My partner called me yesterday and we agreed to skip out of work early yesterday and go set up in a spot we hadn't hunted yet.
I kicked 3 does off of their beds...10 yards from my stand! They weren't too spooked, though, because 30 minutes after getting set they filtered back into the area. I had them as close as 5 yards for over 20 minutes. Finally a breeze stirred up and the biggest one caught some scent. I was getting absolutely drilled by some mosquitoes and couldn't hold still any longer. As soon as I slapped the back of my neck those deer took off for higher ground. The old doe must have blown 15 times. I thought the rest of the night would be shot.
At 6:10 I caught more movement (it was very cloudy yesterday and getting dark fast) from the same direction the does came from. I figured they were back for more. Then I saw the deer making a scrape and lick a branch. A little closer look showed it was a buck, and he was out past his ears. I was just getting ready to draw back when he turned to face me and I saw that his right side was damaged. It took a lot of restraint but I let him walk. Actually I just thought about my upcoming vacation next week and it made it easier! Had both sides matched he would have been a 120"-130" deer (bigger than I've ever shot).
There's no pic or great harvest story, but it made my week.
I kicked 3 does off of their beds...10 yards from my stand! They weren't too spooked, though, because 30 minutes after getting set they filtered back into the area. I had them as close as 5 yards for over 20 minutes. Finally a breeze stirred up and the biggest one caught some scent. I was getting absolutely drilled by some mosquitoes and couldn't hold still any longer. As soon as I slapped the back of my neck those deer took off for higher ground. The old doe must have blown 15 times. I thought the rest of the night would be shot.
At 6:10 I caught more movement (it was very cloudy yesterday and getting dark fast) from the same direction the does came from. I figured they were back for more. Then I saw the deer making a scrape and lick a branch. A little closer look showed it was a buck, and he was out past his ears. I was just getting ready to draw back when he turned to face me and I saw that his right side was damaged. It took a lot of restraint but I let him walk. Actually I just thought about my upcoming vacation next week and it made it easier! Had both sides matched he would have been a 120"-130" deer (bigger than I've ever shot).
There's no pic or great harvest story, but it made my week.
