I've never been one to pick a particular deer and stay after him all season. I'm not a big trail camera guy and still don't own one. I rarely spend any time glassing fields in the summer and often let the cards fall where they may when the season opens. I guess I would refer to myself as an opportunist, whose "big buck" pursuit dwindles a little bit each day into the season. I will say, I do start off each year with great intentions..... but a trophy hunter I'm not.
This year I promised I'd do things a little different. I wasn't sure what exactly that different would be, but I would know soon enough. I believe the day was October 7 when my big plan came together. I sat a stand on one of my farms that I refer to as the swamp stand. Not a real original name and not really a swamp, just a low, kind of wet area thats been pretty darn good to me over the years. It was an evening sit and one that I would remember over and over for many weeks to come.
:campfire: :coffee:
Keep it coming! :)
I like to hunt edges..... edges of fields, swamps, thickets, brush piles. You know what I mean, stuff that funnels deer my way. The swamp stand is basically the edge of an alfalfa field, the edge of a swamp and the edge of a briar patch. It just a place deer feel comfortable before they walk out to feed. The area 50 yards above me is thick, real thick. One of those places that just tear you and your clothes all to hell if you even think of walking in. That area I refer to as the "no fly zone"! No one goes in there for any reason but to recover a deer. That's their safety zone, and the reason it holds deer all season long.
Half an hour before sunset I had a couple does work their way out of the thick stuff into a small strip of alfalfa that leads to the big field. It was early October and everyone was relaxed and enjoying the cool night. A few minutes later a pair of young bucks joined the ladies. The young guys would browse a bit and look back, browse and look. Not long after a beauty of a buck steps out.....
I understand that some folks like white racks, some like wide racks and some like high racks. I for one love dark color phases in my antlers. Deep dark chestnut bases with lighter tips. I'm also a sucker for perfect symmetry and that's exactly what this guy had. In my eyes he was what I was looking for and believe me, he was one good looking deer.
He also sported one characteristic that I have yet to add to my photo album and that was 10 points. Yes my friends, he was a perfect 5x5 and something I've been on a quest to tag for many years.
It's about time you put something up! :campfire:
That's the night I talked myself into hunting one particular deer. I'm not saying I wouldn't entertain others but I really wanted a crack at this guy.
For those that didn't notice, I live in Pennsylvania..... land of a million hunters, land of the trespassers and land of the crossbows. Deer, even with restrictions rarely reach quality caliber. So saying that you're going to hunt one buck, and that particular buck being a nice one, is setting the bar pretty darn high. I never realized how my passion for this deer would grow as the season progressed.
:thumbsup:
Still waiting.
:campfire: :coffee:
That first night ended without much excitement. I snort wheezed at him once, he acknowledged my presence and walked out into the field to feed. I sat there in the dark letting him melt away into the field as I conjured up my plan. :biglaugh:
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Congrats, Tim! Now finish the dang story!!
Jed
Tuned in here
October 12, 2015 - Sighting number 2!
We had an east wind that night and the top stand is the only place to hunt a wind of that direction. It was a great night with a stream of does and young ones filtering by. I had a doe tag in my pocket but I promised to leave them be, not wanting to leave any more scent than necessary in the area. At dark I slipped down the tree and out to the edge of the alfalfa. 150 yards down into the field I saw my buck feeding contently. Nice....he's still on the property! :thumbsup:
I hunted the farm here and there for the next two weeks, carefully playing the wind. Deer activity was not bad, but not great. Where I had been seeing 15 does, I was now seeing only a few. I was careful not to over hunt any spot and spent quite a bit of time on some of my other properties shooting a couple doe for the freezer.
.
I'm sorry Jed....it's just my nature to draw you in!!! :laughing:
I sat the farm several more times over the next few weeks. He was gone or at least he appeared to be.
The farm I'm hunting is 50 acres with about 20 of those acres being half hearted woods, no oaks or beech trees, mostly maples, green briar and walnuts. The deer are there because for the alfalfa and the security the area provides.
