Biggest deer ever!

Ok, so I headed to the dump today. I got into the tree at around 3ish after a morning of raking leaves at home. I got up into the tree and noticed a loc on stand only 30 yards from my tree!! I couldn't even concentrate because all I thought about was that guy hanging a stand 30 yards away from my feeder! All was calm...just watching the squirrels...it's was a beautiful, but windy day. At 4:00 I heard the leaves rustling (more than the squirrels)...I look to my right and it's that guy that lives across the field. He waves to me and tells me that he has a stand in the woods. I asked him if it was his lock on and he said yes. I said to him, did it occur to you that my feeder was 30 yards from your stand. He had the nerve to say, but no one was here for a month. As if that would matter...but it wasn't true anyway. He apologized and walked off.

At around 5:30 I was looking around and heard something behind me. As soon as I took a peak I saw that it was a deer. I turned slightly and saw horns...and lots of them...and they were big. I think it ended up only being a 6 or so, but the tines were tall, had nice mass and the spread was wide. A really good buck by anyone's standards. By the time I got my bow, grabbed the string with my release the deer was on his way out. He paused at 25 yards to look at me but left quickly. I grunted twice but he wasn't interested. He disappeared to the middle of the woods where the guy went...I saw the deer stop and then take off running. Not sure if the guy got a shot off or spooked the deer. I didn't see either one after that.

Hopefully our paths will cross again.

3 shots...really?!

Went to the club today. Got there around 2:00 and decided to go to stand 13. It was absolutely a beautiful day...a little breezy, but really nice. Before I got into the stand I decided that I wanted to shoot a few arrows to make sure that everything is still good. I shot from 15 yards out to 30 at a water bottle and nailed it every time...I was good to go. I got into the stand and just really enjoyed sitting there. At around 5:30 I saw movement up the hill in the bushes. It was two deer...didn't see what, but they were quickly gone. About 20 minutes later, through the trees I could see movement and it was a doe heading towards my stand. I was calm and waited for her to be broadside. I had ranged the spot to be around 21 yards and I let the arrow fly. Whiz, right over her her back...what happened?! I slowly reached around and got another arrow...nocked it and by this time, she was joined by another doe. The second doe gave me a nice broadside shot and then whiz...over her back again. Ok...I suck. How could I miss high twice...I shot right before I got into the stand!? The first doe took off but the second one ran right under my stand...about 5 yards away. I wondered if I could risk getting another arrow. She started to inch forward and gave me the opportunity to get another arrow. I nocked it and this time held lower. The shot was quartering away and the arrow went right through her from the top back, through her chest and out her left leg...busting the left leg. That put her down right away. I climbed out of the stand and although she was hit hard, I decided that I wanted to put another arrow through her heart to put her down...which I did. I walked to the truck to get rope to drag her and by the time I got back, she was done. Three shots...REALLY!?

Finally scored! What an adventure...

Ok, so after taking the day off to go golfing in the morning (with Terry the Scot), I headed to the Tower for some afternoon action. I had a good feeling about the day even though it was pretty windy. The weather was nice, around 50 and the sun was peeking in and out throughout the day. I settled in to the tree around 3...and was right near where I had been seeing deer. I tried to get myself right where I saw the does from the prior time there. At around 4:30 or so the action started. I had three does work towards me from along the bottom (from the direction of the tower). They started working up the hill and got to about 35 yards from me. One doe, the biggest, came around the front and looked right at me. She didn't like what she saw but started walking towards me. I drew back when her head was behind a tree and then, around 30 yards out...facing me, she stopped still. I held for as long as I could but then had to let down. When I did she took off blowing. To my surprise, the other two that were with her didn't blow. They just kept feeding. I then noticed that there was a buck in tow with them. He was small...maybe it was the pencil 4 from the last time. He chased after them up the hill...and then a few moments later, back down the hill and then they were gone.

