Post by Sasquatch on Nov 2, 2012 20:15:02 GMT -5
I arrived at my stand just as light was breaking. I took note of the wind direction as I fished the ziploc bag containing a "pre-dipped" estrus wick out of my pocket. I wanted to put out the wick but I also wanted to avoid stomping around as the deer can be out of sight but very close in the morning. I compromised by putting the wick on a briar right under the stand.
I settled into the two-man ladder stand as the world began to brighten, hoping for one of those fat does that sometimes run the ridges in that spot. It had been a hard season, and if a doe came by I was going to peek at it's backtrail and then nail it. I made myself wait to use any calls until it was pretty light, fearing any deer that might run up and stop in the margins of visibility. Finally, I ventured a few "can" calls. After a few attempts I brought out the rattle bag and did a 5-second sequence.
I didn't even get a chance to follow my rattling with a grunt call before I heard leaves crunching in the woods to the left. I manuvered toward the sound as fast as I dared. More crunching and my heart began to pound. A buck appeared in the pasture behind the stand, walking at a good clip. He was headed straight downwind. (the stand is right on the edge of the woods) I drew my bow but in seconds he was past my best lane. I desperately tried to reposition as the buck stopped dead behind the stand at 20 yards. I risked a peek around the tree and he was looking at me. The lane wasn't the best but I wasn't going to let him keep standing directly downwind. I placed my pin on him and let her go.
( Here will remain one of the great questions for me: Did the estrus scent wick buy me a few seconds? Did the deer stop where he did because he smelled it? Was it a non-factor? Like the old Tootsie Pop commercial says, "The world may never know." )
I heard the "whack" of a solid hit and the buck rocketed away, at first out into the field but soon circling back into the woods where he came from. I heard him stop, followed by a crash, followed by some more brief running and a bigger crash. I thought he was dead and I hoped he didn't make it down the forbidding hill that often swallows deer on that property.
I tried to sit but I couldn't stand it anymore, so I looked for my arrow. No luck there. I went to the edge of the woods where he entered and "bingo".... blood everywhere. I turned on my heel and went to get the landowner.
I lied and told him I had shot a huge doe with big white spots all over it. ("Probably shot a horse!" he exclaimed)
The blood trail was apocalyptic and we found him easily. Thank God he turned at the last second and died on top of the hill.
Now, here's where the "better lucky than good" part comes in.
I have no idea what happened, but my shot took the deer through both hips.( I noticed more limbs in the shooting lane later; perhaps that was it...Perhaps not... I dunno-- rarely do I miss by three feet at 20 yards.) Some may not mention this, but I do for the benefit of newer hunters reading this. I have done this three times. The first was a deer that lunged forward. It died in 20 seconds. The other was an exit wound on a quartering shot. It also died swiftly. This deer bled immediately and copiously. You never want to aim for it, but "butt beats guts." If you hit a deer there, do not give up.
The deer is bigger of body than he looks. Remember, it's a big fat guy posing with him. I had help loading him on the rack the first time, but after pics ( forgot the camera on the hunt!) I had to put that thing on there myself. At this hour, I may be stiffer than the deer.
Good luck to everyone in the coming days!
P.S.
Another two hunters stopped on the road in front of me when they spied my deer. They were very nice and thought they had seen the same deer. Afterwards I wondered: Huntingindiana members?
The deer had a wound on the top of his back. missing hair and a little red scab at the top right of the area. The thing was in a logical place to be an arrow graze but for that much hair missing I'd expect to see a bigger cut. Fighting?
I settled into the two-man ladder stand as the world began to brighten, hoping for one of those fat does that sometimes run the ridges in that spot. It had been a hard season, and if a doe came by I was going to peek at it's backtrail and then nail it. I made myself wait to use any calls until it was pretty light, fearing any deer that might run up and stop in the margins of visibility. Finally, I ventured a few "can" calls. After a few attempts I brought out the rattle bag and did a 5-second sequence.
I didn't even get a chance to follow my rattling with a grunt call before I heard leaves crunching in the woods to the left. I manuvered toward the sound as fast as I dared. More crunching and my heart began to pound. A buck appeared in the pasture behind the stand, walking at a good clip. He was headed straight downwind. (the stand is right on the edge of the woods) I drew my bow but in seconds he was past my best lane. I desperately tried to reposition as the buck stopped dead behind the stand at 20 yards. I risked a peek around the tree and he was looking at me. The lane wasn't the best but I wasn't going to let him keep standing directly downwind. I placed my pin on him and let her go.
( Here will remain one of the great questions for me: Did the estrus scent wick buy me a few seconds? Did the deer stop where he did because he smelled it? Was it a non-factor? Like the old Tootsie Pop commercial says, "The world may never know." )
I heard the "whack" of a solid hit and the buck rocketed away, at first out into the field but soon circling back into the woods where he came from. I heard him stop, followed by a crash, followed by some more brief running and a bigger crash. I thought he was dead and I hoped he didn't make it down the forbidding hill that often swallows deer on that property.
I tried to sit but I couldn't stand it anymore, so I looked for my arrow. No luck there. I went to the edge of the woods where he entered and "bingo".... blood everywhere. I turned on my heel and went to get the landowner.
I lied and told him I had shot a huge doe with big white spots all over it. ("Probably shot a horse!" he exclaimed)
The blood trail was apocalyptic and we found him easily. Thank God he turned at the last second and died on top of the hill.
Now, here's where the "better lucky than good" part comes in.
I have no idea what happened, but my shot took the deer through both hips.( I noticed more limbs in the shooting lane later; perhaps that was it...Perhaps not... I dunno-- rarely do I miss by three feet at 20 yards.) Some may not mention this, but I do for the benefit of newer hunters reading this. I have done this three times. The first was a deer that lunged forward. It died in 20 seconds. The other was an exit wound on a quartering shot. It also died swiftly. This deer bled immediately and copiously. You never want to aim for it, but "butt beats guts." If you hit a deer there, do not give up.
The deer is bigger of body than he looks. Remember, it's a big fat guy posing with him. I had help loading him on the rack the first time, but after pics ( forgot the camera on the hunt!) I had to put that thing on there myself. At this hour, I may be stiffer than the deer.
Good luck to everyone in the coming days!
P.S.
Another two hunters stopped on the road in front of me when they spied my deer. They were very nice and thought they had seen the same deer. Afterwards I wondered: Huntingindiana members?
The deer had a wound on the top of his back. missing hair and a little red scab at the top right of the area. The thing was in a logical place to be an arrow graze but for that much hair missing I'd expect to see a bigger cut. Fighting?