I hunt near Springville, NY and the bucks were going wild on Saturday the 27th. During the a.m. hunt a nice thick and high 8 pointer chased a doe for a half hour underneath my stand up and down back and forth. He was grunting it seemed like every 5 steps, just little short low toned grunts. Drool hanging from his nose and mouth, couldn't even catch his breath.
During the afternoon hunt I had a 4 and 5 pointer under me blowing out every scrape on the logging road and sparring under my tree stand. About 5 minutes after they left i heard crashing to my right it was 2 doe being chased by a 6 pointer grunting and chasing not letting the doe stop to catch their breath. Up and down all around my stand for 25 mins. Just about dark at 6:10 pm, here come those same 2 doe running full speed under my stand. Then i see another body coming out of the woods where they did. All i saw was a huge main beam(21in)and knew he was a shooter. So i didn't pay anymore attention to him. I just concentrated on everything i needed to do to make the best shot possible. It worked out just perfect he was heading right into my shooting lane at 20 yards out. He spots the doe and starts running after them. I grunted 3 times finally he stopped. I already had drawn my bow back, found my anchor point and settled my 20 yard pin behind his front leg. Whack, 6:17 pm stuck the big boy. I knew the arrow hit him, but he puzzled me because he ran straight up a ridge and i didn't hear him crash (due to the leaves being wet). So now it's 6:20 pm almost dark, still in my stand trying to listen to hear where he is and it starts to poor. Luckily my father, his friend and my brother were at our cabin. They gathered up some flashlights met me at my treestand and started tracking. Arrow was covered with pinkish airbubbled blood so i knew it was a lung hit (thank the lord). But still why did he go up hill? Even with the rain coming down hard we were able to get on great blood. Trailed him for 40 yards and all we could see ahead on the ground were antlers. Big 9 point buck. Thick(5in at base), long and wide(21 in), just a beautiful buck. I will post picture and score once i get all pictures printed and buckscored. Second big buck off of our property this archery season. My father shot a beautiful 8 pointer the previous Sunday.Over the last6 hunting seasons my father,myself and2 brothershave been letting all of the inmature bucks walk, and boy has it payed off (0 doe taken off property). We havebagged some of the best bucks i have seen from around this area. I just thank the lord that our family has had theprivelege to own the land we do.But if you shoot every deer that walks by you, your chances of scoring like we do is slim to none. And some people don't understand that. New York state has some awesome land and game. We are very fortunate to live where we do. If you enjoy the sport and dedicate some time, everything will work out just great. Good luck toall.