Wildlife 2020/2021 Deer Season

[Wildlife]

Sunday - June 21, 2020:

First, let me start off by saying, 'Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there! I wish all of you a very peaceful and enjoyable day today with your loved ones!

Secondly, since this is my special day 'TOO' as a father, I cared to kick off my '2020/2021 Deer Season' journal much earlier this year.

I intend to post as often as I can regarding my new 20/21 deer season. Everything and anything I can think of related to my deer season, including all preparation stuff between now, up to the official opening day and throughout the entirety of my hunting season, such as anything to do with trail cameras, mock scrapes, tree stands, anytime being afield hunting/scouting and so on and so forth, I'll document those events and share them, right here within my journal. I intend to be as transparent as possible with hopes that maybe someone could possibly learn something from either my mistakes, any & all experiences and/or successes.

Last year's deer season I shared a good portion with all you. Especially for those that cared read and following along and/or partake in sharing your own opinions and/or expertise, with the hope I'm sure, for me to become a more successful and better hunter overall. I appreciated all those that participated, thank you!

I really enjoyed all the interaction and I truly do appreciate being apart of the 'TOO' family.

A special shout out to Jesse & Joe for this fantastic virtual deer camp and making me feel welcomed. I appreciate it fellas, thank you!

Now, much like last season, I'll be as thorough as possible and I certainly hope NOT to bore anybody.

I want my journal to be completely interactive for all members to partake in. So, if anyone wishes to critique, suggest and/or share an opinion, please feel free to do so, because I 'TOO' hope to learn something new this year. The only thing I ask is, if you are going to be critical, please be thorough in your sharing. I'd really appreciate it, thanks!

I don't consider to be the savviest person around within the digital world nor do I care to be. This is the only open forum that I participate in and only one of two social media platforms that I have accounts to.

That said, I wish all 'TOO' members great success in all your hunting adventures and may you always make it home safely to your family!
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Okay, now that my introduction is done and out of the way, this will be my very first 'Wildlife 2020/2021 Deer Season' journal post and I hope someone here can help me figure out whether or not this buck is of the same buck from last season?

He visits my feeder regularly now verses last season.

I believe he is of the same buck, but I'm not absolutely certain just yet because I believe his antler growth is still a little bit premature for me to confirm it.

I'll also say that I have more bucks this year showing up at the feeder regularly than last and I believe I have more deer altogether as well. I've been maintaining my feeder all year long and no doubt that has made a big difference in the increase activity that I see on my trail cameras today. There isn't a day that goes by where I have non-visitors, which includes many deer, raccoons,squirrels, rabbits, birds, including wild turkeys.

Like I said, I will share as much as possible throughout my deer season going forward even though I'm busier more this year than the previous.

Last year's video trail camera of this 10 point buck:

Today's trail camera still photographs of a possibly the same 10 point buck:

So, what do you think? Same buck or not or too early to tell yet?

 

[Mike]

Good luck this season!

 

[Iowa_Buckeye]

I don’t know Denny. A few more pics may help me form a better opinion.

 

[Bowkills]

Enjoy reading your post looking forward toward your endless pursuit of mature bucks. got any new game plans or strategy for this season?

 

[giles]

Same

 

[Big_Holla]

Looks promising already! Good luck this year!

 

[bowhunter1023]

Good looking deer either way. Crazy to think they're that big (again) already!

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

Good luck, Denny. Looks like you have a promising start to the season.

 

[Wildlife]

I don’t know Denny. A few more pics may help me form a better opinion.

Monday - June 22, 2020:

Here you go!

The bachelor group showed up once again this morning for breakfast at pretty much at the same time as of yesterday. All five of them together.

Appreciate the conformation @giles, thanks!

@Bowkills - Yes, I will have a slight change in my strategy to some extent this year. I'll share details later on in the coming days, right after I do some more additional scouting.

I've picked up a couple more properties as well recently, which I can't really say that I needed them, but it's always nice to know that I'll the luxury to stretch out my legs if I feel the need to do so.

There has been a few excellent changes by one of the main property owners that I hunt most often, witch includes several new 'No Trespassing' signs hung up all over the place, which has already resulted in a huge reduction in human traffic over the past few months. That change went into affect at the end of last season and I'm already seeing an increase in the numbers of all wildlife game across the board. Ever since I had permission to hunt that particular property five years ago, I've always had to contend with tremendous amount of human pressure. I hope the property owner stays true to the course going forward throughout the coming years. If so, I expect an increase in opportunities towards harvesting a good old quality mature buck off of there. We'll see what happens...

Most likely this week, I'll be setting up a some vine type mock scrapes. That particular type of scrape will be something new for me this season. I have the feeling they'll work just as good if not better than the 'pine licking branches' I setup every year. I'll share pics once they're installed and yes, I'll hang a trail camera nearby each one of them.

