A bright moon,a west wind,and a lucky buck...

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 01:46:00 PM

I did not see much scraping going on,if this one did not have a mouthed branch over it,it almost would have passed for a turkey scratching...

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 01:47:00 PM

Rubs,rubs,and more rubs.....

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 01:48:00 PM

rolltidehunter · October 23, 2013, 01:49:00 PM

looks good

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 01:50:00 PM

I love to hunt out a ridge top into a west wind. I take four steps at a time,always starting with my right and finishing with my left. For a right hand shooter you are always ready to draw.

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 01:59:00 PM

Where could he be.......

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 02:01:00 PM

Bucks like it up here,it is really thick and wooly...

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 02:06:00 PM

So I am sneaking along 4 steps at a time and I am just about to round a bend when I catch some movement up ahead. It is a buck with his nose to the ground. I do a quick step to the side of the trail into a little jumble of fallen pines and crouch down. I managed to get the camera up and get a shot of him before he came closer....

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 02:11:00 PM

Not a big antlered buck,but he had three on each side plus the brow tines. He was out about twenty yards when he spotted me.

That oak in the picture is where he cut into my left,and when he did I had the bow up and back to full draw. As soon as his shoulder had cleared the oak I released and shot right over him (still in the crouched position).

4dogs · October 23, 2013, 02:15:00 PM

Lucky buck indeed! Very nice pics and story...Thanks.

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 02:17:00 PM

Now he bolts and runs down below me and stops. I bleat to him,he just stares at me,I grunt to him and now he is coming back toward me at an angle,then turns and walks broadside below me right to left. He is about 18 yds away and there is a group of leaves covering his vitals,I concentrate hard,low,low,low. I am crouching,he is on to me,and I am shooting downhill. "How low can you go". Not low enough....

Wannabe1 · October 23, 2013, 02:18:00 PM

Even with the miss, I'd say this was a very successful hunt! I've got a few more weeks 'til my late season begins so, I thank you for taking us along on this.

Good luck out there!

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 02:19:00 PM

Did you ever see that advertisement for Zwickey? I love there broadheads.

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 02:22:00 PM

Time for a break. You know I shoot everyday,a broadhead,into a foam vital. Switch up the yardage and the position,everyday. Hmmm.....

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 02:24:00 PM

After I had gatherd up my arrows and took a break I noticed a little trail skirting off the side of a saddle. I had to take a look.....

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 02:26:00 PM

There is a big guy in the neck of these woods,he was bedding right against that fallen log. Some serious rubs here.

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 02:27:00 PM

Beautiful country....

monkeyball · October 23, 2013, 02:29:00 PM

Well,thank you God for the awesome opportunity. I enjoyed every second of it,hope you did too.

Good Hunting,
Craig

JMG · October 23, 2013, 02:33:00 PM

Great story telling!!

Beautiful pictures as well!!

JEFF B · October 23, 2013, 02:41:00 PM

way to go Monkeyball

me thinks y'all need to get back up there again and have a re match