Let me just say that here where I am in Nj until October 2nd you must kill a doe before you can take a buck. I was out last week for a morning hunt and saw 1 doe too far for a shot and 1 buck.
This morning I was up in my tree before light, 48 degrees, perfect morning. I had a parade of bucks come by my stand, 6 total and 2 of them were shooters in my book. I had a spike, a 3 pointer, then a scrappy little 6 then a Y buck all pass by within 20 minutes. Then while I was watching the Y... I heard that unmistakable sound of antlers hitting antlers. Back about 50 yards behind me 2 good sized bucks were doing some sparring. Locking it up, pushing each other around... then stop.... then do it some more... about 15 minutes until they had enough. The first of those 2 was a beautiful wide 8 pointer with some tine length.... came within 15 yards... then the other fella followed a bit later... he was a heavy beamed 7 pointer with much more mass than the 8 and he was more high .... the 8 was more wide. Both were on the same trail 15 yards out... man oh man... their lucky day.... mine too really... got me psyched up now!
So, still no doe on the ground, but what a great hunt it was this morning.
DW