Well, just got back from my weekend in JoDaviess. Not as good as I had hoped. [:' (]

Sat morning - Saw a total of 4 bucks. First a 6pt came by right as it got light. Then around 8:30 I had a spike followed by a decent 2.5 yr old 8 pointer come into the woods out of a CRP field. At the same time a small 1.5 year old 8 was heading towards them. They all met up 20 yards from my stand and had a staring contest. The bigger 8 got to within 15 yars and stood quartering away so I took the shot.....only to watch my arrow go about 1/2 inch over his back. [:@] But since he was so preoccupied with watching these other 2 bucks he didn' t even move! Unfortunately by the time I got another arrow out of my quiver, which was on a hook on the other side of the tree from me, he had moved into some brush and I never got another shot. He was a nice wide buck, probably 22" or so, but had real short tines. I' m thinking 4-6 inches tops. I have no clue how I missed. [:' (]

Sat night - immediately after getting on stand around 1:15 I had a button buck come in and bed down 30 yards away. I watched him till around 3 when he got up and moved into an open field. Then from out of nowhere comes this big 9 pt, 50 yards behind my stand! He was every bit of 150" gross typical points. I grunted at him a few times, he turned and started toward me, then turned back and headed into the CRP field to chase a few does. Right before dark I had a big buck coming in and spook 2 does, but he never got close enough during shooting light to see how big he was.

Sun morning - had a small 6 pt come by me at 20 yards, nose to the ground, grunting the whole time. After he passed by a small doe came flying be me out of nowhere at Mach 4, but I never saw whatever it was that spooked her.

Sun night - had a 1.5 year old doe come in 20 yards and stand broadside, just asking for a shot. I elected to pass and see if any bucks would come out later on. No luck on anything but 2 button bucks walking by right before dark.

All in all, not the greatest weekend in the world since I missed that buck, but I did see a lot of deer and movement. All total I saw 8 different bucks in 2 days, and the other 2 guys I was hunting with saw a combined 13 bucks in 3 days. Most of those not being the ones I saw. So 21 total bucks, 8-9 shooters, and a bunch of does. Hopefully next week when the rut' s in full swing I' ll get a chance to redeem myself. [8D]