Post by firstwd on May 27, 2020 19:01:27 GMT -5
Around Halloween of 2015 I had quite a memorable evening in a tree stand. Sitting about 20 feet up a red oak tree on the edge of a 1/4 acre oak flat on the edge of a hill overlooking a small swamp area I hear a lot of commotion around the hill in the stream and field. I hear the tale tell sounds of running hoofs. I grab my bow and stand up. A big old doe breaks into the weedy swamp and stops broadside just beyond my 40 yard marker. This deer looks me dead in the face, looks straight behind her, then looks me straight in the face again, then slow trots up the briar patch. This chick straight up just ratted a buck out! Sure enough, a few seconds later, he comes trotting in and stands broadside at about 43 yards right where she stopped. I put him at 2, lucky to be 100 inch 8 pointer, and dumb. I named this deer Pencils because his rack looked like a bunch of #2 pencils.
At 3 in 2016 I had Pencils in front of me several times but the closest was 11 yards while he was dogging a doe through the bean field. I stopped the truck, got my bow out of the back, got into the field edge, but let him enjoy his day because I had decided I was after a 150 or better.
2017 found Pencils at 4 years old a little less free spirited but still visiting the property and giving me plenty of chances. He made it to a 10 point that year but I was guessing him at 140 at best. My hunting buddies were all over me about taking him but my mind had been made up.
2018 had me wondering if I made a mistake the year before, especially when we found out the woods was getting logged. Nobody was seeing this deer, not even my network of neighboring property hunters. Early November changed that. I saw major movement coming towards me that turned out to be 2 does that Pencils was chasing. He was clearly over my 150 requirement and once again broadside to me with a bow in my hand. He was just 200 yards away.....
2019 had me hanging stands very late because we waited for the loggers that didn't end up arriving until almost Christmas. I shifted an old faithful stand for Pencils because I knew he was comfortable in a particular area. Once again he was broadside in front of the stand hung just for him. It was gun season so range wasn't a problem. He was also 30 yards away. It was a Tuesday, in the rain, and I was at work. The guy who saw him had already tagged his buck but was completely understanding why I said I would have passed on the one he shot. I had him guessed right near that magic 170 number.
Today, I was given a picture of Pencils. He was found a little over a mile from the farm by a friend and coworker's dad in a CRP field next to my buddy's house a couple months ago. After all necessary investigations were completed and the proper paperwork was acquired, a euro mount was done. DNR aged him between 6 and 7 and concluded he died of natural causes.
While I, as well as any hunter, would have been extremely proud to have him hanging on their wall, I believe he met a fitting end to a long productive life.
My problem now is I need to get better at field judging deer. I know what his gross score is, but If someone would post a pic for me I would like to hear your thoughts.
At 3 in 2016 I had Pencils in front of me several times but the closest was 11 yards while he was dogging a doe through the bean field. I stopped the truck, got my bow out of the back, got into the field edge, but let him enjoy his day because I had decided I was after a 150 or better.
2017 found Pencils at 4 years old a little less free spirited but still visiting the property and giving me plenty of chances. He made it to a 10 point that year but I was guessing him at 140 at best. My hunting buddies were all over me about taking him but my mind had been made up.
2018 had me wondering if I made a mistake the year before, especially when we found out the woods was getting logged. Nobody was seeing this deer, not even my network of neighboring property hunters. Early November changed that. I saw major movement coming towards me that turned out to be 2 does that Pencils was chasing. He was clearly over my 150 requirement and once again broadside to me with a bow in my hand. He was just 200 yards away.....
2019 had me hanging stands very late because we waited for the loggers that didn't end up arriving until almost Christmas. I shifted an old faithful stand for Pencils because I knew he was comfortable in a particular area. Once again he was broadside in front of the stand hung just for him. It was gun season so range wasn't a problem. He was also 30 yards away. It was a Tuesday, in the rain, and I was at work. The guy who saw him had already tagged his buck but was completely understanding why I said I would have passed on the one he shot. I had him guessed right near that magic 170 number.
Today, I was given a picture of Pencils. He was found a little over a mile from the farm by a friend and coworker's dad in a CRP field next to my buddy's house a couple months ago. After all necessary investigations were completed and the proper paperwork was acquired, a euro mount was done. DNR aged him between 6 and 7 and concluded he died of natural causes.
While I, as well as any hunter, would have been extremely proud to have him hanging on their wall, I believe he met a fitting end to a long productive life.
My problem now is I need to get better at field judging deer. I know what his gross score is, but If someone would post a pic for me I would like to hear your thoughts.
