WI Update 11.20.11
Posted By
Drew Yarkosky
at
11/19/2011 12:00:00 AM
Here's a look at how the team did this week in Wisconsin and what they will be doing in the following weeks: 
Southwest WI
This past week I have had limited opportunities to hunt. With the time change it is difficult to hunt after work in the evenings. I saw a good buck at last light on the 13th, but was unable to grunt him in for a closer look. He was cruising along and seemed to be on a mission. This week was an exciting time however as our high School football team competed in the Wisconsin State Football Championships in Division 7. It was the first time in school history that our football team has made it to state. The school and community were very proud, even though the team came up short and finished as the state runner up. Congratulations to Seneca Indian Football players and coaches on an outstanding season. For those who have found the time to hunt, the action has been good. My friend, Tom Gallagher shot a great buck this week (11-15) on a neighboring farm. I have several late season trail pictures of the buck, which was an old Monarch. I have included a picture here in my blog. Tom is a dedicated hunter and he passes a lot of younger bucks so I was very happy for him. Tomorrow the Wisconsin Gun opener begins and Justin and I will be out there. We saw good movement of mature bucks last gun season and we are hoping the good fortune continues in 2011. Best wishes to all on a safe and successful firearms season.
-Rick Sime
Southeast WI
Slow going! After hunting for three weeks straight and only getting an opportunity at Cha-Cho seems meek and dull. But having a great buck like Cha-Cho in our woods is a positive to say the least. However, with watching many great up & comers brings satisfaction of many years to come. Noticing little deer movement proves to tell me that the rut is going to be late. Only seeing little bucks check out does during feeding times is also a great indictor of non-activity. With the weekend of opening gun will create deer movement all day. With a said crowd of over 600,000 hunters in the woods will produce opportunities that you wouldn't normally see during bow season. Sit on major trails and scrape lines to encounter nice bucks during daylight. With the pressure on neighboring woods might make the big bruiser cruise during the day. Remember to be safe and patient! Hunt safe!
-Paul Molitor & Nick Niemann
Northwest WI
Well the early bow season is over for one day at least. This year it is possible to use a bow in rifle season however I plan to use my muzzleloader instead.
The rut was a bit strange here, little movement and few big bucks seen in the woods or on the roads. I ended up taking this buck on Nov.12 in an area that does not allow motorized traffic. That is probably why there were few other hunters there. He was cruising east of my stand about 200 yards and heading south when I turned him using a grunt call and the can. He spun around and came in on a string. When I thought that he would come under my stand and spot me I decided to shoot.
I made a perfect quarter on shot and he ran down a steep hill and up another leaving me with a very long and hilly drag out of the woods. One thing that I failed to noticed before shooting was his small brow tines. I also had turned the camera off when I thought that I was turning it on so I failed to film the shot. Bummer.
I think that the rut will still be active on the gun opener and at least one of the nice bucks that I was watching is showing up again on my camera. Forecast is for 6-8" of snow too so it can get interesting.
-Paul Ostrum
South Central WI
I am still seeing rut activity with chasing and grunting. With the combination of the snow from last week flattening grass cover and the rut still lingering it should be a great rifle season. I will hunting over Frigid Forage Big and Beasty and corn strips. The plan for the opening day is to film my wife take a mature buck. We tried last year but with the heavy cover it was a real challenge to both be on the deer at the same time. We had some quality time together last year and we are looking forward to the hunt this year. We are not going to have that tracking snow but we will have cool temps. Good luck and a safe hunt to all!
-John Bulgrin
