anonymoose
Well-Known Member
With not much showing on the trail cams, I set out to take an early season doe to fill the freezer. Here in 92 we can get an additional tag for buck or doe, giving me the opportunity to put a doe in the freezer and keep hunting in case a big guy happens to show up.
I did have a couple of smaller bucks. The bigger of the two was a 2.5-year-old who showed up 2 weeks back.
I didn't think much of either of these bucks, as I normally try to pass the younger deer in hopes that they will return when they are bigger. In reality, they usually disappear and there's a new crop of young ones here next year. I do get the occasional big boy passing through during the rut, but they don't stick around long.
With an odd southeast wind, I set my mind on a stand that isn't far from my house that would't be too bad for the wind direction. To get there, I just hike down a big gully behind my house and up the other side. It is a steep climb but this way I can get to a field edge without crossing the field and making my presence known to anything bedded up on the field edge.
I headed out around 5PM and down the gully, across the creek and made my way up the other side. I have a habit of making the climb slowly and quietly in case there's something feeding on the field above. When I got to the crest of the hill, I slowly rose up and looked over at the field. I didn't see anything, so my gaze returned to the path to my tree stand.
Suddenly I spot the 2.5-year-old. He's bedded down, right in the path, 4 yards in front of me.
I couldn't believe that this deer was still laying down, and had casually watched me pop up behind a log. He's looking at me, but making no effort to get away.
I lowered my head to hide my eyes behind the brim of my hat. My bow was still out of sight to the animal, so I slowly nocked an arrow. Drawing the bow, I returned my gaze to the deer, who is still contently sitting. I rise up above the log, place the pin on his vitals and release the arrow.
Anyone who has paper-tuned a compound bow knows that it will hit 3-4 inches low at very short distances. Obviously that wasn't what was on my mind, as I plugged that arrow straight through the log I was hiding behind. The arrow had scarcely left the rest by the time it smashed through the log with a dissatisfying crunch.
The deer sprung to his feet, but his curiosity got the better of him. He only ran 10 yards, and then turned back. Now he's at roughly 15 yards, and I'm nocking my second arrow. Miraculously, he didn't bolt. I was able to get the pin on him and the second arrow hit its mark.
I've always said that I only shoot the stupid ones. I've also told others that the secret to shooting big deer is to let the stupid ones get big.
Well, I might not be very good at following my own advice, but that hunt was too much fun and he gave me too many chances for me to let him go. It is always nice to tag a deer and I still have a tag in case a big boy decides to make an appearance. This was my first time sneaking up on a bedded deer, and my first deer with this particular bow (PSE Brute Force Lite). I wish I'd have put it in the picture, but at least I have my sweet LPWA hat.
-moose
I did have a couple of smaller bucks. The bigger of the two was a 2.5-year-old who showed up 2 weeks back.
I didn't think much of either of these bucks, as I normally try to pass the younger deer in hopes that they will return when they are bigger. In reality, they usually disappear and there's a new crop of young ones here next year. I do get the occasional big boy passing through during the rut, but they don't stick around long.
With an odd southeast wind, I set my mind on a stand that isn't far from my house that would't be too bad for the wind direction. To get there, I just hike down a big gully behind my house and up the other side. It is a steep climb but this way I can get to a field edge without crossing the field and making my presence known to anything bedded up on the field edge.
I headed out around 5PM and down the gully, across the creek and made my way up the other side. I have a habit of making the climb slowly and quietly in case there's something feeding on the field above. When I got to the crest of the hill, I slowly rose up and looked over at the field. I didn't see anything, so my gaze returned to the path to my tree stand.
Suddenly I spot the 2.5-year-old. He's bedded down, right in the path, 4 yards in front of me.
I couldn't believe that this deer was still laying down, and had casually watched me pop up behind a log. He's looking at me, but making no effort to get away.
I lowered my head to hide my eyes behind the brim of my hat. My bow was still out of sight to the animal, so I slowly nocked an arrow. Drawing the bow, I returned my gaze to the deer, who is still contently sitting. I rise up above the log, place the pin on his vitals and release the arrow.
Anyone who has paper-tuned a compound bow knows that it will hit 3-4 inches low at very short distances. Obviously that wasn't what was on my mind, as I plugged that arrow straight through the log I was hiding behind. The arrow had scarcely left the rest by the time it smashed through the log with a dissatisfying crunch.
The deer sprung to his feet, but his curiosity got the better of him. He only ran 10 yards, and then turned back. Now he's at roughly 15 yards, and I'm nocking my second arrow. Miraculously, he didn't bolt. I was able to get the pin on him and the second arrow hit its mark.
I've always said that I only shoot the stupid ones. I've also told others that the secret to shooting big deer is to let the stupid ones get big.
Well, I might not be very good at following my own advice, but that hunt was too much fun and he gave me too many chances for me to let him go. It is always nice to tag a deer and I still have a tag in case a big boy decides to make an appearance. This was my first time sneaking up on a bedded deer, and my first deer with this particular bow (PSE Brute Force Lite). I wish I'd have put it in the picture, but at least I have my sweet LPWA hat.
-moose