Southern Indiana Whitetail: November 2nd Hunt Report, Rut Picking Up!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

November 2nd Hunt Report, Rut Picking Up!

I made a trip to "The Sanctuary" this evening. I got settled into my climbing stand on the Southeast end at about 4 P.M. The first hour was uneventful, but things picked up quickly about 5:20. Leaves and brush crashed loudly to the East. I listened to what I knew was a buck chasing a doe for the next 30 minutes without seeing either of them. Then they both made quick appearances just before 6. He was a six point. I had never seen him and have no pictures of him. The last hour of daylight was filled with chasing. Those two were around constantly. A good 2 1/2 year old 8 point came from the thicket to the West of me and chased a few does out (I actually heard him grunt before I heard or saw anything else of him.)

The night ended with something that I thought was kind of cool. I could hear two bucks fighting to the East. I couldn't see them, but the sounds were unmistakable. I've seen bucks fight before, but I don't think I've ever just heard it happening without seeing it.

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Properties

My only property in the Cincinnati area right now is a 50 acre tract on the Great Miami River that I call "The Sanctuary". 50 acres does not sound like much, but the setting of this property is what makes it great. Sitting adjacent to a park, it is protected from hunting pressure and receives deer traffic from the vast amoun of wildlife habitat in the park. The 50 acres is about 1/3 native grass field and 2/3 wooded area and thick burr patch. My first year hunting this property was 2008. Though I filled my tag on Thanksgiving morning on a different property, I saw a good amount of mature buck activity on this property that fall. Having worked hard all summer to get ready for the 2009 season, I was able to arrow a mature buck on Halloween.

The Dream 80 is an 80 acre tract in southern Orange county that is surrounded mostly by Hoosier National Forestry. We started our lease at the beginning of December, 2010. Dad had lusted after this property for many years, so it is now called The Dream 80 and referred to as TD-80. At this point (12/12/2010) we are just beginning to make plans for TD-80. We are beginning to map out sanctuaries and food plots that we will break ground on early in the spring (map seen here http://siwhitetail.blogspot.com/2010/12/preliminary-plans-for-td-80.html). The innitial goal for this property is to make it home to two mature bucks a year. That seems like a realistic goal that will push us to want more out of the property. If this property produces one mature buck (four of us will hunt it with bow only) per year, I will consider it a major success.