This weekend was one of the most anticipated of the year for me. I knew that the magical time of year was creeping up on us, and there is no better time of the year to be in a treestand. But I checked the forcast Thursday and my optimism took a punch in the gut. They were calling for mid to high 70s and high South winds all weekend. Nevertheless, I would be in the tree. Friday evening came and I was holding on for dear life from 20 feet up. The winds were pretty intense, but amazingly there was still some deer movement. Most of the deer I saw were off in the distance though, and no shot was presented. Here is a pic of my view for most of the night. Seven does stayed around all night with a group of turkeys. With a few hours of sleep, I climbed back in the stand Saturday morning. Things started off slow, but the action soon picked up. Two spikes chased four does around the bottom of my tree for several minutes, putting on quite a show around 8:15. About 8:30 I looked up the trail those deer had come down and saw a buck headed my way. I recognized him as one of the "Twin 2 by 4s" I frequently get on camera (named for their racks as you will see). I grabbed my bow as he worked his way toward me. 30 seconds and a 10 yard shot later...my third archery buck was on the ground. Please notice the playa boots sneaking in the picture Here is a pic of him from only a few days before, BUT......the story does not end there.... After I got out of the treestand I went to the place I shot the buck and began to start the tracking process. I knelt down to look at the first blood I found and caught some movement out of the corner of my eye. Another deer was coming down the same trail. I froze to watch, and noticed the approaching deer had a horrible limp. My first thought was...my bow....where is it? It was laying on the ground about 20 feet away and there was no way I could get to it without spooking the deer. I did however have my camera around my neck, so I turned it on thinking I might get some pics. When the deer emerged it literally made me cringe. It was a doe with a huge would in her armpit area, and her front left leg was all but useless. I stayed crouched down, and she eventually walked by me at a mere 8 or 9 feet. Honestly, it was a little scary . i really wished I could have reached my bow to put her down, but I know it would have just scared her and I didn't want to see her try to run. If I ever get a chance at her again, she will certainly take an arrow from me. These pics were taken with my camera zoomed all the way OUT. Overall it was a great weekend, certainly my best of this season. My target buck may have elluded me, but I still have another buck tag in my pocket . The season is nowhere near over :D
Congrats on the OK buck Will. Neat to have the pics of him before you killed him. Too bad you couldn't have taken out that wounded doe.
Thatta boy Will! I'll call you tomorrow... I'm beat. The playa boots are awesome!!! I would expect nothing less!
Congrats! That doe is in pretty bad shape, though. Hopefully someone will be able to put her down soon.
Nice post and congrats on the buck. I bet the nanny makes it. They are tough animals. That said, she still wouldn't get a pass from me. Good luck.
Congrats on the fine buck! Those are some awesome pictures. That's too bad about the doe, maybe yo can get her next time..
Congrats on the buck Will. That pumps me up about hunting OK this weekend! That gash on that doe is HUGE!
Thanks for the congrats and kind words everyone Unfortunatly, no. I put my cam over a scrape that he himself had just recently started, but he didn't show back up. I did however see him Friday evening from stand, but he was off in the distance.
