A ladder stand overlooking a scrape. Cool Saturday afternoon Nov. 1st in KS. A couple grunts.....then the leaves....then another grunt. 4 does walk into a meadow followed by a nice tall 9. Here he comes at 8 yards to the scrape. Perfect quartering away shot just steps away. Nothing better!?
I draw my elkhearts back......hold for a second...and then....let down.
Huh? ..... I watched him walk away.
(http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/lmyers2/Bent%20Oak/Screenshot_2014-11-02-18-44-51.png)
He was a good buck. A buck I could have harvested from my little farm in SE KS and been proud. But.....what was going through my mind was...this is Nov 1st. I'm at deer camp with some good friends. We only get one buck in KS. Did I really want to be done now. In years past....buck down....but the older I get the more I enjoy just being out here in November. Buck or no buck, time spent at camp for two or three weeks is time I just didn't want to give up. Good friends, the memories, the laughs, the time spent alone on stand....those are the larger reasons for the season.
Don't get me wrong.....if I see him again in a couple weeks the outcome and story may end different. But for now I'm content watching him walk away...and having to tolerate a few more nights of camp.
(http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/lmyers2/Bent%20Oak/2014-11-04_09.08.28.jpg)
Pure awesomeness!!!!!!!!
Good luck with the rest of your season! Sounds like you already have a dandy start to it!
Bisch
good gravy...
I believe I'd have had to drop the string and just volunteer as camp cook and videographer for the rest of the season.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I have let a few walk myself , I also have a cool camp with some good guys. The rut is on and a cold front just hit us a few hours ago and now I fell it (no walking away the next few days) it's on now....
,,,,,Sam,,,,
I think it's what you are smok'in in your pipe. Has to be fogg'in your brain. In any case you demonstrated more restraint than I would ever have.
QuoteOriginally posted by johnnyk71:
good gravy...
I believe I'd have had to drop the string and just volunteer as camp cook and videographer for the rest of the season.
X2......and I can cook !!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
You nailed it, without nailing him!
ron w....
I'm always hungry.
Any chance we can get together?
:wavey:
hey that's cool. I did similar yesterday, passed the biggest muley ive ever passed up on. kinda fun
Nice camp don't blame you at all for wanting to stay awhile.
Yes sir, that's what it really is all about!
Awesome just Awesome :campfire:
Your camp looks awesome, can't blame you for not shooting but......lol. I've been there done that and then I've been venison free all winter. No regrets though. Although I have to say it's kinda nice getting a buck early and then just enjoying camp time, cooking, sleeping when you want, being able to stay up late playing cards, and watching your camp mates walk out into the bitter cold and knowing you can hang by the fire and have fresh tenderloins and eggs for breakfeast.
That is what this is all about. That is awesome and hope i can get to "that place" in my hunting career
Catch and release. :thumbsup: Done that a few times on real pretty coyotes.
:campfire:
Very cool! It's all about the hunt.
Fantastic! I am fighting the feeling envy right now. LOL. Looks like a great group of guys and a great camp. God Bless you guys.
:smileystooges:
Looks like a fun camp. I understand passing. When it doesn't feel right, it ain't. Good luck with the rest of season.
Awesome! Great encounter! That is what it is all about.
That is a very nice buck, but tagging out first thing is a very mixed feeling for me.
It's about the HUNTING. Waiting expectantly all year to be done so early doesn't work out so well.
Looks like a great camp and a positive outlook will win the day. Good luck to the camp.
I can understand that, I think. I love time at camp, devoted to hunting. But I also like venison in the =freezer, and a nice rack. Since seeing deer in Maine is often a challenge, I am used to dropping the string when the opportunity presents. I would also have probably volunteered to be "Cooky", chore master, assistant blood trailer and drag assistant at camp. I hope a bigger one shows up at camp for you.