November 3, 2015..........my third sighting.
I slipped into a new stand that had some decent cover along with some scrape activity. It wasn't too far from the property owners barn and had a neat eerie feeling. Some high grass, white pines and again a real nice edge.
I had my stand facing down towards the alfalfa field. I planned to let the deer walk past me, providing a good shot angle as they moved through. Again, I passed on a few does hoping he would be along.
I'm not sure whether I heard something or just felt a presence but I looked over my shoulder to find "him" slipping quietly past at 20 yards tending a doe. He had no urgency to his pace. She'd move, and than he'd move. He was one smooth dude....
I let him get 30 yards away and gave a soft snort wheeze. Again he acknowledged my presence and than melted away.
Here's a picture of the area I was hunting.
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/IMG_1528_zpsxzpmg6bq.jpg) (http://s49.photobucket.com/user/Wyoming1/media/IMG_1528_zpsxzpmg6bq.jpg.html)
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:thumbsup:
Tim, you keep stretching this out and I will have our mutual Italian friend send his leg breakers!
:campfire:
TAP TAP SIGH SIGH TAP TAP. BEING A TYPE A PERSONALITY IS REALLY TOUGH SOMETIMES.
Not long after our encounter I took a break from PA and headed to Kansas. My time away gave the farm a nice chance to calm down and allowed the bucks to do their thing. Ten days later I would be back in the game with a new plan and high hopes.
I was back on the farm November 18th. I still had some time to catch the bucks moving but again, he was gone. I was careful not to over hunt, but persistent. Most of the doe where locked down and all I saw night after night where small bucks looking for love.
This is when I really started to have some lows. I had logged in 60 sits so far this year between Colorado, Kansas and PA. It had been a year of "almosts".....and frankly it was getting old. I'm very picky on which I shots I take and it just seemed like I had a black cloud over my head and this silly quest to kill a "certain" buck was constantly on my mind.
December 11, 2015..........Sighting #4 :notworthy:
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Sighting #4 was just last night. I caught a glimpse of what I thought was my buck a good 150 yards away. I only saw him for a second and he was gone. What he did give me was his secret. That secret would cost him dearly in the morning.
The rest of the evening I sat quietly as 3 young bucks walked past me. I climbed down at dark with good intentions for the morning.
It's gun season here in PA, so my choices of where I hunt and if I hunt are based on my daughters work schedule. I knew she was off in the morning but I wasn't sure if she'd want to get up early. As is played out she slept in and I was on my own.
The buck had made a big mistake the night before showing himself just prior to dark. I knew if he was left alone all night he would most likely be looking to bed in the same vicinity in the morning. I planned to come in from a neighboring property and catch him in route.
I slipped into my stand a good 30 minutes before shooting light. I didn't have a stand hung, so I took my climber along, finding a tree not 20 yards from the edge of bedding area. I felt this would be his travel route back down, knowing he would want to take full advantage of the morning thermals coming up the hill.
I had only been sitting for 15 minutes when I saw a shadow move 40 yards out in front of me. I slowly brought up my binoculars. It was him!!! He was standing perfectly still, nose in the air. It was still very dark and my thoughts of this thing playing out were not very good.
15 minutes had passed and he had not moved an inch. He just stood there staring in my direction. Another 5 minutes passed and I noticed two more shadows to his right. Not 15 yards in front of him were two does.
No one was moving, just standing and staring.....
.
Great story so far.
:campfire:
:coffee:
I figured this, the longer these deer stood there, the better chance I had of the sun filling up this valley!
Things were looking up as the shadows became deer and I was able to get a good look at what was going on. The two does where browsing and the buck was just waiting for them to move on. He wasn't totally at peace but he seemed to have chilled out a bit and slowly started moving towards me. I really believe he was curious. He had smelled something.....but the the thermals where in my favor.
Within a few minutes he was 20 yards away and I was still sitting down. I needed to stand up and fast. As he moved behind a tree I slowly stood watching the does the entire time. Success!!! I was up and ready.
