I didn't kill a deer, but its a bowhunting day I'll never forget. I got up at 4:15, go outside the trailer to care take of business and man it was warm. Check the thermometer and 56*. So I dress pretty lightly. I head to stand a couple hundred yards up the draw across from my trailer. As I'm getting settled in I hear deer chasing on the ridge to my West, Cool. Around 5:30 I think I hear a howling wind coming thru the woods. It hits my hollow and the trees start rocking. The temperature dropped like a rock and in no time I'm shivering on stand. I had planned on staying on stand for a good while because the rut was kicking in. By 6:30 I had to climb down and get more clothes. Back at the trailer it was 43*. Back in the stand by 7:00 with a couple more layers. No more deer and I was again cold by 10:00 from the wind. Put the camera in the bag and start to take the arm off the tree. Just then I hear crashing. 3 small bucks were dogging a doe past my stand. They stop on the hillside and one of them mounts her. All this with my camera in the fanny pack. I get the camera back out and set up as soon as they left. I waited a while longer but they never came back. On to the afternoon hunt. I am headed to a different hollow where the bucks like to cruise. Headed down I spook a doe from some bush honeysuckle bushes and she bounds off. I get set up and do my interview on video, swing the camera arm away and a deer blows right behind me. A buck bounds off and I am pissed even tho he isn't a shooter. Sit back down and see movement to my left. It's a wide spindly 8 point. He goes over to where the doe busted from and noses around. He actually kicked out a doe fawn that had stayed there while I set up. He then leaves. More movement to my left. This time another small buck is pushing a doe. I can barely see them thru brush as he mounts her and breeds her. Then I see movement to my right. A half racked 3 point comes in and checks out the little doe and leaves. Then the wide 8 point comes back pushing another doe. After they leave 4 does come in from behind me off the hill. Then it got too dark to see but I doubt the action stopped in that hollow. Although I never released an arrow I had a great day of hunting. That is why I keep going back. You can see some of this action on the next episode of Bowhunt or Die this Friday.
Those winds were brutal Saturday morning Sounds like things were a little more interesting down your way than they were for me.
Wow we never had a day like that this year..Warm temps and high winds most every day, The big boys were just starting to show them selfs our last two days. It's days like that John that make you want more..
Good action John. Yes Saturday was a great day in the woods. Lots of action my way as well, just didn't get it done.
Seeing a buck breed a doe seems to be a rare thing It seems. At least I've never saw It before. Good luck the rest of the season John. It sure Isn't always about a kill when hunting.
Good day for sure John...Saturday was that "magic day" for us as well...peak buck movement so far...was not happy that I could only hunt a.m. till 11:00
