After sitting in a box blind with a rifle the first evening, I was itching to get closer to the action with my bow. Thankfully, I got permission to set up the next morning in a tripod 20 yards from the feeder. The hunt was uneventful, but what I learned was that a tripod 6 feet off the ground isn’t the most concealing set up in the world, I could hardly move a muscle without the deer skittering away.
After the hunt, we went to another spot, positioning the tripod in the shadows and I tried my best to brush it in to not be so exposed. On the way into the area that evening, we jumped a whitetail at the feeder. I barely got a look at it, but my good friend (who doesn’t get excited about much) was wide eyed and said it was definitely a shooter. I was more looking for a trophy axis, but I told myself that if that deer came back I would take him.
Once I got settled in I quickly realized that small movements were still alarming the few doe, turkey, and small bucks that were meandering around the feeder. I was feeling a bit discouraged, but my mood improved when I heard two of my other hunting partners had scored an awesome axis buck and a monster Sika deer. I didn’t want to be left out of the party, so I locked it in and came up with a plan. In the event a shooter came in, I would need to attach, draw, and anchor before the deer got into my shooting lane. Not easy, but doable.
Just when I had envisioned this in my mind, I see a rack coming through the cedar trees to my left. I didn’t need to even put my binoculars on him, I instantly knew he was bigger then any whitetail I had ever shot in Texas. He was on a string headed toward my shooting lane. Within the next 4-5 seconds, I attached my release, raised my bow, drew back, and anchored, just in time for him to come into full view. He never even looked my direction. I was banking on him setting up broadside as I was already at full draw. He lowered his head to eat slightly (1/8th) quartering towards me. Not optimal, but at 18 yards I was confident I could tuck it behind his front shoulder and catch both lungs. I settled my pin, tucked it tight in the crease, and let it fly. The buck dropped his chest down and forward, moving my arrow entry a couple inches further back than I wanted. I still liked what I saw. I knew it was a good hit, but you are never totally sure when it comes to using archery equipment. The entire interaction with this buck took less than 10 seconds. I sat back, shaking and texted Sara, and the group at the ranch. They said they would come soon and help me track him.
While I waited I glasses my arrow (covered in blood) and tried to see blood on the ground. I saw a rock the size of a bowling ball completely covered in blood. In my mind, this deer couldn’t have gone 30 yards. The crew came about 40 minutes later and we all joyfully start following the blood trail that a blind man could have followed. It looked like someone opened a bottle of wine, turned it upside down, and started walkin. It was an outrageous amount of blood. All the guys were congratulating me on what a great shot I made, but as I kept walking I could feel my anxiety starting to rise. This deer should be laying not far away. We kept walking and the blood trail never dissipated or got any less heavy. It was incredible. This deer was Herculean.
After about 100 yards, we come across a coffee table sized pool of blood where he had bedded down, but obviously had gotten back up. We contemplate backing out, letting him lay down, and not pushing him, but the guys were convinced that it was impossible for this deer to go much further with the amount of blood he had lost. I begrudgingly go along with the group, carrying an AR15, ready to use it if need be. We walk another 100 yards and come up to an open field, my buddy spots his rack waving back and forth in the tall grass. He’s down but still alive! I creep forward at the ready as the buck gallantly jumps up with one last burst of energy. I shoulder the AR and snap off a fatal shot that finally ended this bucks run. He was one tough son of a gun. He has my full respect. I hate that I couldn’t make a perfectly ethical shot, but I’m grateful we were able to recover him and honor him the way he deserved.
We approach as a group, hooping, hollering, and high fiving. I was so relieved and thankful. We take some ceremonial pictures while the Texas sun set behind me, big smiles all around. With another stroke of good luck, the buck died 20 yards from a road! Thank the good Lord, because that would have been a long slog.
We all gather at the cleaning shed with our trifecta of trophies, crack open some beers, have a toast and tell stories of how it all went down. The buck ended up scoring 133, one of the largest deer the ranch manager had ever seen taken off the ranch in all the years he has worked there. Not many things in life are better than successful hunts, stories, and sharing a hunting camp with good friends. I am so grateful to have opportunities like this.
See ya on down the road,
Chase​
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