From: Steve Grogg
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Date: 31-Aug-14 |
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What are some of the best books available on scouting and hunting big woods? Thanks
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From: superrman77
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Date: 01-Sep-14 |
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Mapping Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon is a great book with a lot of info.
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From: stickbow21
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Date: 01-Sep-14 |
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Read up on the Benoit family.
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From: razorhead
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Date: 01-Sep-14 |
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I hunt what you call big woods, N Wis and the western part of the UP. Very few books on this style of hunting, just like you will not see this hunting on the Outdoor Channel.......
Most books, and authors, and many very good hunters, books on deer are written about hunting farms, and mostly managed properties....... Nothing wrong with that, lots of good information, but I see good bucks, in the northwoods, act alot differently, and tolerate alot less......
A good buck is also, not going to compare, to what is grown on the farm, but the lack of rack, does not mean there is not a lack of a challenge.....
Dr. K. Norberg has written a series of whitetail books, I thinkl he has now 8 of them. All of his hunting is the big woods of Northern Minnesota, and he was the first guy to talk about how to hunt deer, while competing with the wolves...
Benoits books I have, very good books. also Greg Miller wrote a book many years ago, about hunting rubs, most of his book at the time, was Sawyer Co NW Wis...
I will be interested on this thread what you find out
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From: Phil Magistro
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Date: 01-Sep-14 |
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Backwoods Bucks by David Bickish. It's interesting in that he's not a particularly good writer but the content is worthwhile. It is almost like sitting across the campfire listening to some oldtimer talk.
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From: stickbow21
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Date: 01-Sep-14 |
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Nothing like the Big Woods. I hunt a wilderness area that is around 47 thousand acres. Just realized I've been hunting it for 32 years and I find something new each time. We spend two weeks hunting. 1 week bowhunting and the other week with firearms. I've yet connected with a nice one with stick and string but came close last year. It's tough hunting in most areas I go into, but the rewards are there if you do your homework. This is what you may find..
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From: Andy Man
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Date: 01-Sep-14 |
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No hyjacking for me; interesting, would love to try an area like that some day
I hunt the same 1400 acre farm since a kid and a few other local farms; plenty of deer and know so much about them/area can almost get a deer at will
No great hunter, just out there almost everyday,for so many years and plenty of deer
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From: George D. Stout
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Date: 01-Sep-14 |
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Pennsylvania, north of I-80, is big woods area much like the UP of Michigan. I hunted it in the early 2000's when I lived in Dubois. You need to find habitat within the habitat. It doesn't stick out so every sees it. Lots of creeks and finger ridges...old cutovers, etc., will create funnels within the big woods itself. I had not trouble finding the deer but you need to get your arse out and look for them. Reading books is a great thing, but it is no competition to a woods walk. Google maps will help find those pinch points, funnels, creeks, ridges, old fields, etc. Use it and then get out looking.
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From: Steve Grogg
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Date: 01-Sep-14 |
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Appreciate the replies so far. Keep the book suggestions as well as the tips coming, please. Good stuff!
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From: Ghostinthemachine
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Date: 01-Sep-14 |
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Bowhunting Forests and Deep Woods by Greg Miller.
He's hunted northern Wisconsin for 40 years.
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From: Steve Grogg
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Date: 01-Sep-14 |
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Warchild, don't worry about hijacking. I really enjoyed your pics and info. Sent you a PM. Steve
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From: r.grider
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Date: 02-Sep-14 |
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Warchild, nice heavy bodied bucks. I guess over 200# bucks are pretty common up there huh ?
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From: warchild
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Date: 02-Sep-14 |
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That should have read "my buddy and I doubled up on these does" makes more sense now.
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From: Wallydog
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Date: 02-Sep-14 |
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I spent 20 yrs hunting the big woods in Sawyer and Bayfield co's in Wisconsin. The best way (IMO) to hunt them is on edges between swamps and ridges. Funnels are abundant and the majority of deer use them as they are relatively unpressured until gun season. Scout the ridges that overlook swamps. There will be a funnel on one side or the other usually where you can pick up sign. Deer bed religiously on the leeward (downwind) side near the top of the ridge. They will stick closely to pine tree growths after the snow hits. They will bed under the pines in cold weather but not always. Big Bucks will be in the thickest swamp edges and using doe in estrus is killer on these guys during pre rut clear until a week after the main rut. Clear cuts( say 1 yr old) are also a bonanza as they will bed on the edges. Watch closely for bedded deer anywhere your near an edge during late morning. It doesnt get any more wild than the big woods.
