Valley Lad
11-24-2003, 01:31 PM
Unfortunately, "Almost" doesn't fill the freezer!
Went out whitetail hunting on Saturday morning and I almost got run over by a buck and a doe on my way in to my stand. He was running her all over the place and grunting like crazy. Got within 10 yards of me but they were nothing but shadows since it was 20 minutes to legal shooting light. In hind sight I should have found a suitable location nearby to wait until I could shoot instead of going the additional 150 yards to my stand. I also saw a big doe 45 yards from my stand an hour after sunrise but she wouldn't get any closer so I could try a shot. Did some scouting on the way out and found several other good spots for stands on the way out.
Went to my cousin's farm Sunday morning. Just at first light I had a small buck cross the pasture I was overlooking about 100 yards out. I grunted three times and he headed my way. Just out of bow range he ducked into the trees and when I stood up a minute later he saw the branches on the cedar tree I was in shake and jumped back into the bushes instead of coming into the open. Crossed through my shooting lane in he trees as I was drawing the bow but wouldn't stop. A couple hours later I had another BIG buck come out the same place as the other one and walk right down the middle of the pasture towards me. He's a big bodied 6 pointer that I'd seen the previous year. His rack is wider than his ears and has the main beams of a big 8 or small 10 pointer but only has small brow tines and long G2's that sweep forward - a really unique rack! He slowly sauntered directly towards me until the wind betrayed me (or he could hear my heart pounding against my ribcage) when he was 45 yards out and he high-tailed it into the bush. Another ten steps and I would likely have at least taken my first shot at a live animal... I haven't been that excited since I started rifle hunting 15 years ago!
If I can connect with that buck it will be a much better trophy to me than any of the larger racks I got with my rifle! Now if I can only get rid of this nasty habit I have of sitting at a desk during legal shooting hours.... :wink: Damn bank won't accept venison in lieu of a mortgage payment!
Went out whitetail hunting on Saturday morning and I almost got run over by a buck and a doe on my way in to my stand. He was running her all over the place and grunting like crazy. Got within 10 yards of me but they were nothing but shadows since it was 20 minutes to legal shooting light. In hind sight I should have found a suitable location nearby to wait until I could shoot instead of going the additional 150 yards to my stand. I also saw a big doe 45 yards from my stand an hour after sunrise but she wouldn't get any closer so I could try a shot. Did some scouting on the way out and found several other good spots for stands on the way out.
Went to my cousin's farm Sunday morning. Just at first light I had a small buck cross the pasture I was overlooking about 100 yards out. I grunted three times and he headed my way. Just out of bow range he ducked into the trees and when I stood up a minute later he saw the branches on the cedar tree I was in shake and jumped back into the bushes instead of coming into the open. Crossed through my shooting lane in he trees as I was drawing the bow but wouldn't stop. A couple hours later I had another BIG buck come out the same place as the other one and walk right down the middle of the pasture towards me. He's a big bodied 6 pointer that I'd seen the previous year. His rack is wider than his ears and has the main beams of a big 8 or small 10 pointer but only has small brow tines and long G2's that sweep forward - a really unique rack! He slowly sauntered directly towards me until the wind betrayed me (or he could hear my heart pounding against my ribcage) when he was 45 yards out and he high-tailed it into the bush. Another ten steps and I would likely have at least taken my first shot at a live animal... I haven't been that excited since I started rifle hunting 15 years ago!
If I can connect with that buck it will be a much better trophy to me than any of the larger racks I got with my rifle! Now if I can only get rid of this nasty habit I have of sitting at a desk during legal shooting hours.... :wink: Damn bank won't accept venison in lieu of a mortgage payment!