It's gonna be a little long but trust me its worth the read. When I received permission to hunt a new area a week prior to the 2006 archery season I knew I would have to scout it on the fly. I didn't want to pressure the area but I decided to put a camera up for a few days while I concentrated my hunting efforts elsewhere. I was especically interested in a small thicket located in the corner of the 30 acre parcel. I found a cluster of three scrapes merely 40 yards into the woods. It was only october first so I set the camera up to see who had started scraping so early. A few days laterI checked back and couldn't believe my eyes whenI saw thepictures. A 13 point with 9 points on one side had not only freshened, but had bedded in his scrape.I hunted the thicket 3 times over the next week or two but never saw him. It wasn't until mid October that I laid eyes on the monster in daylight. I was situated oppostide side of the 30 acre woods in an inside corner of a hay field when he stepted out 80 yards away. He fed to 59 yards but never came closer and refused to investigate a grunt call. I had one more encounter with him at the same stand but again he entered the field out of range. To make matters worse my cuddeback captured an image of a doe walking within 10 yards of the indside corner stand around 2:30 on 10/24. The videotaken afterthe picture made me sick to my stomach as the 13 point followed hot on her trail. Unfortunately I got to that stand an hour after he walked by. A week later I was poised for the rut and looking forward to hunting a productive stand in a briar thicket a half mile from where I had seen the 13 point. I planned to hunt the briars on Saturday 11/3 but instead decided to hunt from a different stand. My cuddeback had been employed at the edge of a hedgerow 50 yards from my stand in the briars. WhenI checked it SundayI came upon a photo of a nice buck from the previous morning but couldnt identify him. You guessed it...the video again shows the monster walk by dogging a doe, he then proceedes to follow her right into the thicket!!! (The last picI'm posting was lifted off thevideo). I saw him one night spotting before the shotgun season and he had broken off his right side. I never caught up with him for the remainder of the season and into 07 until my Dad came upon his shed fromthe 06 season during a deer drive in December. This is one of the first and biggest bucksI really hunted hard after and he REALLY taught me alot about how to hunt a mature buck. I'm gonna post the pic of the shed either later tonight or tomorrow.
A few questions...
1)I'm wondering if you guys could help me out though....the 3 inch split G2 and a 4 inch abnormal point were both chewed a little. Should I go to a taxidermist to get it repaired to send it to a specialist. Only reason I ask is because when my taxi. refinished one of my dads bucks that had gotten chewed it was really dark brown like a canadian deer. Any advice is appreciated.
PS: Stay tuned for the conclusion of my 2006 season it was a miracle.
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Gary Lewis Jr.
PA Forestry and Wildlife Consultants, LLC.
QDMA Life Member
Vice President Central PA QDMA
Associate Director PA QDMA State Chapter
Are you Happy with your Hunting?
www.pafwc.com
2006 Season part 1: The 13 Point w/ pics....updated w/ shed pg 1
