Well after pondering this story a week later, I have learned a couple things.
One: I won't discuss a hunt on here before it happens- it jinxes things!
Two: Never-ever-be cocky about killing something!
(those are both about me-not anyone else)
Last saturday was our deer opener here in South Florida as I posted. Swampdrummer(from Venus) and me (from Jupiter) (how funny is that!) were both on this site all excited about our chances at this newly designed early season. It was hot-did I tell you it was hot? Swampdrummer had an early morning success and I had an early morning depression that lasted for days! As I stated last week I shot a buck I had been getting pictures of all summer and had great expectations that he would show himself where I was sitting. We feeder hunt here in South Florida and he was frequenting one we call the Hog Trap. Tradgang celebrity Guru sat there in January and filmed what we believe to be this buck sparring another buck for half an hour. He has since forwarded it to me and I'm sure it's him although he was a seven pt.last season.
As the sun was coming up over the oak hammock and the therma cell was keeping the bugs at bay, I saw black figures emerging from the cypress swamp to my south. Damn hogs- now don't get me wrong-I love killin hogs with arrows-but not on opening morning of deer season! These hogs were coming in downwind, but only the really big ones in the group even hesitated and the rest kinda ignored my scent and ran to the feeder. The big ones gave the familiar danger grunt and drifted back into the swamp. So there I was watching about 10- 60 pounders devouring the morning spraying and I caught movement from the upwind side. It was him along with the 9 pt, another 8pt and a forkie.My 8pt and the forkie were still in velvet.Unusual as we have signs of the rut kicking in this week. As the bucks went behind a large, tall palmetto clump- I waved my hat at the hogs and they ran off a short distance. That's the opening the deer needed and they walked in to clean up the remnants.I had the buck I wanted at 20 yds, but I knew it would get closer so I waited-they had no idea the boogeyman was around. Now these hogs seeing the deer in there- forgot about my hat and ran back in chasing out the deer. Man, my heart sank into my stomach. Long story short- this happened 3 times! Every time the bucks were outta sight- I waved my hat- the hogs ran off and the deer came in! The last time all 4 bucks circled behind me and walked directly under my stand. Now my heart was coming out of my chest!!
Bottom line- I shot the buck at 11 yards-broadside-no excuses-I did not pick a spot. I had him on the wall already-rookie mistake-on and on.... I was sick- as soon as the arrow hit I knew it was trouble. I'm staring to bore you guys so I'll shorten up here. My son killed the 9 pointer 45 minutes later- all 3 other bucks came by him over 1/2 mile away (confirmed that distance too). He and I didn't hunt that afternoon of course and looked again Sunday morning for hours. I knew he was gonna die so we took off work on Tuesday and went back. The deer went exactly 562 yards from the shot ( Go Back gps) I thought it was further. Yesterday we went to the deer and got my arrow which was still in the bones and I mean bones. If we hadn't gone Tuesday we would not have found it-between the buzzards and varmits all that was left was the smell!! I wasn't gonna post the picture but after reviewing it- I have decided to, as it's just a reality of the situation. Believe me- I lost a lot of sleep over this deer so I was happy to recover the skull and antlers- I am doing a European mount.
Friday evening I double lunged a doe, so I felt better about my shooting and concentration. This is such a mental Sport!!!
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w50/bbhif10/IMGP9652.jpg)
Wow Marty. No ground shrinkage on that one!
Your right about the mental game. I'm just figuring that out for myself.
I had too laugh at the hog story. Seems when I'm chasing deer I see hogs and vise versa. Most every time I sat for hogs this summer I'd see between 2 and 10 deer. Now that deer season has started its just about the opposite! LOL
But anyways, Congrats on a fine deer Marty. Wish for you that it would have been a better recovery but it does happen in this game.
Glad you found him, Marty! Man that's a nice FL buck.
Whoa Marty! That is a monster Florida buck! Good effort on finding him. It happens to all of us occasionally. How in the heck did you track him that far? Did peanut lead you too him? That is a long ways!
Nice deer Marty,know what you mean lost a couple before.It make you sick when you can't find them.Terry
Great deer Marty and congrats on sticking with it through the recovery! Thanks for sharing that. :thumbsup: :clapper:
Jinx my foot. Glad you found him, wish you could have got the meat.
Great buck Marty! Way to stick with it! Congrats!!
Great buck!
Glad you found him :thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing.
Margly
Good job Marty,not finding them is the worst.
Nice buck!
I understand there is only one letter difference between "Closer" and "Loser". Obviously you made yourself a Closer with your determined efforts. Most guys would have given up, especially in the 96 degree heat. Good job. UB
Really nice buck for our neck of the woods! :thumbsup:
Congratulations Marty! Not just for getting him but also for having the perseverance to find him. Way to go! :archer:
I appreciate you sharing. It's not always glory. Nice effort on the recovery, that what was to be found at least. We're a bit off from our opener, but your experience and honesty will help with my attitude and preparation. Thanks.
Marty all I've read about you and after meeting you at the PBS Nashville event I know that your friends give you all kinds of hell (and you give it back) and you're a stand up guy. In that heat with that determination to find an animal you know you killed just forms up the latter. Way to stay with it and close the circle. Way to go on the doe, too :)
Good on you!
Getting one clean kill can make all the difference in how the rest of your season goes. The meat ain't too shabby neither..lol
God bless,Mudd
where did you hit him?
Awesome Florida buck Marty!
Nice buck. Glad you were able to recover the rack at least.
Congrats
Marty that's a Real Nice Buck,Congratulations on hanging in there and finding him,Glad you got your Doe,
Kurt
Very nice buck Marty!
Good recovery of a nice buck, happens to all that spend long enough in the woods. Great that you stuck with it.
There really are some nice bucks down there in Florida.
Good for you for not giving up, last fall i shot my first trad deer which was a nice 8 pointer and i didn't find him till the next day.
I knew he was dead and it took me 8 hours of crawling on my hands and knees and busting my way through thickets to find that rascal.
I appreciate all the kind words guys! Still can't believe all this has happened and it's only August 8th!
Inspiring!
Congrats Marty.
I lived and hunted in FL for 27 years and bucks like that are few and far between. very nice!!
Hero Material , say no more !
Congratulations Marty! That's a Beauty!
Great recovery effort, I know how you felt when you did'nt first him at first. Going to be a nice mount.
Well I suppose a shoulder mount is out of the question :laughing: Sorry to hear about your misfortune, thats a dandy buck. Way to stick with it ....
Don't give up on a shoulder mount...that's one heckuva Florida deer.
Taxidermists can put a cape from another deer on him.
Great story & photo!
What a great way to start the year - it is a long time until October :archer:
Glad you found it Marty! I don't know how you guys stand to hunt in the heat. I saw you in bear camp and I know you are tough.....you have to be to hunt with the characters you run with! :rolleyes:
Marty great work. You did what few could in an unforgiving jungle. That is a great deer.
Great deer and persistance.
Good job Marty, been there, done that, I know how you feel.
Jack
Marty, super looking buck! Am glad you stayed with it until you found him!! Must be nice to hunt deer in AUG! It's so hot here, if you throw corn on the ground....it turns to POPCORN!!!
Boy Howdy...Thats a Dandy buck...Congrats
562 yards! That issimply amazing you found him in the thick stuff of the florida woods. Great job sticking with it.
Glad you found him Marty!!! Way to stick with it! :thumbsup:
Congrats Marty, great buck and story!
Hunt hard.
Most of us have "lost sleep" before.
A European mount will look great!
Real deal. :campfire:
Good buck and way to stick with it.