That's another thing that I'll be doing different this season over the last. I'll be using all of my trail cameras this season. Last season, I only used a few of my trail cameras during the special archery hunt at 'Deer Creek' and one setup at my feeder location and that was it. This season, I'll most likely use all 6 or 7 that I have at my disposal.

Other than that fellas, things seem to be looking decent so far for the new season. I have other properties yet to get to in other counties, but I'm sure they 'TOO' are doing just fine and I base that assumption on my past experiences hunting those properties. They're some of my old stomping grounds that I reacquired from 10 years ago, right towards the end of last season. Some of you I'm sure are already aware of that if you've seen my last deer hunt from last season.

Anyways, hope all you dads had a great day yesterday cause I sure did.

Until next time, take care everybody!

 

[Stressless]

Thanks for your input, I'm kinda new to the forum and Think the Hunt Journal is an interesting opportuntiy. Will you put your property with stands plots bait sites and cameras on here - something contextual so folks can follow along - visually to understand Stand A is off Food Plot B and winds that day are from the NW? Been thinking about something like that don't wanna give away the farm so to speak, but something visual for reference.

I think another couple weeks of velvet growth to get a PID on that fella....

 

[Wildlife]

Thanks for your input, I'm kinda new to the forum and Think the Hunt Journal is an interesting opportuntiy. Will you put your property with stands plots bait sites and cameras on here - something contextual so folks can follow along - visually to understand Stand A is off Food Plot B and winds that day are from the NW? Been thinking about something like that don't wanna give away the farm so to speak, but something visual for reference.

I think another couple weeks of velvet growth to get a PID on that fella....

I'll put something together over the next month that should give 'THE BIG PICTURE' of the primary property that I've been hunting most over the last five years.

I have to believe that some of the veteran members already have a pretty good idea of what I deal with and attempt to do, but you're right. I'll provide something soon that will give others that choose to follow along some sort of visual of the area and any game-plan/strategy, if you will, I intend to implement for the new up and coming deer season.

I appreciate your suggestion and bringing it up, thanks!

 

[Wildlife]

Thought I'd make a comparison...

Two different bucks from two different years, roaming the same area, photographs taken almost to the exact same day of the year, June 18, 2016 and the one in the first post right here on this thread, which was taken June 21, 2020.

Anyone remember this guy?

He was one of the main mature bucks that I kept very close tabs on and feed for two years before he was struck by a pickup truck in front of my property back on June 18, 2016, right at daybreak.

Since I spent much effort and time on this particular buck and I was fortunate enough that the Ohio State Trooper offered up a 'release receipt' for him , I went ahead and butchered him, and then had him preserved.

If you check out my original thread regarding him, you'll get to read and see all the details about him on that unfortunate day. I also shared a good trail camera photograph of him from the previous hunting season during the pre-rut.

He was most definitely a tank of deer and I've had a couple others since then in the same area during the rut.

Sooner or later, I'm quite confident that I'll pull off another giant deer harvest. It's not always the easiest thing to pull off no doubt, but I have to believe I'll get my chance once again, hopefully this year.

Anyhow, you can compare the June 21, 2020 10 pointer's antler growth to the one within this hyperlink - Ohio Velvet

I did take rack measurements that dreadful morning and I believe that this newer buck is progressing quite nicely compared to the one that got killed.

What do you think?

 

[Gern186]

Looks like he's got potential. They have alot of growing to do yet. By the end of July you should have a pretty good idea.

 

[Bankfish]

I think it's the same buck. Decent brow tines but the rest of the points seem shorter. Regardless, if you like him, let the wind outta him. Good luck this season.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Wildlife]

Sunday - June 28, 2020:

I put together a video that I can't share on YouTube because of a copyright claim, which has been blocked on that platform from the world, however you are still able to view it on my other video platform channel within Bitchute.

If you click the link below, you'll see the very latest trail camera photograph and video series captured of the 10 point buck that I now call, 'THUNDER'.

I figured I'd give him a name since he's become quite the regular at the feeder over the past few months.

The name arrives from when he showed up at the feeder for the very first time on Halloween night during a thunderstorm last season. He made his presence further known only one other time, also at the feeder on December 1, 2019. I posted each of those trail camera videos right here within this journal, which is attached to the very first post.

He's now become a true dedicated visitor, nearly everyday, sometimes twice a day and he usually shows up with other smaller bucks, but not always.

I created this video with specific music in mind that should appear to be quite obvious as to why I chose those particular songs. The second song is especially dedicated to @giles since he's the 'TOO' member that seems to be obsessed in a certain part of the deer's anatomy.

Anyhow, I digress, but within that video that I created, you'll get to see different photograph angles from two new cameras that I hung last week. One over the feeder that is configured to take videos, because I like to study a deer behavior, and the other is just off one of the deer runs the heads to and from the feeder location. That camera captured a super closeup of him. Just is a bit closer than what I was expecting to capture though.

