Friday November 4, had an all day sit planned. Saw 2 bucks at my morning location. Short break for lunch and on to my afternoon area. It was one I'd hunted before, but the 1st time this fall. I'd actually gotten up one tree but didn't like my shots, so I got down & moved 30 more yards. It was 1:04 pm and 10-15 minutes after getting settled, I had just texted Fran that I had a good feeling about this evening when i heard some noise behind me. Turned to look, didn't see anything. Few seconds later, heard it again. This time when I looked it was a big buck, right there, not 30 yds. All in one motion I stood, grabbed my bow, spun around to my right & hooked my release. I didn't even have to take a 2nd glance at his rack. He stepped into an opening at 16 yds, very slightly quartered and I drilled him. He whirled and ran back from where he came. Stopped & I hoped he'd fall. But he bedded for a few moments, got up walked a little zig zag & bedded again. This time just out of my sight. (Note:had forgotten binos in truck today) It was thick and i couldn't see if he was still there or got up & walked off. Fearing a hit too far back, I settled that I was not leaving my tree until 5:00 pm. Those were the four longest hours of my hunting life. I finally get down to my arrow. Solid(dried by now) blood. Ok I move to where I'd last seen him. No deer, but to my delight a very heavy blood trail. So I take it up and it's rather easy to follow the 150 yds where I see my buck piled up against a tree. He'd started losing it coming down a hill & was plowing over & thru things before finally coming to rest. A nice big 7 pt,(my 3rd in a row oddly enough) He was stiff but my wait was the right call, the shot was pretty much a square liver hit, barely clipping some lung as well. He'd stopped several times along the trail, a pool of blood at each spot.
The smile says it all Ryan! Congratulations... I hope to share a few colds ones around the campfire again in the near future...you always deliver... another great western PA whitetail... well done, ! Edit: And I love all the posts that preach and educate about waiting, it's the right move 99% of the time, makes me proud (Recovery Thread) (Fran) and I give props to each and every one of you that preach and educate it... Well done Ryan.
Great buck dude.........very happy for you. Good job on the track as well. Big time congrats from start to finish.
