Almost always counts in my book. That's been my whole year. Still hunting is tough business getting close but so worth it when it happens.  

Gotta tell ya... This stalking and still hunting is the cats meow... Just being close to a mature buck, close enough to hear him breathe and grunt is trophy enough for me!

This morning was very quiet and still. Slight wind in my face but the leaves were dry and crunchy. Slow two step and stop. Wait five minutes. Repeat. Got into the cover and on a deer trail. Now... Go slower... BINGO!

Twenty yards ahead a nice respectable mature buck jumps from the logging road onto the deer trail I'm on. Nice. But he's head on, no shot. My bow is up and an arrow on the string. Fifteen yards and head on, no shot. As he gets to ten yards the thorn brush and branches are in the way... Five yards, no shot. He sounds like a pig in heat. Grunting and breathing and now at TWO YARDS and I can't get an arrow through that darn brush! Still head on I might add.

As he lowers his head to go under a branch between us he sees me and turns inside out to get outa there. I tried a shot at him knowing he'd turn to get back on the logging road but missed. This time I had no "shakes" or "buck fever", just a big smile on my face and a Thank You to my Creator for being alive.

See..... "Almost Does Count For Something"

... mike ...  :D  ...

That is way to cool Mike.  Congrats on the most successful hunt I have read about in a long time.  

....Now if you were in a ladder stand.........          I love ya man!!!

Now that's excitement squared  

AWESOME hunt bro!

Stuff like that will make for a great hunt anytime Mike.Very cool!

Yeah Mike, I kinda know what ya mean. I left a raxorcap buried in a beech tree this am...lol.