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Come on Charl....er Tim, lets hear about it.

Just waiting for the pics from my son's camera.  

Let's move on.  Yesterday was just not a good day, one of those days where everything goes wrong.  I got home from work a little early so I shot some arrows.  Totally forgot about the time and suddenly realized it was 4:45!   Rain was moving in and chances are I'd get a bit wet.  The wind was out of the east so I only have a couple properties that work with that wind, so I chose the closest property and rushed to get dressed.  

The stand I was going to produced the biggest deer on the property 10 years ago.  My son was 12 and sat that Saturday evening.  We were also late getting in that day and believe it or not, we had an east wind with rain predicted.  Once we got on stand the clouds opened up for 10 minutes.   It rained like hell and was over just as fast.  Just prior to the rain a nice buck snuck down the trail past his stand only to be met by a 1916 shaft tipped with a small Magnus head.   The trail was a bit longer than we would have liked but the result was incredible.  Here's a pic of my sons first bow killed deer.  He shot with a little 42 lb wheel bow that Big Ed had made for him.  

Not a bad way to start your bowhunting career.  

   

I love how you tell stories.    

Congrats to that young Man!  

One fine deer.

Well done guys!!!

Bill and Ken, I was hoping I was next in line for his lh silvertip, lol.

Ok, let's finish up this long tale....

As I said, nothing was going right so far.  I was late getting dressed and made two trips back to the basement, one for my bow I almost forgot. The ride to the farm was short, so it's now 5:00.  I quickly grab my safety belt which is completely tangled,  I grab my binos which lovingly slam me in the chin.....yes, I'm a mess.  

I take a few breaths and slip down an old path through the woods to my stand.  As I get closer to the field edge I realize the entrance way is gone.  A tree is down and the thicket seems to have doubled in size.  I quickly grab my hand pruners and clip a hole to get through.   So much for my stealth mode!      

I finally get to my stand, attach my lifeline and up I go.  Once settled in I slowly lower the seat on my stand which let's out a lovely squeak!  Wonderful, just wonderful.  I slump down in my seat only to watch 4 does slipping away.   At this point, I really consider heading home.  I'm a stickler for details and in my mind the nights a bust.  I decide to ride it out, what else does a married guy do on a Friday night!

An hour later 2 button bucks come cruising through.  The rain held off nicely and the temp was dropping quick.  The woods gets dark early these days, while the fields provide a good 20 minutes more of shooting light.  My stand is set up on the edge, so I've got a 15 yard shot into the alfalfa field and 20 yards into the woods.

I figured I only had around 5 minutes left of good "woods" light so I slowly stood up.  Out of nowhere a nice buck appears in the field to my right.  A nice wide 7 pointer but a younger deer that is noticeably alert.  He was really wired and took off obviously spooked by something.  As he moved down the field I heard something to my left.  I slowly turn to see a large bodied buck weaving through the green briar right at me!    

Yes? And then?!?!?! Ya know, some of us are at work and have to live vicariously through others. LOL!

 

I quickly grab my binoculars as the deer comes closer......12 yards, 10, 8, 6.   I've got no shot but at this point I've determined I'd like the deer.   He cuts left and walks dead away from me.  Perfect, I say to myself.  Two more steps and he will make a hard right and stop to study the field!  

At this point I realize this buck is standing exactly where my son shot his deer 10 years earlier!   One more step and he'll give me a 12 yard broadside shot!   I slowly came into my anchor as his foot came forward.  I remember, hitching in my draw......I also remember scolding myself and settling in.  The arrow was off and quickly disappeared behind the shoulder!  The buck exploded over a wall of briars! And was gone!

All I remember was the white fletch disappearing!

Amazing!  

 

Knowing the deer had hit the field running I slipped down the tree to provide a better chance of seeing his direction.   I saw nothing but half a dozen other deer browsing the field.        I'm looking out in the field and he's lying tucked into the tall alfalfa right under my nose.  I sprinted to him.  Wow, my excitement hit a totally new level!  I was beside myself.  

The arrow had entered behind the shoulder and exited low, passing through the heart.  I was truly blessed.  

He was incredible in every aspect.  Here are a few photos my family took to remember the day.  My wife, son and daughter were all there within 20 minutes.  He was a stud and my daughter held the light as 3 of us did our best to get him the 1/4 mile to the Jeep.  Actually my son did most of the work, for that....thank you.  

 

 

 

 

  great!

A small tribute to the man that got him to the Jeep!  If it was just mom and I we'd still be dragging or lying beside him in the field!        

 

 

Great Buck!  Congrats. Guess the tip is off the menu.