On Long Island the season started on Oct 1st but I had to wait until this past weekend to hunt. On Sept 22nd I donated a kidney to my wife and the Dr said I had to wait 4 weeks before I could shoot my bow. It was a long wait for me not being able to shoot. Well Saturday had me up at 4:00am and on my way to my hunting spot. The wind was blowing to the east which would be pretty good for the one stand I was able to set up before the operation. I'm in my stand and the sunrise was amazing and just being able to hunt i was very special to me. Around 8:00am I hear a deer behind me, I peak behind and there is a small six, a doe and what looks like last years fawn. They are on a trail that will give me a 15 yard shot. Then all of a sudden the wind swirls for a second and the buck and doe putthere head up sniffing. After doing that for 10 minutes they turn around and head back the way they came.
Well I stayin the stand till 11:00am and then want to go finish putting up another stand in a spot close by. As I am heading through the thick stuff I hear some does snorting and stomping. One runs off in front of me and I move to cut the others off. The wind is perfect so I crouch down behind a small bush and give a couple of doe bleats and then wait. Sure enough 10 minutes letter here they come. I've got a broadside shot at 20 yards but they are nervous and so am I so I wait for them to pass at 15 yards. Just as she gets there and i start to draw she turns to walk towards me and spots me and then bolts. So close!
At this point I finish setting up the stand, gets some lunch and take a nap. The only side effects I'm having is I get real tired around 5:00pm. About 3:00pm I head to my evening stand. I'm hunting a major trail in front of me with thick cover behind me and off to my left and right. At 4:00pm a doe feeds out in front of me and is about 30 yards so I am waiting for her to get closer. She is just milling around feeding and as she gets to my trail and turns broadside i start my draw and she jumps ten feet. I should have waited for her to look away since the sun is shining right on me and i must have shined like a beacon. Rookie mistake.
Around 5:00pm off to my right i hear a deer coming , sure enough I see antler, and some nice antler to boot. A 130 class buck is making a scrape, then he beats the hell out of a bush, grunting the whole time. If he comes my way he will give me a 17 yard broadside shot. Well this goes on for a 1/2 hour. Grunting the whole time. Well he starts to go the opposite way so i give two grunts and he stops. He stands there for 5 minutes and then starts walking my way and i am ready. Then out of nowhere comes a 125 class buck with his hair up and pissed off. They then proceed to have a knock down fight that lasts 10 minutes and the 130 class chases off the 125 lcass in the opposite direction of me! Now where I hunt I'm lucky to see one good buck like these once or twice all season let alone two fighting. The whole long ride home i was smiling the whole day. Sunday I did things with my wife so I can't wait to get back in the stand on Saturday.
Very exciting day in the deer woods! You certainly had a great day and will probably get a crack at one of those nice bucks! Good luck with your recovery and get someone to help you drag out one of those deer!
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Good time to get started the woods are just starting to pick up with activity. Glad you and your wife are well. Good luck this season. Joe
Wishing you luck.
Sounds like a fantastic day!
Sounds good!!
You are one heck of a guy Cookie! Glad you had some "action" in the deer woods. Most of all... You and the wife are what love is all about... :notworthy:
... mike ...
Thanks Mike. Kept thinking of Carl my first day hunting and knew he was with me in spirit. hopefully he sends one of those bucks my way.
Hope you both heal fast, and you deserve a good deer. :notworthy:
Awesome hunt. Good luck to you and hope the wife gets to feeling better.
keep it up mint and good luck. :archer: 5