Shed Hunter
Well-Known Member
I started bow hunting two years ago. From the start I have only had one goal--a P&Y as my first bow buck. I have passed many deer along the way. I know there is more to hunting than big antlers.. But that is all I honestly want at this point. Chasing big antlers is hard and it has became my passion/obsession.
This morning at about 7:05 opportunity met preparation. I had walked in quietly thirty minutes before daylight, but still jumped a deer that was bedded close to my stand. It walked off, blew, and came back. It was too dark to see though. A little while passed and the woods was quite.. Until I saw him anyways. I watched as he made a scrape but could not tell much aside from he was very mature. Immediately after making the first scrape he moved down the trail and began making another. In doing so he turned broadside and also revealed his antlers (easily 17" inside, mass, tall tines) and a better looks at his 5.5+ body. What does an inexperienced hunter do at this point? Just what I did.. Draw and shoot without checking what is in between the two of us. In my head it was a sure thing. I released only to hear a pop, see a limb wiggle, fletching and nock fly away from the arrow, and a big buck take a few hops into a thick area and look towards me. He didn't know what it was, and he was also comfortable in the thick cover. About 15 minutes of silence and stillness the wind shifted. Immediately he hopped and let out two loud blows.
Be patient everyone.. It really sucks to screw up a very rare opportunity. If I had waited just one minute, not only would I have likely killed that deer, I would have gotten a trail camera picture of him before doing so.
This morning at about 7:05 opportunity met preparation. I had walked in quietly thirty minutes before daylight, but still jumped a deer that was bedded close to my stand. It walked off, blew, and came back. It was too dark to see though. A little while passed and the woods was quite.. Until I saw him anyways. I watched as he made a scrape but could not tell much aside from he was very mature. Immediately after making the first scrape he moved down the trail and began making another. In doing so he turned broadside and also revealed his antlers (easily 17" inside, mass, tall tines) and a better looks at his 5.5+ body. What does an inexperienced hunter do at this point? Just what I did.. Draw and shoot without checking what is in between the two of us. In my head it was a sure thing. I released only to hear a pop, see a limb wiggle, fletching and nock fly away from the arrow, and a big buck take a few hops into a thick area and look towards me. He didn't know what it was, and he was also comfortable in the thick cover. About 15 minutes of silence and stillness the wind shifted. Immediately he hopped and let out two loud blows.
Be patient everyone.. It really sucks to screw up a very rare opportunity. If I had waited just one minute, not only would I have likely killed that deer, I would have gotten a trail camera picture of him before doing so.
