BSmaster

So, how did the video turn out? Those does get thru the woods quieter than chipmunks. They are on me before I even know they are there.

Was her name "Lola"? haha.

Those brow tines are cool. I have seen some really nice racks on this thread so far. I hope it keeps coming. I have a boar on camera and saw him once on my way out. I wanted to hunt him but I also wanted to give my cousin a chance to score his bow season deer without me busting his hunt.

I got my first bow buck Monday night. The story goes is I played the wind and remembered from a previous sit where the deer movement was originating. I had my scentlok clothing and ozone closet and a bottle scentkiller for the extremities. I drove the Atv straight into the wind across the field and placed it somewhere where nothing could see or smell it near where I was hunting and then it was about a 300yd walk down hill (so I wouldn't sweat) to the double stand I had buried neatly with large and small trees which also coincided with an ancient travel corridor which I recently opened up for natural deer movement. I noticed when I got in the stand that the high winds had placed an old hemlock branch in one of my shooting lanes but decided not to mess with it and make noise. I would get it when I got down. Well after about a half hour I hear a doe come by. I had learned the hard way before that they come behind me and not to peer around the tree because they always see me and bust me so I squinted and pushed back against the tree and she literally walk under neath me. So now I have a nice quarter away at about 15yds and she has no idea I am there. Problem was that stupid branch. I thought I could squeeze one thru -wrong so wrong, in the mud. So after she left and blew once still never knowing what had happened I removed that f'n branch. I sat back and waited for a while and rather than be dejected I knew a mature doe isn't usually going to be by herself. About 15 minutes later, just about dusk the wind just gave that lull it gets in the evening and the squirrels got quiet so I decided to give a soft doe bleat. I held it differently for what ever reason and ended giving a loud doe bleat. About 3 minutes later I hear something crashing thru the woods and knew it wasn't a squirrel. Since I knew exactly where that doe came thru behind me I could get ready to shoot without getting busted. When this buck came in I got a good enough look to think he was on my list and then I waited for him to step into the opening and then I gave him a "meh" like they do on tv and he stopped and I let it rip. I heard it hit and he bolted but ran with his tail up so I got concerned I also never heard him crash and after the earlier mishap anxiety set in. Fortunately he ran down one of my lanes so I could see his travel about 75yds. Not sure what had happened I decided that I wasn't going to look for him right away. Waited about 20 minutes before I got down and I went to where he was at the point of impact and found nothing. By this time it gets dark quicker on the side of the hill and all I had for light was my red led flashlight and it gets pretty hard to see blood on wet leaves with a red light. I decided to go home and make cheeseburgers for dinner like I promised. So after dinner I had already changed into my work clothes I came back and I am glad I saw the direction the buck ran because it was there that I saw first blood and about 200 yds later found him expired. The hit was a little high and behind but broke inside. I never found the business end but soon realized the mechanical blades never opened. I found the fletch end without the nock inside the cavity. Points of interest. It about killed me dragging him out of there. Not huge but good for my area. This is the 2nd buck in 4 yrs that I have harvested that had a heeled right broken leg. I never noticed until I went back to verify it was the same deer in my TC pics. It was super cool seeing him running down that doe like a beagle chasing a rabbit. I also saw a bear that I have been wanting a crack at on the way out at last light. So I have hunted ever since my Dad gave me a bb gun in 1st grade. I use to shoot bow for fun but never wanted to hunt with one primarily because I had no patience to sit. Now that I am older and my body is failing, I am forced to slow down. I got into it about 4 years ago and am super glad I did. I have to say you can shoot your bow all you want and you can know how to deer hunt but there is and added challenge with deer hunting with a bow that I am still learning. I feel very fortunate and very blessed for the opportunity. I have been enjoying everyones experiences on this thread since Rob started it and I normally do not share my hunts but felt it appropriate. I think there should be excellent activity right now. Congratulations to those of you have connected and best of luck to those of you still in the "grind".

That's so true. I got tired of explaining the difference. They mean well so I ignore it.

Nice buck Sean. With all you have on your plate right now this one is sweeter. In my prayers buddy.

lol!

I think that is the worst feeling to know you gave a deer a death sentence but you couldn't harvest them. I am glad you found her. I saw a similar thing happen on a hunting show. Arrow veered off course and hit the jugular on a caribou. The hunters went from panick to relief and then elation when they realized they got lucky.

impressive - I am a little jealous

Is that an optical illusion or is that his junk hanging down?

That's a very nice pic to go with a very nice buck. I am trying to imagine what the pick might look like of you standing in front of the Kia with the suicidal doe. I like this one better.

I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to see another girl like that. Thanks for sharing!

Congrats to everyone who harvested opening day. I went out morning and evening and and saw nothing in the stands but saw a 7 different 2nd yr bucks which was encouraging for the following years. A few could have been spot and stalks but they weren't on my hit list. It was neat watching them spar. I always get a kick out of it when the deer are interactive and not just feeding and sneaking.

The down side with ozone is that it will age some of your synthetics faster. I do not have one but I know someone who has one and he says the elastic waist bands on the undergarments lose holding power. I see this kind of degradation in the lab too. With that said he says one charge in the bag and he can hunt up wind from deer all day. Don't forget your breath. A lot of good it does to make your body and clothes low scent and have terrible breath.