So, please check out the new video by clicking this link - https://www.bitchute.com/video/lbi1HRNitLV1/

I haven't shared it with anyone else or anywhere else and it's the only place I will share it. I will be taken it down when I replace it with a newer one later on throughout this journal.

Btw, his antler growth seems to be progressing rather quickly if you've been paying any attention at all like I have.

Until next time fellas, do take care and I hope everyone is doing more than well during these crazy times we're all currently living in!

 

[giles]

“But we’ve got the biggest balls of them all”

No shortage of coons or bugs in that video!

 

[Wildlife]

“But we’ve got the biggest balls of them all”

No shortage of coons or bugs in that video!

I have all kinds of wildlife this season showing up which is a beautiful thing!

 

[giles]

I always liked the birds with snow on the ground. Thought they made cool pics.

 

[Wildlife]

Wednesday - July 1, 2020:

I've got a sick deer in the area. He's a loner young buck that shows up every once in a while at the feeder. The last time he showed up during the daylight, I noticed some anomalies on his skin about two weeks ago. I wasn't quite sure what I was seeing at that time.

Last night, I capture some more trail camera videos & photographs of him. After viewing those images, I did some research and what I discovered does have me concerned for the sake of the other deer. Not sure what I can do about it, but according to QDMA, their really isn't much that I can do at this time I suppose.

I copied the QDMA article below about it.
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So Your Deer Has Warts. Should You Eat It?

September 11, 2015 | By Lindsay Thomas Jr.

Each year, hunters across the whitetail’s range encounter deer with “warts,” like the buck in the photo above, sent to us by QDMA member Evan Heusinkveld. The growths on these deer are cutaneous fibromas and are caused by a papilloma virus. Cutaneous fibromas are hairless tumors that can be found on any part of the skin, however they rarely extend below the hide. Fibromas are also called warts, tumors, papillomas and fibrosarcomas, and they occur everywhere deer live. They are usually temporary on the body and can vary from 1/2 to 8 inches in diameter, or larger. Fibromas can occur singly or in clumps.

Fibromas are the most conspicuous deer disease, and hunters routinely report them to the state or local deer managers. Fibromas can look grotesque, but unless the tumors become large enough to interfere with an animal’s sight, breathing, eating or walking, they have little impact on the individual animal and thus, little or no impact on the deer population.

Whitetails, blacktails and mule deer can get cutaneous fibromas, which are different from Shope’s fibromas in cottontail rabbits, squirrel fibromas in gray squirrels and woodchucks, and “warts” in livestock. Biting insects and contaminated vegetation can transmit the virus from one deer to another, and an infected deer can transmit the virus by direct contact with another animal. Fortunately deer cannot spread the virus to farm animals or humans.

Should you eat the meat from a deer with fibromas? Only large tumors with secondary bacterial infection cause a deer to be unfit for human consumption. Infected tumors often are swollen and contain yellowish pus. Small, uninfected fibromas like those seen in the photo above do not affect the quality of the meat.

If you see a whitetail with fibromas while hunting, will harvesting that deer prevent the spread of fibromas to other deer? Will it reduce the prevalence of fibromas in your area? Unfortunately, we don’t know the answers to these questions. Given the nature of viral transmission, it is possible that by harvesting that animal, you may prevent the spread of the virus to other deer that animal would have come in contact with. On the other hand, the virus that causes fibromas is present in deer herds across the country, yet it is uncommon and affects only a small percentage of animals. Some deer may even have developed immunity to the virus. And, for most deer, fibromas are harmless, and the individual will eventually recover. For these reasons, harvesting a deer just because it has fibromas is probably not necessary unless the animal has an extremely severe case and is clearly debilitated.

Source: https://www.qdma.com/deer-warts-eat/#:~:text=The growths on these deer,caused by a papilloma virus.&text=Fibromas are also called warts,inches in diameter, or larger.
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Below is a compiled set of videos and a few photos I put together captured from last night. It does have music associated with the video, so, if your not wanting to listen to the music, please mute your volume if you choose to watch the nearly 20 minutes of the young buck with warts on his body.

He's always alone, never with any other deer, which leads me to believe that the other deer may possibly sense that he's sick.

One of the regular does showed up while he was there at the feeder last night and she always spends a lot time there, like nearly an hour each time, however this time, her behavior was very different when she noticed him being there first. She ended up turning back around from where she came from and left the area. She eventually showed back up much later in the evening to feed, twice as a matter of fact and fed like she normally does.

So, have any of you guys seen such a thing before on a deer? It's the first time I have ever seen it. Poor fella, I hope he gets over it soon.

 

[giles]

Denny, I don’t watch deer anywhere near your level. I’ve never seen it in person. But it seems a pic or two gets shared here every year. Keep feeding him! He’ll be fine.