Well with only 1 full week left for me to get a crack at this buck before I leave for Iowa..I rolled the dice.. and I invaded his bedding area tonight and slipped into a big densely covered mountain saddle of timber and thick brush. Snowing to beat heck I inched into this area climbing a very steep mountain for about 1 hour, every step counted as I knew I couldnt let deer up in there hear me. I got no more than set up on the ground ( planned on hunting off the ground with my bow and had my camera/tripod) as soon as I squatted down after a long hike in at 1:30 pm I immediately heard movement in the brush 30 yards away. Up stood a doe and then I caught movement to the left of her. There he was popped up like a piece of toast! He looked around and so did she but not at me. These deer are jittery and they never pin pointed me.. but they knew something was near.. like I have said before, they get hunted by mountain lions and wolves.. they dont tolerate hardly any sound. The doe trotted into the thick and he followed grunting at her. It was definately him, big big 5x5 main frame, splitbrowes, with the junk in the left side.. man he looked great, big bodied and dark chocolate antlers this year just like last years sheds.. I could do nothing, I didnt even have time to get an arrow knocked.. BITTER SWEET .. I didnt seem to spook them bad like they would have if they would have smelled me or saw me.. no blowing ... just moved off.. they didnt smell me I had the wind all the way in.. I could not believe I walked right too him like that! HE WAS too close to my choice of set up areas.. He just like last year is working the big scrape I had knelt down and tucked into some big timber on.. I think he will be back .. I am gonna head in at daylight and hang a stand, freshen his big scrapes in there and wait him out this week. I can hunt this saddle with a south, west and east wind.. So only a north will keep me out..the only thing its so tight to his preferred bedding....I have absolute proof now its where he choose to bed or at least at times.. and it makes sense in regards to the different paths he takes to and from water/feed in the summer where I get trail cams of him down below.. I believe this buck herds those does up in where he wants them.. this is the earliest I have ever seen him in three years... and last year after the season I found his sheds about 100 yards from this deep hidden saddle, I found 5 other differnt bucks sheds in the area in there as well. Its definately a killer big buck wintering spot.. faces the south..
Bitter sweet, indeed! Wow, what a hunt, though. I have full faith in you, Troy. You still have time... go get him! :D
Exactly Jeff, one thing about these big woods bucks .. when they get old and get a routine down and find that area that they really feel safe in.. they almost always come back even if they get bumped, and they are used to being bumped by predators and hunters. Its such big country though, they never just lay in one bedding spot, they mix it up a bit but like to move around in their comfort/safe zone. Went in this morning, packing my nontypical stand and rapid rails on my back... hunted from the ground till 12 noon, to quiet out and didnt want to make any noise hanging a stand that close to his bedding.... bout froze my butt off those first few hours.. tucked in 6 inches of snow..had a young buck come down the mountain right behind me after a little calling. Had two does walk right in front of me .. DANG no buck in tow. At noon got up from my natural blind and creeped up to the scrape .. the thing is 4 feet wide right now and tore to shreds.. Had to make a decision.. hang my stand I packed in this morning or just stay put on the ground and hunt the rest of the day.. Decided since I had a perfect wind to do a little work and it was howling enough by noon that It would cover my sound to hang the stand.. Got it hung, set up a camera on the scrape... Juiced the scrape full of 10 more oZ of buckfever rut and filled the dripper then doused the dripper exterior with BF forehead gland. tore the scrape up some more with a big stick to give those bucks in there something to think about.. Had to come home for a bite to eat.. back out in 1/2 hour. This is one remote archery bowstand! LOL very cool in there, never hear or see anyone.. knock knock.. one edit.. did I mention I am having an absolute blast.. its rifle season and I cant imagine trying to kill this buck any other way than with my bow.. no bow kill he deserves to walk in my book.
Wow, it's pretty crazy out of the whole area, you walked right to him. Like you said...bittersweet, but you're close. I'm hoping to get a shot opp. Good luck!
