I fell apart.
I really argued with myself about getting into this spot. Always a slammer of a deer holding up in that spot. One of the few places on this property that doesn't get human traffic. With a great view of the traffic and everything around. You can't get into this spot clean. But I dedicated that I was just going to do it. They are doing maintenance on a piece down the road a little ways and some standing corn not far, I figured I was going to see whatever I bump out again.
Still being a little bit of a chickenshit about blowing out the big one I was waiting for shooting light. Two Subaru's pulled in and 3 lady's got out loudly talking about some new winery or something. I just tried to be unnoticed sitting in my truck. Right at first light they left. Wtf, but whatever, be gone. I hurried out of the truck, cocked the crossbow, grabbed my pack and went after it. Almost there when I turned a corner on the main hiding trail right at the spot I bail off it, was him. The one, THEE DEER of a lifetime. All I seen was his back. I dropped, put a blot in it and drew up as he raised his head. That's when a feeling I haven't had since I was a child happened. I was on him in the scope and couldn't focus. Shit went blurry first, then my arms got sore and shaky, then I don't know what happened to my legs. But them weak ass thing went to buffer mode or something. Bolt started clanking off the rail and he looked at me. Not real sure how long all this took, but it felt like I lost a day or twos worth of memory. He bounced, then blew and I was so shaken that I tried to listen what direction he was going and I couldn't hear. The creek buck I found is 180" and this deer is bigger. He fucked me up. Took me a while to settle down. I text a few people but don't really remember what I said. An hour later I was calming down, sometime after that the headache started.
So I continued to push to the spot I wanted to place the cam. Got it set only to have it not working. But I was already settled into my seat and wasn't screwing with it. Around 10:20 a nice 10 walked up and right past the cam. Probably 125-130" 3 year old. A deer I would shoot any given year and be happy. It just looked so small in comparison I couldn't do it. Another text goes out...then a nice 8 comes by. Solid 8, dandy of a deer. Another 3 year old with a real light tan hide and right around the same inches. Now I'm kicking myself for not shooting either deer. 26 yards and they both quartered away perfectly.
I sat thinking about calling and rattling. Telling myself that if they cam back and to calls, that would be cool. Then maybe I'd shoot one. I never did. Sat until then wind changed and left. Got the cam working and then went to the other side of the property and got that cam running. Back at the house now wondering wtf happened to me. All in all, I had fun and this is why we do this. You can't pay for that kind of rush. Just seeing him at 15 yards was enough for me. I don't care if I kill him or not, but I gotta try again. If nothing else I'm gonna chase that thrill like a crackhead locking for that first high.
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. Seen one unknown deer. 100% was a good sized deer, just never seen the head to know what it was. 40ish yards away. 
. Walking in I seen Cole stop up the road and talk to a truck. Got settled in and a guy was walking by. Lol
