Tale of a Miss - Long Read
Well, I was up at Wimberley planning on a Thurs AM/PM and then Friday AM hunt but obviously the Fri AM hunt was cancelled due to lack of dry ground. But Thursday AM I was in the lower stand, buddy up top. Feeder didn't spin when I thought it was supposed to so got down set it off and climbed back into the ladderstand. Had hardly gotten my bow back in my hand when I see movement behind the feeder and in strolls a forky with "main beams" about 6-8" tall and 2" forks. He smells me as I was under the feeder maybe 4-5 minutes prior. He had to be close to get under the feeder that fast after it spun. He goosed around a bit, nibbled a bit, cleaned up two small piles of hand corn, but it was a constant "head-bob" scenario. I'd already decided I wouldn't shoot him although the landowner said we needed to crop the herd big time. Only two killed off the place last year and her flowers and shrubs were taking a beating.
Then, at 8:03 the feeder spins and he busts out. He's back in 4 minutes, and then at 8:10 the feeder spins again, and he's gone. WTH? Well, turns out the feeder hadn't spun the last sit so my buddy had worked on it (broken wire) and then re-set it for a few minutes later to make sure it worked--and never cancelled that test time. Not sure why it went off at 8:10, but then we are both approaching "geezer" status so that may have something to do with it. He saw two deer up top--a doe fawn and a spike, and didn't take a shot either. This is my 2d sit at this place and all I've seen are bucks and that little doe fawn. So--we'll get 'em soon enough.
Fast forward to the PM hunt at another place about 10 miles away. I'm in the top stand this time and buddy is down below. Saw a turkey in the road as I walked to the stand from the parking spot. Put out my hand corn, climbed in and got settled. Feeder spun on time, and maybe 5 minutes later I hear the "crunch, crunch" and knew it was a deer. Came from hard over my right shoulder and I turned my head ever so slowly and all I can tell is there is a brown horizontal shape standing about 15 yds away. It is 5:34 at this point. I just stay there, figuring it will walk straight ahead to the hand corn behind the log, stick its face in the corn, and catch my arrow. 10 minutes later, no change and my neck is hurting. Dang! I slowly rotate the seat enough I can see it clearly--buck, and a good one. It's a tall 8, maybe 15-16" wide. So, now I"m all scrunched up, just watching. Head down, sniffing the ground, head up (and I never walked over in that direction), looking around, watching, smelling. Now it is 6:03 and the deer finally takes a couple of steps forward. All right!!! Oops, stops, but then continues--on past the hand corn, not turning towards the feeder or showing any interest in doing so. Then he turns to his right as if to walk off and I draw in case he turns back, which he does--broadside at 19 yds. Put the 15-yd pin on the upper third of the sweet spot and squeeze it off at 6:06. Arrow goes 2' high and 2 1/2 feet back, passing over the buck's back about the kidney region.
What happened? All I can come up with is the theory I was sitting so cramped for 25-30 minutes that when I did draw I never got into a good posture, and perhaps some muscle stiffness/cramps played a part.
Oh well, a clean miss is always better than a bad hit, and maybe my buddy or I will get another chance at him.
Then, at 8:03 the feeder spins and he busts out. He's back in 4 minutes, and then at 8:10 the feeder spins again, and he's gone. WTH? Well, turns out the feeder hadn't spun the last sit so my buddy had worked on it (broken wire) and then re-set it for a few minutes later to make sure it worked--and never cancelled that test time. Not sure why it went off at 8:10, but then we are both approaching "geezer" status so that may have something to do with it. He saw two deer up top--a doe fawn and a spike, and didn't take a shot either. This is my 2d sit at this place and all I've seen are bucks and that little doe fawn. So--we'll get 'em soon enough.
Fast forward to the PM hunt at another place about 10 miles away. I'm in the top stand this time and buddy is down below. Saw a turkey in the road as I walked to the stand from the parking spot. Put out my hand corn, climbed in and got settled. Feeder spun on time, and maybe 5 minutes later I hear the "crunch, crunch" and knew it was a deer. Came from hard over my right shoulder and I turned my head ever so slowly and all I can tell is there is a brown horizontal shape standing about 15 yds away. It is 5:34 at this point. I just stay there, figuring it will walk straight ahead to the hand corn behind the log, stick its face in the corn, and catch my arrow. 10 minutes later, no change and my neck is hurting. Dang! I slowly rotate the seat enough I can see it clearly--buck, and a good one. It's a tall 8, maybe 15-16" wide. So, now I"m all scrunched up, just watching. Head down, sniffing the ground, head up (and I never walked over in that direction), looking around, watching, smelling. Now it is 6:03 and the deer finally takes a couple of steps forward. All right!!! Oops, stops, but then continues--on past the hand corn, not turning towards the feeder or showing any interest in doing so. Then he turns to his right as if to walk off and I draw in case he turns back, which he does--broadside at 19 yds. Put the 15-yd pin on the upper third of the sweet spot and squeeze it off at 6:06. Arrow goes 2' high and 2 1/2 feet back, passing over the buck's back about the kidney region.
What happened? All I can come up with is the theory I was sitting so cramped for 25-30 minutes that when I did draw I never got into a good posture, and perhaps some muscle stiffness/cramps played a part. Oh well, a clean miss is always better than a bad hit, and maybe my buddy or I will get another chance at him.
Comment