Had a chance to go out for a evening hunt last night. Got out around 2:30 pm. The hunt started out great and only got better. I had probably 20 doe (I lost count) walk within 30 yards from me, had me really wondering when a buck would show up. Around 6:30 had a small yearling pass by bleating for its mother, 2 minutes later a doe was following the trail of the yearling grunting to find it. Getting towards the end of the night I decided to let out a couple grunts to see what happened and was immediately answered with a snort weeze from back in the thicket. I grunted again and the same thing a snort weeze responds back. Time to get to my feet, I stand up in my stand and boom, a buck steps out of the thicket and let's out another snort weeze. I couldn't quite tell what it had for horns immediately but could tell it was a big mature bodied deer. Then I got my first sight of the antlers and made the decision it was definitely a buck I wanted to shoot. Then came the waiting game for him to step out into one of my shooting lanes and give me a good shot. He stopped right behind a small tree only a few steps away from stepping into my lane, perfect opportunity to draw my bow back. I was then planning in me head that as soon he stepped out I was going to stop him and let a arrow fly. He steps out, I stop him broadside at 20 yards and let the arrow fly. Perfect shot right behind the shoulder, mule kick and he takes off, ran 50 yards and dropped. I then took time to thank God and go through the motions of killing a great Pennsylvania buck with a bow.
Congrats. Very nice buck. I tried grunting at a buck this past weekend as a last effort. It didn't work.
I tried posting last night, this app is very temperamental. Thanks guys, only get one buck tag here in PA, so I'm done until rifle when I try for a doe. A blessing to tag one early, have a baby on the way due November, need to spend time with the wife.
You had to think for a minute it was another hunter? I'm really surprised he was so aggressive this early. I didn't even bring my grunt last weekend, might have to rethink this. Congrats, really nice buck!
Awesome buck and cool story. I didn't even pack a grunt tube last time out thinking it was too early in the season... it's going in the pack now
Under those conditions it never crossed my mind that it might be hunter, I would have heard a hunter from a mile away trying to make their way through that thicket. Yes, very surprising it reacted that way to a call this early, but since when have deer been predictable? Lol
Probably the most blessed year of my life. Got married, bought a home, having a baby and shot a nice buck with a bow all in 2016. Been a great year for me.
A great year indeed - congratulations (on everything!). We are starting to see bucks with swelled necks up here in 1B - I never guess what the deer are going to do around her anymore.
