uht oh...easier to read story..pg3
 

...this is not a teaser thread...

Sweeeeeeeeeeet gotta luv it

Imagine that - taking a nap rt under your stand.

Dan

LOL! That's funny...


I assume that's your's Mauser...if so, congrats!

like i said...not a teaser...just had to reserve the space while i typed the typical "mauser style" story and uploaded pics... on Wednesday, 10/21/2009, I drove upto my buddies camp..by the time i got there is was dark and no time for anything other than opening up camp and getting ready for the next day...my 2 buddies werent due to be in until Friday night so i was flying solo... Thursday, 10/22/2009, i woke up at 0620 and made breakfast and took my time getting dressed and geared up...i knew where i wanted to go, but was unsure if i could find it in the dark as i only make it up there a few times a year.. about 0700 i talked myself into leaving camp justttt as the sky was starting to light up..i knew i could find the foot bridge to cross the creek behind camp, i could find the ravine i had to hike up on the right side of, and knew the tree i wanted to climb was 200yds or so farther than the top of the ravine and hoped i could find the ollllld logging road through the saplings i used to get to my tree.. the tree was on i found last year..i hunted the opening day of rifle up there from the tree i wanted to be in...after a few years of getting to know the land up there, i felt that spot was one of the better choices..has alot of oaks..close 3 stands of pines deer bed in, and close to a brush field that deer bed in..and 4 old logging roads come together there and the deer use them as trails...the immediate area was logged and has saplings but it was a real selective cut..still some big hemlocks, big oaks, big cherrys etc...but enough new growth to add browse and some cover for the deer.. last year on the rifle opener there was a very active scrape there...i hunted till about 1pm from that stand and seen about 30 deer...2 1.5yo 4pts and many unknown deer...i got back to camp and the rest of the crew seen a deer or 2 apiece...i KNEW i had a hotspot.. back to the bowhunt...i got to the top of the hill as it was light enough to see..PERFECT!..found the logging road i needed and setup my drag with fresh estrous..walked right to my tree and set up quietly...then drug the drag 30-50yds down another logging road, and sprayed the estrous in 2 out of the 3 VERY freshly hit scrapes...also used another scent "docs sweet demise #7" on 2 wicks, hung the estrous drag, and sprayed a little of the sweet demise on the ground.. the morning was cool and crisp and DEAD CALM...it was the first time i got to see the fall foliage of the area this season at all as it was dark when upto this point...absolutely breath taking..coupled with the hemlocks and cool fall air, and i was right where i wanted to be regardless of what the day brought... i knew from past hunts the deer up there heat up a little sooner so i felt the scents and calling wouldnt hurt, and from past experiences, i thought it may very well help..so every hour i hit the can a few times and 2-3 mins later i would grunt and rattle simultaneously.. about 0930, i still havent seen a deer..acorns were falling pretty good for being a bit late in the season...and the fresh scrapes had me excited..i wasnt planning to leave till noon even though it was getting warm quick...i hit the can a few times and heard what i thought for sure was a deer trotting...then it quit..i got ready and nothing showed...it was right infront of me maybe 50yds tops id say..i played it off and figured it was a squirrel or maybe it seen me and i spooked a deer.. 15 mins later or so, i could hear movement but still couldnt see anything...couldnt tell what i was hearing and figured it was a squirrel or chipmunks..i cant remember if i rattled and grunted after the can or not... about 1000 i catch movent between 2 hemlocks behind the trail i walked in on and really hidden..but i KNEW it was a deer..i made out a deer instantly...7th hunt of the season and i spotted my first deer of the season finally! then i seen it raise its head and knew right away it was a good buck..i watched it lower its head and slowly stood up and got the seat out of the way and got the bow up...i was shaking pretty good and had to talk myself into control... he ever so slowly stepped out onto the logging road...thats when i realized he was legal as he had 3pts on both sides for sure..and thats when i realized he would dwarf my first bow kill and my rifle kills except 1, but knew he was much nicer than that one...thats when i started shaking again...this time it was out of control...my right leg was twitching like a dogs when you scratch that special spot...it was hitting off my stand and i had to actually raise my leg so it would stop hitting off the stand...you would thought it was the first time i ever seen a deer in my life..it was pretty rediculous, but, you know what?? id never sale that feeling for anything in the world..EVER...best drug on earth right there... he was about 10-15yds away and licking the sweet demise off the ground and sniffing the wick like it was very tasty...he was loving the stuff..i finally settled down again and then my phone vibrated..being so dead calm, it sounded ridiculously loud..he snapped his head up and looked around a bit and i thought for sure he was gone..i KNEW not to make eye contact and watched him in my peripheral vision..i watched him lower his head again... this whole time lasts maybe 2 minutes of so...there is a young tree that has him blocked decently...and he never went broadside or quartering away.. i had a beautiful quartering to shot at like 8yds but i knew not to even think about it...he then turned left and started walking towards the scrape kinda stiff legged..he walked under that really leafy tree and i knew i would have about 2 seconds to shot before he was likely gone as it was my ONLY good lane...i hit full draw as he was under that tree and he kept coming..he was MAYBE 5yds away walking slow and kinda stiff legged..he hit the opening and i didnt bother stopping him...i knew at that angle i wanted an exit jest behind and pretty much between the front legs..any higher exit would mean i would smash the back bone...i released the arrow and watched it hit right where i sent it and stop about 1/2 way down the shaft...and he buckled and dropped to the ground... i had no idea if the first arrow hit anything but i knew i spined him by the way he hit the dirt...i quickly sent another, just a he flopped..hitting high in the back bone..actually facing the way he came not the way he walked...so i grab my last arrow and waited for the shot and sent it into the boiler room... i felt terrible...but i had no idea if the first shot hit anything vital and wanted to make sure he died a quick humane death, and that he didnt get up and risk loosing him... after the 3rd arrow he quit moving...i was again shaking so bad leaves were falling off the tree..i took a minute to calm myself and slowly sent everything down the tree and slowly climbed down..still shaking so i didnt wanna do something foolish and drop the bow or MYSELF..so i took it slow and easy...i knew he was done and mine.. i climbed down and got my hands on him and i was on top of the world...all alone and nothing in the world to spoil MY moment...i loved it...i sat down beside him and just admired him..he was a beautiful animal and i owed him the respect and sat there and savored the moment... then i took a cell phone pic...first was dad...he taught me about all i know about hunting and hes top of the list...then mom, then the buddies that were coming up Friday, and then a bunch of other people i know...i spent an hour texting everyone, answering phone calls, and taking pics with the self timer... i then realized how warm it was getting and i knew i had a LONG drag out ALONE..upon gutting him, i realized the first shot was PERFECT...broadhead went straight through the top of the heart and the 125gr grizz trick trashed everything...but, i dont regret "wasting" 2 other heads and arrows on him...if i can put a deer down any possible faster way, i will do so. thats my job as a hunter. i then was stumped...summit viper climber, 15lb pack, coat, bow, buck, and myself needed to get down the mountain, across the creek and upto camp...ive NEVER seen it done before..we always have help up there..i knew time was critical so i rigged up the stand so it carried my pack and bow..always attach the pack, but never attached the bow before...but it worked... forgot to mention, i had a buddy that lives near camp..i was supposed to meet him to hunt that evening at his place..i sent him a pic and said i had to cancel our date...he called when i was about an hour in and said he would come help drag... drag isnt long distance wise...but anyone thats hunted the big woods of PA can attest to it being pretty rough..tree slashings from past logging, slopes, rocks, creeks, drainages, ravines, etc etc etc...about 1200 noon, i finally had him at the creek...i can see camp from there as its 300yds up a slight slope, and through a big stand of hemlocks...so i opted to run the stand and gear to camp and leave him in the shade by the creek and come back...when i got to camp, my buddy showed up..i stripped down to shorts and a t shirt as i was absolutely soaked and we finished the drag together..great to see him as i havent seen him since May when we graduated... i talked to my buddy a bit and washed the buck off as best i could with buckets of water and i threw the camo back on to have him take a few pics...i then opted to run him to the butcher as it was warm and i was going to stay at camp till Sunday (today) and hang out with my buddies as the one moved across the state and i dont get to see him much at all...

