This past Sunday morning, I headed for an area that I know well and have spent many enjoyable hours on stand. I felt it had probably been relatively undisturbed, even though our season was a month old. I'd spent some time in there this past winter and cleared out a few new stand sites. This would be the first time to sit any of them.
The only thing I didn't like about the stand was that because of the lean of the tree, I had to hang the stand facing north, with the crop fields being to the south. I don't like facing away from where the deer approach. Too much movement looking around the tree, plus a chance to get caught off guard.
About a half hour after pink light, a doe got in behind me, and before I knew it, she was at twenty yards and closing. I'd already decided not to shoot a doe back there, because it's not an easy task to get an animal out. So I just stayed tight to the large tree truck and let her pass at ten yards.
About a half hour later, I caught movement behind me again, though this time out quite a distance. I could see a few deer moving through the trees and brush, but didn't know what they were until two of them got into a brief shoving match. As they got to about forty yards, I could see they were two spikes, two forks and a decent racked-buck. Alright!
As they meandered forward, one of the forkys started rubbing a sapling, which then got the larger buck to follow suit. Eventually the four small bucks continued past me out of range, leaving the last buck all alone while he continued to give his undivided attention to the tree he was working over. I now only had one set of eyes to beat. My odds were improving...
When he was satisfied he'd shown that young tree who was boss, he turned and headed my way. I was afraid he'd follow the other bucks, but instead chose the better cover of the vegetation edge I was set up on. With the stand facing away from him, I now had to decide which side of the tree he'd pass on. Once he got too close, I wouldn't be able to turn around to shoot the other way without possibly getting caught.
I made an educated guess that he'd follow where the doe had passed earlier if he crossed her trail, which he was about to do. So I did a 180 to shoot off the east side of the platform.
Sure enough, he hesitated at the scent of the doe and followed her exact path. I already knew where I'd take the shot.
As he passed me at the same ten yards, I took the shot as he was just slightly quartering away. When the arrow struck, he bolted away with quite a bit of arrow sticking out. But the location was tight on the crease, so I knew that the opposite shoulder had stopped the penetration.
He didn't make it out of sight, having traveled about fifty yards before going down.
With that, I was in for a lot of work getting him out. It was only eight o'clock, so any friends that I could call for help would be out in the woods themselves, which is as it should be on such a beautiful October morning.
So after the tagging and field dressing, I started dragging him toward where we could eventually get a deer cart. Later that morning, a good friend, my wife and I returned to complete the long haul.
Thanks for tagging along once again.
(http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr253/garyvater/DSC01360.jpg)
Very nice sir! Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice buck! Well done.
Awesome! :clapper: :clapper:
:thumbsup:
Way to go! Nice buck...
Congrats
Fine buck and good story.
wow, great buck and story!!! Congrats!
Gary, Very awesome buck. Congrats on a very good shot. Thanks , very cool story.
Very nice buck! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Congradulations. Hap
Nice one. :thumbsup: :clapper:
:thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
Congrats :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:
Congratulations on a fine buck. :thumbsup:
That's a very nice deer. Congrates!
What a beauty Gary, congratulations! You're having a heck of a year!
But now what are you going to do with your buck tag filled and the rut hasn't even started?? Any out of state plans left?
Congrats Gary on getting it done. Hopefully more will follow. Nice story and pic. Thanks for sharing.
Well done and well told. Congratulations!
Congratulations on a Fine Buck. :thumbsup:
Congrats on a nice buck!
great buck. great story!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: . Good shooting.
Sounds like the kind of morning I would like to have. Congrats on the nice buck.
Fantastic story and deer. :clapper:
All right Gary, nice buck!
Nice buck,and good story...Congratulations..Mike
:thumbsup: :campfire:
Nice buck and great story Gary! Congrats! I havn't been out yet but the anticipation is driving me crazy! Trying to setup for Halloween weekend and early November as much as possible. I'm self employed with family obligations and work like most. Can't be out near as much as I'd like. Seeing your post gets me stoked. Thanks! If I tagged out early I would probably hunt hard for next year with a camera in my hand. A lot to learn, always a morsel of info waiting to be found. I would be doing this with a big smile, enjoying the harvest of a beautiful pre-rut buck. Good Job!
Great story and a great buck!
Awesome!
Congrats!
Congrats on a very nice deer!
Shod'm witcher boo, huh?
Don't ya love when a plan comes together. Well done, reel noss when dey go down widdin sight.
Congrats!
Congrats.Nice buck.RC
very nice , congrats :clapper:
Congratulations!!!
Great looking buck! Thanks for sharing your story and picture!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Alright Knobby, what a great year you have going after that nice mulie earlier. Beautiful buck! Heading up in a few hours the sin is really exploding in central Wis.
Congrats Gary. Write it up for the Stump Shooter, Tim need stories.
Great story, great deer, Congrats!
:clapper:
very nice buck
Joe, I just sent Gary a set of leather gloves and a stout rope, he's coming up to my place in two weeks to help me drag mine out.
Nice One! Congrats !
Great job Knobby on your trophy buck. I know a lot of hard work and dedication was put into it.
Nice!!!!!!!
Congrats on a fine buck! :thumbsup:
Good work.
:thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Love it Awesome
Great job Gary! Beautiful deer!
Great looking buck! Congratulations
Glenn
Thats a big boy! Congratulations!!!
Thanks to everyone for the congratulations. It is a strange feeling having the buck tag filled already, but I guess I can deal with it. I still have doe tags to keep me out there, and as Schlaggerman warned me, I better have a camera ready. You just know what's going to walk out in front of me...kind of like having a cow elk tag in the pocket and a 5x5 bull at nine feet!
Double O, you're right in that a lot went into being in the right place. Many hours in the field during the off-season, and thousands of practice arrows shot. Like many on here,I wouldn't want it any other way.
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Way to go Gary, great buck!!
Take Care, Chris
:goldtooth:
NICE!!
Great story! congrats!
Congratulations, thanks for the good read.
Good job Gary. Noticed the lucky "golf" hat was left at home. Might be a sign! Send it out to us here in Colo for our next shoot. Will return it with some "vents" in it. I also noticed the knee rubber boots, must be because of the BS. Ha Sitting in a tree is not our style out west, must make you feel like an acorn. I would probably fall asleep, then fall out of the tree. I like to keep both feet on the ground!
Congrats again on a nice deer - next time wipe the milk off the lips before the photo section!!!