Last Sunday I posted this thread about an awesome encounter with a large 10 pointer... http://forums.bowhunting.com/showthread.php?t=7961 Then again last night I posted this thread about another encounter Friday afternoon with a very good 8 pointer out of the same stand... http://http://forums.bowhunting.com/showthread.php?t=8189 After hunting all day yesterday and again this morning at our family farm, and not seeing anything, I packed it up and headed back to this spot. A light drizzle met me when I started my long walk to my stand, and provided the sound dampener to let me slip into it and get my climbing sticks attached to the tree. I noticed several scrapes that were not there on Friday, and I was setup and ready at 3:00. The rain was off and on as the day wore on, and at 4:00 I caught movement coming down the trail towards me. A check from the binos showed a button buck and a doe. I watched them pass and then a few minutes later a small 6 pointer walked through. When I was leaving this morning something made me grab the rattling antlers out of the garage. I didn't use them this morning, but I still packed them in with me tonight. At 5:50 I let out a few grunts and grabbed the antlers for some light sparring....and this is when the fun starts.... I had no more than hit the antlers for 10 seconds and the hillside above me errupts. I have NEVER seen a deer come down this hill before, however I glance up and see the 8 point from Friday coming at me and coming fast. I stand there with my antlers in my hand, bow on the EZ Hanger, and my release tucked into my sleeve. The buck closes from 30 yards to the base of my tree in no time then walks out about 10 yards. At this point I have got the antlers put up, my release back out, and I'm reaching for my bow. Then POOF...he takes off. I hurry up, spin around, and get on him. He is just standing 30 yards off, but is behind 3 very large trees, he just stands there letting out a few short grunts. I give a quick range on either side of him...30 if he comes back towards me, and then 42 if he exits behind the trees. I start to see him move and I come to full draw, but he stops behind a small bush. I stay drawn for almost a minute, and he trots back to the cluster of trees. He just stood there grunting for a few minutes, and then he takes off again. I come to full draw and follow him, but he never stops. He trots back up the hill about 100 yards and lets out a series of long drawn out grunts for a minute or so. Then slowly walks off. I was hesitant to try to stop him myself to alarm him even more, and risk him jumping the string worse than what he would of, but it was quite a hunt despite the result. I texted jmbuckhunter shortly after and told him I wasn't sure if my nerves could handle to many more of these encounters. I told him I had got busted grabbing my bow, but looking back on this bucks reactions, I think he just got nervous about not being able to find the 2 bucks fighting. I'm going to let this stand cool off, and may just go in Saturday for an all day hunt. I'm going to connect on one this year, I just have that feeling. Side Note----JZ, get that camera arm to my doorstep lol, this would of made for some excellent footage!
Sounds like you are right where you need to be! Can't wait to hear the story about you sticking him! Good Luck
The thermals up there make it a tricky one to hunt, but a WSW wind is perfect, and that is what I am hoping for.
After I got the text I tried rattling again and hoped for the same results. I saw a B&C Red squirrel coming to my tree.
Lol I can rattle those guys in all day. I think I just got lucky and this guy was just bedded up the hill about 70 yards from me, and couldn't resist seeing who was fighting in his bedroom.
