Awesome end to a great evening hunt!!!
10-17-2003 | 04:41 PM
#21
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 187
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From: Warroad MN USA
RE: Awesome end to a great evening hunt!!!
Sorry for the long wait but here is my story. It is a little long and I type really slow so it took me most of the day to do it.
I have been taking afternoons off of work the whole week. The weather has been pretty nice and getting cooler so I figured it was worth the vacation time. I hunt a small piece that I own right by my house. It is only about 27 acres but the river runs through it and there are some nice Oak and Ash trees and a bit of swamp. Not a real big draw for the deer but every now and then I can catch them coming through. It is all bordered by fields and other large pieces of woods owned by my wife' s grandfather.
Monday afternoon I set up just inside the edge of my woods. There is a nice trail running right near me and I can see a good distance around me. I sit all afternoon but no deer come by. Just as light is beginning to fade I can see something off in the distance across the field. I slowly reach for my binos to get a better look. I just about fell out of the stand! It was a dandy buck. I could see the rack well above his ears. He wandered around the far edge of the field for about tem minutes. It gave me ample time to decide that he was what I was after. I quickly got out of the tree and headed for the grandfather-in-law' s house to see about going after that buck. He was real nice about it and told me I was welcome to hunt his property and thanked me for taking the time to ask. I went home to try and come up with a plan.
Tuesday rolled around and I had a hard time making it through only a half day of work. By noon I was already out the door and on my way home. I showered dressed and was out scouting in record time. Now this piece that I am hunting is just a mess. It has lots of swamp, thick willow brush, and most of the high parts have been logged off in recent years. It is tough walking through. After looking around where I had spotted the buck, I found a little ridge that runs through the swamp. I worked my way through until I find a small stand of large poplar trees. It is like a small island. There is about 15 large trees and everything else is eight foot tall grass and brush. Buck sign is everywhere. This is my spot.
I set myself up about 22 feet in one of the large poplar trees. My shooting option are very limited. The underbrush is very thick. There are trails to my right and left, both cutting through this little island. Something about this spot just feels good. I spent the rest of the afternoon until well after dark but never see any deer. No problem. Tomorrow is another day. Wednesday comes and goes. I spend all afternoon in the same tree but see nothing. Now I begin to wonder if I am doing something wrong. I figure maybe it is just the weather or something. This much deer sign can' t be wrong. I decide I will give it one more day before I try another spot.
Thursday came with a chill in the air. Highs only in the 30' s. Now it is beginning to feel like hunting weather. I painfully sit through a few hours just watching the minutes tick by. Finally, after getting home, showering and dressing outside in the cold I am off to my tree on my little island. It is about 3/4 of a mile walk from the house but I dare not drive any of it. I favor the long walk. The sun is shining but the wind is cold. I have put on extra layers today. I have decided that I am not coming back until I see some deer.
I sit patiently for a couple of hours without seeing so much as a squirrel. I am beginning to get discouraged. Maybe these trails are old. Maybe I made too much noise. Maybe ... Crunch... I know that sound. Not a bird or a small animal. I was something bigger, and it was coming my way. I can hear it getting closer, but I still can' t see it. Then out of the corner of my eye, movement. I slowly turn my head only to see a nice doe nearly beside my tree. Am I retarded? How did I miss her getting that close to me. Maybe I should take her. She would be some fine eating. I do have extra tags just for a doe. No. Not yet. I am after something else. She slowly disappears into the brush as quickly as she came. Suddenly I realize that my heart is pounding, and I smile. It isn' t long before I can hear something else coming closer. I strain to pick it out of the brush. There, ahead of me are two more deer. They are only about 60 yards from me but I can make out only pieces of them. I don' t dare reach for my binos to get a better look. As they move a little further that come to a small ditch. I see the first deer bound over it. As she does the other deer freaks out and runs back further into the woods. Then I see that it is him. The sight of him and my hands begin to shake. I try to convince myself that the cold is to blame. He stops after only a short sprint. He is about 100 yards from me now and I can still make out his position. As the does slinks by me I stay focused on my prize. I try to remain calm but I know I am not doing so very well. I think he is messing with me. He just will not move. Minutes feel like hours but he finally begins to work his way back toward me. When he reaches the small ditch and walks right through it. He doesn' t jump or try to avoid the water. He looks very confident and aware of his surroundings. He holds his hear high into the air smelling for anything that should not be in his air. He is 40 yards from me now. I feel as though I am gasping for breath. Tremors have taken to other parts of my body. My feet, my head, my hands all shaking. I feel like I am going to blow it. I will never be able to pull off this shot. He slowly works his way closer. He is taking the same path as the doe followed earlier. It is prefect. The trail comes by my right side at only 9 yards. I start to plan in my mind the shot I will take. Suddenly as is reading my mind the buck makes a turn into the brush. Not good. If he goes that way it will bring him directly in front of me. The brush is thick. There is only a few small breaks where I might get a shot. He is 25 yards from me now. My heart is pounding so loud! I see my spot. He moves forward putting a tree between us. I stand and draw in one motion. Just two steps. That is all I need. As his head clears the tree he sniffs the air and looks right at me. I am frozen at full draw looking right at him. Just one more step. You can' t see me. I am the tree. He looks away and moves forward. His neck and shoulders clear the tree and I see my target. I slowly squeeze the release and feel the arrow launch from the bow. I can hear it hit him although I can' t see it. As if shocked by electricity he spins around leaps the way he came. He is over the ditch and I hear him crash. Silence. Then another crash and silence again. I want to scream with delight but I dare not. I sit down to keep from falling to the ground. Then it hits me and I beginning shaking violently. I have just killed a awesome buck.
