Daver
PMA Member
I just got back today from a 10 day Disney World adventure with the family. I can't tell you how eager I was to get into the deer woods after standing in line, fighting crowds and paying through the nose for seemingly everything for two weeks!
I went to a good area and since I hadn't been bow hunting yet this year, I took my stand in with me and hung it and got right in it hoping for the "first sit" good luck. I always feel like I am making too much noise, but I didn't really have an option.
With about 30 minutes of shooting light left I had a doe come in tight. I was sizing her up and considering using up my antlerless tag. She was within 10 yards for about 10 minutes, but I had decided she was too small so I was just watching and hoping for some more to follow. Through the leaves out about 50 yards, I saw the classic "pinball" maneuver where 3 or 4 deer scatter in all directions as a buck rushes in, usually a sight for the first couple weeks of November. But lo and behold, here comes a little thinly racked 8 pointer.
He managed to chase the mature doe out of theater before I could get a shot off, harumph! He nibbled here and there, all within 10 yards of my stand, and didn't seem to want to leave. I was scanning all around trying to pick up a good sized doe when I saw
a branch bobbing up and down only about 30 yards away.
Yikes, underneath it was another beast, a real whopper! I got my binos on him and he would not hold still long enough to get a real good count on him as he was now making a scrape and tearing his rack through the overhead branch almost simultaneously!! Finally, I got a clear enough look to say he was a definite shooter, at least a solid 140", 10 point frame with what appeared to be another 3 or 4 points sticking out every direction. ( BTW, I am being conservative on the estimate, I really think he is a fair piece bigger than 140"!! )
At any rate, he closes to 15 yards and I am at full draw expecting him to follow the other little buck. He doesn't! He hangs up behind some brush and is feeding. I am at full draw and am feeling real good about a shot coming up only he stays there so long I had to let off! I didn't spook him or the other deer thankfully, but he basically turns and walks out the only way he could, no shot!!! I see him again about 40 yards out running does and I try to grunt him back in, no go! After about 10 minutes, they all drift off, aargh!
Well the good news is that it is nice to know that there is a good one living in the neighborhood and there is quite a bit of hunting coming up! I was surprised somewhat by the behavior, it definitely felt like early November there for a few minutes tonight! All in all, I had as much fun tonight than at any time during the Florida excursion.
I went to a good area and since I hadn't been bow hunting yet this year, I took my stand in with me and hung it and got right in it hoping for the "first sit" good luck. I always feel like I am making too much noise, but I didn't really have an option.
With about 30 minutes of shooting light left I had a doe come in tight. I was sizing her up and considering using up my antlerless tag. She was within 10 yards for about 10 minutes, but I had decided she was too small so I was just watching and hoping for some more to follow. Through the leaves out about 50 yards, I saw the classic "pinball" maneuver where 3 or 4 deer scatter in all directions as a buck rushes in, usually a sight for the first couple weeks of November. But lo and behold, here comes a little thinly racked 8 pointer.
He managed to chase the mature doe out of theater before I could get a shot off, harumph! He nibbled here and there, all within 10 yards of my stand, and didn't seem to want to leave. I was scanning all around trying to pick up a good sized doe when I saw
a branch bobbing up and down only about 30 yards away.
Yikes, underneath it was another beast, a real whopper! I got my binos on him and he would not hold still long enough to get a real good count on him as he was now making a scrape and tearing his rack through the overhead branch almost simultaneously!! Finally, I got a clear enough look to say he was a definite shooter, at least a solid 140", 10 point frame with what appeared to be another 3 or 4 points sticking out every direction. ( BTW, I am being conservative on the estimate, I really think he is a fair piece bigger than 140"!! )
At any rate, he closes to 15 yards and I am at full draw expecting him to follow the other little buck. He doesn't! He hangs up behind some brush and is feeding. I am at full draw and am feeling real good about a shot coming up only he stays there so long I had to let off! I didn't spook him or the other deer thankfully, but he basically turns and walks out the only way he could, no shot!!! I see him again about 40 yards out running does and I try to grunt him back in, no go! After about 10 minutes, they all drift off, aargh!
Well the good news is that it is nice to know that there is a good one living in the neighborhood and there is quite a bit of hunting coming up! I was surprised somewhat by the behavior, it definitely felt like early November there for a few minutes tonight! All in all, I had as much fun tonight than at any time during the Florida excursion.