First time I've ever NOT closed the deal with a big buck in range!

And HOW in range was he... but not only him, but his twin as well! Can't get much closer than four FEET!

Wow, talk about a flood of emotions... after the fact. Excited, invigorated, anticipatory, humbled.... They're all jumbling around in there today. Feel like a schoolboy with that knot in the pit of my stomach after falling in love for the first time...

I set up last night on the edge of a field where I'd seen a big buck walking down a few nights ago, checking some field-edge scrapes along the way. I saw him after he was already walking the edge so I had no idea which patch of woods he came out of.

I went to that side of the farm last night and walked out in the beans a good 20 yards out as I looked for a tree that I could get in with my LW hand climber so I wouldn't leave my scent trail along the field edge. Finally found a skinny, eight-inch diameter lollipop tree, as John, Matt and I call them, to get up in. I could tell I was hanging up pretty much right over a crossing behind me on a ditch that had about a foot of water in it leading into the woods behind me, but I hadn't seen anything significant use that crossing in a while as I'd had trail cameras set up on it earlier in the year.

I'm watching the whole back end of the farm, and nothing is moving. Nada, zilch. Then with about three minutes of good shooting light left, I hear that familiar "crunch, crunch, crunch" coming... except its coming from inside the woods behind me. I slowly turn and he emerges... all 130-plus plus inches of him. He turned sideways and proceeded down into the ditch -- and here's where my mistake was. I should have drilled him right then; it would have been an 18-yard shot. But, noooooo... I get greedy. I want to shoot him out in front of me after he walks on by.

So I'm in this tree way up over him watching him wade across the ditch MAYBE 10 feet away and behind me. If he follows the crossing, he'll come by just to the right of my tree, so I angle my body that way and get ready for him to walk on by so I can catch him quartering away. I can literally hear him sucking in huge amounts of air from the TOP OF THE WATER making sure nothing had disturbed the water, I guess. They're amazing animals.

He emerges from the ditch maybe five feet behind me and I'm waiting.... at this point I lose sight of him, so I just calmly wait with tension on the string. Then I hear a stick break and some leaves crunching behind and to the left. He had turned and was going down the levee/field edge I was on instead of coming straight out under me like I thought he would!

I slowly, slowly begin turning... but keep in mind he's now three FEET behind my tree and to my left; I had turned to expect him to come to my RIGHT. Halfway through my turning, he busts me and bolts 30 yards down the levee, with a wall of trees between us. He went on down another 30 yards or so and came out into the bean field, but too far to chance a shot.

Literally 30 SECONDS later, I hear that same "crunch, crunch, crunch" coming... I wait, and in the exact same SPOT materializes what could have been his exact TWIN. I'm thinking to myself, "Uh huh, I know you're gonna follow your brother's scent trail and I'll be waiting facing the LEFT this time."

LOL. You see where this one's going, right?

Yep, he went right.... and to compound matters as he's walking up the near side of the ditch, he sees me silhouetted against the skyline. He's maybe THREE feet behind me, but angling up at me and looking straight at me. I know the gig's up, but I'm just waiting to see what he does. He stares at me for a full minute, does the head-bobbing thing, and then follow's his brother's path, bolting the exact same direction.

He entered the bean field in almost the exact same spot, and I watched him through the binos as he walks out, stops and stares back in my direction. He stands there for a while and wags his tail like a dog. Good, I think.... Though I didn't close the deal tonight, he's not too spooked. We'll meet again, except this time I'll be in the woods on the other side of the ditch, well-concealed so I can't be skylighted.

And the most important lesson? I realize now that I’ve become complacent over the years in waiting for the PERFECT shot, instead of taking advantage of the first GOOD opportunity. I remember Bill Winke writing a column about that VERY topic, and now I’ve experienced it first-hand.

And maybe, just MAYBE… I’ve gotten a little softer in my middle age and lost that cutting-edge killer instinct, as I was enjoying the heck out of the whole event playing out in front of me instead of ending the encounter as quickly as I could.

 

You will get him next time Greg---pop him when you get the chance! I had two mature bucks within range last year but could not close the deal. In fact, every mature buck I have seen where I hunt has been within range but I could not close the deal....but I did today!

 

Always take your first best shot. Always. hope you get another crack at him before this weekends gun season opener. best of luck

 

Greg I did the same thing in 2004 with an 140-150'' 8 point. Thanks for bringing up bad memories, LOL

I have a feeling you will get him soon!!!!

 

SO SO close Greg Dang man I feel for ya. Sounds like your on em now, its just a matter of time Go get em man!!

 

So there are some good deer down there in MO. Good luck next time you 2 meet.

 

Good story even though the deal wasn't closed! Its amazing how in day light they can walk right by without notice but once dark comes they can pick you right off. I had a similar situation last night, nearly the same set up on a bean field just tucked in the woods and he came through the woods minutes past shooting light and I was busted before he got within 20 yards and I was 24 feet up!

Hope you close the deal and look forward to pictures!

 

Wow, talk about close. Top it all off that you might have had a shot, but hey, things happen for a reason. What an experience, and hopefully you get a 2nd chance :D

 

Greg, one of these times your going to come out on top!! I'd bet the next decent mature buck you see will be that boys last breath of air!!! Good luck, looking forward to hearing about It!!

 

Greg, my heart raced as I read that story .....lol ...that musta been something!

Another thought flashed by ,,, since you didn't take your first shot .... should maybe we post this on the "other" thread :D

 

Great read! Thanks for sharing! Better luck next time!

 

Funny PT; I had that same thought today too! :D :D

 

Good stuff Greg! Awesome encounter, and at least you know you have 2 of them to get chances at! Good luck...

 

Bummer Greg, but that's what makes hunting so darn FUN! Stay after him!

 

Ain't bowhunting great?:D

Good luck getting him.

 

The hilarious thing about it is it didn't happen just once.........but it happened to you twice in just a few minutes. Keep the faith!

 

Hope you get one more crack at him before the season ends!

 

EXACTLY knockaround!! Who'd a thunk it? :D

 

It's never ceases to amaze me how we are constantly learning more about hunting these unbelievable creatures, and most times it's just when you think you've got it all figured out.

 

If this keeps up greg I will have to recommend a good therapist...lol