Wow......you gys make me happy that my "nightmare" didn't include an actual shot at the deer.

Two seasons ago I played hookie from work on a Thursday during the peak of the rut. I set up the Tree Lounge overlooking a very heavy and consistent scrape line I had found the previous Saturday. Around 9AM I see legs trotting towards me from under a rhododendron off to my left. I stood up, got the bow ready and watched as the biggest deer I had ever seen stuck his head and vitals out from under the bush.

[:-][:-][:-][:-]

I'm not sure how many points this thing had for sure, but the sun hit his right antler just right and I counted seven tall, faceted points. He stood there, about 20 yards away, for about two minutes (seemed like two hours), and got progressively more nervous. My problem was a sassafras tree that "conveniently" spread its branches right in line with his vital zone and this boy knew something wasn't quite right.

I'm just about ready to destroy my pants when a small swirly wind hit me from right quarter. This deer jumped back on his hind legs like he'd been slapped in the face and took off up the mountian...........I'd been busted.[]

I "got sick" that Friday too and went back up there 2 hours before dark. He came by in the darkness chasing a doe out of bow range and that was the last I saw of him.

I get sick when I think of what could have been, but at the same time I'm just happy I was there.