went out tonight, sweat my you know what off... sat for 3+ hours, I'm sure my back will remind me of that later...

was getting ready to get out of my stand, I usually get out about 15 minutes early so I can see where I'm going, I don't need to trip and fall right now, but just as I was getting ready to pack up, I thought I heard a small crunch. I didn't think much of it because I'd had squirrels, chipmunks, and birds rustling leaves all night. I thought, well for ****s and giggles, I'll just check things out. Of COURSE, there was a young buck standing about 10 yards behind my stand. Don't ask me how I didn't hear him coming through the woods, but I didn't. Well, to make a long story short, I really only have one small shooting lane behind me into the woods, he was standing in it. Unfortunately for me, I hadn't looked quick enough because he was one step too far and I had a big leafy branch right in my way.

I figured I would wait, because he was headed straight for the apple tree that is beside my tree. It then opens up into about a 15 ft. wide grass strip on my side of the creek.... I thought, perfect, he's gonna step into that opening.... no, he turned and walked down the treeline. He was only about 5 yards from my stand though... but he was headed away and I had a big apple tree right in the way of the shot. I waited some more, and he just headed down the creek line and was about 25 yards away at that point. I lowered my bow and thought well... maybe just *maybe* I can get down and get a shot. I got down fine, he didn't hear or see me, but his tooshie was facing me... no shot. Got about 3 yards closer, he turned broadside, but at that point he was too far for me to be comfortable. I haven't made a 30 yard shot on a deer, only on target, and not as tight of groups as I would like... so I opted not to take the shot. He ended up seeing me, and walked into the woods. He wasn't really spooked, but he knew something wasn't right.

He was interesting though, kinda a spike, only with one side! LOL He was missing an entire side, and his spike was about 8-9" tall and about 2" wide, all palmated. I've never seen anything like it before...

Well, maybe next time.