After hunting 3 previous areas earlier in the season and not seeing much, I decided to hit one of my old favorite spots. I got there early enough to hike from the trailhead to the top to glass just before the sun shined over the hill.
Two years ago, I had missed a nice 3x3 in the same general area and while glassing I couldn't help myself but to replay the missed shot over and over again in my head. I only have a hand full of days free to hunt this season and I told myself I would take the first shot I got, doe or buck.
I didn't glass anything up until about 8:30. I saw a doe feeding down in the canyon, about 800-1000 yards away. I kept my eye on her hoping to see her bed down. Before long, another deer stepped out to join her. I quickly new this deer had some headgear on him, but couldn't make out how big he was with my binos. I watch them about 30 minutes and saw them bed down under an oak tree.
I decided to put the stalk on them both. If I could get close enough to make sure the buck was legal to take, then great, if not, the doe was going to take the hit. I quickly covered some ground and got within about a 100 yards of them. At this point, I couldn't see them, but I knew where they were. I took my boots off, rolled up my pants, and creep in.
Lucky for me, there was a nice clearing of about 30 yards from the tree, which allowed me to get real close. Do to the low hanging branches of the oak tree I didn't see the bedded down doe until I got within 10 yards of her. I could see the bucks butt, couldn't see his head since he was bedded behind the tree trunk. I waited there for 20 mintues and finally the buck gets up and moves from the back side of the tree. I notice he was a decent 2x2. Immediately my heart rate jumps up.
I drew back, held for about 5 seconds for things to settle down, and before I knew it my arrow was off. I heard a nice whack, and the buck busted out. Ran to about 40 yards and stopped and looked back. I thought I missed, so I nocked another arrow and sent it is way. Hit him a little back but I could see blood coming out in good amounts as he ran over the hill. Little did I know that my first shot was good enough, double lung and complete pass through. Second shot hit mostly liver.
This was my first bow kill buck. Couldn't be happier with him.
Blood trail leading away from bedding area.
(http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2ce36b3127ccef136f40c95a900000030O01AZMWrdyzYtge3nw0/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/)
Blood trail from second shot.
(http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2ce36b3127ccef1361533544e00000030O01AZMWrdyzYtge3nw0/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/)
(http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2ce36b3127ccef1364b9054c200000030O01AZMWrdyzYtge3nw0/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/)
(http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2ce36b3127ccef13713cff5cd00000030O01AZMWrdyzYtge3nw0/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/)
Awesome! Congrats! Nice looking deer. :thumbsup: What did he weigh?
Nice looking trad buck
Congrats !
Nice going. :thumbsup:
Darcy
good job :clapper:
:thumbsup:
Congrats brother! That's awesome. Kill or no kill stalking up to within 10 yards of a deer is awesome!
NICE!
Thanks guys.
Great deer , Congrats.....
,,Sam,,
Congratulations and :clapper:
Congrats! Putting the stalk on any animal is challenging, but deer are right up there in difficulty for sure. Excellent job and great story.
-Dan
:thumbsup: Congrats!
Very nice!
Awesome.
Good work!
10 yards, man you were creeping..
Way to go! :thumbsup:
Congrats on your first Trad Buck.
Shot, Great job and story on your first. Stalking is the only way I would hunt,but in PA I would only be chasing them to another hunter.
:thumbsup: Good going!
Congrats!
sweet.
Sweet! Thanks for sharing with us your hunt. Keeps me pumped up in between hunting days.
K.C.
nicely done! sounds like a helluva sneak man. good shooting too.
Excellent!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congratulations ! Nice buck, quite an acomplishment.
Awesome!! :notworthy:
Awesome, getting it done in California. Hat's off to you
Good Shoot'n!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/Pictures/buzzards.gif)
Awesome!!!
Congrats great job!!!
Congratulations, and thanks for sharing the story and pics with us. Very nice!
Excellent!
Congrats, looking for my first trad bow kill this weekend
Great job! That big smile say it all.
Congrats.
Awesome!
Congrats on your first bow buck!
Bisch
Great story and picts, congrats!
Very nice. Great job on the harvest pic! A keeper pic too!!!
Cool :thumbsup:
Very nice,great story and pictures.I have a ether sex tag i hope to fill on the coast next week.The bucks are chasing does but i may not be picky .Also welcome to tradgang!
Good job!
Congrats. nice buck
Congratulations!!! :clapper:
Congrats! Hope to do the same with a N.Texas whitetail in the next couple of months.
That's my kinda bloodtrail right there. Congrats
Very nice buck. Congrats
Congrats to you. I love the pictures that make me feel a bit that I'm there.
Right on! Congrats to you! :thumbsup:
Congrats!
Nice!! And a stalk to get the deer, fantastic.
Great story! Thanks for sharing, and Congrats!
Nice job. Way to get a second arrow in him. Even though you didn't need it! Pretty buck!
Great Job!
Cool pics. Thanks for sharing.
CK
Pretty buck, congrats. :clapper: