I headed down to Zapata County on Thanksgiving to see if I couldn't locate a buck to set up on. My first day, I had a look at what I thought was a real nice buck but couldn't see to well in the early light. From what I saw, I had to push to get him to hit 150, so I kept moving to other spots in hopes to find a bigger deer. After seeing a number of really solid bucks, I had made my mind up to set up on a very nice 150's 9. As I drove the main road back to the house, I drove past the area where i had seen the first buck. I noted a big bodied deer in the road, so I drove past and snuck up to the road with my rifle. I had him at 60 yards in bright sunlight and got a good look at him. I knew he was 160+ and, rather than shoot him then, I knew that I wanted to try him with a bow....since I saw him twice in one weekend in the same area.
After a painful two week wait, I headed down on the 11th to stay for a week. I was, likely overly so, confident that I would get him.
Day one, javlinas came in and would not leave...even after an FMJ enema on one (FYI - I think that a small blow gun might be a good investment).
Next morning brought hogs...as did that afternoon. Demoralized, I moved my set up and decided to corn a long strip and hope that he fed by.
Felt good about the next morning as I saw good deer (one nine that really tempted me, twice) and they seemed unaware that I was there. No sign of him, though. That afternoon, the pigs came back and spoiled it for me. I shot one in hopes of deterring them the next day.
Well, it worked. He came in at 8 yards and all I needed was two steps to clear some mesquite. He never took them and turned to walk slowly away. I was heartbroken. No sign of him that afternoon and my pig friends came back.
Thursday I felt like i had lost some confidence. I didn't see him and the activity was pretty slow. I felt that maybe he sensed me and, as big deer sometimes do, might have moved off...
Friday, I decided to hang up the bow. I made a decision I am glad I made and hunted a blind about 800 yards from my set up and where I had seen him the year before. I sat all day. At 3:30 I had my buddy come corn one lane where I had seen the most does. After he left, I had over 20 does in that one lane and figured that this would be my best shot yet...on my last day. At 4:40, he entered the road and chased a group of does in to the brush. Stepped back out at 225 and never left the road.
Picture 1 shows you just how happy I was when my buddy rounded the corner.
I could not be more pleased....bow or gun. My biggest to date. Scored by official B&C scorer - 169 even with 38 1/8" of mass.
After a painful two week wait, I headed down on the 11th to stay for a week. I was, likely overly so, confident that I would get him.
Day one, javlinas came in and would not leave...even after an FMJ enema on one (FYI - I think that a small blow gun might be a good investment).
Next morning brought hogs...as did that afternoon. Demoralized, I moved my set up and decided to corn a long strip and hope that he fed by.
Felt good about the next morning as I saw good deer (one nine that really tempted me, twice) and they seemed unaware that I was there. No sign of him, though. That afternoon, the pigs came back and spoiled it for me. I shot one in hopes of deterring them the next day.
Well, it worked. He came in at 8 yards and all I needed was two steps to clear some mesquite. He never took them and turned to walk slowly away. I was heartbroken. No sign of him that afternoon and my pig friends came back.
Thursday I felt like i had lost some confidence. I didn't see him and the activity was pretty slow. I felt that maybe he sensed me and, as big deer sometimes do, might have moved off...
Friday, I decided to hang up the bow. I made a decision I am glad I made and hunted a blind about 800 yards from my set up and where I had seen him the year before. I sat all day. At 3:30 I had my buddy come corn one lane where I had seen the most does. After he left, I had over 20 does in that one lane and figured that this would be my best shot yet...on my last day. At 4:40, he entered the road and chased a group of does in to the brush. Stepped back out at 225 and never left the road.
Picture 1 shows you just how happy I was when my buddy rounded the corner.
I could not be more pleased....bow or gun. My biggest to date. Scored by official B&C scorer - 169 even with 38 1/8" of mass.
Attached Files
Comment