Great encounter hammer. Win or lose it must have been alot of fun. At least now you have his number punched and his ear tagged for next time. Hopefully you will be waiting patiently in your stand. Makes you want to get back in there after him don't it.
I can't believe I am still just sitting back waiting for the season to open. Between a 10/16 opener and a killer work schedule time in the woods is gonna be tough to come by. Very sad to plan all year and then have to leave and return from work in the dark. Plus NO Sunday hunting. I can buy beer and go to Wally World but I can't hunt? It's like a sharp stick in the eye. >>>>>>>>>>>>Wh ack!

No deer but another great outing!! I got to the park late 4:10pm so I decided to hunt from the ground. So I hike in and setup about 20ft up on the side of a bluff over looking the grassy swamp area that I had stalked the buck from thursday. a little after 5pm I see 4 doe making their way across the grass, they came to 45yds and wouldn't come any closer. About 20min before legal shooting time was up just for fun I hit the rattle bag very lightly for about 20-30seconds. about 10min later I have a small 6pt step out where the does had been 45yds away. He just looks around for a few minutes and started to walk away. Then I hit the true talker and then the bag again, made him very curious but he wouldn't come any closer but he started looking behind him. Then another buck stepped out, I could see that he was bigger but it was getting to dark to tell how big. I just couldn't get them any closer.
This is a new public area for me and so far I've seen deer 4 out of the 5 times I've been out for a total of 16 doe and 5 bucks!!

Its only a matter of time Hammer.
I got out to my buddies farm this weekend, I only saw one deer each day, but both were bucks, one of them a respectable 6pt. Neither came within 45yrds, one inthe meadow and the other in the corn (my stand is in a hedgerow dividing the two).
Whats your thoughts on this guys; I have seen the 6pt enter the corn from the same place, feed for 1/2hr, then leave where he entered 3 different times, the wind is pretty constant in one direction, and the corn is all tore up in this corner. The woods jut into the meadow more than on the corn side so I'm in the corner of the meadow but 50yrds from the corner of the corn where the buck feeds. Its a permanent stand so moving it isn't an option. Would you guys stick to the trees, or chance a groundblind downwind of where the 6 enters to eat? Of my last 4 evening hunts I've seen him 3 times.

Me - I would stick to my tree - but not over hunt it - if I thought I could get into the corn and set something up without leaving too much scent or disturb too much area, then I may try it...but I would be afraid of messing the area up and moving everything out of the area.

I am hanging my head in shame. Made a bad shot on a Very good buck yesterday AM.I think my arrow deflected on the way and I did not see it hit. Only a 20 yard chip shot from a ground blind. Hate to admit that after 3 decades of hunting a big buck still makes me crap my shorts. Found the arrow. Clearly a pass thru but very little blood on itbutgood blood right where he had been standing. Pulled out and went for coffee and back up crew. Started tracking on a fair blood trail 3 hours later and blew him out of bed. Very little blood in that bed and had been finding clotted chunks of blood on the ground before that. Pulled out again and went back5 hours later by myself and again blew him out of bed. Just a very little clear blood in that bed and he left it like a rocket with his tail up and not buried between his leg. Did not even look hurt. Don'tknow where I hit him. Lots the blood signat least shoulder high.Going out to look again this AM but I have a broken heart. I have a couple good deer on my wall but this would have been my best I think and I can make that shot all day long on paper..Geez

Planter, so what's the report on the buck?

I've not been out in over a week now. Horrible luck lately with my trucks, 99' dodge sport I bought 3 months ago needs a new motor has no compression on #8 cylinder and my ol faithful 95' chevy threw a rod monday morning kind of expected that with 234K miles. I'm borrowing a friends suburban for a few days while the dodge is being repaired. I'll bein the standsaturday.

Where is everyone?? Sure is quiet around here!

I'm here, but I was thinking the same thing, not alot of chatter.
I'm still getting out on weekends, I had a fat doe at 8yrds last saturday, perfect quartering away shot with her head down, but I couldn't take it, I didn't get an antlerless tag this year.
I'm still seeing a good 6pt most times out, but never close enough, I just hope the farmer takes down his corn soon.

I got out for a couple hours tonight, it was real slow untill I lightly worked the rattle bag.
I was watching the woodline (into the wind) for a while then turned to scan the meadow behind me, what a surprise, the big 10pt I posted on the 1st page of this thread was standing there, looking for bucks. He stood dead still looking my direction for 20mins at about 80yrds, I couldn't take it anymore and hit the bag again with my hands hidden behind my backpack - he perked his ears but didn't move. After another 5 mins with no movement I had to try something so I tipped over the can twice, he perked up his ears again but didn't move closer, I rattled again, nothing. I remember that I have a small grunt tube around my neck, I've never used it as a call before, more to stop a deer for a shot, I give it a grunt, ears perk up, but stays put. By now its getting dark, the deer is still 80yrds awayand downwind, I figue if anything is gonna happen it has to be soon so I reach to grab my bow off its hook to be ready in case the impossible happens. Nothing happens, he clearly knows something is out of place and he walks off, my desperate last calls with The Can get his flag up and he leaps back into the far treeline.
Long post, I know, and I realize that I could have handled the situation better, but it was still awsome. This buck is not only bigger than my best gun buck, but its the biggest deer that I've ever seen while afield. With only one archery deer under my belt I can't say that I'll hold out and specifically hunt this buck, but getting him would be a dream come true.

tschaef

Tuff break man. Least you know your stand location is in an area he is using during the pre-rut. Great looking buck I hope it works out for you next time.

Today is my last day of work before my vacation. I will be away this weekend and most of the coming week. Congrats to anyone if they score while I am gone.

Good luck everyone!