- 5,503
- 172
This season started off in the hole. EHD tore through southeast Ohio. The drought hit the plots. The wonderful lady who watches our kids was getting married and gone for three weeks. Mom and Dad took a long trip. My wife, who never travels, had to travel. Oh, and my daughter Mila turns one. So there goes my October.
This deer showed up back in August and I immediately thought, he is mature as the day is long. He looked crazy awesome in velvet, although he slimmed down a bit once the season hit.
I ran cameras hard and threw all I had at this deer and another one. I planted a Carbon Load plot, monitored the cameras constantly, and kept every odd in my favor. There’s a lot of pressure around this spot, so I knew I had to stay disciplined and smart with access.
As the season neared, just about everything that could go wrong did. The landowner had some work done on the property that was pretty intrusive and put a lot of pressure on the deer. It pushed this buck and another one off the plot for a bit.
After that, they stopped showing up for about a week. I knew they had to be close, but they just weren’t on camera.
I kept checking the cameras constantly, and I mean constantly. Obsession is probably the right word. I knew time was ticking for one of them to show back up.
Opening day came and it was hot. I got into the stand at 4:45 PM. I knew it was early, but I wasn’t going to risk blowing a mature 4+ year old off the area.
The wind was out of the northwest, which was technically at my back but perfect for where I expected the mature bucks to come from.
Just before 7, this deer showed up. He came into the plot acting sketchy, not sure why, but he did. He slipped back into the thicket, then slowly came back out. I had a quick decision to make. So I did what I always do: ignore the rack and focus on the body. As he came closer, his frame and body both looked super mature.
He came slightly behind the stand and started working a scrape. I had one window of opportunity. I drew my bow, settled in, and shot him at about 6 to 8 yards.
I watched the Mega Meat fly true and blood pump immediately. He ran about 60 yards into a thicket and tumbled over.
The shakes hit. The texts started. I sat there thanking God.
I don’t have any special sauce.
I like to hunt.
I like to shoot deer in the ribs.
I like to share it with friends.
I like to play the wind.
I like to obsess over trail cameras, and when there’s a high statistical opportunity, I try to guess right.
I like and try to stay humble.
I target deer that are 4.5 years old or older. Score doesn’t matter and I don’t score deer. What I love is letting an arrow fly and watching it punch through a whitetail. No special arrow weight or bow, just a light arrow, an expandable broadhead, and a 12-year-old Mathews.
Gosh, I just love this bowhunting stuff. And I’m thankful for my wife, family, and friends who support my insane obsession.
Hunt your hunt. Enjoy the process. And when you get the chance, slow down and let it happen.
This deer showed up back in August and I immediately thought, he is mature as the day is long. He looked crazy awesome in velvet, although he slimmed down a bit once the season hit.
I ran cameras hard and threw all I had at this deer and another one. I planted a Carbon Load plot, monitored the cameras constantly, and kept every odd in my favor. There’s a lot of pressure around this spot, so I knew I had to stay disciplined and smart with access.
As the season neared, just about everything that could go wrong did. The landowner had some work done on the property that was pretty intrusive and put a lot of pressure on the deer. It pushed this buck and another one off the plot for a bit.
After that, they stopped showing up for about a week. I knew they had to be close, but they just weren’t on camera.
I kept checking the cameras constantly, and I mean constantly. Obsession is probably the right word. I knew time was ticking for one of them to show back up.
Opening day came and it was hot. I got into the stand at 4:45 PM. I knew it was early, but I wasn’t going to risk blowing a mature 4+ year old off the area.
The wind was out of the northwest, which was technically at my back but perfect for where I expected the mature bucks to come from.
Just before 7, this deer showed up. He came into the plot acting sketchy, not sure why, but he did. He slipped back into the thicket, then slowly came back out. I had a quick decision to make. So I did what I always do: ignore the rack and focus on the body. As he came closer, his frame and body both looked super mature.
He came slightly behind the stand and started working a scrape. I had one window of opportunity. I drew my bow, settled in, and shot him at about 6 to 8 yards.
I watched the Mega Meat fly true and blood pump immediately. He ran about 60 yards into a thicket and tumbled over.
The shakes hit. The texts started. I sat there thanking God.
I don’t have any special sauce.
I like to hunt.
I like to shoot deer in the ribs.
I like to share it with friends.
I like to play the wind.
I like to obsess over trail cameras, and when there’s a high statistical opportunity, I try to guess right.
I like and try to stay humble.
I target deer that are 4.5 years old or older. Score doesn’t matter and I don’t score deer. What I love is letting an arrow fly and watching it punch through a whitetail. No special arrow weight or bow, just a light arrow, an expandable broadhead, and a 12-year-old Mathews.
Gosh, I just love this bowhunting stuff. And I’m thankful for my wife, family, and friends who support my insane obsession.
Hunt your hunt. Enjoy the process. And when you get the chance, slow down and let it happen.
