Team Bernklau Update
Posted By
Wisconsin
at
10/11/2009 12:00:00 AM
My motivation to write this blog blows in with a southwest wind and a snow laden cold front. The first flurries of the fall go down in my book as being the earliest in many years. This only means one thing…It finally feels like hunting weather!! I will now continue with a few strategies that have worked this past week and some subjects to ponder as you head out into the woods.
During this time of year, weather and the temperature that it brings dictates our hunting. So far it has been a wet and hot fall. We’ve been hunting the fronts as much possible. Typically during poor weather deer do not move as much. We went out Monday the 5th of October and had a good amount of luck. It was one of the only high pressure days of the week. Most activity is being observed during these times of high pressure. My dad and I were set up over a bean field. I was behind the camera to capture the action. Obviously, at this time of year, the beans are almost fully dried out.
Below is the bean field we were hunting over.
The deer came out of a known funnel downwind of the beans. We typically see mature deer enter a field in an area that affords them the best view with the wind in their face. They travel from their bedding location to the food using a funnel in the form of a path of least resistance or best cover. The deer entered quite early that night (Around 6 P.M.). My dad spotted them first and noticed that one of the bucks was our hit list buck we call X&Y. Long story short, the buck came into shooting range after legal shooting light had ended. This leads to my second point. Contrary to popular opinion, we have noticed over the past few years that an early October hunt over soybeans can be quite successful. Many hunters are keyed in on acorns, clover, and even corn at this time and don’t give beans a chance until later in the season. I urge you to try your luck over beans as Cole Sandstrom also did just this last week. You will see his success in our 8th show. I will now address a tactic that we use to get on our hit list bucks. We utilize the element of surprise to effectively hunt them. On all of our property here in Southeast WI, we carry our Muddy sticks and stands in with us. When we are done, we carry them out. Deer cannot pattern you if constant movement of treestand locations is your method of attack. Many hunters have stands hung that they hunt year after year. Change it up a bit. A change of scenery can be all you need to refresh your hunting motivation. We have a workflow type strategy. Scout current or fresh sign, find the tree, hang, hunt, and hopefully harvest. If you hang your stand based on the sign, recent observations of activity, wind direction, weather, bedding to food relations, and time of year, you will be successful. By doing this you can hunt a specific deer. For us it is a ton of work and takes time. I won’t lie in admitting that it has taken a toll on us. Persistence will keep you going. I am confident that we will come out on top by taking a good buck soon. Many of our spots are less than 40 acres in size. Don’t be fooled by acreage. We find new opportunities by moving our stands sometimes only 20 yards from where we have previously hunted. 
My dad is pondering what tree to hunt in.
Lastly, the number onpe tip I can give is please keep an open and confident mind. The season can get tough and draining at times. If you are prepared mentally, you will find it easier to be prepared physically. This will result in more exhilarating and positive experiences in this great sport of hunting.
Remember to help us promote Midwest Whitetail. Tell your buddies and relatives. Continual support from you, our viewers, will keep us going and give us a reason to go above and beyond. Good luck, be safe, and shoot ethically. ~ Justin Bernklau
