What a great morning to be out.
On my way to my stand, I'm using a red light to find my way. 100 yards or so from my stand I see another red light. WTH? I thought someone was signaling to me from my stand. I killed my light and waited. The other light didn't move. Then I remembered, my trail cam :knothead: . So, I thought maybe a deer had just walked by and triggered it. I waited some more. It didn't go off. WTH?
So I get into my stand, as I'm bringing my bow up, a deer blows from upwind. WTH? Nice cool morning (38*), glad I dressed warm.
At 7:55 I hear walking. Look to my right...nothing. A couple seconds later, more walking. Look right and catch some movement...fox....nope, coyote. 40 yards out and walking away. I lip squeak. Wrong move, now he's on high alert and I'm still sitting. He puts his head behind a tree and I stand. Don't know if he caught me or just wanted to get downwind, but he quickly retraces his steps, swings back around me and gone.
At 8:10 I hear some movement on hill to my left, look back and a big doe is coming right down the path to me. I start to draw as she stops at 8 yards, broadside, nothing in the way. At 3/4 draw, I see the second deer.....a fuzzy little fawn, come to her side. DAMN, I just can't shoot. That fawn was so dang cute. I just couldn't orphan it yet. A third deer followed....I waited for it to clear the trees and....a spiker. Not what I'm looking for either. They eat some acorns and the big doe makes a tinkle. Then they all walk off. Nothing else seen, down at 10:15.
Go and grab my camera, expecting it to be full. Nope, the red light is "low batt". I now know why so many trail cams are stolen. A nice bright red light to let everyone know that the camera is there. And only one video besides....WTH?
But, if only one video is going to be taken, I'm glad this is it. http://youtu.be/qHYxOOVQt4o . Not the clearest, but good enough to see what he is.
That's why I don't shoot the spikes, hopefully this guy will come back while I'm on stand. As he leaves the screen, he walks in front of my stand at 10-12 yards.
:thumbsup:
Good luck! Sure hope he comes around when you are there. :thumbsup:
Nice buck!!!!
I would have done the same, I don't shoot little deer or mom's with babies, and yes by all means let the bucks grow up a little, makes for a better hunt as they get smarter !
That's a productive morning to say the least!
I'm with you I don't need a deer that bad.
Know how you feel,I passed up 2 does with fawns the other night.Must be gettin' soft in my old age.
Hope you get a crack at that buck.
Thanks for sharing with us... Just think, some folks just can't get the no killing part of hunting.
:archer:
You did good! :thumbsup:
That was a well penned offering. Thanks
Good for you.
For me, unless they have spots, I take the shot. There are few truly dry does. Just because they aren't with her doesn't mean she doesn't have fawns. Fawns will be fine.
he's a good 'un.
good on you, I wont shoot a doe with fawns either, its perfectly legal to shoot her or the fawns, I just don't need a deer that bad, the chance at a dry doe will come.....
The great thing about hunting is sometimes it is on your terms.
Good luck on the big guy.
I do understand as there are always choices. In reality, mostly all are dry by now anyway, just the fawns don't ever really leave. A lot are vacant due to high fawn mortality...cars and cyote's and the rest become part of the "heard" except the buck fawns when they get a little older.
I have never been accused of having a heart...I guess just born with out (except when it comes to my dogs :) )
I would have shot both.
BigJim...Big eater!
Brian, some where in my travels here on Tradgang I remember someone saying, "sometimes the best shot is the shot we don't take",,,Good for you!! :thumbsup:
Fawns will survive fine now; that would have been a doe down for me.(unless I missed!) Actually since it's my first year going traditional if that spike was alone he would have been in trouble too!
Thanks for all the comments.
I don't know, maybe because she looked so big, the fawn looked tiny. Didn't see any spots on it, but way to little to be on it's own. And lots of yotes in the area too. We have a long season, so hopefully another shot will present itself. In the meantime, any day that I'm that close to wildlife, is a good day.
Nice morning, nice buck.