post was too long for one post soooo here he is.... first 3 pics i took myself with the self timer...ive never done that before, but it worked amazingly well...got a few i wish i looked at harder and took again, but for the first time taking pics solo, i got a few nice ones, and im happy...the other 2 my buddy took...the sun behind camp was killing us...and the buck was stiffining up so the pics werent nearly as good... not a monster by any means...but im VERY happy with him...hes my "nicest" and best looking buck...and my 2nd bow kill...hes a nice 2.5yo...id bet he was one of the 4pts i seen in rifle last year...one of them was a little basket rack and had g2s and no brows like my buck..could be... but im happy as can be...i made a quick humane kill...no tracking job...got him out solo...found the spot on my own...it was the first time i did it ALL myself...and it feels amazing..i believe he is #16..bow kill #2...but first ive done it all alone...usually theres buddies or dad involved..so this on is special to me... ****......forgive me...my editing wont stick so its one giant run on paragraph....maybe i'll change it later...i gotta unpack yet...

Mauser, that is a hell of a story and I read it "all". lol Congratulations on one heck of a buck. You done good!!!!

Dan

Congrats dude, thats a pretty buck. I love your posts as you can feel your excitement in your words.

Way to go mauser06, great picks for a solo photo shoot. Good read.

Congrats on a nice buck.

Paul

Alright Captain! Congratulations! ! ! :barmy:

That's a great buck Mauser, way to go! :happy0001:

Way to go, Cap'n!

Congrats Mauser! He's a fine buck. Good job

Congrats on the Nice buck and a great read..

Thanks for shareing..

-NICK

Congrats buddy, WTG!!!

thanx all! appreciate it!

although he was deer #16 i believe, and 2nd bow buck, that hunt will be burnt into my mind...it was one of the more exciting hunts ive ever had...and i really never figured on getting a shot...when i got to the top of the tree and realized i had about 1 hole to shoot through in the spot i figured the deer i may see would head, i figured id have to get down at lunch time and trim the place and hunt it friday or saturday...it was much thicker than i thought...but it all worked out great..he hit that 1 hole and i sent it to him..and without that cover, i would likely been busted...i still want to do some light trimming for next year...that tree is a hot spot no question about it..last year there were scrapes in the same spot...and the bedding and food is all around...alot of guys hunt the bottoms mostly mature hemlocks..i have the edge IMO...

also a sweet hunt because it was my first solo deal...from the scouting to the dragging...start to finish...

i owe alot of it to my dad..he taught me about all i know about hunting...although he doesnt bow hunt anymore..heck, i havent hunted with him since i was 15 until this year we chased spring turkeys together once..just hard to meet schedules after i started working at 15...but we always hunted "the big woods" and thats kinda where i hunt well..i can find the funnels and can put the whole puzzel together better than the small wood lots here at home...i do well at home compared to many other archers...but when i get time to put into hunting the big woods and can look at the maps, ariels, and pound the ground HARD, i can usually be in deer...i owe it to my dad..thats what i was taught..

when i struggle seeing deer in bow season, i always hear dads voice "hunt where the squirrels are..you'll find em!" thursday was no different...some of the only oaks in the area is where i hunted..some of the only squirrels in the area were VERY active...and, the deer was there as well..

im arranging a whole wall over this buck...he deserves a spot to shine...im going to do a euro mount on him...hes also getting a special plaque of some sort...my others are on cherry slabs...i want something different for this one...maybe an old piece of weathered barn wood or something...we'll see what i can come up with...but he will forever hold a spot in my heart and on my wall...i know he may not be much or a shooter to many of you, but for where i hunt, hes a good one..

just hope SOMEONE else at my buddies camp kills a buck this rifle season! 2 years ago i killed my first bow buck up there and noone from camp even seen a legal buck let alone killed one...so hopefully they do alright up there this rifle season so im not labeled a jinx and told i cant go up and bow hunt anymore lol...

congrats! can definitely hear the excitement in your posts and that was a great read. Enjoyed the whole story and that is a real good buck!

Congrats on a great buck, and what a story!

WOOHHOOO Way to take one for the team! Whens it gonna be my turn??

Awesome Mauser! I actually stumbled upon your entry in the scorecard, and then found this thread. Good read, and that looks like some real mountain terrain there. That's a good buck anywhere in PA let alone the big woods. Congrats bud!

thanx guys!! appreciate it!! i'll post a 2nd version, easier to read, after this reply....hopefully the editing sticks!

wis, hopefully soon!! things aughta heat up quick...

thanx MGH...he might not be a monster...but i can say he aint a baby either!! im proud of him...not too many bigger has came from the camp...been a couple bigger..but most are 1.5yo barely visible because the ears are bigger type bucks...AR's are really seeming to help up there..the spikes and forkies are saved..and many of them small bucks, even legal, are saved as its hard to put points on them...

and yes, the terrain up there is rugged..beautiful and breath taking..but rugged...the drag was almost all down hill...still took me about 2 hours..it was rough..but worth every sweet step. that day was the absolute peak of the fall foliage up there..when i drove home sunday the oaks were the only thing with leaves still on for the most part..the rest were leafless or were hemlocks...

heres the story typed again....hopefully the editing sticks so its easier to read...

one of my favorite quotes from a different forum that for some reason hit me hard this season was the quote of "it only takes a second to change your season" a member made a post about a few years back...

my season was down right frustrating...first 2 sits were in my only well known spot i have faith in..2nd sit after seeing nothing, i found someones lock on with a beaten path to it..i knew that spot was WAY over hunted and had to relocate...4 other sits here at home in 4 new locations that all looked promising produced not even i sighting..oaks, corn fields, funnels, it didn't change...had a guy drive a quad under my stand chasing 4 birds dogs TWICE one evening...had another guy park 200yds away and almost surely walk right through one of the bedding areas on the other side of the corn field i was hunting..just couldnt seem to win...

kept tellin myself "hang in there...it only takes a second to change it all" i even told a few people "it only takes a second to see a deer..it'll happen" when they asked why i kept going out and sitting in my stand for hours on end (non hunters..couldnt understand..but i tried)

decided to head to my buddies camp for a few days last week in Jefferson county..got up there Wednesday evening, 10/21..the 2 of them were supposed to come up friday evening and hunt saturday..

