: Yes or No
  • It’s “Hail-Mary’ Week In The Wild Turkey Woods
  • Bowhunting Articles
  • Interviews
  • Bowhunting Videos
  • Deer
  • Wild Turkey
  • Scouting
  • Bear
  • Cooking Wild Game

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Bowhunting Articles
  • Bowhunting Videos
  • Deer
  • Bowhunting Gear
  • Western Bowhunting
    • Elk
  • Wild Turkey
  • Cooking Wild Game
  • Wild Turkey Bowhunters Blog
  • Straight Shot Blog
  • Register
  • Activate
  • The Original Bowhunting Website & Blog. Online Since 1996.
  • Robert Hoague Field Notes, Photos & Blog

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
-
00:00
00:00

Queue

Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00