His next few steps where directly at me, not good. I needed him to turn. One of the does started to move and caught his attention. They wanted to go down and for him to follow he had to turn. I tightened my grip on the string as he turned broadside at 10 yards. When he looked left I came into my anchor and the arrow was gone.
For a moment I panicked. I had not seen the arrow hit him! He ran right past my tree as I quickly grabbed another arrow and spun.....
By the time I had looked around the tree it was over. He had covered 15 yards stopped and fell over. A brief 3 seconds had summed up my season. He laid there quietly as I came completely unglued.
My first call was to my son, my second to my wife. The search and rescue team were in route.
:jumper:
CONGRATS TIM!!! cant wait to see the pics man sounds like a goodone
My buddies love to give me a hard time about my wife. She helps me drag about 75% of the deer I shoot. Although I love the help getting the critter out, what I really love is just having her along to go through the hunt with. She knows how much effort is involved in what we do and she shares the passion, which is very cool!
------------------
My son arrived first, Cathy and my daughter not long after. We spent a good hour just reliving the moment. Me basically telling the story over and over. My legs had stopped shaking and as TJ said in a text message, "I was at peace". The deer was awesome and just as I had imagined each time I saw him. Not real high, but kinda wide and a perfect 5x5. A solid PA whitetail taken the last day of gun season with a longbow at 10 yards....PRICELESS!
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/IMG_1129_zpsyxsnsg4b.jpg) (http://s49.photobucket.com/user/Wyoming1/media/IMG_1129_zpsyxsnsg4b.jpg.html)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/IMG_1122_zpstu9v150m.jpg) (http://s49.photobucket.com/user/Wyoming1/media/IMG_1122_zpstu9v150m.jpg.html)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/IMG_1126_zpsnabjtehn.jpg) (http://s49.photobucket.com/user/Wyoming1/media/IMG_1126_zpsnabjtehn.jpg.html)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/IMG_1677_zpsfag0wzmz.jpg) (http://s49.photobucket.com/user/Wyoming1/media/IMG_1677_zpsfag0wzmz.jpg.html)
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So tell me folks.....Does it ever get any better than this!!!
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/IMG_1128_zpsgtzpyvwx.jpg) (http://s49.photobucket.com/user/Wyoming1/media/IMG_1128_zpsgtzpyvwx.jpg.html)
:thumbsup: :notworthy:
Way to hang in there Tim. Great story and Great deer. Lots of memories there.
Awesome brother just awesome way to close the season and the book on a great buck!!!
Very fine Tim ... congrats
Woohoo, awesome buck & story! Well done, congratulations!
What a fantastic success. Really good hunting! Congratulations.
Congratulations Tim,
That's a great buck and the memory that moment being shared with your family makes it priceless.
Congrats, Tim! :notworthy: :clapper:
Great season! Congrats. :thumbsup:
That's staying after him. Nice buck. Congrats. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great deer, great story, but more importantly great memories with family
Congrats and thanks for the great story.
Great job man!! :clapper:
Tim,
Love the story with the history, suspense,and the successful taken of a beautiful animal.
The pictures with the whole family involved is icing on the cake!
Great buck and story!
Tim, somehow I had a good feeling about you and this deer all fall. I'm truly happy that it worked out for you. Thanks for giving me a ring this morning! I couldn't have been happier for you!! :thumbsup:
No Tim, it doesn't get any better than that. I'm so happy for you! Great job! I love that your family is so involved.
David
Fine deer Tim and thanks for sharing the journey that led to that final picture. That is the good stuff right there.
Great deer,good-looking family! Congrats on both!
Ernie
Outstanding! Congrats :thumbsup:
congrates and thanks for taking us along for the ride!!!
to answer your last question YES it does get better...when you your son and daughter are all in the same pic with 3 nice bucks. only happened once but ill never for get it!!!
Congrats Tim, was wondering how things were going for you. Family looks great. Tell junior his legs are looking kinda pale.
Tim,
great buck, and a great story!
