Well it's been a long strange trip with this guy, but I finally connected on him. I'll try to keep it as short as possible and give you the whole story. Recent history: I've stayed clear of this particular area on my land until about a 7-10 days ago. I didn't want to step foot in here until I knew the big dudes were cruising around. First few sits in and around this area were pretty productive as far as activity. A few small bucks, a couple 2.5 year olds and a bunch of does. I was feeling pretty good about the area and confident because I know they were totally unpressured in here. Then it starts to happen......... Encounter #1: I decided to jump in one of my favorite little setups. I knew I had to call it quits early because I had a million things to catch up on, but wanted to go there anyway. Not much action during the sit. I hop down 8:45 or so and head back along the creek bottom. Walking out faster than I should be because I wanted to get my stuff done so I could get back out for the PM hunt. Catch a glimpse of a bruiser crossing the creek 30 yards from me. I stop dead in my tracks and back up to a willow tree as he beds down RIGHT THERE!! No clue how he didn't know I was there. Make a long story short I sat there and looked at his head and rack for 7 1/2 hours leaning against the tree. He finally got up and moved and I almost got a shot off but he busted me trying to get in position. Encounter #2: Same general area different setup. Here he comes cruising into me! He crosses the creek and heading towards me and PLOP! HE BEDS DOWN AGAIN!!! 60 yards in front of me. I put my hands on my head and say this really can't be happening. I sat and waited an hour or so hoping he'd get up and move. Nothing doing so I grunted, bleated, farted, etc.... He wanted nothing to do with anything. Didnt' even acknowledge anything. So I'm stuck..... again! I wait and wait and wait in absolute agony looking at him. He does move a whoping 17 yards closer throughout the day lol. 43 yards away. Around 4:30pm I see a couple does coming from behind me and heading away from me. Oh God no! Sure enough the does pass him and well past me and he decides to get up and follow them heading directly away from me. End of encounter (another 7 hours) Encounter #3: I decide to go back to where I had the first standoff with him. Right after first light I see him cruising down the woodline on the edge of a hay field. He makes a few scrapes and heads to the bedding area right by where I was pinned down with him the previous morning. Again I grunt, rattle, bleat, fart to no avail. I think I would have had a crack at him if I was in the same setup. I slither out of there angry at life formulating a gameplan. I knew where he went that afternoon when he got up so I decided to go setup on him where I saw him head the night before. Got in early and quiet but never saw him again. Fast forward to yesterday morning...... I go back to my original setup AGAIN! Telling myself forget about what's happened. I'm setup where I am originally for a reason. I KNOW he uses this exact little area. Get in there and be confident. The other half of me is saying I really think I had my window of opportunity with this guy and the gig is up. I just got that feeling that I've mucked up his safe haven and I pushed the envelope. Pretty much convinced myself that I wasn't going to see this guy again. Two days left before the orange army and I blew my chance. But.... I was going to ride it out and continue to hunt his area and hope for the best. So I'm sitting there and light comes. 7:00 passes... 7:30, 7:45 etc.... Now I'm really feeling like it's over with mr. sleepy. All of the sudden I catch a glimpse of a deer along the edge of the hay field. He gets to a little opening and I see it's him. Holy crap he's back! He's ducking into the thickets towards the creek into my setup. I get up and grab my bow. I briefly lose sight of him and then he appears 50-60 yards away crossing the creek. He crosses and does NOT look like he's coming to me! Oh God no please not again lol! He meanders around the other side for awhile and heads away I lose sight of him. I'm really losing it mentally now. I dont' even know what to think. I got owned by this buck. No sight of him for about 3 minutes or so. So I start having my pity party and thinking that was definitely it. Start trying to figure out how to hunt among the orange army etc.... I was certain it was over. Then I hear some leaves scratching to my right on the other side of the creek which wraps around right behind my stand. Didnt' sound like the squirrel variety either. I look over on an old tractor trail and I see his head in his licking branch making a scrape 45 yards away. I could barely make him out but it's him. He HAS to head right behind me down the trail. I wait til he's done with his scrape and just starts walking toward me. He's still behind some thick stuff and here he comes. I decide to draw now before he gets any closer where it opens up and he may bust me. I get to full draw and he gets to where it starts thinning out along the edge of the creek and he looks up at me. OH CRAP NO! He decides everything is ok and keeps coming. He gets to my lane at 23 yards and still quartered to me and gives one more glance my way. I think he knows something is up but not completely freaked out. He turns away from the creek and looks like he's heading into the thickets offering me a broadside shot. This is as good as it's going to get I tell myself. I release the arrow and the nanosecond I release it he turns back toward me just about to get out of dodge. I smacked him way forward than I would have liked. I was on his vitals the whole time but the way he turned I got him far forward. I knew he was still drilled hard though. He dropped, mule kicked his way up and I heard what I thought (was) the death crash not very far. I hung my bow, sat down, flung my facemask (ended up never finding it lol), and put my head in my hands for a few minutes. The good lord was looking down on the flight of that arrow. My worst shot in a long long time. Not going to dwell on it though he doesn't get any more dead. Over 14 hours of watching this thing 30 yards and 40 yards from me, Stuck to a tree twice all day with him right in front of me only to end up dissapointed, picking the wrong setup another time seeing him walk right by my other one, 2 days left, clock ticking couldn't be happier. Bumped, bruised, lost 15 lbs, sprained ankle, bad back, dead legs, no skin on my head from stupid shampoo lol, only missed 1 sit due to rain, etc.... all worth it in the end. ** hey you asked for the long version:p** Here's some pics. The last of the mask First glimpse hay field crossed here 50-60 yards... felt like jumping from tree at this point. The path he finally came down.... and.... here he is
Great effort, great story, great buck. Congrats NY, you earned it BTW, I have my DU sticker and Browning sticker in the same spots on my truck. Great Cowboy minds think alike
Nice deer and great story. No way I have enough patience to sit and watch a deer for 7 1/2 hours without forcing the issue. Glad it worked out in the end for you. Congrats.
One heck of a story and one heck of a hog buck! Congratulations on the perseverance and getting it done!
Way to hang in there. While I thought you were a bit crazy for sitting him out the first couple times instead of just bumping him with a stick or a loud call and going home, your willingness to conceal your presence really paid off. Great story and great job on a dandy buck.
I love reading stories like that. Just awesome. What a buck too. He is a pig. Great beams and mass. Congrats man, you really earned it.
