After about 2 hrs of him bedded down 10yds behind me and flipping through the pictures, I had to make a decision!?!?
I had to be out of the stand in about an hour to make my daughters volleyball game. If I let him go how was I going to get out of the stand with out him pinning me down and knowing my location from here on out??!? If I was going to take him do I take a shot at him in his bed? or do I wait till he gets up? Just then he got up and everything seemed to speed up !!! I thought bout where I am in life at this moment,,... volleyball practice, volleyball games, gymnastics, religion class, my wife's job and her evening requirements, being in charge of picking up the girls very day after school.....I just couldn't justify letting him walk, for multiple reasons! I may never get another opportunity to harvest a decent buck on opening day, let alone a buck I have history with and been watching all summer! I decided that if he walked in front of me that I would take the shot. He works his way towards me and starts to rake a sapling right behind my stand, I tried to film it between my legs with my phone, you can see the leaves move as he rubs it. He then works his way almost directly under my stand and takes the longest piss I have seen a deer take! At that time I decided he could seal his fate! If he walks left I let him go if he walks right and into my lane, he takes an arrow.
Well as you all know he decided to go right, I set up my go pro and put my phone down, and readied for a shot. He walked into my lane and I remember how nice I thought he looked and steadied for my chance. I left the arrow fly and I knew it was a perfect heart shot !! He headed back into the woods but I was very confident that he didn't go far! I called Phil and had to apologize to him for not taking his advice! He was taking time out of his busy day to give me advice and I completely threw it to the side and let my heart tell me what I should do.
Sorry but the dang sun bleached out the grass so you can barely see the deer or shot....sucks I was pissed!!!
I didn't wait the magical 30 mins after the shot. I got down and found bright red blood instantly, I followed his trail into the woods.
It was only about 20 yds in and I found him.
I began to text some buddies and tell them I had tagged out 2 hours into the season! My favorite call was when my girls called me to ask if I "got" him! They were super excited about the early success
He may not be the biggest buck I had on my list or cams this summer but he is one that was too good to pass up for me. I am far from a deer snob, trophies come in all shapes and sizes, if it gets your blood pumping then you take a shot. I have heard never pass up on the first day what you will gladly take on the last day, this was very true for me on opening morning. This was another season that I had a lot of first experiences and ones that I may never get to do again! For that I am thankful and now I hope to sit back and enjoy the rest of the season and see if I can fill my doe tags and take it all in!
Thanks for all the support and kind words! It's been cool watching this site grow and become some thing bigger than just deer hunting!