Twice I have had em close enough to kiss...

1) I was walking to my stand one afternoon and for some reason decided to go a different way. As I approched a ridge, I looked down to see this small buck feeding up the ridge towards a ravine. Thinking I knew where he was going to cross the ravine, I eased my way around and kneeled down beside a stump with a paw-paw tree growing out of it. As I waited for the buck to cross the ravine, I heard something directly behind me. The 4 pt was just on the other side of the stump, about arms length away, close enough I could here him chewing acorns. He finally fed out 4 steps away and got behind the only big tree in the woods. I was so close that when he stuck his head behind the tree and I drew, he heard me draw my bow. When he stuck his head out to see what was up,, all I could see was his head and his butt. After holding back about two hours (ok, maybe 30 seconds but you know the feeling) I had decided the only shot I had was a head shot, at four steps how could I miss? About the time I had decided to shoot, he steps out from behind the tree and I made the WORST shot I have ever made. I didn't even line my peep up with my pins, I just let 'er fly. It was such a bad shot that I hit him in the liver and he died within 60 yds.

2) I was hunting a permenant stand in this huge red oak in the middle of a thicket. Right before dark, a six point and two does comes thru the thicket and are going to past about 60 yds to my left. The steps to the stand were on the other side of the tree so I decided to get down and try to belly crawl to within range. I got down successfully and made my way to this row of fallen trees. There was a small field (2000 sq ft) and they were going to cross just on the other side of it. The grass in the field was about knee high so I thought maybe I could belly crawl across the field, I only had to make up about 30 yds to get a shot when they crossed an old road. I put my turkey call in my mouth and with bow in left hand and arrow in right hand, started inching my way across towards an old shack that had fallen down. Every time the deer looked my direction, I gave a few soft purrs and yelps with the turkey call and it seemed to be working, as a matter of fact, working too well....
I had made it about half way across when I looked over at the deer and noticed the buck was no longer with the does, so I just froze there until I could spot the buck. Out of nowhere, the six point appeared right in front of me,,,no less than 5 ft away. I put my face in the dirt and waited for him to pass but he was curious as to what I was. After about two hours (again, maybe only 30 seconds) I looked up and the buck was sniffing the arrow I had in my right hand. I about crapped, I could imagine him smelling the tinks on my pants leg and either stomping the piss outta me or violating me in ways I did not wish to be had....
He finally turned and started down beside me and I lost it.......I think he either saw me shaking or smelled me when I crapped my pants because he turned and ran towards the does and stopped about 35 yds, giving me a shot. I eased up and knocked my arrow but he didn't stick around for the shot. It didn't matter tho because I was shaking to much to draw my bow back....




Edited by - mr4pt on 02/13/2002 08:47:14