As darkness settles in I finally work up the composure to climb down. I slowly walk to where he had been. I can' t find my arrow or any blood. I walk in the direction of his path. As I come to the ditch he had crossed I see blood, lots of blood. I crawl across the ditch on some brush. There is blood everywhere. My light catches his rack only 20 yards ahead. When I come upon him I am overwhelmed. I fall to the ground beside him and touch his beautiful rack. Today is my day. Today I feel like the luckiest man alive.
I want to thank all of you on this board who always offer kind words of encouragement and wisdom. It is appreciated and listened to by many of us that are new to the sport of bow hunting. It is nice to have you all her to come and share our stories with, success or failure.
I have been taking afternoons off of work the whole week. The weather has been pretty nice and getting cooler so I figured it was worth the vacation time. I hunt a small piece that I own right by my house. It is only about 27 acres but the river runs through it and there are some nice Oak and Ash trees and a bit of swamp. Not a real big draw for the deer but every now and then I can catch them coming through. It is all bordered by fields and other large pieces of woods owned by my wife' s grandfather.
Monday afternoon I set up just inside the edge of my woods. There is a nice trail running right near me and I can see a good distance around me. I sit all afternoon but no deer come by. Just as light is beginning to fade I can see something off in the distance across the field. I slowly reach for my binos to get a better look. I just about fell out of the stand! It was a dandy buck. I could see the rack well above his ears. He wandered around the far edge of the field for about tem minutes. It gave me ample time to decide that he was what I was after. I quickly got out of the tree and headed for the grandfather-in-law' s house to see about going after that buck. He was real nice about it and told me I was welcome to hunt his property and thanked me for taking the time to ask. I went home to try and come up with a plan.
Tuesday rolled around and I had a hard time making it through only a half day of work. By noon I was already out the door and on my way home. I showered dressed and was out scouting in record time. Now this piece that I am hunting is just a mess. It has lots of swamp, thick willow brush, and most of the high parts have been logged off in recent years. It is tough walking through. After looking around where I had spotted the buck, I found a little ridge that runs through the swamp. I worked my way through until I find a small stand of large poplar trees. It is like a small island. There is about 15 large trees and everything else is eight foot tall grass and brush. Buck sign is everywhere. This is my spot.
I set myself up about 22 feet in one of the large poplar trees. My shooting option are very limited. The underbrush is very thick. There are trails to my right and left, both cutting through this little island. Something about this spot just feels good. I spent the rest of the afternoon until well after dark but never see any deer. No problem. Tomorrow is another day. Wednesday comes and goes. I spend all afternoon in the same tree but see nothing. Now I begin to wonder if I am doing something wrong. I figure maybe it is just the weather or something. This much deer sign can' t be wrong. I decide I will give it one more day before I try another spot.
Thursday came with a chill in the air. Highs only in the 30' s. Now it is beginning to feel like hunting weather. I painfully sit through a few hours just watching the minutes tick by. Finally, after getting home, showering and dressing outside in the cold I am off to my tree on my little island. It is about 3/4 of a mile walk from the house but I dare not drive any of it. I favor the long walk. The sun is shining but the wind is cold. I have put on extra layers today. I have decided that I am not coming back until I see some deer.
