Hey guys. Been lurking on this thread since it started. Been deer hunting for 4 years, started bow this year, and have been very jealous of you guys who see deer x infinity wandering around every time you go out
My experience for four years has been on the polar opposite side of the spectrum... I've seen a handful of deer over 4 years and haven't been in position to harvest one. I know, I suck. But today was different. HOLY CRAP WAS IT DIFFERENT.
Hunting from the ground with bow, 1955 Bear Kodiak Special... figured since I suck so bad, why not make it even more unlikely to bag some sweet deer freezer meat. (Love squirrel hunting & have plenty of it in the freezer, no problem getting 3 or 4 when I go out).
Saw a doe on opening day that busted down a trail, spooked by someone else. No shot.
Taint seen a dang thing deer wise since then other than tons when driving. Seen plenty of squirrels though, every time I go out. Even popped a couple with a field blunt I carry in the quiver.
This afternoon went to a new spot, private property right behind where I work. Got permission from the boss. A narrow (40 yd wide) strip of timber running between a crop field and the nice 20 acre mowed grass yard behind our building.
Got in at 12:30, followed the property fence line back in, found some fresh scat, then a rub line, then a scrape, then set up at the base of a big old oak off the edge of what looked to be a nice thick bedding area.
Twenty minutes later I see tines above the brush coming from the bed area, big tines, lots of em. Buck's walking downwind from bedding area, through woodlot, to waterpond that's several hundred yards south. He steps into view and he's a beaut. Boss' neighbors dogs start barking from 400 yds away, buck stops & looks around, continues on.
He steps into a narrow lane about 25 yds out, I'm drawn and let one fly, first shot ever on a deer with any equipment... arrow hits an overhanging branch and deflects... THWACK, TWANG into a tree down the lane about 10 yds in front of the buck. He looks my way, I'm frozen, he looks around, and continues on. Got to watch him for a couple minutes in the woodlot before he headed off. WOW, that was cool.
After 10 minutes, decide to move closer to where the tree line meets the grass field. Set my stool alongside a blow down about 30 yds inside the woodlot, giving me cover on the right to ambush anything else that comes downwind.
Sat there frozen in camo, seeing how close the squirrels will come; they're walking right by on the blow down 3 yds away. Guess the ASAT 3D Vanish camo is doing its job.
14:44 a little basket six walks by at a brisk pace on the grass, doesn't come into the treeline. Hit the grunt to see if he's interested, he's not. Ten minutes later a doe follows, plonking alone on the grass, heading down to the water pond (I guess).
15:30 a yearling doe sneaks up from behind me from downwind on my exposed side. I'm frozen & she's 5 yds away. Turn my head to sneak a peek and we play who can stare the longest for 5 minutes. She turns to go back the way she came, stops again nose in the air. Looks at me, looks away, looks again, then goes walking back from where she came.
16:40 a big 8 walks behind me on the other side of the property line fence, nose to the ground. Watched him walk into the corner where the woodlot meets the grain field. Hit the doe bleat a few times to see if he'd hop the fence and come my way. He didn't.
17:20 doe comes walking upwind on the grass field again. Can't believe how many deer I'm seeing today.
17:45 see a flash to my left, thought it was a big squirrel tail since they're hopping all over the place staying busy. It's a buck coming from downwind. Big body, looong tines, but only four of em. Good enough for meHe's walking up the wood trail heading my way... OMG this could be the one!
He gets about 35-40 yds away, stops, turns, and drops down to rest a bit, back toward me. Now, I'm set up on the wrong side, facing west and the sun is now poking through the clouds. Well, its beautiful so I guess we'll watch the sunset together.
At 18:15 he's still bedded down and I'm thinking, CRAP, I'm gonna have to wait into the night till he leaves before I leave. One of my squirrel buddies comes up the blowdown again, chucking on a branch 3 yds from me. Buck doesn't pay attention so I start flailing my right arm to shoo the bugger away. Takes a few attempts, since he just moved down the branch to create some distance between himself and what must appear to be an animated pile of leaves.
Squirrel's gone and big 4point is still there, looking away to the sunset, chewing his cud.
18:30 I hit the grunt a few times. Nothing. He doesn't care.
I hit the Primos bleat twice and he's up on his feet! Looking right at me! I freeze, he takes a moment then looks away.
I hit the bleat again three times. He's nose to the ground hobbling my way!!
This is it!!! Throw up a quick prayer, "Lord let him walk behind that big oak 12 yds out and he's coming home with me. If not, he'll live another day and so will I."
Sure enough he's coming straight at me, looking bigger every step. He's only got four points, but his tines are looong, a good foot long, he's big bodied and he seems to have some age on him, hobbling along.
4point puts his head behind the big oak and I draw. Now, sitting still on a 3-legged stool, still as a statue, with no gloves on in 40 degree weather... I'm as stiff as a board. I draw but can barely feel my fingers and the arrow comes off the rest, canting... trying to get 90 degrees away from the bow. CRAP. His head is now past the oak and I look like an idiot. He takes another step, head down, and I let off and quietly get the arrow back on the rest.
Another step, I come to full draw sitting on my stool. There he is... 12 yds out... my first deer... a friggin nice buck!!!
Now, I know the motto is "aim small, miss small", "pick a spot and shoot it". Unfortunately I forgot all that in addition to "take a breath, relax, and release".
The only thing I could see was this big brown broadside buck. I drew, pointed, and released, the Zwickey Delta tipped death stick flew... right behind his shoulder, and right below his belly.
He jumped and stepped to 20 yds, looked back, and settled. Then went down trail into the brushy bedding area.
After freaking out and condemning myself to a Christless eternity, deservedly, I look over to the brush and there are his tines. He's walking around. O my could there be sweet redemption on the very day I committed the unpardonable sin?
I hit the Primos can a couple times and he turns, walking back through the brush from east to west. My eye catches movement by the wood edge/grass field and in comes a real doe. They meet up and live happily ever after... at least until next time.
Well guys, 4 bucks-- good bucks-- and 3 does in the same day. In six hours!!
I don't have to be jealous anymore! TODAY WAS INCREDIBLE, AWESOME, MAJESTIC.
Looking for bit of quick advice as it's 22:00... since the wind & weather will be the same tomorrow, should I head back to this deer superhighway for an early morning hunt, afternoon hunt, all day hunt, or give the location a rest so as to not spoil it.
I'd go purchase a tree stand of some kind and get it in one of those trees.
less likely to have those stare downs
sounds like you had some great action.
hope you bust one soon
good luck
but it was fun trying.
