Getting ready to head to stand. Wind is good for this new stand we hung last year. Hoping a good doe comes through so I can punch the first tag of 2023.
As much as I love to only buck hunt tonight, if a big doe gives me a shot and no buck around, I'm taking it. We are out of deer meet and food first, then antlers. Of course if a big boy steps out, I will wait him out. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
That was long night. Had one other guy helping, he hunts the same area every year and we’ve helped him get a couple elk out in the past. He ran down into some really thick growth, an old cut about 10 years and has grown up bad in thick brush. It was 2:05 in the morning before he was hanging in camp. Roughest one to get out I think I’ve ever had. Left him uncovered to cool better, then got up at 6am to cover him to keep the bees and flies off. Slept another hour and then got camp battened down and headed to a cooler with him.
The story. I walked into the same spot that I’d gotten into the cow and spike that morning. It was in the low 80’s and I was pretty overheated. Picked a spot in the shade to cool off that was a decent setup if something came in, on a ridge line. Did some very infrequent cow calling, soft and not estrus excited or anything, just trying to sound like some cows up and feeding. Sat there about 45 minutes, mixed in a couple mild bugles, high pitched like a little guy. They’re not being vocal yet, so decided to slowly hunt my way back out, listening and throwing out some soft cow calls. I dropped off the ridge, threw some cow calls over the edge, then started back. I barely started walking and heard some brush cracking above me. Something had been slipping in quietly to my other setup. I got to the edge of the trail and had a good bush right in front of me that just let me be able to shoot over it. I barely got an arrow nocked when I caught movement in the brush above me. Then I caught a glimpse of antler. He was close to stepping out so I drew. He stood for about 20 seconds and then stepped forward enough that just his head, neck, and front legs were visible. He stared my way and apparently didn’t see me, and then stepped fully into view. I judged him to be 27 to 28 yards. (He was more like 25-26). He was quartering to a bit so I held tight to the shoulder. The Sevr punched clear through, 3/8 up and just behind the shoulder line, and he bolted down the hill. I hammered him with cow calls and heard him stop, I did not hear anything after that. Turns out he had dashed about 60 yards before stopping, then went down where he had stopped. Double lung, barely got the far side back of the lungs due to the quartering to angle, but enough to do the job quickly.
Thanks Holt! It was a rough pack out. I posted about it a few minutes ago. I’m liking the bow, didn’t at first but completely redid the setup on it and have it shooting pretty good for me now. Love the Deadlock tuning.
Hot as crap. Thermacell fumes rolling heavy. Down in a swamp. Covered in squirrels and turkeys. Sent from my SM-G990U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
First big doe just popped out. About 60 yards out. Chance she comes this way Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
Just had a velvet 4 pt and a 3 pt come by at between 20 - 25 yards. Pass! Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
Checked out an area...too many hikers and a wall tent...drove the hunting rig up this 4wd road... A couple dicey spots spun the tires and clipped the under carriage...but persistence got this 2005 beast with 281k miles up the mtn and I set up camp at 10260'. Word is they are up high...
Nice bull Mod. Congrats. Good luck holt n slugger. The past few days I'm getting a big influx of new bucks. A dandy 4x4 with great brows is feeding right out my back window in a small clover field. Guessing a 4 year old. Refreshing to see. Have seen 9 bucks in the past hour. All except a spike have shed velvet. To early for me to hunt but the itch is getting stronger with these cooler temps.
Nothing for me. Seen some turkeys and had some rabbits come by. Not a deer in sight. Still great to get out. On a side note I did get some pictures of the new truck on my way home. Sent from my SM-G990U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
