cjc77z4
Member
Late Sunday night I decided to take a vacation day on Monday to hunt all day. Veteran's Day has been very lucky for me the last 4 years. I killed bucks at my Dad's on Nov. 11th, 2009, Nov. 11th 2010, was not able to hunt last year, and now this year I kill a buck on Nov. 12th (the day the workforce observed Veteran's Day). Long story short, I love Veteran's Day!!!
Well, I get out there and it is cold cold cold. 24 degrees and 11 degree wind chill. I decided to wear a full facial balcava that I had never worn before and it did/almost cost me. At 7:30 I was standing up and debating whether to go inside because I was frozen. At 7:38am a lone doe walks through the hedge row in front of me and walks broadside to me at 10 yards. I almost shot her but decided that this time of year, a doe is rarely alone. Well, 3 min later a shooter buck walks through the same trail and I draw my bow as he turns broadside at 10 yards. Well. My balcava comes up over my right eyes and I can't find my peep. He walks to within 5 yards and looks up at me, the whole time I still can't get my dang eye clear to line up a shot. He ends up following the doe and I let down, get adjusted, draw back again and by that time he is out of range. I did get trail cam pics of the doe and the buck though so that was kinda cool.
Needless to say, I am a little mad at myself by now. 15 minutes later, I am again standing, frozen, with my bow on the hanger to my right. About ready to climb down, I hear something to my left. I look over and here this guy comes walking in. All I knew was he had a dark rack, had some heighth, and maybe some mass, but that's it. I stopped looking at the rack and I slowly reach for my bow, switch hands, clip on my release, and glance back to see him walk 3 yards in front of my camera. I adjusted my balcave first this time, draw my bow, follow him as he slowly walks into my 20 yard shooting lane and let her fly. The camera took a pic literally seconds before I shot and got another of him after I shot.
I knew I made a good shot but gave him about an hour and a half and found him about 60 yards later. Not my biggest buck, but I am proud of him none the less. Although I didn't always think this, I have learned that the size of the rack does not determine the success of my hunt. It is the experience, circumstances, and memories that I take away with each deer that determine my success. Good luck to everyone else this year. I hope you all get to experience what I was lucky enough to experience again this year.
Well, I get out there and it is cold cold cold. 24 degrees and 11 degree wind chill. I decided to wear a full facial balcava that I had never worn before and it did/almost cost me. At 7:30 I was standing up and debating whether to go inside because I was frozen. At 7:38am a lone doe walks through the hedge row in front of me and walks broadside to me at 10 yards. I almost shot her but decided that this time of year, a doe is rarely alone. Well, 3 min later a shooter buck walks through the same trail and I draw my bow as he turns broadside at 10 yards. Well. My balcava comes up over my right eyes and I can't find my peep. He walks to within 5 yards and looks up at me, the whole time I still can't get my dang eye clear to line up a shot. He ends up following the doe and I let down, get adjusted, draw back again and by that time he is out of range. I did get trail cam pics of the doe and the buck though so that was kinda cool.
Needless to say, I am a little mad at myself by now. 15 minutes later, I am again standing, frozen, with my bow on the hanger to my right. About ready to climb down, I hear something to my left. I look over and here this guy comes walking in. All I knew was he had a dark rack, had some heighth, and maybe some mass, but that's it. I stopped looking at the rack and I slowly reach for my bow, switch hands, clip on my release, and glance back to see him walk 3 yards in front of my camera. I adjusted my balcave first this time, draw my bow, follow him as he slowly walks into my 20 yard shooting lane and let her fly. The camera took a pic literally seconds before I shot and got another of him after I shot.
I knew I made a good shot but gave him about an hour and a half and found him about 60 yards later. Not my biggest buck, but I am proud of him none the less. Although I didn't always think this, I have learned that the size of the rack does not determine the success of my hunt. It is the experience, circumstances, and memories that I take away with each deer that determine my success. Good luck to everyone else this year. I hope you all get to experience what I was lucky enough to experience again this year.
