Today marks the end of a two year losing game of chess. We had a buck that lives on our property, but has proven to be smarter than us for two years running.
Last week I was sitting in one of his favorite spots, and heard someone on the neighboring property drive off. Gravel on tires could be clearly heard over 500 yards away. The spots this buck would hang out in always had something in common. Access was a real *****. We kept coming in the same way, he kept disappearing. He would never go nocturnal, just come out the hunt after you would leave.
I was out there solo this weekend, so came up with a new route into the stand with one of my lease mates. Had a good south wind this morning, and I had a pretty good idea where he was bedding (south of this spot). Followed a cow trail and cut over in a creek bed and snuck into my blind an hour before light after a mile hike.
Right at first light I had a young buck in the corn, and three does followed later. It was startling how calm the deer were. Wind was in my face, but we always hunt the wind and the deer still get spooky. It was as if they had decided there were no humans around .The youngster started chasing one of the does and they took off. He eventually came back and just off to his left, here comes the buck we call split. Jumped into the corn with no hesitation, never glanced my direction.
He settled in feeding quartering away. Ducked behind a panel in the popup and went to full draw. Peak back out, and he’s facing away from me. Held draw for about a minute, and he twisted back my direction. Didn’t love the angle, but it was good enough I thought, my pin was steady and I squeezed off.
Got down thirty minutes later to check my arrow, and he’s laying in the road 40 yards from the pen. Couldn’t be happier! We’ve had him on cam for three years, he’s at least 6.5, thinking 7.5 though based on his body looking post mature this year
Last week I was sitting in one of his favorite spots, and heard someone on the neighboring property drive off. Gravel on tires could be clearly heard over 500 yards away. The spots this buck would hang out in always had something in common. Access was a real *****. We kept coming in the same way, he kept disappearing. He would never go nocturnal, just come out the hunt after you would leave.
I was out there solo this weekend, so came up with a new route into the stand with one of my lease mates. Had a good south wind this morning, and I had a pretty good idea where he was bedding (south of this spot). Followed a cow trail and cut over in a creek bed and snuck into my blind an hour before light after a mile hike.
Right at first light I had a young buck in the corn, and three does followed later. It was startling how calm the deer were. Wind was in my face, but we always hunt the wind and the deer still get spooky. It was as if they had decided there were no humans around .The youngster started chasing one of the does and they took off. He eventually came back and just off to his left, here comes the buck we call split. Jumped into the corn with no hesitation, never glanced my direction.
He settled in feeding quartering away. Ducked behind a panel in the popup and went to full draw. Peak back out, and he’s facing away from me. Held draw for about a minute, and he twisted back my direction. Didn’t love the angle, but it was good enough I thought, my pin was steady and I squeezed off.
Got down thirty minutes later to check my arrow, and he’s laying in the road 40 yards from the pen. Couldn’t be happier! We’ve had him on cam for three years, he’s at least 6.5, thinking 7.5 though based on his body looking post mature this year
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