Went out with my buddy Jon this afternoon, hoping for a little rut action.
Since he had a lunch meeting, we found our way into our stands around 2:30. I dragged some code blue estrous by both our stands and hung out some wicks saturated in the "love stank".
On my way in I saw 5 different bucks running a doe, including one shooter buck. BIG 8 pointer that we had on cam.
As I'm climbing into my stand, I already have a dinker buck coming in to the scent. He walks off after he catches me pulling my bow up.
Its not long before I see a buck in the distance chasing a doe around. I can see antlers from about 150 yards, but its not huge.
Shortly after a four pointer walks by me, tongue hanging out as if he's been dogging does.
He mills around and then becomes alert. I can hear another deer walking behind me. Its another four pointer, they just walk past each other and this four pointer comes in and sniffs the wick hung at 20 yards. The other four is now gone.
This deer is hanging out sniffing the air when I spot another deer coming in the distance. Its a seven pointer with a doe. He is right on her butt and doesnt like the four pointer. At first I thought I was going to watch a fight, but the four declined and watched the seven chase the doe around.
This went on for quite some time, when it was starting to get dark. I considered shooting the seven just because he was so pretty. Beautiful coloration, but just not a buck I want to kill.
Theres about 20 minutes left of legal shooting time, and I hear crunching behind me. The doe looks up and doesnt seem phased. The seven pointer however looks up and becomes nervous. Now I'm hoping its a shooter.
I slowly turn my head and see a frame of a good buck. I dont recognize him at first, but decide he's a shooter. As he walks down the trail, stiff legged towards the other buck, I move in super slow motion to ready the hoyt.
I have it up and bring the 46# bow back as slow and smooth as possible as the bucks eyes go behind a small tree.
My sleeve actually rips, damn huge bicep muscles. [rofl] Unbelievable, he hears it and freezes broadside with his vitals behind the tree. I wait a few seconds at full draw and he takes a step. Two steps and now hes clear. Auto pilot has taken over and with the buck at about 10 yards, I watch my arrow hit a little high, but he doesnt go far. Down within sight.
Jon actually found a shed from this deer over the spring, and we have trail cam photos of him in the area. There are two bigger bucks I was going to hold out for, but when confronted with this guy at 10 yards, I couldnt let him walk.
Awesome day in the deer woods. Watching so many different bucks interacting with each other and chasing does just makes you realize how awesome it is to be out there and sharing in it.
Huge thanks to Jon for all his help. From scouting with me, hanging stands, to motivating me when it gets tough to hunt every day. Not to mention the help dragging and a celebratory dinner![up][up]
Good luck to everyone else this season...hunt safe, shoot straight!
---Matt
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Since he had a lunch meeting, we found our way into our stands around 2:30. I dragged some code blue estrous by both our stands and hung out some wicks saturated in the "love stank".
On my way in I saw 5 different bucks running a doe, including one shooter buck. BIG 8 pointer that we had on cam.
As I'm climbing into my stand, I already have a dinker buck coming in to the scent. He walks off after he catches me pulling my bow up.
Its not long before I see a buck in the distance chasing a doe around. I can see antlers from about 150 yards, but its not huge.
Shortly after a four pointer walks by me, tongue hanging out as if he's been dogging does.
He mills around and then becomes alert. I can hear another deer walking behind me. Its another four pointer, they just walk past each other and this four pointer comes in and sniffs the wick hung at 20 yards. The other four is now gone.
This deer is hanging out sniffing the air when I spot another deer coming in the distance. Its a seven pointer with a doe. He is right on her butt and doesnt like the four pointer. At first I thought I was going to watch a fight, but the four declined and watched the seven chase the doe around.
This went on for quite some time, when it was starting to get dark. I considered shooting the seven just because he was so pretty. Beautiful coloration, but just not a buck I want to kill.
Theres about 20 minutes left of legal shooting time, and I hear crunching behind me. The doe looks up and doesnt seem phased. The seven pointer however looks up and becomes nervous. Now I'm hoping its a shooter.
I slowly turn my head and see a frame of a good buck. I dont recognize him at first, but decide he's a shooter. As he walks down the trail, stiff legged towards the other buck, I move in super slow motion to ready the hoyt.
I have it up and bring the 46# bow back as slow and smooth as possible as the bucks eyes go behind a small tree.
My sleeve actually rips, damn huge bicep muscles. [rofl] Unbelievable, he hears it and freezes broadside with his vitals behind the tree. I wait a few seconds at full draw and he takes a step. Two steps and now hes clear. Auto pilot has taken over and with the buck at about 10 yards, I watch my arrow hit a little high, but he doesnt go far. Down within sight.
Jon actually found a shed from this deer over the spring, and we have trail cam photos of him in the area. There are two bigger bucks I was going to hold out for, but when confronted with this guy at 10 yards, I couldnt let him walk.
Awesome day in the deer woods. Watching so many different bucks interacting with each other and chasing does just makes you realize how awesome it is to be out there and sharing in it.
Huge thanks to Jon for all his help. From scouting with me, hanging stands, to motivating me when it gets tough to hunt every day. Not to mention the help dragging and a celebratory dinner![up][up]
Good luck to everyone else this season...hunt safe, shoot straight!
---Matt
