Welcome to TheOhioOutdoors
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Login or sign up today!
Login / Join

Brock/Mason 2020

brock ratcliff

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
24,834
247
Mason went back in his target buck’s bedroom tonight. Third time in a row he’s had that deer close enough to kill and did not get him shot. Tonight he was 14 steps to Masons right. He is hunting from a saddle and was not able to turn to shoot him. He’s going back in there tomorrow with high hopes of setting up a little better for a shot. He’s having a lot of fun chasing this deer.
I rode around at dark Spotted three small bucks in a cut bean field near where I’ve been hunting. Mason dropped a camera in there on a scrape line for me before going to his stand today. Can’t wait to check that one
 

brock ratcliff

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
24,834
247
Mason and I enjoyed a short hunt this morning. He didn’t dress appropriately for the stand he was in. It’s our most productive, but a north wind there is brutal. I had seen five does/fawns, he had seen eight. He said he wanted out of the wind and headed towards me. Soon after he texted I heard a buck grunt. I tried to stop him from walking to me but he didn’t check his phone. The buck was right under me when he noticed Mason walking towards us. He split. He was a really pretty six point. Good times! I hunted from my old saddle today, only 12 feet up. I had one big old doe that is at least 7 ( we’ve known her for years), look up at me but it never occurred to her that I might pose a danger. Hiding behind a tree is awesome!
Here’s some pics I snapped from the phone videos...
97646F6C-94ED-43BF-8961-691DE6101D20.png
A31F1104-CCC8-4374-BA6E-AAEE7038D042.png
50C4E4A5-DD01-4428-8F23-99B50FE1D9C0.png
9FCF1998-20B8-43C0-9EF5-22784DA52FFA.png
71D3248C-015C-401A-A3DF-E6C280EBC2A5.png
40A071B2-18EF-43E9-A0FF-5C8F2FC9EE23.png
 

brock ratcliff

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
24,834
247
Made my first sit of the year in the fence up in Fayette. It didn’t disappoint. First light found a doe feeding at the landowners corn pile. An hour or so later I noticed a nice buck locked down with a doe in a patch of crp 350 yards north of me. I got real excited at the first glimpse of his rack. After looking at him through binoculars it appeared he had just one side. Bummer. I saw a couple more young bucks and a couple more does, buck harassing them.
I had texted Mason about the big half rack and that I didn’t know if my video of him would be worthwhile. He suggested I walk over and kill him but I wasn’t interested in shooting a half rack, regardless of how big that half was.
Bored of being in the stand, I figured I’d put the sneak on him to get better video. So I made my move. Circled around and snuck within 75 yards or so. Holy crap, he’s a much better deer than I’d originally thought! And he’s old. Ok maybe I will shoot him... I waited for him to bed down to make my final approach.... I was just retry sure I was within thirty yards or so but couldn’t pick out his antlers in the crp. I though about blowing a grunt call as I was getting tired of looking after 45 minutes or so. About then, two younger bucks had apparently caught wind of the doe and moved in. As I saw them coming I knew he would stand to walk them off. He did, but he was not where I thought he was. As quickly as I could I ranged him 60 yards. I draw, settle the pin and broke and good shot. The arrow was beautiful, but it fell short. Under him. Perfect. So much fun and excitement and no one got hurt! The three bucks bounded away. I assessed the situation and took my best guess as to where my arrow might be in the crp. I was certain I’d never find it but somehow I did and it was clean as new, I don’t think I cut a single hair off him but it was indeed pretty close. I was using my old rangefinder and it is accurate, but in the crp I was getting 60,65,63.... I held for 60 and it wasn’t enough. I’m happy as a clam it worked out that way, honestly. Fun, fun, fun... and I’ve still got my tag AND my arrow!
I’ll post pics from the video when I get around to getting a look at it. This deer is a stud! But I’m glad he’s still out there to chas.