Best Day hunting this season
I came down to the last day of the season, hoping for one of 2 legal bucks to appear.
The season started out half hearted until I spotted Droopy - the biggest deer in our area that any one has ever seen. His 10 point frame drooped from base to tip but he was every bit of a 150 class deer.
His appearance really got me excited. I had actually planned to be at this stand on that day starting at 3 but I had a lot of problems getting my oats planted in the front pastures for my cattle. I thought this was my only chance and I blew it.
I hunted hard the rest of the season and while I could normally see 10+ does and yearlings every time I sat, the biggest bucks were 2-3 year olds. There was Tall Boy, a 4 year old 8 that has really long antlers and there was a very similar 8 that was a 3 year old.
This is Tall Boy.
This is the younger 8.
The younger 8 was maybe 12 inches wide, so not legal. I have to study them closely because we estimated Tall Boy to be 15 inches wide.
Every day I hunted only the youngsters would show. 7 weanlings we called the Preschoolers. 4-6 mature does that would hang back from the weanlings.
Then, Sunday morning, I was hoping I picked the right stand for Tall Boy. I got up early and was able to slip to my tripod which over looks our food plot. I passed by my 2 good luck charms - armadillos. Every time I pass them I see a lot of deer.
As I approached, a deer or two blew, snorted and ran. It was early and I knew that due to the dry weather they were hungry and would be back. Staying quiet as a church mouse, I put out some corn from my 1 gallon zip lock bag. There wasn't any corn in the food plot where I normally put out 50 pounds. Honestly, I was out of corn, other than 20 pounds at the house. It was the last day so I just didn't bother buying more corn.
I slipped into the stand, sat down and started to prepare in the dark with just moon light. I glanced up. A doe was already crunching on the hand corn.
Silently I finished getting ready and put my bow in my lap. It was too cool for me to see that doe so I just had to text Pistol about it. The doe spooked at the light on my phone and took off. I put the phone up.
As daylight eased in and stretched and yawned across the eastern sky 3 mature does arrived at the corn. Then 4 more does showed up in the food plot. A couple of yearlings arrived. Legal shooting time had not even arrived. Two or 3 more does arrived in the food plot.
7:05 am and there were 13 deer in front of me or in the food plot. All of the sudden the does in front of me broke and darted but did not run off. There he was - a big legal buck or was it? Was it Tall Boy or just the younger 8? He came in broadside but quickly faced me with his head down. My only shot was a top of neck. I wasn't sure if it was Tall Boy.
He turned away with his head down and I still wasn't sure if it was him. It was a perfect shot but I just wasn't sure. He trotted out 15 more yards with his head up. Yes! It is Tall Boy!!
He ran and jumped into the food plot, chasing a doe. Out of sight, but I knew it was early and he would probably come back. I spotted him again in the food plot, 75-100 yards away. Then he came back towards me, scenting the does. He stopped to check the corn status in the food plot but then jumped out and walked into my shot lane. But, again he faced me the whole time. I had my bow up, ready to draw. He picked up his had and look to the south, where the wind was coming from and it was to my left. He went back to the corn. Still facing me. He did this 2 or 3 more times then spun 180 degrees. Now I have a butt shot.
He spun back giving me a frontal shot. He looked to the south again with much interest. Then he finally turned broadside to stare to the south. I drew my bow and settled my pin right on his heart. I started to execute the shot and he took off. One more second and he would be all mine. One more second. I held for a bit and let down. I saw him run to the other end of the food plot and then into the brush.
About 5 minutes later I saw him coming back. I was ready. But somewhere between south and north he jumped into the food plot and ran to the far west corner, straight out from me at 150 yards. He jumped the fence and followed the does that I just noticed had left. I watched him go into a big field at 300 yards, chasing does until he finally walked off to the north.
Best day all season. And I didn't even shoot anything.
Yes, I hunted in the afternoon but I only saw the preschoolers and 4 does. And a small 7 and a small 8.
