Well it's taking it's toll... all this deer-passing and thinking about these big boys we'd like to get a crack at. Add to that my neighbor told me today that a mutual acquaintance showed him a picture of "Mason's buck" the other day. I figured others knew about him, just wish it wasn't this guy... I just don't care for the dude, with good reason.
I asked Mason today if he wanted to go to another property where I felt we could shoot a doe. This whole big buck hunting thing sucks the fun out of it for me, and apparently it is starting to wear on Mason as well. Too much worrying about what other hunters are doing, where these deer are...you all know what I'm talking about. Anyway, Mason said he wanted to shoot a deer. After a little thought on the matter, I told him we would just go to the property where we've been hunting. After all, if we went over to Ross Co. there would be NO chance that our boys would come by, but they may if we stayed the course.
We climbed our stand, settled in and hadn't seen a heck of a lot. I told Mason not to be moving as our stand may be more skylined from one side than I had previously thought. I've noticed deer looking up at me more than they should from that side, more than I ever imagined they would. They still come by usually, but were nervous. I no sooner said that than Mason scratched his face and a deer snorted. We were both aggravated, badly. After the deer left, I told Mason "Let's go. I'm jerking this stand tomorrow". I started gathering our gear while listening to Mason grumble about a deer snorting (He isn't used to hearing that). Suddenly, Mason said, "Deer". I looked to the north and sure enough here came two does. He asked if he could shoot one, he's already passed 11 chip shots this season and I was in a mood. I sat down, put an arrow on his Excalibur and told him to kill whatever he wanted when he got a shot.
Eventually, a big doe was standing at 25 yards or so, pretty much broadside. He asked for the yardage, I told him and he made his usual sniper-like shot. She ran about 150 yards or so and croaked. She ran passed the only camera I have out, and it is on vid-mode. I didn't check it, but we may have a blood-blowing deer on there. We tracked her down, got the truck, loaded her and got the heck out of there. Didn't even gut her on the property... this is the kind of stupid thing you do when you're worried about completely blowing a big one off a farm, and sensibly, I know it makes no difference.
Anyway, Mason finally got to turn loose a little tension, and did a good job of it. We'll eat good. Inside loins for dinner tomorrow!