deerhunter93
Well-Known Member
When I first started hunting this property in 2022 this buck was one of the first ones on camera and he seemed like he was possibly the most mature buck in there. The last two years I never laid eyes on him from the tree and he wasn’t showing up a lot in daylight on camera. This summer I figured he’d be the main target unless something new showed up and I saw him a few times while scouting.
The first time I saw him from a tree was November 1st. I was hunting in a bottom and thought my wind was blowing a direction the deer/bucks wouldn’t want to be. I let out a few blind grunts and about five minutes later he had popped out NNW of me and had his nose in the air as it was a SSE wind that evening. He just turned and went the other way, not spooked but knew something was up. I killed my statewide buck on November 2nd then it was back to urban hunting after this buck. There don’t seem to be many does in this area so I was hopeful that would mean he would be on his feet searching more. On November 17th I was in the same stand where I saw him on November 1st and this time he was trailing a doe. He gave me a shot but I flinched so hard and sailed it.
Yesterday morning, the 23rd, I got up in a tree that I hadn’t hunted before. Right at first light I could hear a couple grunts and some crashing to the south of me but I couldn’t see anything. A couple does worked through and around 8:10 I heard a grunt to the south. I grabbed the bow and was trying to catch any movement or sound. About 10 minutes later while I was still intently looking and listening to the south I heard a stick snap behind me. I turned my head towards the tree and I immediately knew it was the buck I was after but he was already within 25 yards angling towards me. I somehow was able to turn 180 degrees and had my back towards the buck as he was still closing. He was within 10 yards and I wanted him to get slightly past me because I was only about 15ft up and I didn’t want him to catch me drawing. Just then the SE wind hit the back of my neck and he stuck his nose up in the air and looked up towards me. I knew he wouldn’t let me draw so I just focused on staying under control in the moment. He wheeled around a honeysuckle bush and stopped. I was able to get drawn, find a hole, and put one through his heart at 15 yards. He made it 40 yards and piled up. Redemption.
My wife does photography full time and she brought our boys out for a few photos and celebration. I am extremely blessed and thankful.
The first time I saw him from a tree was November 1st. I was hunting in a bottom and thought my wind was blowing a direction the deer/bucks wouldn’t want to be. I let out a few blind grunts and about five minutes later he had popped out NNW of me and had his nose in the air as it was a SSE wind that evening. He just turned and went the other way, not spooked but knew something was up. I killed my statewide buck on November 2nd then it was back to urban hunting after this buck. There don’t seem to be many does in this area so I was hopeful that would mean he would be on his feet searching more. On November 17th I was in the same stand where I saw him on November 1st and this time he was trailing a doe. He gave me a shot but I flinched so hard and sailed it.
Yesterday morning, the 23rd, I got up in a tree that I hadn’t hunted before. Right at first light I could hear a couple grunts and some crashing to the south of me but I couldn’t see anything. A couple does worked through and around 8:10 I heard a grunt to the south. I grabbed the bow and was trying to catch any movement or sound. About 10 minutes later while I was still intently looking and listening to the south I heard a stick snap behind me. I turned my head towards the tree and I immediately knew it was the buck I was after but he was already within 25 yards angling towards me. I somehow was able to turn 180 degrees and had my back towards the buck as he was still closing. He was within 10 yards and I wanted him to get slightly past me because I was only about 15ft up and I didn’t want him to catch me drawing. Just then the SE wind hit the back of my neck and he stuck his nose up in the air and looked up towards me. I knew he wouldn’t let me draw so I just focused on staying under control in the moment. He wheeled around a honeysuckle bush and stopped. I was able to get drawn, find a hole, and put one through his heart at 15 yards. He made it 40 yards and piled up. Redemption.
My wife does photography full time and she brought our boys out for a few photos and celebration. I am extremely blessed and thankful.
