I've been trying to kill a buck out of a treestand this year, but I think my lack of patience got the best of me.
With the fresh snow on the ground I decided to hike back behind a gate and see what was moving this morning. Found where a doe and fawn had crossed from some timber into a recent clearcut. I turned down an old skid road and about 100 yds later bumped right into a big buck, which turned and disappeared around some timber.
The buck didn't seem to be in panic mode, so I knocked an arrow and circled around a slight ridge to see if I could ambush him if he stopped. Moving at a snails pace I spotted a deer below me feeding in some brush. As I raised my binocs I could see it was a small spike. Moments later I could see another deer feeding below the spike and about 50 yds down the hill from my position. The spike either smelled or sensed me being there and began looking my direction and walked into the open for a better view. Finally the other deer raised it's head and watched the spike in alert mode and I could see it was a good buck.
The spike couldn't decide what to do as my snow camo broke up my outline and had him confused. After several minutes of watching the spike, the bigger buck walked up the hill toward the spike and stopped to rake his antlers on the lower branches of a fir tree. Then the bigger buck continued up the hill and as he passed behind a large tree I tightened up my bow string. Several steps later the buck cleared the tree and entered a shooting lane broadside, but was at the limit(24 yds) of my shooting range. The buck was unaware of me and my confidence was high as my eyes burned a hole tight behind his front leg...suddenly my yellow fletches disappeared through the bucks chest cavity.
The buck turned and ran back to my left, but stopped after 40 yds, staggered and went down. I slowly began breathing again!
After cleaning up the blood with snow I dragged the buck to a opening for pics...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/08blacktail1.jpg)
He's a 3x4 without any eyeguards...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/08blacktail6.jpg)
Guess the treestand kill will have to wait another year...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v117/treekiller/08blacktail5.jpg)
He was smelling pretty rutty, and his neck was still swollen. I saw half a dozen or more rubs since I'd been back in there the first weekend of late archery.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
What a beauty! Congrats!
Great looking deer :thumbsup: :clapper:
Mate, well-done for taking it on the ground! Hat off to you! And many happy returns of the day.
Awesome!!!! :thumbsup: :clapper:
That's a nice Blacky, way to go :clapper:
That is an awesome story and a great buck...way to go.
They are awesome looking animals.
Josh
Congrats on a trophy!
:notworthy: very nice!
Ron, you never cease to amaze me! Congrats again. :thumbsup: :clapper:
Very Nice
Great buck. Congrats :thumbsup:
Great looking buck!
I am sure you are more than happy with him.
Really nice buck. I'm so jealous...
Yeah those tree stands are way over rated anyway :D You did way good, a beauty of a buck. Congrats on a fine day in the woods.
Brent
Those Blacktails sure are pretty...I'm talking about the Buck, but the bow is nice too. :D
Congrats On your hunt.
P.
Congrats man! I love the coloration of blacktails on there face & throat.
Got to agree with Phil. I also considered the Blacktail one of the sharpest looking of the deer family. Great story and what a nice deer!
Thanks for sharing!
JL
Congrats on a very nice buck. Great story too. Very cool that you got a blacktail with your Blacktail. I hope to do that myself someday. :thumbsup:
Thats a beauty alright. Well done
Nice buck! He's gorgeous!
Congratulations !! Nice deer.
Nice buck, Great shooting.
Congratulations. :thumbsup:
Great story! those blacktails are beautiful deer. Congratulations.
Merf
Very nice buck. Congrats!!
Very nice Buck.. Congrats
Thats a beauty, congrats!
Way to go!!! Thats a great story right there. Congrats on a fine animal.
Awesome, congrats
Dandy Blacktail buck right there what a beauty.bowdoc
Beautiful Blacktail (especially the one with antlers!). Congratulations!
Good story. Thanks and congrats. Looks like you don't need a treestand.
Something about those Blacktail Bucks they take great hero pictures. Congratulations on a great hunt.
bretto
Thanks for all the nice comments folks, appreciate them!
I need to clarify something about the treestand. I've always been a ground pounder, but I've been seeing hunter's have such good success hunting "from above", that I decided to try it more this year. On Labor Day weekend I overshot a nice buck from my stand at about half the distance I killed this buck. Several years ago I overshot a bull elk from a stand also. So it's been a goal of mine to overcome my mental block for the steep downhill shot! :banghead:
For the record. The bow is a Blacktail Elite VL, 60# @ 29". 3-blade 125 grain Wensel Woodsman broadhead on a Douglas Fir arrow with 3 5.5" Swift style fletches. The finished arrow weighs approx. 630 grains
:archer:
Nice buck, Congrats!!
GREAT BUCK, GOOD STORY! CONGRATS FROM THE EAST.
Another nice buck Ron , Congratulations
I believe a good sized blacktail is harder to hunt than any equal sized or greater whitetail. Good job!
Nice deer, on the ground, excellent!!!!!
very nice , congrats :thumbsup: :clapper:
Those are sure pretty deer Ron. Congrats on another one and thanks for the great story.
Merry Chrismas to you and your family.
nice buck! :archer:
Great story,great buck and great bow!
Ron-
Nice buck. I'v enjoyed your photos this season. Who needs a tree stand when you have "snail pace."
Bryan
Very nice!!! Congrats!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
TK,
Nice one! Gotta love those blacktails. Congratulations!!!
Thats a beautiful beast.Congrats.
Both deer and bow are beautiful. Good hunt! Its so easy to shoot high from a tree stand. Two tricks, practice from a stand and bend at the waist. Now, if only I could remember my own advice.
Congrates, Gotta love those blacktails.
What a beaut!! Always look forward to your buck pix bud :notworthy: :clapper:
Way to go Ron. Great buck! Congrats!! :thumbsup:
Awsome buck Ron :clapper: :goldtooth: I new it was just a matter of time.
Tracy
Outstanding buck there Tree Killer!! Great patience, great shot!!
ElkNut1
there both great.. :campfire:
O YEA! :thumbsup: :cool:
What a great hunt, congratulations on a well deserved trophy!
Year after year....he shoots a nice Blacktail with a Blacktail!
Brad
Great story thanks for your time. How about them Blacktail Bow's.
Really nice buck. Congrats!
Beautiful buck, bow, and setting. :thumbsup:
He got one out of a stand this year.
Nice buck!
Wow he's a dandy!
Strong hunting, sir!
nothing better than getting one from the ground and with snow camo...even better, congrats!
I'd love to hunt in the snow again!
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Thanks guys! Surprised to see this old thread come crawling back to the surface, Brad must be trying to dig up some dirt on me. :archer:
Great buck!
Tree Killa is simply deadly on these Blacktail bucks!
Way to go!
I am lookin' forward to seeing' some *fresh* bone photos!
:~)
Shoot straight, Shinken
no idea how i missed this thread, but great story and congrats on an awesome hunt and great buck
Good looking deer,That is my dream bow!
Congradulations on a Great Buck!
Blacktails are one of the critters on my short list. I love that country and would love to hunt them someday.
Pat
quote:
Originally posted by Tree Killer:
Thanks guys! Surprised to see this old thread come crawling back to the surface, Brad must be trying to dig up some dirt on me. :smileystooges:
Brad
What a beauty!
Good story and a nice buck. :jumper:
I think taking them on the ground is the unltimate anyway - great job and thanks for moving him and cleaning him up before the pics...always seems more respectful of the game.
jer Bear
That is awesome! I would love to hunt for Blacktail!