The season started out half hearted until I spotted Droopy - the biggest deer in our area that any one has ever seen. His 10 point frame drooped from base to tip but he was every bit of a 150 class deer.
His appearance really got me excited. I had actually planned to be at this stand on that day starting at 3 but I had a lot of problems getting my oats planted in the front pastures for my cattle. I thought this was my only chance and I blew it.
I hunted hard the rest of the season and while I could normally see 10+ does and yearlings every time I sat, the biggest bucks were 2-3 year olds. There was Tall Boy, a 4 year old 8 that has really long antlers and there was a very similar 8 that was a 3 year old.
This is Tall Boy.
This is the younger 8.
The younger 8 was maybe 12 inches wide, so not legal. I have to study them closely because we estimated Tall Boy to be 15 inches wide.
Every day I hunted only the youngsters would show. 7 weanlings we called the Preschoolers. 4-6 mature does that would hang back from the weanlings.
Then, Sunday morning, I was hoping I picked the right stand for Tall Boy. I got up early and was able to slip to my tripod which over looks our food plot. I passed by my 2 good luck charms - armadillos. Every time I pass them I see a lot of deer.
As I approached, a deer or two blew, snorted and ran. It was early and I knew that due to the dry weather they were hungry and would be back. Staying quiet as a church mouse, I put out some corn from my 1 gallon zip lock bag. There wasn't any corn in the food plot where I normally put out 50 pounds. Honestly, I was out of corn, other than 20 pounds at the house. It was the last day so I just didn't bother buying more corn.
I slipped into the stand, sat down and started to prepare in the dark with just moon light. I glanced up. A doe was already crunching on the hand corn.
Silently I finished getting ready and put my bow in my lap. It was too cool for me to see that doe so I just had to text Pistol about it. The doe spooked at the light on my phone and took off. I put the phone up.
As daylight eased in and stretched and yawned across the eastern sky 3 mature does arrived at the corn. Then 4 more does showed up in the food plot. A couple of yearlings arrived. Legal shooting time had not even arrived. Two or 3 more does arrived in the food plot.
7:05 am and there were 13 deer in front of me or in the food plot. All of the sudden the does in front of me broke and darted but did not run off. There he was - a big legal buck or was it? Was it Tall Boy or just the younger 8? He came in broadside but quickly faced me with his head down. My only shot was a top of neck. I wasn't sure if it was Tall Boy.
He turned away with his head down and I still wasn't sure if it was him. It was a perfect shot but I just wasn't sure. He trotted out 15 more yards with his head up. Yes! It is Tall Boy!!
He ran and jumped into the food plot, chasing a doe. Out of sight, but I knew it was early and he would probably come back. I spotted him again in the food plot, 75-100 yards away. Then he came back towards me, scenting the does. He stopped to check the corn status in the food plot but then jumped out and walked into my shot lane. But, again he faced me the whole time. I had my bow up, ready to draw. He picked up his had and look to the south, where the wind was coming from and it was to my left. He went back to the corn. Still facing me. He did this 2 or 3 more times then spun 180 degrees. Now I have a butt shot.
He spun back giving me a frontal shot.
He looked to the south again with much interest. Then he finally turned broadside to stare to the south. I drew my bow and settled my pin right on his heart. I started to execute the shot and he took off. One more second and he would be all mine. One more second. I held for a bit and let down. I saw him run to the other end of the food plot and then into the brush. About 5 minutes later I saw him coming back. I was ready. But somewhere between south and north he jumped into the food plot and ran to the far west corner, straight out from me at 150 yards. He jumped the fence and followed the does that I just noticed had left. I watched him go into a big field at 300 yards, chasing does until he finally walked off to the north.
Best day all season. And I didn't even shoot anything.
Yes, I hunted in the afternoon but I only saw the preschoolers and 4 does. And a small 7 and a small 8.
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