2005  Last year was my third year of hunting with some success (3 does) and didn't plan on having much time to hunt. My business had been very busy and we just moved onto our 60+ acre farm in October. My awesome husband, however, took the time to build a killer stand, (with heat!), so I ventured out to see what I could see. 
Needless to say, the first five times out were very uneventful--only seeing a squirrel and a cat. When Wednesday rolled around, it was windy and snowy. I figured I was taking a risk in even going out there; but had the time so went out to put my time in.  Well, needless to say, it wasn't a worthless day in the cold!  Check out this beautiful 8 point I took right before dark from 200+yards.  I feel fortunate to have a spot to hunt in my back yard.  Just a another great aspect of living in West Michigan!!
                
  
 2006 Update:  Yes, I did make it out this year, quite a bit actually.  The deer numbers are definitely up, however, I wasn't one of the lucky ones to see may bucks, and definitely never got a shot at another like last year! (above photo)  There were some smaller bucks on our property, however, I never saw them and then I heard a neighbor shot two and another neighbor found them days later.  What a waste!

  I was able to fill my two doe tags with a couple real nice ones.  They were both big, but the second was at least 150 lbs.  I took that one the last night just before dark.  My oldest son Jon took his first buck this year which was cool.  We will have some good beef sticks and jerky to munch on while snowmobiling (if we can get more snow!) and hopefully enough meat in the freezer for the winter.  To those of you who think you won't like venison, boy, you don't know what you're missing!  It truly is low in fat, not "gamey" if cut, processed and prepared properly, and is MmmmMmmmGOOD!