Been awhile since I updated! I can't remember everything, so I'll go back just a few days:
Friday November, 7: Took the day off work and toughed it out in the wind, rain, sleet, snow, sleet, rain, sleet, more wind... Hunted from daybreak to noon on one property. Had a young 8 come by at 20 yards around 8:30. Too bad it wasn't big poppa. Also had a spike, a doe, and (last count) 24 hens. The afternoon I relocated and was back in the saddle by 1:00. Saw two doe. Dang...
Saturday, November, 8: Another all day hunt. Produced a small buck and a few doe. Frustration setting in. Lockdown???
Sunday November, 9: Got up late and hit the woods at 8:00. Used climber for first time in about 3 years. Outta practice. Shimmied up tree. sat down. 15 minutes later... gotta shit. Try to hold it. Not happening. Shimmy back down. Shit. Fugg it, hunt from ground in thicket for two hours. See one doe. Miracle. Head home. Regroup.
Around noon head back out and relocate a stand. I decided to hunt that stand that same day. I see a small buck.
In the meantime, across the field Klay is sitting with my dad. I get a text from my dad that a nice buck entered the field a couple hundred yards away from them is possibly heading my way. I wait til 5:15 and never see him. I figure he is between us in the big pasture so I text my dad that I'm going to get down and see if I can run him their way before shooting light is gone.
As I sneak out into the pasture I see a doe feeding. She is about 40 yards and pays me no mind with the wind in my favor. I take a couple more steps and see the back of a dark deer between her and I. I hit a knee, raise the binos and wait for it to lift its head. When he finally does... nice buck! He's at 30 yards and directly facing me. He doesn't know what to make of me and starts walking my way... 20 yards. I ready myself as he is a nice 8... however, I'm unsure if he's what I want. I remind myself that he's not a "WOW" buck and lower my bow. He takes a few more steps... stops... snorts and runs. Never offered a broadside anyway.
I text my dad that I almost got a shot and I begin walking back to the truck. I then get a text from him that Klay almost got a shot. What?!?!? It wasn't that buck I just saw. he ran the wrong way.
When we meet at the truck my dad said another 8 came out into the field (they're set up exactly where Klay got his 10 last year) and stands 40 yards broadside. Klay is at full draw, but in the fading light he said he never felt comfortable with locating his pin on him. DANG! I must say though, I'm pretty proud of a 12 year old boy not taking a risky shot.
So, Sunday went by but not without some serious excitement to end the day.
Monday, November 10: Back in the new spot. Kody is across the field today in the spot Klay sat in. Klay is at basketball. I'm sick because a really nice 8 came in and stopped at 20 yards. I was going to have Kody with me, but figured he should go with my dad since Klay had so much action the night before. So, I watch the 8 walk off. Kody saw three doe and a spike.
Tuesday, November 11: New spot again. Kody elects to go home after school. Dumbass...
As I'm walking in, the 8 from the day before jumps up out a bed with a doe. they were bedded at 40 yards from my stand. 10 minutes later, he comes back and walks by at 25 yards. I take a pic and text Kody, "Your fault, not mine!"
About 30 minutes later, I look down past the ridge the 8 walked along into the creek bottom and see a nice buck standing in the creek looking around. I pull the binos up and he looks my way... nice 9! All I saw was a crab claw on his right main beam and all I said was, "WOW!" You know the feeling when you see a no doubter. He was a no doubter. Was he a 9? Yes. Was he a 10? maybe. I think I may have seen a spilt brow too, but wasn't sure. I fumble for the range finder. 63 yards. He puts his head down starts walking the direction the younger buck took, but on the side of the ridge. All I see is antlers in the thicket and his body is blocked by the top of the ridge. He is now closing at 40 yards but in the the thick stuff below the main trail. Figures... I hit the grunt... head picks up... head goes down... continues walking. Grunt... head up... head down... walk. He is making a beeline for exactly where the younger buck roamed off to, but not close enough. He slowly vanished over the ridge, through the creek, and up the other side. DAMN!
Originally I was supposed to be off Monday. With the slow weekend and rising temps I decided to save the day for a better one. I have selected tomorrow. I hope this 9 or 10 or whatever he is, shows back up but follows a different script putting him within range.
Finally... some real excitement! I just birdied the 18th hole after amiserable round and I'm heading back for more.
AM Sits: 3
PM Sits: 18
All Day Sits: 3
Hours on Stand: 90
Doe Sightings: 36
Buck Sightings: 12
Shooters: 1
Coyotes: 1