I was lucky enough to kill this 8 point yesterday evening here in PA.
I have been going into work early so I can leave a little early to try to hunt as much as possible before the time change. When I got home yesterday I had a few things to take care of before I could hit the woods so I figured I would just pack my climber and walk behind the house instead of driving to the other farm I hunt as time was ticking away. There is a big scrub field back there that deer will come out into in the evening and I hadn't hunted it yet this season. Coincidentally, the day before (Sunday) I wasn't able to hunt but I did walk up to that field and climb a tree in my climber and trim a few branches etc. I decided to give that tree a chance yesterday evening. When I got to the tree I realized that I forgot to put on my safety harness so I hustled back to the house and grabbed it as I won't ever climb without it. By the time I got back and got climbed up and settled into the tree it was about 5:00. Later than I like to be in but it is what it is, time to hunt.
It really was a beautiful afternoon/evening here in Southwestern PA. The temp. was 55 with a light breeze out of the north making the real feel 48 according to my weather app. I started seeing deer at about 5:30. There is a big thicket off to my right (west) and I had a few does with their yearlings coming out into the field. I also had some deer appearing from in front of me at about 75 yards that had apparently been bedded in the scrub field. One of the deer that was bedded in the scrub was a big bodied buck. I couldn't quite tell how many points he had but I figured he was legal (have to have 3 points up where I hunt). I was keeping a close eye on him but also trying to watch the other deer that were making their way into the field from the bedding area. 12 doe ended up showing up along with 3 little bucks, (a spike, 2 fork horns) and the big buck. The smaller bucks were wanting to try to chase some of the doe around but they steered clear of the bigger buck who was just keeping to himself and eating. I had a big doe come out right downwind of me with her 2 little ones and I really thought she was going to blow me out. She knew I was there somewhere but couldn't quite tell where. I got lucky and she ended up joining her youngsters in the field. I watched all these deer for about an hour and was hoping that maybe the big buck would give chase to one of the smaller ones or a doe and he'd end up coming past me but instead, they all started heading away from me.
Here is where it get's exciting: I already had my bow in my hand with the bottom limb tip resting on my boot. I always carry a grunt call with me once pre-rut activity starts and yesterday was no exception. I had it around my neck tucked between my hoodie and under shirt. I can easily access it this way with one hand. I've have been using a grunt call since I was a teenager and have had varying results over the years. Once all the deer had cleared my line of site moving to my left and my view to them was blocked by some trees, I pulled the grunt tube up to my mouth. This particular grunt tube has an adjustment on it that goes from fawn to doe to buck. I slid it to the very bottom of buck, supposed to imitate a mature buck, a let it rip. I immediately caught glimpses of all the deer stop and turn. I hit the grunt tube about 5 more times and looked and could see the big buck heading my way. I let the grunt tube slide back down in my shirt and reached up and grabbed my bow string. I turned every so slightly in my seat and the buck was now at 30 yards and still coming and he looked to be on a mission to fight that buck he just heard. He closed quickly on a steady, stiff legged walk and when he passed in front on me broadside at 20 yards, I drew back my Super Kodiak and let the arrow go. I practice sitting and shooting daily and it paid off. I could tell instantly that it was an excellent shot as I watched the arrow bury in and immediately pop out a little. I knew from past experience that the popping back out I saw was almost always due to hitting the off side leg as the deer is moving. He took off heading straight away from me in the scrub field. He was heading up hill and when he got to about 75 yards I could see him start to stumble. I thought he was going to fall then but instead he managed to make it to the knuckle of the hill and just out of sight. I heard a crash and figured it was case closed. I stood up and opened up my compass app on my phone and took a bearing of where I had last saw him and then I sat back down to let myself calm down for a few minutes before I climbed down. I get really amped up when I shoot a deer, any deer and I hope I never lose that feeling. Once I was down on the ground, I packed my climber up and left it next to tree. I put my pack on and grabbed my bow and walked over to where he was when I shot. I had blood there and I could see blood ahead. I didn't follow the blood trail the whole way as it was starting to get dark and I wanted to find him before it was totally dark. I headed to the top of the hill where I had last seen him and picked the blood back up there. I followed it right over the knuckle of the hill and that's where he was laying. Happy sight! I gotta say that this buck is one of the biggest bodied bucks I've ever killed and I plan on making a pile of jerky in the next week or two.
I want to give a shout out to my friend's Frank (kopfjaeger) and Jed (Jegs Mich). Frank was kind enough to give me this 1972 birth year Super Kodiak and this is the first deer I have had a chance to kill with it, I LOVE this bow! My buddy Jed made me the beautiful knife you see pictured and it was an honor to be able to use it to dress this buck out. Great hunting memories made with the thought of great friends. Doesn't get any better. I will take a walk today after work and follow his exact trail and hopefully fins my arrow.
Sorry it was a little long winded but anyhow, that's my story. Now on to filling some doe tags and the freezer.
1972 Bear Super Kodiak. 2016's tipped with 150 grain Magnus Stinger Killer Bees. 20 yard shot, 100 yard recovery. Sorry if the pic sucks.
Good write up Jim! Thanks for sharing your hunt! Congratulations on a really nice buck made all the sweeter using tools gifted to you by good friends! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congratulations Jim. Well done 🏹
Sounds like an exciting hunt. Congrats a nice buck.
Way to go! Congrats on a very nice deer.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Very well done !!!!!
That was an excellent writeup... and congratulations on a very nice buck! I felt like I was there!
Thanks all.
I really enjoy a good hunting story, always have since I was a kid. I'm not a very good writer or as accomplished a hunter as many of you folks here are but I am happy to post my little hunt recap.
:campfire:
You are a better writer than you think you are Jim. Congratulations.
Shick
Well done all around, nice buck and story.
CONGRATULATIONS, Jim!!!!!! He's a fine looking buck!!!!
:clapper: :clapper: :archer: :clapper: :clapper:
Congratulations!
Thanks all for the kind words.
I spent some time after work yesterday cutting the skull cap off, skinning, de-fleshing and salting in preparation for mounting the rack on a board.
I looked for my arrow in the field but it's pretty overgrown and I didn't find it yet.
Sounds like a fun hunt. Congratulations.
Awesome job, congrats Jim.. :thumbsup:
Very Nice buddy. Congrats
Congratulations buddy. Way to go. I knew that Super Kodiak I gave you would get the job done with you shooting it. :thumbsup:
Frank, that Super Kodiak sure is a special bow to me.
I'll be ready and available to help you get that big buck out of the woods when you kill him.
Nice buck and hunt story, made all the sweeter with a gifted bow. Congrats !
Congratulations Jim! Way to get it done. When preparation meets oppurtunity !
Congratulations!
Thanks all!
Jed, that knife worked beautifully. I was almost afraid to get it bloody because it's so pretty but......it got bloody. Held a great edge and cleaned up nicely. Thanks again my friend.
Congrats.
I haven't seen a legal buck yet.