So yesterday evening, I decided to setup in a deep bottom. That was where I found the highest concentration of buck sign, and knew with dropping thermals in the evening when the wind died off I had to be low. There is an old hiking trail that cut north to south, and all of the scrapes ran along that, with a rub line running due east off of it. The wind was initially blowing WSW (not forecasted) but it was swirling super super bad. With this wind direction in mind, I setup NE of the biggest scrape, and where the rub line popped out. I climbed up to 20’, was tied off when i realized the wind was now doing what the forecast said it would (after sitting at the base of a tree for 30 minutes throwing milkweed debating) and that was blowing from the SE. My milkweed was consistently drifting straight up the trail, and across all off the scrapes. Pissed off and now working up a sweat, I climbed back down, and drug 4 sticks, a platform, back pack, bow and 25’ bow rope 40 yards across the trail to setup with what I thought would be the wind in my favor (it was). I got up into the tree with the best cover, but still offered a shot to the trail. I’m tellin ya, every fuggin tree is a telephone pole, and none have any cover. I was settled in by 3:30, which is crazy considering I was walking in by 1:30, and I’m setup less than 300 yards from my truck
It’s crazy that I hiked over 4 miles in the am, just to find the best sign within rifle range of the parking lot. So around 4 I did a grunting and rattling sequence, and again around 5. My wind seemed to be miserably consistent out of the SE but would occasionally rip from the NE, but I figured as long as the deer came from the Easterly direction, or came up or down the trail I’d be fine. It’s about 5:20, and I hear a single twig snap behind me. Typically I wouldn’t look right away, but with the lack of squirrels, and how wet the leaves were I had to. Low and behold, here comes antlers and holy shit, he’s a decent buck and he’s coming right for me. I spotted him at 50ish yards. I had no time to get my video camera turned on, but I don’t really give a shit about that lol. He was on a bee like straight for the trail, and his course was bringing him passed me at 22 yards. When his head went behind a tree at 30 yards I had to swing my bow over top of my tether for a “weak-side” shot. Then at 25 his head went behind another tree and I got to full draw. I swung my pin in front of him in a wide open slot. As soon as he stepped into it, I hit him with a MEH and he about jumped out of his skin, he flinched so bad which was so surprising given he was completely relaxed and had no idea I was there. I settled my pin, held a little low due to his response to me stopping him and let her fly. My lighted nock disappeared right where I wanted it to, and I heard that distinct sound of a diaphragm pop. I watched him run about 80 yards uphill when I lost sight, but my view returned when he rolled down the hill onto a bench below. I gave my dad, wife, Nate and Eli a call, and they all said to get climbed down before it got too dark and get some pics. I obliged, and was on a very heavy blood trail from point of impact to where he lie dead. I tagged the buck, took a few pics, then went back to my tree to pack my shit. I went to my truck to drop all my shit off besides my kill kit and dragging strap. He ran towards my truck, making my drag 164 yards which was fuggin awesome despite it all being uphill the whole way. My dad will be up this evening, and we’ll get him hung on the buck pole once we put one up. I think he may be more excited than I am. Sorry the pics suck, it’s tough to get decent ones alone in the dark lol.
I slept in this am, and have plans to go scout a known section for my dad, and verify his stands are still there and that there’s good deer sign in the area. After that, I plan to go back to the chunk I shot my buck on, and hopefully run into some more deer. Tomorrow looks like a washout with the rain, so we will see. No matter what happens from this point, I am far more than satisfied and gotta thank God for the opportunities I’ve been given. I am looking forward to my dad’s arrival and rifle opener in a couple days.
