I think you all have heard my infamous story before.... [:-]

I was hunting a public WMA here in Virginia and was using a natural ground blind (fallen oak tree). The wind was in my favor, and I ensured I had everything scent free, and also hung fresh earth scent wafers around too. I was overlooking a big field and saw a doe walking towards me from far away. I sat there watching her and, somehow, I must have spooked her, because she froze in place at first, staring at something in the fallen tree, and then she bolted.

Then about 30-45 minutes later, I see a buck carefully walking the same track in the field. He is sniffing the ground, takes 2-3 steps, sniffs the ground again, etc... My heart starts pounding immediately. I start sweating. The buck is coming closer. He's still out of range for a bow, but I just sit tight and I don't even move. I make out his antlers and see he is an 8 pointer and as soon as I did that, I got nervous. My heart was thumping all the way into my throat and into my head. I mean, I was doing everything possible to not pi$$ myself! I waited for the buck to sniff the ground one last time, and when he did that, I drew my bow and held it. He was probably 50 yards away, straight on, dead ahead to me. I couldn't take a shot anyway, and waited for him to come closer and quarter away. Anyway, my arms and shoulders were screaming from holding the bow at full draw, and I was sweating so bad and trembling all at the same time. The buck instantly "knew" something was up. He stopped in his tracks, and glared into the fallen oak tree at me. It was almost like a stare-down contest. I felt him stare me down and look into my eyes, look into my soul. I freaked out and moved, or almost soiled myself, and the next thing I knew, the 8 pointer snorted, and was gone in a flash. All I remember is seeing a streak of brown and a flapping white tail doing Mach 4 to get away. ....BUSTED! [:-]

This was my first opportunity to draw a bow on a nice buck, and I could not believe the rush that I felt. I want to experience that same rush again and again and again. Eventually I will get my deer and keep learning more and more each time I am out. This is more addicting than any type of drug known to man! [8D]

Butch A.