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From: redwing
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Date: 02-Sep-14 |
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I live in Iron county MI. Lots and lots of public land around here. I grew up on a potato farm in Dickinson county which has less land with public access. I think finding swamps is key, deer love to eat cedar/hemlock, they also take advantage of the cover. I ask a few of my logging buddies where they have been cutting recently. deer are always hanging around those logging operations. Later in the season after the rut I think chances are best near logging. scouting is key, you have to walk the land. Going the extra mile to see what is over the next ridge is always worth it. I walk the Big Woods year round here, just looking for a better spot to deer hunt. As far as books go I'd can't offer much help and am interested to here what others say.
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From: George D. Stout
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Date: 02-Sep-14 |
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We don't have the swamps here, but we have lots of big woods. Find the food sources within. One of our State Forests....Sproul....is over 476 square miles big. You can get away from anyone there and not hear a sound except wildlife and an occasional airplane. I've hunted Moshannon State Forest...190,000+ acres and was able to locate deer. You must put in the time and be smart.
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From: shade mt
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Date: 03-Sep-14 |
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Did someone mention Sproul?....I'll be up there this fall George.
Big unbroken, mile after mile after mile of woods, where the only openings are dirt forestry rds and gas wells.
Being able to recognize core deer areas is the key. As George mentioned. Habitat inside habitat. The deer are usually in pockets of good habitat. other areas may be void of deer.
To many it all looks the same, intimidating. Very little archery hunting pressure. Although rifle season sees more hunters.
I spent a whole winter up in the sproul,at the cabin. came out of the mt only to go to Renovo for grocery's... Left my beard grow caught trout in Oct, and Nov, Did some trapping, Shot a turkey and buck and a doe that year, but no bear. Late winter required tire chains on my 4x4 truck.
I was hunting the late season one day, wet snow all day, got wet, leather loggers were soaked. Wind kicked up and the temp dropped. Got back to the cabin, made supper, Was coming down with the flu so turned in early. Fire went out during the night. Had my wet shoes sitting by the front door. Woke up early the next morning, lit the Gas lanterns, It was so cold in the cabin my shoes had frozen to the wood floor by the door.
I have a doe tag for up there this year. When work slows down, I may just spend some time up there this winter again.
There is something about the big woods, the lack of humanity, and the corruption that goes with it, the utter silence, especially when it snows, the sights and smells,and the sheer vastness of being able to stand on a mt and see only mts as far as the eye can see. that really does something for the soul.
As far as books? not sure, but experience goes a long way bowhunting where the blacktop ends. Where you can go for weeks and weeks without ever getting your truck over 25mph. And once parked. you can walk all day and never cross a rd.
come on fall.
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From: cut it out
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Date: 03-Sep-14 |
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This will be my first year bow hunting for big woods deer. Been bear hunting the spot the last 2 years and have found some real nice deer spots and sign and seen a buck each morning in the one spot. It will mean a lot to get one at my cabin way more than the small farms I usually hunt. I enjoy these hunts after work for sure but nothing like big woods to really get ya going.
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From: razorhead
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Date: 03-Sep-14 |
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Warchild - Thank you for the pictures and stories. I also hunt western UP and Iron Co. Funny how most of us, would never know each other w/o this thread, and maybe because so many of us are loners, we never run into each other.......
You are so correct on weight, 1979 - 1984 I weighed deer in Bayfield Co during the rifle season, takes a lot of deer to tip 200lbs. I use to ask, "guess the weight" Hunter would say 180, and the results, (with drumroll) 142,,,, and on and on...
My biggest deer was 187, shot in 1991 out of the Bibon Swamp near Grandview, but not the biggest rack.....
Say what you want, the best time for me, in the big woods is the late season, but the weather is always my demise more times than not, but when the weather is good, late season is a great time........
Big woods has less pressure, fewer bucks, but there I have a better chance of hunting the sign and scoring than in other areas....
Wolves are SO MUCH of a problem, but Michigan future does not look bright, with the voting down south......
Wis has the hunting down right, want to kill wolves, use the dogs and traps...... There problem this year, is only 156 tags.......
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From: superrman77
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Date: 03-Sep-14 |
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What about hunting the big steep hills guys. It is totally different than hunting on flat land. Any tips?
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From: George D. Stout
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Date: 03-Sep-14 |
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Deer are opportunists and will, like us, take the easiest way when one is available. Don't look on the steep of a hill. Go to the top and all around and look for trails. Get a feeling how the best way is to get from point A to point B if a big hill is in the way.
Around here we have some steep hills. We hunt on the flats/benches where they travel, and on slanted hollow trails that take away a steep incline. That is why we say you must spend time in the big woods ahead of season. A few trips to scout the area will add a lot of knowledge specific to that area. You won't find that in a book.
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