A half hour or so later I noticed movement near the apartments. A nicer buck walked along the wall and up the hill. Never came close enough for a better look but when it got to the top of the hill I heard a loud noise. I could only see shadows but it looked like he was in a fight with another buck...and then it sounded like a tree came down and they were gone. lol

After that excitement I just stood in my stand as it started to get dark. As I thought of the day, I listened to all the squirrels around when movement caught my eye. Right behind me, to the right was a deer...not a squirrel. It was right under my stand. I froze and watched as it came right under my stand and stopped. I wondered if I was going to get a shot but was fairly certain that I would so I tried to remain calm. As I watched, it turned and started to walk off...I drew back and when it turned sideways, I let an arrow fly. Just as I did two years ago, I spined it and it went right down. I had to hit it with another arrow but it was right under my stand. I drew and shot...this time it just grazed it. It was essentially right under me. It dragged itself down the hill a little and I took yet another arrow and shot. This time getting it right in the front. I must have missed the heard because it didn't die. It must have been too far forward. Well, I was out of arrows and out of patience and I felt bad for the deer...so down the tree. I got to the deer and slit it's throat. Huh...still didn't die. So, I removed the arrow from it's back...walked around to the front of it and plunged the arrow by hand right into the heart. Within a minute the deer died...finally.

I gutted the deer and got my stuff together. I started the drag out...hmmm... sure does seem like I've been walking for a while. Why didn't I find the tower...it's kind of dark...where am I?! Those are some of the things that were going threw my head. I missed my mark and got totally turned around. I kept thinking that I was below the tower and that I would eventually hit the street...but instead I was still above the tower and walked further and further from my truck. As I was walking, I kept looking out for some sign of direction and stopped paying attention to where I was walking...THUD...I fell on something and as I went down and cracked my knee...my stand came up and smacked me on the back of the head. I saw stars. I got up and continued...following lights that I could see through the trees. I finally realized that I was on the edge of the woods, at the back of someone's backyard. I sat down...turned off the flashlight and called the police. I wanted them to know from me before they got a call. I left the deer in the woods and walked to the house. I needed to let them know I had a deer behind the house AND to find out where the heck I was. Well, I knocked on the door but no one was home...so I went to the next door neighbor. Some guy answers and I said "Hi, my name is Keith and I got a little lost and I was wondering if you could help me"...he said "no" and closed the door. WTF! I walked down the street a little and went to another person. It was a really nice kid and his father...after going inside to Google it...he came out and they both helped me find my way. I had walked clear into the next town!! I found my way back to my truck and then drove back to get my deer. What an unforgettable night!

Lucky 4-pointer...

Went out today and it was beautiful...just gorgeous weather. The morning was chilly and still and I went behind the job. All was quiet, however. The only bit of excitement was the fox that came to visit. A nice big one too...then I went to Dani's softball game.

The afternoon I went behind the dump. By this time the wind had picked up. It was still nice, but now pretty breezy. I got into the tree at around 3:00. At 5:00 I saw the old guy that lives across the way come into the woods and walk across. Pretty much as soon as he disappeared from sight, I saw movement coming my way. I stood up and got ready. What appeared was a pretty nice looking four point buck. He came to within 10 yards of me and decided to hang out there for about 45 minutes. So, for this entire time I was standing pretty darn still. I didn't want to spook him just in case someone else was coming. Alas, no one else decided to show up that night. It was cool to watch him though.

Damned Coyote...

I went behind the tower today. It was a beautiful day...a little breezy, but nice. I decided that I was going to try and go below the apartments so I can get to where I saw those bucks the last time I was there. I took my time getting to a tree and was set up and ready by 3:30. By around 5:10 I saw movement from higher up the hill walking towards me. A group of about 6 deer stopped about 60 yards away from me (almost where I sat the last time). They were feeding in the area when all of a sudden they started blowing. I was downwind so I knew they didn't smell me...they started to run. I hadn't moved...what happened? Then, I saw a coyote running towards the group. He followed the group out of sight. About 10 minutes later he came trotting back. Damn Yote!!

At around 6:20 I small buck came from up the hill to my left. It walked calmly to me and under my stand. I did draw on the deer but determined that he was too small. I think that he was a fork...maybe a 5, but with the little pencils on his head it was hard to tell. I let him walk.

Right after the rain...

Started out the day behind work...the weather was perfect...started getting cool...and it had been raining so I expected a good day. I started the morning out behind work. The only thing I saw was two foxes...one that came out right under my stand. I looked around for another tree to possibly get in and found that someone else's stand is right around the corner. I'll stay where I am, thank you.

I headed up to the club in the afternoon. I got there and in the stand around 3. I walked to the Dip Stand but felt like I was so out in the open and there weren't many shooting opportunities there. Maybe with the gun. So I went to the Swamp Stand. I kept hearing an ATV all afternoon. Sounded like they were close enough to be on our property but I couldn't tell. At around 4, someone came walking across the field and through the hedgerow. I looked through the range finder but couldn't tell who it was...no one that I recognized. The worst part was, he came walking out again around 6. He's nuts! I saw nothing...thought I would so I was disappointed.