I have been waiting to hunt a certain area this whole month. The area has been closed on the military base and finally opened today, and the wind was almost perfect at NNW. So I decided to head in 3/4th's of a mile and hunt this spot...and I wanted to be aggressive. I had worked with gri22ly on a specific stand site based on the contours combined with my scouting. It was almost like magic. I saw no sign all the way in until I got to this long thin ridge with many steep ravines flowing off the center. I started to find big rubs/scrape and many falling acorns (which are not falling at all around here). I set up immediately with the prime travel corridors to my north.

I waited 1 hour then I rattled like hell for 30 seconds. I am not much of a caller but I decided to give it a try based on several factors. Within 60 seconds, a massive buck comes trotting up one of the ravines (it was actually one of the precise areas gri22ly thought he may be bedding). He was directly north of me and was coming right at me. I felt really good. I was nervous for 15 seconds but then quickly calmed down and got myself set. He stepped behind a tree and I stood with my bow, he saw nothing. He began circling around to my left and for the next 3 minutes he stopped and ate, then circled more, and then looked around for the source of the rattling. He kept coming and was 5 yards from my 10 yard shooting lane. As he closed the distance the wind swirled and shifted the wind to a NE. That is all it took for him to look up, get tense and trot off! Now I know what you guys are talking about when you talk about a big bucks nose.

I quickly counted 9-10 points and saw small stickers. I would put his spread at 18-20 inches. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, 17 years and still looking for my first mature buck and I get winded when everything semmed perfect. I didn't even put my clothes on until I got out of my truck. Sprayed everything down and walked in from south to north with the north wind in my face the whole way. I don't wear my hunting boots anywhere but the woods. I am bummed.

Any thoughts from you guys on how I should approach hunting this area again? The spot is again closed tomorrow so I have to hunt somewhere else. I am thinking of giving the area 4-5 days before I get back in there. Thanks for any tips guys.