Man, sounds like we were into some major action last night.BD - keep after 'em, and don't dwell on it man. Funny how those big boys have a way of staying alive, isn't it?

On my hunt last night, I managed to have my first run-in with a true shooter. I hit up a field corner that I've left alone all season, and when I got there, I was not pleased to learn that the farmer had just plowed the entire field under, leaving it a huge mud bowl. So, against my better judgment, I sat over the field corner anyway, instead of slinking down over the bank to the bench and thicket below.

Well, at 5:45, I heard deer come in below, and it was basically steady deer activity until dark on the bench below me.

At 6:10, I had two deer move across from left to right, one large spike and another deer that sounded pretty heavy (maybe fifty yards) but my visibility was shrouded by a leafy maple that blocked my view. I just saw feet and bodies, flashes of deer. Then, coming out from the right, I heard that heavy marching - crunch. crunch. crunch. crunch. I knew this deer was big. He sounded like he was a good bit heavier on the hoof thanother deer. Just then, saw one glimpse of head- a HUGE buck with a dark, chocolate rack. For sure, I made a right G2 and G3 that both pushed 8-10". This time, I hooked the release onto the string, and I meant it. There was no "maybe this, maybe that." No. This was it. I prayed to God, Buddha, Saint Francisof Assisi, Jesus, Mary, Peter, Paul and the Ghost of Davey Crockettthat this deer would come up the hill.

Once it was obvious that he wasn't coming up to the field, I gave a few soft grunts, and the spike started up the hill,Mr. Bigfollowed. It was all just a tease, because he hung up at 40 and thrashed a tree while the spikebuck came in to 30 yards, gave a look, and worked his way back down. 10 more yards, and he was in an open lane. 10 more yards.

They worked their way backdown the bank andfooled around in a thicket, making a huge ruckus, deer came and went, they ran around, but nothing up over the top. By my best estimate, I saw eight. Three bucks, one shooter.

I slipped out at dark, and I will hunt that thicket again tonight if I can.

I really don't think anyone is hunting this area, so I'll get a good crack at this buck. I think he has a scrape line down there, because I could hear him pawing in the leaves, and really tearing stuff up, but I'm sure part of that was him just challenging the subdominants (and me grunting up over the bank) to tangle if they dare. If he comes through there again tonight, he's got major problems. It's a nice thicket that opens for a hundred yards or so, then leads right into another thicket. A gap between two solid bedding areas. If I can keep the area clean, I stand a pretty good chance in there tonight or Saturday morning.

EDIT:
By the way, what do you guys think about hunting in the rain this time of year? I arrowed my biggest buck in a cold november rain (props to me for the Guns'n'Roses reference- yes, that was intentional) Tonight/Tomorrow is supposed to be a soaker, and I don't want to get pneumonia, but I don't want to miss a cruising buck. Input requested.