24 hours ago, I certainly didn't think today would unfold as it did. I have a great stand on the southern edge of an ~8 acre doe bedding area that produced a good buck last year, and numerous sightings this year. It's not productive until the seeking phase, but when that time comes, I've found this IS my rut stand on this property. Getting to the story, fast forward to yesterday. I took the day off because I had a wedding to go to, so I was only going to get a morning hunt in. After all of the sightings my dad and uncle had of shooters cruising this area the previous days, I was still confident I would at least SEE some action. Around 8:40, a VERY nice 9 with a split brow comes cruising through. I stop him in his tracks with a few grunts. He turns and heads back toward me. However, instead of coming to my north, he goes south. So now I'm turned around and drawn back as he crosses at 18yds. I stop him and watch in horror as my arrow goes WAY over his back. He had no idea what happened. Just jumped a little and walked off (thankful in that sense). I sat there beside myself wondering what happened. After getting down for the morning I went to retrieve my arrow. When I traced a line from the POI to my stand, I saw it. A SMALL hemlock branch with no needles on it about 10yds up. I don't know how I didn't see it, but I definitely hit it. I was grateful the deer was uninjured, but devastated nonetheless. Virginiashadow sent me a PM telling me to get back on the horse and give it a go again. I knew I still had a good shot of seeing another shooter, so I sucked it up and when the alarm rang at 5:00AM this morning, I hit the snooze :D I was exhausted as I had gotten home from the reception at midnight. Needless to say, once I was up, it was a mad rush to get showered, dressed, and into the stand. The morning was fun. Little bucks chasing does and fawns all over. I liked all of the "bait" I had leaving scent in the area and with the SW wind, I was hopeful the bucks would be cruising. Around 9:20, out of pure luck, I glance to my right and BARELY make out a body moving away through the thicket. I couldn't see anything but a tail and what looked like a head to the ground. I quickly grunted to see what it would do. He locked up. Then 180'ed and headed my way. Only then did I see it was a shooter. He came in JUST like the buck yesterday. 50yds out front, nose to the ground. He picked up the scent of the last doe and did another 180 back toward where he came from. I let out two more quick grunts, and back he came. This time he came in the way I needed him. at 18yds PERFECTLY broadside, I stopped him, settled the pin making SURE this shot was executed better than yesterday (was in such a rush I never saw that branch). My arrow found its mark this time, he spun running off as blood is coming out. I listen. A crash. Then silence. I'm looking at my arrow from the stand an it looks good. After texting Ben/PA about it for some reassurance, I got down, looked at the arrow and the blood around the area. I was satisfied he was dead, but to be sure, I just backed out for 40 minutes. By then, my dad had come home and was anxious to start tracking. The blood trail was an easy one. He was 70 yds piled up, double lung. Upon getting to him I noticed he had two double brows (one split, and one web)! I honestly never noticed it as he was walking in. He's not a monster, but as I told a few people, I'm STILL smiling, and that's all that matters. Oh, yeah. Pictures:D
Outstanding buck Matt! Couldn't be more happier for you! Well deserved buck too bud! Congratulations!! Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
Thanks, everyone. Definitely was a rebound I greatly needed. As for the bareshaft...I actually stripped that fletching off in the field after getting it caught on a branch and one of the fletching tore off. I was bored in the stand one day, so I ripped the other two off:D Bad fletch/shaft contact when I was gluing them up I suppose since this arrow was a complete pass through and everything is in tact.
