Nothing wrong with that deer at all Eric! Congrats neighbor! Sent from my SM-G930V using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Hahaha. Sorry. Still working to get this buck put away and juggling kids and what not. I'll give details and hopefully a measurement this evening. I'm guessing he's mid 130s. Sent from my SM-G960U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Alright here comes the story. The stand i was in overlooks an open field with woods behind me and it is in the middle of several crossings and the deer just gravitate to it with a northerly wind. I only have a few openings behind me in the woods to take shots and of course that is where the buck came in. All I saw was his butt at first, moving uphill away from me and thought well I'll never see what that was. I already had my bow in hand, looking back and saw him coming right back down to me. To my disbelief it was the 8 I had on camera and he was coming into the one lane I have there. I still had to turn. Would you believe he turned to look behind him giving me the chance. I turned and drew. 15 yards. He turns back around and turned broadside. It was unimaginable to me that he seemed to just set up a perfect opportunity for me. I also cant believe how calm I became as I focused on the sweet spot and pulled the release. It looked good, he mule kicked and ran into the thicket to my right crashing the world down. He died mid stride about 30 or 40 yards from my stand. When he went down I was still in disbelief. I thought he'd get up and disappear into the woods. But he stayed down. I was first pumping and thanking God all at the same time. Standing there I heard something else in the woods. I nocked another. A small buck came through and sniffed the arrow stuck in the ground, and two does followed. One gave me a 20 yard shot and I took it. I never found her, but I have my first bow buck! I'm still pissed about losing the doe, but I'm on cloud 9 and exhausted. It's been a long road fellas, but I double lunged a beauty that will go on my wall next to my first rifle buck from Missouri in 2000. This one's bigger lol. Sent from my SM-G960U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Love it man, congrats again. It's funny how sometimes the deer actually read the script and give you that chip shot. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Well now I'm on doe patrol till the 10th of November. Sent from my SM-G960U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Great story! Love hearing those. In fact I’m starting a podcast all about hunting stories and the life lessons they teach us. Got an interview with Don Higgins Monday. If any of you feel like you have a good story to tell, let me know! I’m looking to start doing more phone interviews. Not just hunting celebs but more so average joes. Anyways good job Ridge. I bet your blood was pumping good when that doe came in. Sorry you couldn’t find her but it certainly happens. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Before all that I had a huge yote come right at my stand. I couldn't get on him. It was one of the most memorable hunts ever for me. Sent from my SM-G960U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Just scored him. 130 3/8. At least I think. I may get another more experienced measurement tomorrow but I'm thinking that's close. Sent from my SM-G960U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Posted to score card. Pretty sure we have the lead for now. Sent from my SM-G960U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Once again congrats Ridge. He is a dandy. I though he would go right at 130. We're off to a good start! Eight days and a wake up before I get to hang out in a tree!!! Can't get here quick enough!
I'm pretty confident I'll add a doe. Too many places with heavy doe traffic available to me this year, and the pressure is definitely off of me. I also know of another buck on one of my spots from last year. If he made it he will be a stud. He was a tall ten and probably 4 yo. He just doesn't show up till rut, and I cant take another buck till rifle opens on Nov 10 anyway. Best of luck gents! Sent from my SM-G960U using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
I plan to go out Saturday morning which is the Ohio opener. Don’t like to hunt mornings early season but my hunting groups gonna be at a fair Saturday night...and I don’t wanna miss opening day! Last year I missed opening morning and this buck came by my stand that morning. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
