I've been watching/videotaping a really great 3.5 year old PA buck all season. Saturday morning, I pinched tight up against his bedding area and he materialized in some grapevines at 7:25 a.m. I had him within 20-25 yards for over a half hour, and I passed one open shot (quartering toward), waiting for him to come in and give me a broad or quartering-away shot. The closest he got was 11 or 12 yards, but he managed to stay under the thick foliage and out of my shooting lanes. After a while, he just browsed his way back into the bedding area where he slept the rest of the day away. He is still bachelored-up with 3 smaller bucks, all of which I could've killed. The biggest one is maybe 100". The big boy will push 130 with a really awesome double-right G2 that are each pushing 9-10". Great buck. I REALLY wanted to force that shot, but I didn't. I had a good wind on the opposite side of his bedding area last evening, and I slid in there scent-clean to try to wipe him off the radar... He never materialized. Back to the drawing board.
Sounds good Fran. Keep hunting him smart and you'll get him. I had another batch of new bucks show up on camera including a 145" 10 and 2 around 130" 8s. I didn't hunt any of my good stands yesterday knowing there would be a pile of other guys in the woods. I'll get out and do some real hunting later this week. Good luck all.
Finally got a buck on camera that's bigger than a spike. Hopefully he'll make it through a few seasons and turn into something nice. Having only shot two does he would be tempting but we're (neighbors) trying to let them grow. I think they would understand though me being a city boy and getting his first bow kill buck
Justhunt, and BRY congrats on the does guys. Way to go. I will start hunting this weekend. Been glassing some pretty nice bucks for the last couple of weeks. I cant hunt where they are bedding but they will be meandering over to my ground in due time. Good luck hunting guys. Chris
Whats up guys? Been extremely busy with my regular job and taking resumes for the 2010 Victory staff. I will be out this afternoon though. Congrats Bry, can't wait to see the pictures. Good Luck to everyone else.
Hey guys, knocked a buck down for us yesterday. The thread with the story is in the General Bowhunting Talk forum. Here are some pics:
Great buck, Bryan! Big congrats dude. I enjoyed the post - it's always interesting when things come together like that... Cheers buddy. Definitely a buck to be proud of. This guy has been spinning his wheels lately. Some neighborhood yahoos have bumped my target buck. I've been really careful tip-toeing around his bedding area, and I'm 100% sure I've never been upwind. These guys are sloppy and invasive, so I know he's moved. His sign around the perimeter of his former core area is stagnated. I just have to find him again. Not rocket science. Mr. Buck and I have played this game before . . . he's moved, and now I'll try to put him in check. Lots of irons in the fire right now. My best areas won't light up until late October, due to food sources changing. Once the winds of November start to blow, I'll be soaking everything I've got into Ohio, so the clock's ticking to get a buck down here in PA. I'm confident. If I still have a buck tag heading into Halloween weekend, it'll be panic time. I'm blowing a lot of time trying to hunt one specific deer... Like everything else, it's a calculated decision, and he's a deer I'd really like to tag.
Good luck fistnhd. Fran, I guess you're in panic mode now bud. We're almost to Halloween weekend and I haven't heard from you. I hope you got back on that buck. I know how frustrating it can be when you have to hunt a buck and hunt "against" other guys. Good luck in OH.
No luck with Gri22ly but I found this on my trail cam today. He's the best I've personally seen around here.
Hey fellas Hey guys, Sorry I haven't been able to post much this season. Have been remodeling the house and it took a while to get the web set up. Anyway, my season is pretty much in the crapper. Just got out of the hospital and it's going to be a few months of therapy until I'm able to get around like normal. Was on the third day of vacation last week and was hunting with a buddy (who thank god was there to film the hunt) when I took a 25 foot fall. I'm still not sure exactly what happened because I haven't been able to inspect my gear, but I believe I may have failed to properly latch the clip on my tree saddle. I had just gotten my bow and pack hung up when I heard the clip pop open and was on my way to the ground. Worst pain I have ever felt in my life. Thank god my buddy was able to get down and get help, but it seemed like forever until they were able to haul me out of the woods. Took a hellicopter ride to the hospital where they told me I had broken my back in two places L-1 and L-3 and bruised a lung. So far it's looking like I may get by without surgery but I have to wear a turtle shell brace for 2-3 months. In the grand scheme of things, I'm a really lucky man. As it looks now, the only thing I lost is one hunting season and the balance of my sick leave. I'm up and walking and getting better day by day. Just wanted to fill you guys in because I haven't been on here much. Also, wanted to say congrats to everyone who was able to put deer on the ground and good luck to those still hunting. --Mike
Mike, thank goodness your ok. I have not been on here much either. I have been swamped with resumes for the Victory Shooting Staff. I did however shoot a buck last Sunday but he went straight to the creek and crossed over and I never found him. Definitely a bummer. I am going to try and get out some next week. Good luck everybody!
Mike, Scary stuff . Glad to hear you're going to be ok. Hope you heal up quick ! No buck yet for me . Last Saturday I passed on one that I mistook for a smaller buck that I have seen a few times. By the time I glassed him good and realized he was a different/ little bigger deer it was too dark to take a shot. I did however get my first ever turkey Sunday morning :D