I sit patiently for a couple of hours without seeing so much as a squirrel. I am beginning to get discouraged. Maybe these trails are old. Maybe I made too much noise. Maybe ... Crunch... I know that sound. Not a bird or a small animal. I was something bigger, and it was coming my way. I can hear it getting closer, but I still can' t see it. Then out of the corner of my eye, movement. I slowly turn my head only to see a nice doe nearly beside my tree. Am I retarded? How did I miss her getting that close to me. Maybe I should take her. She would be some fine eating. I do have extra tags just for a doe. No. Not yet. I am after something else. She slowly disappears into the brush as quickly as she came. Suddenly I realize that my heart is pounding, and I smile. It isn' t long before I can hear something else coming closer. I strain to pick it out of the brush. There, ahead of me are two more deer. They are only about 60 yards from me but I can make out only pieces of them. I don' t dare reach for my binos to get a better look. As they move a little further that come to a small ditch. I see the first deer bound over it. As she does the other deer freaks out and runs back further into the woods. Then I see that it is him. The sight of him and my hands begin to shake. I try to convince myself that the cold is to blame. He stops after only a short sprint. He is about 100 yards from me now and I can still make out his position. As the does slinks by me I stay focused on my prize. I try to remain calm but I know I am not doing so very well. I think he is messing with me. He just will not move. Minutes feel like hours but he finally begins to work his way back toward me. When he reaches the small ditch and walks right through it. He doesn' t jump or try to avoid the water. He looks very confident and aware of his surroundings. He holds his hear high into the air smelling for anything that should not be in his air. He is 40 yards from me now. I feel as though I am gasping for breath. Tremors have taken to other parts of my body. My feet, my head, my hands all shaking. I feel like I am going to blow it. I will never be able to pull off this shot. He slowly works his way closer. He is taking the same path as the doe followed earlier. It is prefect. The trail comes by my right side at only 9 yards. I start to plan in my mind the shot I will take. Suddenly as is reading my mind the buck makes a turn into the brush. Not good. If he goes that way it will bring him directly in front of me. The brush is thick. There is only a few small breaks where I might get a shot. He is 25 yards from me now. My heart is pounding so loud! I see my spot. He moves forward putting a tree between us. I stand and draw in one motion. Just two steps. That is all I need. As his head clears the tree he sniffs the air and looks right at me. I am frozen at full draw looking right at him. Just one more step. You can' t see me. I am the tree. He looks away and moves forward. His neck and shoulders clear the tree and I see my target. I slowly squeeze the release and feel the arrow launch from the bow. I can hear it hit him although I can' t see it. As if shocked by electricity he spins around leaps the way he came. He is over the ditch and I hear him crash. Silence. Then another crash and silence again. I want to scream with delight but I dare not. I sit down to keep from falling to the ground. Then it hits me and I beginning shaking violently. I have just killed a awesome buck.
As darkness settles in I finally work up the composure to climb down. I slowly walk to where he had been. I can' t find my arrow or any blood. I walk in the direction of his path. As I come to the ditch he had crossed I see blood, lots of blood. I crawl across the ditch on some brush. There is blood everywhere. My light catches his rack only 20 yards ahead. When I come upon him I am overwhelmed. I fall to the ground beside him and touch his beautiful rack. Today is my day. Today I feel like the luckiest man alive.
I want to thank all of you on this board who always offer kind words of encouragement and wisdom. It is appreciated and listened to by many of us that are new to the sport of bow hunting. It is nice to have you all her to come and share our stories with, success or failure.
10-17-2003 | 04:51 PM
#22
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Warroad MN USA
RE: Awesome end to a great evening hunt!!!
What can I say? I have been hunting deer for 15 years. I still know what I am doing but I do have to admit it is a lot harder getting 20 yards from big deer. I hunted with my rifle so long that I could take nice bucks every year. The difference is I would do it from 200 yards. There is a huge margin for error when you are that far from deer. You can stink, you can move, and make noise. Bowhunting leaves no room for error. It is a totally different game.
BTW, I am still using that crappt camo because my ASAT is on backorder. Although I have to wonder why I am in such to get it.
And in case anyone is keeping track he weighed in at 165 pounds dressed. His inside spread is 16 1/2 inches. I am shooting a Hoyt HavocTec at 65#. Easton A/C/C with a 100 grain Spitfire. I love it!
BTW, I am still using that crappt camo because my ASAT is on backorder. Although I have to wonder why I am in such to get it.
And in case anyone is keeping track he weighed in at 165 pounds dressed. His inside spread is 16 1/2 inches. I am shooting a Hoyt HavocTec at 65#. Easton A/C/C with a 100 grain Spitfire. I love it!
10-17-2003 | 07:50 PM
#27
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
From: Warroad MN USA
RE: Awesome end to a great evening hunt!!!
Nope, just wanted to do my best for my fellow hunters. So many people here take the time to share their help and experiences. I spent most the the night thinking about what I would write (I was still so pumped I couldn' t sleep) and most of the day typing it up. It is the least I could do. I guess I wanted everyone else to be able to feel what I was feeling. I just tried to put it in words the best I could. Kind of got long winded. I wish you all could have been there. It was the best hunt I have ever had.[:-]
10-18-2003 | 12:10 AM
#30
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,051
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, Missouri
RE: Awesome end to a great evening hunt!!!
NorthernMN,
VC1111 and some of the other oldies on here could fill you in on my qualifications to post this, but let me applaud you on your ability to relay your experience in written form. (I used to write professionally for a few years before teaching rhetoric and composition at a university.) As a reader, I appreciated your thoughtful, articulate style; as others have mentioned, I was truly right there with you on your " island."
Congratulations on such a beautiful buck. You deserved him.
VC1111 and some of the other oldies on here could fill you in on my qualifications to post this, but let me applaud you on your ability to relay your experience in written form. (I used to write professionally for a few years before teaching rhetoric and composition at a university.) As a reader, I appreciated your thoughtful, articulate style; as others have mentioned, I was truly right there with you on your " island."
Congratulations on such a beautiful buck. You deserved him.