Great story and some incredible pics Tim. Congrats and way to stay the course!!
Congrats Tim!
One sign of a great hunter is patients. That buck never had a chance. Fantastic deer and congrats Brother!
Great story and pics.
(Though that's the first time I've ever seen someone wearing shorts to retrieve a deer. Darned kids are a lot tougher than we are, I guess.) Congratulations on both a beautiful deer and having a wonderful family. Nope, it doesn't get any better.
That is an awesome looking buck!
Congrats,
Bisch
:clapper:
Wow Tim. So happy for you. Well deserved for sure!!!! I for one know what a great accomplishment that is anywhere in the country but to do it around our way during gun season is just plain awesome!!!!!!! Great deer and great pics. Congrats man!!
Great deer and great story. Congrats!!
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/IMG_1128_zpsgtzpyvwx.jpg) (http://s49.photobucket.com/user/Wyoming1/media/IMG_1128_zpsgtzpyvwx.jpg.html)
So cool!!! :thumbsup:
You are blessed my friend! Great story, shot, and buck!!!
Great story, congratulations :thumbsup: and you are right it doesn't get any better than that.
Congratulations Tim,
You are a very lucky man and I don't mean the buck!
That's just icing on the cake.
Love the story and the pictures, thanks for sharing.
Congrats again Tim!!! So happy for you! I just love how your WHOLE family is so involved in every hunt you do. I hope to accomplish that one of these days. That last picture says it all to me. I don't think it gets any better. Every year your family is right beside you on your hunts. Love it! Congrats again!!!! :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Tim,
You do know how to tell a story. Thanks or bringing us along. What a buck!
Well done sir , Congrats....
,,,Sam,,,
Nice job! That deer was worth waiting for.
Great deer, Tim. Congrats.
Beautiful, all the way around!
Thanks for the great story, I felt like I was there. What a terrific hunt.
Killdeer
:bigsmyl:
You are right, sir.... it doesn't get any better than that!
Congratulations and God bless,
Rodd
Congrats,great story and even better deer
Thanks for sharing the story and pics!! Congrats!
:thumbsup:
Congrats on a fine buck.! Perseverance pays off!
Good job Tim :)
Great work on a wily buck! He's a beauty..wide, symmetrical even to the upsweep at the tips of the main beams. My guess is his fawns in the area will inherit that look. :thumbsup:
Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence (and good solid thinking!). Great buck and fine hunt Tim. Thanks for sharing.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :campfire:
Wooohooo! Loved the story too!
Wow! What a buck and on the last day of the season! Congrats to you Tim!
What a fantastic season! Congrats on an amazing animal and the jopy of a family that loves to share it with you!
Tim Congrats on a beauty.I too hunt not far from you and as you said about the pressure here in Pa. That is a great accomplishment.Comgrats again Lou
Congrats Tim! Well earned buck!
QuoteOriginally posted by Tim:
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So tell me folks.....Does it ever get any better than this!!!
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/IMG_1128_zpsgtzpyvwx.jpg) (http://s49.photobucket.com/user/Wyoming1/media/IMG_1128_zpsgtzpyvwx.jpg.html)
NO!!! It does not get any better. Congrats to you and your family bud. That is a combination of all of the little things we live for rolled into one event.
Awesome story, hunt, skill, and deer. Hard to top that one. Congrats.
Dan in KS
Too COOL, Tim. It is beyond wonderful that you live this as a family; though it might be as sin,I am truly envious.
Merry Christmas, I hope we get to shoot together in 2016.
Jed
wow. what a buck! great story too. congrats all around
Nice looking deer, Tim....and a great family photo too! Congrats...
That was an awesome story and a great looking buck! Thanks for sharing your hunts with us. You are indeed blessed to have a family that shares your excitement and passion. I can relate to that also! Congratulations! :thumbsup:
Bernie
Very cool Tim, many congratulations..
:thumbsup:
Tim, well done in so many ways. All your blessing have been earned, good things happen to good people. I am pleased for you and yours, get some rest...
