Successful Deer Hunt with Northern Wisconsin Long Shot

Gun Watch ^ | 21 November, 2016 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Deer hunting in Northern Wisconsin seldom requires shot of more than a hundred yards. That is because most of the hunting is in dense forests or in woodlots where visibility is restricted.  The occasional long shot is available, but they are unusual. This eight point "basket buck" was taken yesterday, on opening day 19 November, 2016.

The Namekagon river offers one of the few opportunities for long shots in the area.  Most deer are harvested at a hundred yards or less.  The buck was crossing the river 275 yards upstream when it was shot. In this unusual case, the deer floated down to the waiting hunter, who did not have to drag it very far.

Two inches of fluffy snow made for much better visibility for hunters.  It did not play a part in this shot, as the dark river did not provide much contrast to the deer.  The hunter in this case is an accomplished and expert shot who had the equipment and skill to make a one shot, one kill performance.

Another advantage of fresh snow for deer hunters is the ease of tracking deer.  A wounded animal can be followed up in a timely manner. Blood shows up very well on snow, and aids in keeping the correct track.

Tracking deer who are not wounded is also productive. Hunters who stay on a trail may get a shot at a deer. It is more likely that they will move the animal past a hunter on a stand, who will have a better chance.

Such combination tactics are a long time favorite of deer hunters in the North Woods.

Hunters in the field likely jumped this buck, who then decided to cross the river, exposing himself to the expert rifle shot on the island downstream.


©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

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[marktwain]

Nice little eight point Wisconsin whitetail.

[riverrunner]

A lot different then the wet brush and swamps I was hunting today, visibility in feet instead of yards.

[Mariner]

That’s a little 4 point.

We count ‘em different out here.

[MileHi]

That’s a little 4 point.

Yep

[bog trotter]

Must be different in Wisconsin...
Here in MI it’s illegal to shoot one in water.

[From The Deer Stand]

Nice!

[oldasrocks]

Long shot??? We used to put salt in our reloads to preserve the meat till we could get there.

[riverrunner]

I always found it hard to eat antlers no matter what size they are.

[KingLudd]

275 yard shot AND it floated to the waiting hunter? I call BS on the yardage and the float. I’ve heard so many hunting and fishing stories.

[Dusty Road]

Well I might as well jump in on this one. First off that buck is a 1 1/2 year old buck, I’d run him off my place if he shot one that young. 275 yards is by no means a long shot, just a little past average here in West Texas.

[marktwain]

Age sounds about right.

Good eating deer.

[riverrunner]

Some people hunt because they like to eat deer other hunt because they like horns.

[Dusty Road]

Some people shoot the first one they see, others wait for a mature one whether it be a buck or a doe. I fall into the latter category when the difference between a 1 1/2 year old buck and a 5 1/2 year old buck can get close to 50 percent. On my place we have a very strict policy on the age of a deer taken be it buck or doe. We probably have the healthiest deer population of any ranch in the Permian Basin. To understand where I’m coming from you need to understand what I do. We sell hunts and our clients chose us because we maintain a ration of 1-1 when it comes to bucks and does and the chances of taking a book buck are pretty good. Since we don’t feed and we’re low fence our bucks qualify as free range. We maintain the pastures, water sources and are very picky in what we cull from the ranch when it comes to buck’s.

[riverrunner]

High fence deer farming is a whole lot different then public land hunting.

You are selling big antlers many people still hunt to fill the freezer and the fun of hunting, antlers are only secondary.

Both have their place for me eating venison and the fun of hunting is more important then worrying about hanging another set of antlers on the wall.

[Sirius Lee]

I use antlers in all of my decorating.

[riverrunner]

Good mounts can add a nice charm to any house.

[Comment Not Approved]

Baby deer. I’m way past shooting any buck that small. If it isn’t as big or bigger than the mounts I have already I let the little bucks walk. Have passed on several this season much larger than that.

In Montana where I’m at that is a 4 point ... and a little one at that.

Got two days left here for a buck. After that my B tag, doe only, for Dec.

[marktwain]

Not sure if your are bragging or complaining.

[Comment Not Approved]

Not bragging or complaining. I shot small bucks years ago but now I let them walk. There is a lot of satisfaction in letting something live when you used to take it without a second thought. I think of it as maturing as a hunter.

Plus I’ve got an entire elk in my freezer from this year and some of last years elk as well.

I’ve got nothing against hunters that do take small bucks. I realize most hunters don’t have the opportunities that I do living remotely on a mountainside in Montana. But my hunting buddies here would have let that buck walk and give him another few years.

Make of that what you will.

[Comment Not Approved]

Oh ... and 275 yards isn’t far for hunting in these parts. Not by a long shot.