Thursday morning, 10/22/09, i woke up and knew it was the best weather of the trip...i decided to head to a spot i rifle hunted the opener last season and seen about 30 deer before MY lunch time...i knew i had a hot spot when i got back to camp and everyone else only seen 1 or 2 deer..

when i climbed the mountain that morning and got to my spot, i drug a drag with my fresh estrous down the old logging road to my stand..found atleast 3 VERY freshly hit scrapes right under the tree where there was atleast 1 last year in rifle season...i sprayed some of my estrous in 2 of them and drug my drag around and hung a few wicks with Docs #7 sweet demise, and sprayed a little on the ground..couldnt find my fresh estrous so i bought that to try as it was all i could find..didnt realize what it was when i bought it, but its an attractant with vanilla in it i believe..

i was enjoying the beautiful fall day...leaves at their peak and falling like rain..wind absolutely DEAD calm...hardly EVER have such a still day..smiling hearing the dinner bell of the oaks dropping pretty hard for this late in the season knowing there arent many oaks up on that ridge...felt great about my odds..but at the same time, i didnt care if i seen a deer..there wasnt a single place id rather been..just a breath taking fall day...

i know the deer up there heat up sooner than most..thats why i wasnt afraid to run the estrous or call...ever hour or so i would hit the can a few times, then grunt and rattle a couple minutes later..

at 930 or so, i hit the can a few times and am certain i heard a deer trot..got ready but nothing showed..hmm maybe i spooked it? or maybe it was a squirrel or chipmunk?

still on alert and scanning a half hour later..i was certain it was a deer...i finally caught a slight movement between a few hemlocks and behind a bunch of saplings...DEER!! for sure! maybe 25yds away..i started shaking pretty good..i talked myself through it and calmed myself down telling myself it wasnt the first deer ive ever seen..

then it lifted its head and i seen a good rack..right at that time it slowly, kinda stiff leggedly, walked right at me and hit the old logging road i was hunting over...thats when i lost it..shaking uncontrollably..my right leg honestly shook like a dogs does when you itch that special spot..i literally had to talk myself through it and lift it up so it would quit pounding off my stand...at that point he is maybe 15yds away...LICKING the sweet demise and estrous off the ground..he was loving the stuff..

i managed to calm down some and although WELL within range, he was under saplings that still had alot of leaves..i had VERY few holes to shoot at all..i hunted it once in rifle last season and didnt realize just how thick the area would be in bow season..my only hope was he continued right and id MAYBE get a shot..or he went left infront of me on the logging road and i would have a 2ft hole to shoot through at 5-8yds if we followed the drag to the scrapes..

as he was standing there, my phone vibrated in my pocket..hes maybe 15yds TOPS..DEAD calm morning..i thought for sure it was over..that thing sounded LOUD..i might as well screamed "look at me!!" he looked around a bit and his nose hit a wick...it saved me..again!..couldnt believe it..he then stuck his nose to the ground and hound dogged my estrous drag...

heading right to the opening infront of me right before the scrapes...i knew the hole was going to be quick and close..he walked under the saplings with the thick canopy and i hit full draw..hit my anchors and bent at the waist..he was slowly walking and hit the only opening and i didnt bother stopping him..i let it fly...

i watched the arrow fly right where i wanted it..at that steep angle, i was aiming for the arrow to blow out the bottom of his chest...hoping to take out a lung and heart as trying for both lungs and a far side exit would never happened..the arrow struck and he buckled..

i knew i got atleast half my shaft through but i still didnt know what i hit but knew i had to clip the spine..i quickly got a 2nd sent..just as he twitched..hitting the back bone...i knew i better get a 3rd in him just to be sure..that one was pefrect..i knew he was done..

Mauser congrats on the buck. He's a beauty. I love the part about your leg shaking. I've been there before. Great story.

Good job and well done!!! Congratulation's!!

Congrats and awesome story. Loved the part of your leg shaking. Been there, done that.

Great buck.

Congrats on the buck! Nice details in the story too!

Congrats!!! way to go on a solo hunt!!
I also hunt solo, and I made it somewhat easier buying a m.o.l.l.e system for the treestand. It has a waist strap, chest strap, and shoulder straps rated to 300lbs. I attach the backpack, bow, locks, and other gear to it.
:guiness:

Nice buck mauser, congrats!

Great story, very nice buck. Congrats brother.

Shane

Nice work captain, sorry so late. I think your writing is getting longer, LOL