Got out last night in the rain. Got on stand about 3:30pm at a nearby farm I have had decent success on buck over the last 10 years.
The farm is about 400 acres and has two million dollar homes on it. I am good friends of the farms owners ( the millionaires). Anyway, 100 acres of it is flat with mixed soybean and corn, the remaining /surround in woods are in the form of bottoms and slight ridges harboring some real hammers.
Nonetheless, I slowly stalk my stand in one of the bottoms. The area had recently been logged so I am a bit exposed now with a few oaks missing. The rain is misting with an occasional light shower every 15 min. Once settled in I slowly turn my eyes and head with the speed of a 3 toed sloth.
After about 20 minutes I feel as if I am being watched. I look over my left shoulder toward a steam 12 yards away. There drinking is a nice fat 1.5 yr old doe with two others up on a hill nearby waiting for her to get zapped before they commit.
As I watch, I figure they will drink and move past me at about 10 yards. After 5 minutes, the doe slowly raises her head, and looks up at me as if I was a familiar face. Now when people allow you to hunt there farm for free, you dare not complain. Turns out one of the landowners sisters had hunted out of my stand a few times and believe me, she lacks the knowledge or skill to effectively kill a deer, nor does she care.
She HAS been picked off many times out of this stand( time to set up another). In a nanosecond the doe jumps back and stands in the shadows with the other two appearing spooked, but un-knowing of what it was that spooked her. With a flick, they trotted away and up towards the corn.
The rain is now increasing, but I decide to tough it out . I look at my watch, only about an hour left till dark. I text my wife that I am miserable in this rain. She replies, "stick it out, you won't melt"!
Over the last two years a large 10 pointer has been seen in and around the stand and no one has had a crack at him due to his well honed skill of survival. This day, I am watching a slight ridge ahead of me in the bottom. In years past, I have seen bucks come down off this ridge towards me and I have been blessed with the ability to take a few.
As I come out of my semi-comatose state I see a blur of brown up ahead of me about 50 yards away through the leafy branches. Then another blur is seen. They are slowly moving to my left to drink at a steam. It is the large main frame 10, with a kicker on his rt. G2, in behind him is a very nice 120 class 8 pointer. I estimate the 10 to be 4.5 and the 8 ..perhaps 3.5 but very slight in body mass compared to the 10.
I watch intently as they drank from 40 yards away. They appear to be content with their cool water beverage. Without provocation, the 8 shoves the 10 with his body side stepping him over a few feet. In seconds the 10 bristles up like a porcupine.
The 8 lowers his head and without any effort, the 10 engages and engulfs the 8's rack with his own headgear. The large brute literally shoves the 8 uphill gouging earth and leaves. In a straight uphill line, the 8 is sent like a football practice sled to the crest of the ridge. I estimated that 10 pushed the smaller guy, perhaps 50 yards. It was incredible the amount of strength these animals possess. The 10 disengages and the 8 runs off.
I guess the 10 was not finished and followed in pursuit, up and away into the leafy abyss. I was witness to an event very few people ever see. I was left with a lifelong memory in the fading light.
That was worth the rainy wait. Neat story.
thats super cool Rich.bd
Great story!
:) Just nice being there. Thanks for sharing it.
Larry
Good stuff Rich. Please tell me that you did not have one of your beautifully refinished bows out in that inclement weather! You might not melt, but you could cloud the finish on a fine old Bear.
Cool!
You see younger deer move outa the way of deer like that sometimes when they sho wup to feed or drink. They've probably been shoved around before.
Few will ever see this action. Its awe inspiring alright.
Nah.. had an old 57# Super Diablo, Microflite 8's, Bear razorhead's and allot of hope!
It is great when you can have an awsome day and never loose an arrow.
Very cool. Hap
Congrats :thumbsup: on a great day.
awesome tale from the woods...thanks for sharing
:cool: good story
Thats what its about Rich , being out there to see the things very few now days ever see. Great evening hunt
that is what its all about, getting to see things like that ,priceless!!
Rich, Awesome story my friend!!!
This rain does stink! Really like the text your wife sent you.
Good Luck!!!
Where is a camera when you need one? :)
Quite a privilege indeed.
However, I find the fact that there are 'millionaire farmers' quite astonishing in itself. :D :D Isn't that an oxymoron? ;)
Good story.
Hunted with Raineman yesterday in the rain.. No pun intended... talk about stupid. I bet we where the only idiots in treestands with rain coming down in buckets. Had top stop by Reddogg's house for hot coffee at 10 am. I am still damp 24 hours later.
Back at it this week. A JCar315 custom arrow will be sent through the first mature animal that passes by within range. ;)