Well it has been a tough season so far in East Tx. Warm temperatures and acorn buffets have kept the big boys hidden and corn piling up under feeders. I left Wednesday night after Bible study and headed up to our family land near Elkhart on the Houston/Anderson County line. I bowhunted Thursday and Friday with 1 deer sighting- a decent 3.5 yr old at 10 yards that never would step out from behind some youpon. So Friday came and went and gun season was approaching the next morning. I had a decision to make...
I decided to get out the rifle and forget the normal feeder/stand sites and get where I thought the deer were. My hunting area is very hilly with a mix of hardwood and pine. Just out of sight from my feeders a deep draw with fingers extending from it almost forms a horseshoe around me as it winds through the east Tx timber. It's safe as youpon has shielded a hunters eyes from seeing what is traveling below. The bucks can navigate through without worry. So I formed my game plan Friday night. The wind was blowing from the northeast so I was going to get down in some thick stuff just south of a shelf that I suspected bucks had been traveling. It was a rare window with a span of maybe 15 yds where for a moment they are exposed before dissapperaring back into the thick draw. It poured down rain for most of the evening/night so I knew I could slip in undetected and I did. After a 20 minute walk from camp I eased down in there slow and methodical and quietly raked the wet leaves away between a clump of youpon and a hickory tree. So there I was sitting on the ground in the thick stuff 3 feet off of this travel route at 6:30am with a storm about to roll in. It was pitch black and I couldn't see my hand in front of my face as I reached out to feel around me to apply the Evercalm to the tree and bushes. The unexpected was about to happen...
At 6:44am I hear the unmistakable sound of footsteps. I never heard the approach bit it was now so close that the hair stood on the back of my neck...was something about to step on me?what was it?...was it the 300lb boar I have pics of 100 yds from this spot? These thoughts are flooding my mind during these few seconds and I began to shake a little at the thought of getting stepped on by a mad boar. My heart was beating in my throat. I slowly raised the 300wm with the flashlight held underneath my grip with my left hand. Fo I turn on the light? Yes, I have to. I'm not about to get cut up by this hog. I hit the light not knowing what I'm about to see....and there he was.....6 feet in front of me staring at me with eyes as big as saucers- the #2 buck on my hitlist I call g3. Not a trophy in some books but a beautiful chocolate horned 8pt that goes about 125". Holy crap..he dodged left then right, turned a circle, walked away a few steps then back toward me unsure what to do. There I am panicking as well. He 's so close I could have just stuck the rifle out almost without aim and squeezed. I'm thinking, is it legal to shoot him? What do I do? These thoughts are a flood as this confused chaos is happening. I didn't pull the trigger as he darted back and forth for what seemed like an eternity but was just seconds before disappering back into the thicket. My heart was racing. I was excited yet extremely disappointed. I've just educated this deer and my strategy backfired as I hear him crashing down through the draw...it was a hunt I will remember. Maybe me and G3 will meet up again. Probably not in that spot though!
I decided to get out the rifle and forget the normal feeder/stand sites and get where I thought the deer were. My hunting area is very hilly with a mix of hardwood and pine. Just out of sight from my feeders a deep draw with fingers extending from it almost forms a horseshoe around me as it winds through the east Tx timber. It's safe as youpon has shielded a hunters eyes from seeing what is traveling below. The bucks can navigate through without worry. So I formed my game plan Friday night. The wind was blowing from the northeast so I was going to get down in some thick stuff just south of a shelf that I suspected bucks had been traveling. It was a rare window with a span of maybe 15 yds where for a moment they are exposed before dissapperaring back into the thick draw. It poured down rain for most of the evening/night so I knew I could slip in undetected and I did. After a 20 minute walk from camp I eased down in there slow and methodical and quietly raked the wet leaves away between a clump of youpon and a hickory tree. So there I was sitting on the ground in the thick stuff 3 feet off of this travel route at 6:30am with a storm about to roll in. It was pitch black and I couldn't see my hand in front of my face as I reached out to feel around me to apply the Evercalm to the tree and bushes. The unexpected was about to happen...
At 6:44am I hear the unmistakable sound of footsteps. I never heard the approach bit it was now so close that the hair stood on the back of my neck...was something about to step on me?what was it?...was it the 300lb boar I have pics of 100 yds from this spot? These thoughts are flooding my mind during these few seconds and I began to shake a little at the thought of getting stepped on by a mad boar. My heart was beating in my throat. I slowly raised the 300wm with the flashlight held underneath my grip with my left hand. Fo I turn on the light? Yes, I have to. I'm not about to get cut up by this hog. I hit the light not knowing what I'm about to see....and there he was.....6 feet in front of me staring at me with eyes as big as saucers- the #2 buck on my hitlist I call g3. Not a trophy in some books but a beautiful chocolate horned 8pt that goes about 125". Holy crap..he dodged left then right, turned a circle, walked away a few steps then back toward me unsure what to do. There I am panicking as well. He 's so close I could have just stuck the rifle out almost without aim and squeezed. I'm thinking, is it legal to shoot him? What do I do? These thoughts are a flood as this confused chaos is happening. I didn't pull the trigger as he darted back and forth for what seemed like an eternity but was just seconds before disappering back into the thicket. My heart was racing. I was excited yet extremely disappointed. I've just educated this deer and my strategy backfired as I hear him crashing down through the draw...it was a hunt I will remember. Maybe me and G3 will meet up again. Probably not in that spot though!