QuoteOriginally posted by Tim:
.
So tell me folks.....Does it ever get any better than this!!!
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/IMG_1128_zpsgtzpyvwx.jpg) (http://s49.photobucket.com/user/Wyoming1/media/IMG_1128_zpsgtzpyvwx.jpg.html)
Nope! Big congrats!
Awesome story and buck, well done!
-Jay
congrats!
Congrats! Nice buck.
Tim we Are required to wear 250 inches of blaze orange on the head, chest and back combined visible 360 degrease even while bowhunting during rifle in Pennsylvania.
A buck to remember for a lifetime and shared with your family and friends congratulations.
I love happy endings :thumbsup:
Great story Tim! Awesome hunting, awesome family, awesome buck!! Congrats on the whole experience!
Great everything. Congrats on a fine hunt and success. What bow are you shooting? I really like the lines and look.
Great hunt! Awesome buck and during rifle season, congratulations!
Redshaft.....thanks for pointing out the state laws. I have other pics with my daughter holding my flo vest and hat band if you'd like me to post them.. :rolleyes:
We aren't required to wear it for pictures.
QuoteOriginally posted by Tim:
Redshaft.....thanks for pointing out the state laws. I have other pics with my daughter holding my flo vest and hat if you'd like me to post them.. :rolleyes:
I don't believe you Tim, post em if you got em. :biglaugh: :laughing:
Had to show my wife these pics. Very, very happy for you bud.
Great buck and a great story to go along with it. Thanks for sharing.
Burton
Just love these stories that unfold throughout a season, great story masterify told!!!!
Something about the fullness of a hunt measured by the amount of effort put into it......
You Sir are not only tasting the fullness of this hunt but of life as well!!!!
Congrats Tim!
Thanks Benjamin. Very well said. Thanks for posting. Tim
Congrats! I enjoyed your story. Great buck!
QuoteOriginally posted by Tim:
.
So tell me folks.....Does it ever get any better than this!!!
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f281/Wyoming1/IMG_1128_zpsgtzpyvwx.jpg) (http://s49.photobucket.com/user/Wyoming1/media/IMG_1128_zpsgtzpyvwx.jpg.html)
I sure can't imagine anything better! Congratulations Tim! That is one fine deer and a heck of a story. Thanks for letting us all share in your success. Well deserved!
Congratulations Tim!
I too was hunting in PA Saturday morning. Seeing Timmy in shorts and a T-shirt in December made me laugh!
Shorts and a T shirt? must be the same weather were having up here LOL.
Congrats Tim, Great story and no, I dont believe it could be better.
Great job and beautiful buck!
Congratulations. That is a truly impressive buck, made even more impressive by the fact that you bagged him in Southeastern Pennsylvania during rifle season. Cheers!
Awesome Tim. Great hunt. Thanx for sharing. Congrates. :clapper:
Great buck Tim. You sure know how to tell a story. :clapper:
Very nice story of your encounter and eventual harvest of such a fine deer! Its great that your family is able to share in the experience as well. Well done!
Amazing buck! Congrats on getting the one you were after!
Another PA gun season bow buck and a dandy at that. Way to go Tim !!!!
Way cool, Tim! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your journey. And no, it doesn't get any better.
Fantastic story telling! Congrats on a super whitetail anywhere!
Beautiful deer, something to be proud of...thanks for taking us on your journey and the pics are great! :archer:
Congrats on a beautiful buck! Great to see the whole family in the pic!
Love it! Congratulations.
Awesome story and deer.
nice job cograts I know the feeling its awesome
Congrats! Tim great Pa buck!
Tim,
Congratulations on an exceptional buck, and beautiful family. In the event that Jed had you roughed up a bit, I wish you a speedy recovery, and a Merry Christmas!
Best Regards, Chase
Congratulations on a great hunt!
Beautiful buck Tim and great story telling. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful all around Tim, you are a truly blessed man!!
Good things happen to good people, you deserve everything you work so hard at brother....congrats!!