G6
Active Member
Well I bowhunted hard all season like most here and just never got the opportunity at a shooter. It was a strange season to say the least, but I kept at it. I thought late muzzleoader season would hold a chance at a big buck with the weather looking good for the first time in 5 or so years.
I had been watching an area close to home for a few weeks prior to the season with the snow and had seen a buck in a field with 20 plus does and thought maybe a GOOD buck would show eventually. I first hunted the field without a stand in the fog we had that most remember and I got busted by some does. I went back and hung a stand in a dead tree that I could see well from with the intention of shooting a doe or a buck with my bow if the opportunity presented itself. About an hour before dark Xmas day the deer started to filter to the field with a decent looking buck showing himself. I had taken the bow and muzzleloader so I had it covered as far as something coming in out of bow range.
When the buck showed he was moving around erratically like he was looking for something, so I figured I'd video him for a few seconds since I had the camera. Well as I started to video him he got behind a tree where I couldn't see him and he started to move fast for the field so I figured it was shoot or forget it. When in this situation most of you know that it's usually the wrong decision to shoot the deer if you have your doubts (which I did) as to the size. Well I pulled up and shot in one motion when he was at 130 yards. I knew it was a good shot when he hauled ass and I watched him go into a dip and disappear. Right after the shot I knew he wasn't what I was looking for but it was too late.
As I was watching him run into the field I heard a crash on the ground below my stand to realize I had dropped my new video camera out of the tree when it didn't go into my coat pocket. Now I had not only shot a buck I wasn't looking for but had also probably ruined a $800 camera. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
Well there was nothing to do but get down and head to the field and make sure he was down like I thought. When I went to the field he was right where I figured he would be with the shot being a good one. While climbing out of the tree I found the video camera not working as assumed. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazy.gif
Well it was another hard leason learned, but that's deer hunting and it has kept me coming back for the last 30+ years. I'm bowhunting now so even if I don't come home with anything the rest of the season it will still have been a memorable season like all the rest. This what deer hunting is all about and anyone who has been hunting long enough know's it has it's hardships as well as rewards. Good luck to you guys still hunting!
After getting over the part of shooting a smaller buck I measured him to find he grossed 150" even an he is a cool looking buck nontheless.
I had been watching an area close to home for a few weeks prior to the season with the snow and had seen a buck in a field with 20 plus does and thought maybe a GOOD buck would show eventually. I first hunted the field without a stand in the fog we had that most remember and I got busted by some does. I went back and hung a stand in a dead tree that I could see well from with the intention of shooting a doe or a buck with my bow if the opportunity presented itself. About an hour before dark Xmas day the deer started to filter to the field with a decent looking buck showing himself. I had taken the bow and muzzleloader so I had it covered as far as something coming in out of bow range.
When the buck showed he was moving around erratically like he was looking for something, so I figured I'd video him for a few seconds since I had the camera. Well as I started to video him he got behind a tree where I couldn't see him and he started to move fast for the field so I figured it was shoot or forget it. When in this situation most of you know that it's usually the wrong decision to shoot the deer if you have your doubts (which I did) as to the size. Well I pulled up and shot in one motion when he was at 130 yards. I knew it was a good shot when he hauled ass and I watched him go into a dip and disappear. Right after the shot I knew he wasn't what I was looking for but it was too late.
As I was watching him run into the field I heard a crash on the ground below my stand to realize I had dropped my new video camera out of the tree when it didn't go into my coat pocket. Now I had not only shot a buck I wasn't looking for but had also probably ruined a $800 camera. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
Well there was nothing to do but get down and head to the field and make sure he was down like I thought. When I went to the field he was right where I figured he would be with the shot being a good one. While climbing out of the tree I found the video camera not working as assumed. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazy.gif
Well it was another hard leason learned, but that's deer hunting and it has kept me coming back for the last 30+ years. I'm bowhunting now so even if I don't come home with anything the rest of the season it will still have been a memorable season like all the rest. This what deer hunting is all about and anyone who has been hunting long enough know's it has it's hardships as well as rewards. Good luck to you guys still hunting!
After getting over the part of shooting a smaller buck I measured him to find he grossed 150" even an he is a cool looking buck nontheless.
