scout
New Member
I went out Friday in the early afternoon to a stand along an old fence line overlooking a pasture that has been void of cattle for 2-3 years. It was 68 degrees when I went in and I later wished I'd taken more than a hooded jacket. My brother-in-law killed a 165 buck near the stand a few years back and I could only get drawn on a 140s buck from it last season. I had not seen much sign in the area or anywhere this year and was lacking a little faith!
Around 4:15 or so I noticed a small buck 100 yrds out in the stickers that were overtaking the pasture. I rattled for the heck of it, to see if he would react, but he disappeared. Soon after I noticed a doe move into the open and caught a glimse of a rack in the thick stuff. She was slowly on her way to my set up.
I first seen the buck at 130-150 yards head on and casually reached for the binos to take a closer look. I about pooped and traded the binos for the bow, only knowing it was bigger than my best and over a 150.
A bunch of turkey had been passing through the woods behind me and I lost track of them. They caught me moving and started putting and running back and forth like the idiots they are. The doe did'nt think much of that and started hanging up. The big dude was clearly keying off her so I was'nt about to rattle or grunt, afraid she would skirt me. The birds moved off and things settled, including the sun! I was quickly loosing daylight. They just stood there as the wind drove a chill into me. I was shivering bad. After 30 minutes of this the buck beds down behind a big pokey bush. My heart sank, but I was glad she was still up. I just waited as the light began to fade. Soon she bedded next to him! Now I was in a fix! I was'nt about to sit there and watch this scene fade to black! Knowing I had to draw him in quickly I gave a couple of low tone short grunts. I had his attention and a third soft grunt put him on his feet. He grunted twice as he closed the distance. At 25-30 yards I directed another very low volume grunt behind he to put him back on course. I was certain he would either see my legs shaking or hear my bones rattling at any second. The closer he got the more I felt like I would actually vibrate off the stand! Must have been the cold! He walked straight toward my "blocker bush/tree" and I got drawn. He stood still behind it head on at 15yrds. I needed him to move soon. He started comming around to my right. He walked to the side of the trail only 12 yrds away, but tight along the bushes blocking an easy shot. I found an opening. My pin moved from the top of his back to his brisket and I wondered if I was even lookin through my peep! I quick mental check of my form and with the little concentration as I could muster I sent the Spitfire on its way. Slightly quartering toward me at 12 wards the 500 gr. arrow hit the shoulder blade! The buck went down on the spot like the carpet was pulled out from under him. He thrashed around trying to get his feet under him as I knocked another arrow.
This one zipped through both lungs and he was motionless in under a minute. I later learned the first shot slammed through the shoulder blade causing it to level out, perhaps rise and pound into the spine. I've taken a few bucks with Spitfires but still feel a fixed blade would serve me better at the short ranges I actually shoot the deer. I found my effective range on a booner is half what thought I could make! Now I think I can switch to a traditional bow and not fret about one of these passing just out of range. Then again, this could be the beginning of a streak of luck.
As a side note, while the two deer were standing/ bedded at 40-45 yards they were directly down wind! I had taken a shower before I hunted and sprayed down with eliminator and maked sure I did'nt breath through my mouth. That's hard to do when your jaw drops to your chest!
Green score 182 3/8 (net 173 5/8) His neck measured 34" at the mid point! I would guess him @ well over 250 lbs field dressed.
I'm not one to blow my own horn but,
TOOT TOOT!!!!
Around 4:15 or so I noticed a small buck 100 yrds out in the stickers that were overtaking the pasture. I rattled for the heck of it, to see if he would react, but he disappeared. Soon after I noticed a doe move into the open and caught a glimse of a rack in the thick stuff. She was slowly on her way to my set up.
I first seen the buck at 130-150 yards head on and casually reached for the binos to take a closer look. I about pooped and traded the binos for the bow, only knowing it was bigger than my best and over a 150.
A bunch of turkey had been passing through the woods behind me and I lost track of them. They caught me moving and started putting and running back and forth like the idiots they are. The doe did'nt think much of that and started hanging up. The big dude was clearly keying off her so I was'nt about to rattle or grunt, afraid she would skirt me. The birds moved off and things settled, including the sun! I was quickly loosing daylight. They just stood there as the wind drove a chill into me. I was shivering bad. After 30 minutes of this the buck beds down behind a big pokey bush. My heart sank, but I was glad she was still up. I just waited as the light began to fade. Soon she bedded next to him! Now I was in a fix! I was'nt about to sit there and watch this scene fade to black! Knowing I had to draw him in quickly I gave a couple of low tone short grunts. I had his attention and a third soft grunt put him on his feet. He grunted twice as he closed the distance. At 25-30 yards I directed another very low volume grunt behind he to put him back on course. I was certain he would either see my legs shaking or hear my bones rattling at any second. The closer he got the more I felt like I would actually vibrate off the stand! Must have been the cold! He walked straight toward my "blocker bush/tree" and I got drawn. He stood still behind it head on at 15yrds. I needed him to move soon. He started comming around to my right. He walked to the side of the trail only 12 yrds away, but tight along the bushes blocking an easy shot. I found an opening. My pin moved from the top of his back to his brisket and I wondered if I was even lookin through my peep! I quick mental check of my form and with the little concentration as I could muster I sent the Spitfire on its way. Slightly quartering toward me at 12 wards the 500 gr. arrow hit the shoulder blade! The buck went down on the spot like the carpet was pulled out from under him. He thrashed around trying to get his feet under him as I knocked another arrow.
This one zipped through both lungs and he was motionless in under a minute. I later learned the first shot slammed through the shoulder blade causing it to level out, perhaps rise and pound into the spine. I've taken a few bucks with Spitfires but still feel a fixed blade would serve me better at the short ranges I actually shoot the deer. I found my effective range on a booner is half what thought I could make! Now I think I can switch to a traditional bow and not fret about one of these passing just out of range. Then again, this could be the beginning of a streak of luck.
As a side note, while the two deer were standing/ bedded at 40-45 yards they were directly down wind! I had taken a shower before I hunted and sprayed down with eliminator and maked sure I did'nt breath through my mouth. That's hard to do when your jaw drops to your chest!
Green score 182 3/8 (net 173 5/8) His neck measured 34" at the mid point! I would guess him @ well over 250 lbs field dressed.
I'm not one to blow my own horn but,
TOOT TOOT!!!!
