I started hunting a tall narrow racked 10 point in 2013 and only got to lay my eyes on him once that season, and he showed back up on camera the middle of September of 2014. I pretty much became obsessed with hunting him. In the first 24 days of OK archery season, I was in a stand 15 days, and after 4 close encounters, I had resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to kill him with archery tackle. On 10-23, I bought my muzzleloader license and figured the added range would increase my odds, and on 10-24, I headed north for another hunt. I had some family business to attend to in town, so I got up there early and had time for a Friday evening hunt with my crossbow. It was hot that evening, and my ground blind was like a sauna. From the direction the buck always came in, I wasn't worried about getting busted by scent, but I still find it miserable sweating in a deer stand. Activity was slow until just before dark, and when the "sentinel" bucks showed, I was hopeful my target wouldn't be far behind them. Sure enough, I saw him coming and readied for a shot, and just like normal, he walked in the same way and stopped in the same spot only during shooting light this time. I settled the crosshairs on his left shoulder and squeezed the trigger. The shot was 21 yards, and when the bolt hit him, he spun and ran back the way he came in. I was confident with my shot, but I still waited almost 30 minutes to get out of my blind. There was good blood where he was hit, but the blood trail got sparse quick. I hate looking for a dead deer in the dark, and this was the worst for me. Even though he went less than 75 yards, it took me about 2 hours to find him in the tall grass and plum thickets. He was well worth the wait and effort.
2013
2014
2013
2014
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