While walking to my stand this afternoon, I found myself in the mist of a stampede! I was quickly trying to get to me stand, and was ambushed by 10 does, they circled all around me. Completely caught off guard, my natural instinct was to find the nearest cover available. I dove into a brushy thicket, and while watching my fine furred female friends (+4) bound through the soy bean field that lay before me, I kept hoping that the brute I had encountered during the post rut, would come charging over the hill that seperated us. I sat there waiting, still hoping… and still waiting. Unfortunately, he was a no show, but hey, what can you do? Eventually I got secured in my stand, and enjoyed yet another, uneventful January bow hunt. It was getting dark,so I climbed out of my stand, and made my way back to the truck. About half way there, I had walked within 10 yards of a nice upper 120-class 8 pt., without even knowing it! Both of us were caught by complete surprise. The two of us stood there dumbfounded, waiting to see who would make the first move. Eventually I broke down and by now there was no chance at even attempting a shot due to the fact that is what was nearly dark and so he bolted outta there at lightspeed. Its nice to know that the bucks in my area have not totally deserted my hunting ground yet, and theres always tomorrow, tomorrow meaning until Friday.
-Steve
