Closest encounter yet

[Jakeemt]

I should start out by saying I have never killed a deer before. Back when I was a gun hunter I hunted mostly squirrels and rabbits. After picking up a bow 5 years ago I started hunting deer and getting serious about it about 3 years ago. Today I had the closest encounter I have ever had man was I close!!! I was hunting a honey hole ridge top I know about this am and started off sitting in a little ground blind I made near an unmarked and well hidden watering hole. About and hour after the sun came up I started to get an itch to get out and move (my preferred method of hunting) so I did. There are 2 large deer trails that run into the hole so I decided to follow the larger of the two having not seen where it goes before. It was a beautiful early fall morning cloudy and chilly at about 47 degrees. The squirrels were out running and barking and wood peckers abounded. Slowly I crept down the trail keeping a sharp eye out. A little at a time move, stop, wait. When suddenly there they were 3 does at 15 yards and closing. The lead does was a big mature female with a wide head and dark grey complexion. The other two were younger, smaller, and lighter. The were in thicket of oak and maple saplings just browsing. As I slowly crouched the lead deer started straight for me! At 12 yard I still had no shot but my heart was pounding! She took a step closer and I slowly started to raise the bow when she stopped and stared. I Froze too! For a full 2 minutes she must have eyeballed me. Till she decided I might be trouble and moved her does off 30 yards up the ridge top. Now I could just see their tails in the brush and hear them. Moving slowly to my left 40 yards away. From there I was able to close the gap again to writhing 25 yards but, I couldn't go any further as they were on alert. After another 15 minutes of eyeballing me they finally decided they'd better move out to parts unknown. When the finally left I stood up and was shaking so badly I could barely walk. Man was that awesome.!!! I'll steer clear of that spot for a couple weeks then try again.

[dirtguy]

That was so much fun!  I love those close up encounters!

[Budget Bowman]

That's awesome. It's not easy to just sneak up on a deer like that, those old slick heads are wise! My most memorable hunt was also a close encounter that ended with the deer bounding off and me shaking so bad I thought I was going to break my wrist. Smart to let that spot cool off.