Sometimes change'll do ya good (long)

[PV]

Been a slow season so far. Hunted 26 of the 30 days of September(elk and bear) without putting tension on the string.Great month but a dry spell longer than I can ever remember.

Last week with deer season approaching I checked with the landowners of the properties I hunt to be sure everthing is a go. One landowner was complaining about a 6 pt eating everthing in sight and seeing how I hadn't taken a deer off his property for the last few years would I kindly take care of the problem for him. He knows I don't usually shoot small bucks but in the interest of good landowner relations I promised to see what I could do.

A quick scout showed some impressive rubs that would indicate a larger buck than the 6 pt.
First afternoon on stand the 6 pt showed early but out of range. The next morning he entered the thicket in the same place he came out the afternoon before. That afternoon I brought a climber and got in early. Sat till dark without seeing a deer. Packing the stand I made a few clacking noises sliding the two pieces together. With a major highway within 200 yards full of rush hour traffic I wasn't too concerned. Shouldering the stand I notice a deer standing about 25 feet away. It was the 6 pt trying to figure out what was going on.Perhaps the noise from the stand sounded like horns? My dry spell continues...

I don't usually change my gear during the season but I've been carting this little bow



I designed a couple of years ago as a back up on traveling hunts and never hunted with it. While I was changing stuff I figured why not try a different hat/facemask combo as well. And the final change was a rattling bag that I picked up about 25 years ago that I have never called anything in with. Plenty with horns but never with the bag.


Yesterday afternoon the wind was right so I headed in early once again. Jumped a doe not to far from where I was going to set up so I circled downwind to come in from another angle. I pushed the doe again and she headed into the thicket that the deer bed in. I set up right there rather than my original destination.There were several runs within range of the tree I selected.
Thought the afternoon may be done but I was there and might as well hunt.Settling in I found that my new facemask that worked so well in the yard fogged my glasses when I breathed through my nose.Did I mention I don't change set ups during the season?

About an hour later a doe appeared at the edge of the thicket and browsed on by out of range. A few minutes later a larger bodied deer was working it's way out of the thicket. On it's present course it would follow a run that passed by me at 15 yards broadside and to my right. As a lefty this is THE side.As the deer exited the thicket he changed course and crossed in front of me out about 60 yards. He was considerably bigger than the 6pt.Around a 100yds away he stopped and rubbed the heck out a tree.So I picked up the rattling bag and gave it a few light shakes....

[5deer]

some times change is good.

[Gatekeeper]

I like it so far my friend. I'll be watching this one, Paul.  

[Big Ed]

Change is good , can help to change your mood!!

[rastaman]

[GRINCH]

 We need more,thanks Larry

[PV]

The buck heard it, paused his raking, then hit the tree with renewed vigor.I gave him a little more to think about then put the bag away. After a few more rubs the buck started to circle downwind . He stopped to make a scrape about 50 yards out. I waited until he was urinating on his hocks and hit him with a snort/weeze. I make this call blowing across my wrist. if you are having fogging isues with your glasses don't use the wrist.    
The buck came unglued with the call and tore up some young saplings adjacent to the scrape.  
He slowly worked his way closer on my Left side. There was a small window if he went to the left of the last tree blocking a shot and wide open if he went right of the tree. He chose the left. As he walked into the window I drew and shot. The lumenock showed up well passing through the deer.Shot looked a few inches high.The deer ran 20yds or so and stopped for a few seconds then took off in a hurry. At 60 yds he stopped again and started to tip before dissapearing from sight. The crashing I heard after was a good sign.
A friend has a young dacshound from bloodtrailing stock. I gave him a call from the tree to see if Spike was up for a walk.He was but wouldn't arrive until after dark. I left the arrow where it was not wanting any more scent to confuse the pup and packed my gear out..

We put Spike on the trail at the arrow and after one false trail we brought him back to the blood and he found the deer in short order.
I did not have my camera with me so no recovery pics. It sure was nice to have help dragging.





The bow: "Little Sister" 52#
arrow: beman bowhunter 400 with a 225 WW head.

Arrow entered just under the backstrap and exited mid body.Sparse blood trail with the high exit.Trying a 3 blade this year on deer to see if the blood trails are better than the grizzlies I've been using. More research is in order as soon as I get done making jerky . The 6pt is still out there.... And a promise is a promise  

[GRINCH]

Very nice buck,congrats.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Very nice but what are you gonna do about the 6 point?   :confused:  

Congrats on a fine looking buck and a good shot.  

nice!  

[Huntschool]

Nice deer...  good story...

[meathead]

Congrat's Paul.  Good luck with the rest of the season.

[Kip]

Good job Paul         :clapper:Kip

[drewsbow]

congrats  

[xroadshunter]

Great story Paul and a great deer!

[Big Ed]

Great read along, congrats on a fine buck!!

[4runr]

Congrats on a nice buck Paul!

[Gatekeeper]

WOW Paul he is a BRUTE!      

[Huntrdfk]

Way to go Paul, Great deer!  I'll be expecting pics of the six point next.......


David

[imhntn]

Great story and a great deer.  Congrats and good luck on the 6 pt!