So close!

ebeard · October 16, 2015, 10:29:00 AM

Hello all. I'm new to the forum, and this is my first year hunting with traditional equipment.

I had an awesome morning! A few days ago I took off from work at lunch time to do a little scouting in one of my public hunting areas. I found some well-used game trails deep in the hunting area where I'm pretty positive the deer are pressured very little, and being mid-October, I brushed out a mock scrape along one of them to see if I could trigger a buck in the area to reveal himself. Then as I walked down into a draw, I realized I had just stumbled into a deer super highway with sign everywhere! I backed out and decided I'd be back soon.

This morning I had a couple of good hunting hours available before work, so I took a climbing stand in there and climbed a tree with good shooting lanes all around in the middle of the draw. Just as it was getting light enough to shoot, I catch movement to my left. Upon closer inspection, it is a big-bodied deer. Can't see antlers in the low light yet, but I know it's a buck, and he's slowly working his way in my direction. I start to see wide, tall antlers. This boy is much bigger than any I've ever harvested! Before long, he is broadside at 10 yards in a wide open shooting lane, and looking the other direction. I draw, hold for a second to pick a good aiming point, and then he must have caught movement out of the corner of his eye, because he suddenly jumped about another 10 yards away and stood staring at me. I could maybe have made the shot, and he was quartering away, but he was looking right at me, and I did not want to botch a shot or spook him right out of the country, so I let down slowly and just stared him down until he trotted off.

About 5 minutes later I had a group of does walk through just out of range. Good news is, I think I found a little honey hole that may put some meat in the freezer this year, and I don't think that big boy was too spooked by the way he trotted off, so he'll be back.

KyStickbow · October 16, 2015, 10:47:00 AM

Sounds like a great spot! Keep us updated on how it goes.

highlow · October 16, 2015, 10:51:00 AM

Wise decision ebeard. An alert buck at 20 yards is no slam dunk. Must have taken a Herculean effort not to let one go. As you said, the fact that he just trotted off and not bolted is a good indication he'll be back. Give it a few days to calm down and then head back. Wish I could find one of those honey holes. Lately, the deer have been scarcer than hens teeth around here.

dbd870 · October 16, 2015, 10:51:00 AM

Had something almost the same happen to me last weekend. Keep after him!

dirtguy · October 16, 2015, 10:51:00 AM

Woohooo! sounds like a great spot!

bear bowman · October 16, 2015, 10:52:00 AM

Sounds awesome! Good luck.

Rustic · October 16, 2015, 12:13:00 PM

Thanks for sharing. I will keep your story in mind when I get a similiar chance.

ebeard · October 16, 2015, 03:53:00 PM

Thanks guys. I look forward to updating this story as it unfolds. It's been difficult to focus on work today, because it all keeps replaying in my mind.

Whip · October 16, 2015, 04:05:00 PM

Sounds like you've found yourself a honey hole! On the hope that he wasn't badly spooked and might return I might try a different tree in the same area. Once a buck has picked me off once I don't think I've ever seen him again from the same tree.

Michael Arnette · October 16, 2015, 04:58:00 PM

Well sounds awesome! One thing for sure don't set up in the same exact tree. I'd pick a tree a few yards down wind of the one you were in. Good luck!

Homey88 · October 16, 2015, 05:35:00 PM

good luck to you keep us posted!

Homey88 · October 16, 2015, 05:36:00 PM

good luck to you keep us posted!

Cyclic-Rivers · October 16, 2015, 08:35:00 PM

Sounds like a nice spot. Good decision to let down. Listen to whip and Michael's advice about the tree, they knows their deer hunting.

October 17, 2015, 06:49:00 PM

I hope you get another crack at him!

Good luck next time out.

Bisch

ebeard · October 19, 2015, 07:58:00 AM

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to go in there today during my lunch break and build a couple of ground blinds along that travel corridor, and then let them sit until this weekend. There are not a lot of good trees in this draw for my climbing stand, so my options there would be limited. I've got Friday off, so I'm hoping to have a little luck then. I'm fighting hard to resist the temptation to go in there every day now! Don't want him, or any of his girlfriends, to feel pressured.

Matty · October 19, 2015, 08:05:00 AM

Well.... Back at it! Good encounter though. Bet it got you pumped!!