We often read in mags or books and watch on tv about taking mature bucks.....that's cool and it's the ultimate challenge, however, we always seem to forget the graceful and wise old nanny doe.. she keen and witty and very curious to what she sees and smells and hears up that tree with a big blob that wasn't there yesterday....if you have a great hunt story about an old nanny that gave you a hunt you will never forget, let us hear it!!!
Nannies don't get their due for one reason (IMO)................... ....................fawns. If they didn't have these youngsters to care for, we'd be FAR less successful with them (the older ones). IMO, there's nothing very special about just killing "A" buck. A cagey, old doe is a prize, though.
I have several stories, but will tell just a couple. About 3-4 years ago I went hunting the last day of the season, around January 5th. I had been late getting into the woods and arrived only 1.5 hours before sundown. It was unseasonably warm and I was not very optomistic upon my entrance into the woods. I hatched a plan and moved down to the bottom of a creek and waited to see if anything would cruise low as the day cooled. As soon as I climbed my tree I turned around and saw 3 doe 50 yards uphill from me. Well the day had not cooled too much at that point so I am sure they caught my scent and they did not continue walking my way. After only 30 minutes on stand I heard running and stood up with my bow in hand. Well a beautiful doe came sprinting down the hill from the opposite side and jumped across the creek. As soon as she landed I drew my bow. She walked 5 yards or so and looked around and that is when I let her have it. She ran off only 20 yards and fell over dead. The fading sunlight on the last day of the season and the warm breeze blowing in my face capped off a great season. It was my first January deer with a bow. Another hunt comes to mind. Two years ago I hunted for the entire day in the middle of a cold November rain. It was freezing, but it was late in the rut so I just stuck it out. Well I did not see a deer all day, from 530am to 400pm. At 4:00pm I spotted two does coming in from upwind. The only problem is they crossed my tracks and the older doe got spooky. She immediately locked in on my general area from 30 yards off. For the next 30 minutes that doe would feed for 5 seconds then just quickly raise her head and look at me. I slowly shifted my position each time she dropped her head and finally got a decent position on her as she walked by at 10 yards. I started to draw but she locked in on me as the wind had died over the 30 minute duel, and it was extremely quiet. I had to stop drawing. She stared at me for the next 5 minutes or so and I did not move. The second she dropped her head to eat I drew, locked in, and......fired right over her back! Crap! So I hunted nearly 12 hours in a cold rain storm only to battle a cagey doe....and then ultimately "lost" the battle. But man it was a great hunt!
Does aren't so tuff, 3 in one night in 2008. Just kidding they sure can be hard to kill when they know they are being hunted. It doesn't take them long to figure it out either.
Here, here John. One variable was the same....the man likes his backstraps.LOL. All joking aside. an old doe is a tough nut to crack once she has figured out her routine and how to beat the angles. This season, I hope to have a great story to tell. I have had a long standing battle with one hell of a matriarch. This will be the third season of encounters. I have document most of them. I am thinking of a mount if I can close the book.
