This evening was my 1st buck hunt of the year. I went In early around 1:00 this afternoon to set up on a bedding area that I was pretty sure a particular 4.5 year old was using. The question was, was he using this bed today? I set up as close as I could with the wind direction I had (NW wind). I couldn't get as close as I wanted. I was set up about 150 yards north of his bed. I didn't really even set up on a trail. I figured If he was using this bed he'd come to the general area I was set up being he would be heading to a food source 80 yards NW of me to Interact with some doe's. By 3ish I was set up. 5:30 comes around and sure enough here he comes from the direction of where I was thinking he was bedded. He came with another buck (2.5 year old). They sparred In front of me 50 yards for a good 20 minutes. In the mean time 2 doe's and a fawn made their way to me directly below my tree down wind of me. I thought crap, here we go. These damn doe's are going to wind me and bust and take this buck with them. They didn't bust but they were sniffing every foot step I made earlier from my rubber boots. Finally the wide 8 point starts making his way to the doe's that are still below and around my tree. I'm up about 17 feet. The tree Is very small, about the size of a softball where I am. I don't dare move as the doe's will catch me as their still below my tree. I'm saying to myself please come by on the left side of the tree being I should be able to draw my recurve nice and slow and shoot him on the walk and hope not to get seen by the other deer that are close. He does the opposite and comes by on my right side and stops directly below my tree for at least 10 minutes. Finally the doe's make their way north of me slowly and he too starts his way the same direction. I figure I can turn slowly now but just like that the 2.5 year old buck runs on over with In 10 yards of me. So again I'm at a stand still. Finally the 2.5 walks below my tree and stops so I then finish making my turn very slowly and the 4.5 year old Is now about 25 to 30 yards out. Too far out of my range, game pretty much over. He then heads down the hill to a crick and I loose sight of him. All of a sudden he starts beating the heck out of a tree for a good 5 minutes. I can't see It but I can sure hear It. The 2.5 makes his way by far enough so I can reach for my grunt call and give a couple grunts. I gave a couple grunts out but nothing came about It. 10 or so minutes later I hear him beating on another tree. This buck must be getting In that "rut mood". When he came In to me he had tree shavings loaded on his bases and G1's. Here's a few trail cam pics from last week of the buck I had underneath my tree tonight.
Sounds like an awesome hunt! Thats why I don't think I could pick up a recurve at this point in my hunting career. If I had a big one walk by at 30 I would kick my own ass for not having a compound lol. But hey, I'm young, I will grow up one day Good luck on getting that buck in the future, Steve!
Same here. I was going to ask Steve if he sometimes wishes he was using a compound. I then realized what his answer would be. :D
Wow Steve,that's as close as you can get and not get a shot.... You're on him, you won that one, now finish the job.
Great story Steve , gutted you had a missed opportunity . I'm sure that Bucks days are numbered and you're gonna have a nice mount hanging on your wall this season . Get on him Steve , bring him down . Cole . I started out with a compound bow 4yrs ago and hunted for 2yrs , without getting any big game . I made the switch to Traditional after being inspired by Steve and his hunting stories and pictures . Since then I have not looked back , after travelling to Colorado I soon realised not all shot opportunities are 20-30yds away . I've never looked back , I tried another Compound and got bored after a handfull of arrows . let us know if you make the change , even recreational is great fun
That's awesome, Steve. Close is good. It's only a matter of time. Hope to see pictures of you next to him!
That'll get your heart racing!!! Good hunt though. too bad you couldn't seal the deal, but it sounds like you're spot on!
Got the ole boiler rolling just reading that encounter.Can't wait to see the photos when you've got him on the ground.
You may not have put him down, but that hunt was a win for you. You positioned yourself correctly to kill that buck and didn't tip him or the other deer off to your location when no shot was offered.Those are the hunts you learn the most from.
Go get'em man, Great Story, just getting the heart pumping with a Buck that close is awesome! I was toying with the Idea of buying a recurve for Bowfishing and the occasional Trad Hunt, but I would be kicking myself all the way back to the truck for not having my compound with me, I think I'll just get one for Bowfishing.
Thanks everyone! It definitely does feel good when you do everything right on stand placement and using your melon right on thinking/knowing where a particular buck Is bedding. It worked out well there. Maybe next time more will be added to this story. I went back here this morning hoping maybe he'd show again. Not a sight of him. I was hoping maybe he'd be trailing a doe or 2 that have their bedding area just east of his 70 yards. I don't want to over hunt this spot and area of the woods. What you all think? Go some where else and let rest? No deer were spooked last night This morning a couple doe's came through down wind of me and knew something was up but never did bust or snort. They just kept making their way through to their bedding area.
Do not hold off. You know where he is now... Not where he may be tomorrow or next weekend. Get in there on him now and drag his ass out!He is at the stage where he is fairly easily predictable, the longer you wait and the lure of breeding over takes his senses, there is no telling where he will be and his predictability will be totally out of the question. Time to get into the kill zone and make it happen!
I went back In there this evening. Saw 15 deer, 4 of which were bucks. I've got trail cam pictures of two 4.5 year olds this year. I saw the other 4.5 year old that I have a couple bad pictures of. He was a good 50 yards out trailing a doe. I grunted at him and he stopped and snort and wheezed at me. I did the same back to him but nothing came about It. Allot of the same doe's I saw last night I saw again tonight. They seemed to be on the ball like something was up In my direction. They stayed east of me 50 yards. I'm done hunting "this tree" for a bit. I'll move a tad south and a good 50 yards east to set up on these doe's.
