Well, after almost a year in the great state of Michigan we're truly loving it out here. The area, the people, the wild life; it's all been great. Our little 12 acre spread is situated almost perfectly with corn and soybean fields to the south/southwest that border the property, a creek that runs the length of our western edge, and a wooded that starts 50 yards from the house and runs all the way to the creek. Of our 12 acres, about 6 is woods and it's in the perfect spot for our local deer to bed down. They'll feed in the corn and bean fields or under or apple trees, and then move into our woods for the night. Once the sun's up, they wander around our property and either move into the fields or back into the woods. The perfect mix of local food sources, water, and cover makes this little 12 acres a paradise.
Since we've moved in, we've seen deer. Pheasants, woodchucks and coons as well. But the deer are the ideal quarry. Since January, I've counted 4 different bucks on the property. Three of those are yearlings or two year-olds but there's one bruise 8-point that stops in every so often. I had to buy some trail cams for work as we had some equipment stolen so I bought a third for the ranch and after two days, the activity has been non-stop. I knew it would be, but I'm trying to pattern a little 6-point that I want to take out of the herd so the camera is providing his feeding and bedding times like I wanted. He's not a wall hanger by any means. But the fact that I can wake up, have some coffee and walk 50 yards to the "blind" and fill a tag on my own land is quite thrilling.
Michigan affords you the opportunity to bait/feed deer, so I've been doing my part to keep them all hanging around. Trophy rocks, corn, and apples have kept them interested so far. Below is a couple pictures from just yesterday evening and this morning. The buck I want to take is quite obvious, but the best news is that there's a fawn from this year in some of the pics who's already got horn-buds showing. So at least for now, it looks like the next couple years of hunting will provide a buck! Enjoy the pictures. Hope everyone's putting game down out there!
Since we've moved in, we've seen deer. Pheasants, woodchucks and coons as well. But the deer are the ideal quarry. Since January, I've counted 4 different bucks on the property. Three of those are yearlings or two year-olds but there's one bruise 8-point that stops in every so often. I had to buy some trail cams for work as we had some equipment stolen so I bought a third for the ranch and after two days, the activity has been non-stop. I knew it would be, but I'm trying to pattern a little 6-point that I want to take out of the herd so the camera is providing his feeding and bedding times like I wanted. He's not a wall hanger by any means. But the fact that I can wake up, have some coffee and walk 50 yards to the "blind" and fill a tag on my own land is quite thrilling.
Michigan affords you the opportunity to bait/feed deer, so I've been doing my part to keep them all hanging around. Trophy rocks, corn, and apples have kept them interested so far. Below is a couple pictures from just yesterday evening and this morning. The buck I want to take is quite obvious, but the best news is that there's a fawn from this year in some of the pics who's already got horn-buds showing. So at least for now, it looks like the next couple years of hunting will provide a buck! Enjoy the pictures. Hope everyone's putting game down out there!
