I couldn't help climbing back in the stand this morning even though all I had was a camera. It was 38 degrees and a gusty west wind. It is this week of bow season each year when I develop the list of bucks I will (try to) kill if one of them presents an opportunity during firearms, when I'll be waiting with a Hawken in hand. To make the list a buck must be 2 1/2 years of age. The less likely he is to improve with age, the higher on the list he goes. After today, there's a new "man" on the leader board.

I bumped a deer in the dark on the way in, it's eyes aglow in the light from my LED. It hopped into the pines upwind; no snort. Young buck I thought. I entered the pines, angling to the stand. The eyes glowed there in the black. I had a near big buck attack years ago so I'm always cautious but that's another story. Once aloft, it wasn't 5 minutes before I made out a deer just east, downwind. Same deer I figured, circled to find scent. Found none. Soon I made out two others there in the dark. Doe and two fawns. Somehow I slipped between them. Off to the west, with binoculars, I found another mature doe. She made her way 100 yards east, hesitantly, to join these others. The doe with fawns offered a cool reception. The fawns went to her eagerly and licked at her nose. The four of them disappeared into the timber to the east. New, big doe, in the rear. Interesting. Mental note made.

Ten minutes had not passed when I picked up antlers in the binos, 200 yards out, the tall grasses obscuring all but his head. A small 8 point. Something had his attention to the north and he soon bolted, and was overtaken by a big racked buck, both disappearing west behind heavy cover. Wish I'd gotten to study the big deer.

A bit later, my matriarch showed up. I didn't see her 'till she made the wheat. She shook vigorously. I'm guessing she'd been bedded in the sedge grass across the way. This is your chance to meet her. I've figured out how to work the focus on the camera. Note the white hair inside her right rear leg.

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Good news! She had the fawn twins in tow. Both are bucks. They too went east of me.

15 minutes or so passed, now 7:15. Maybe it's over I thought. Wrong. I picked up movement at 300 yds. through a gap in the trees lining the field. Raising the binoculars I see the chest of a bruiser heading my way at a gallop. He doesn't like being in the open and he's taking the shortest route from available cover to my oasis. He pauses and my eyes grow wide. Nice deer. He disappears behind the heavy cover. Five minutes pass, and out of the cover squirts the small 8 pointer I'd seen earlier. He knows who's boss.

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Another five minutes, and out steps a doe. No sign she has an ******, but look who follows. You can see her to the right.

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He's a fine 5x4. I'd guess he'd gross 138, net 133. Would have bested 140 as a 5x5. I figured him for 3 1/2 but changed my mind. Five minutes later a bad boy shows up. One of those blocky 3 1/2 year old 8 pointers use to getting his way. He had an attitude. You can see his hair bristled up as he joins the small 8 to watch the show. Watching them interact, the chain of command was clear; 4 1/2, 3 1/2, 2 1/2. The chunky 8 put on a show but was not about to take on the "Man".

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I thought this shot of the two voyeurs was neat. Overlapping antler.

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I stayed another 15 minutes or so hoping to get some better shots for you fellas. I couldn't see the "Man" or his girl at this point. I believe they had bedded as had each of the subordinate bucks during this standoff. Once the subs began to move east I knew the big boy was moving so I got the heck out of there, fearing they might cross to my side of the field and trap me or worse, make me.

What a great way to start a day.........