catman529
Well-Known Member
Last week I jumped a buck off the bed on my way in to a small patch of woods. This week, I hunted the same woods but from a different tree due to different wind. Setup was perfect - heavy trail directly in front of me (<5 yards) and a fresh scrape directly to my right.
Today, I climbed up just after 1 pm, and one hour later, I was nodding off a bit when I suddenly heard a deer walking right behind me. I looked over my shoulder and there was this 8 pt at no more than 10 yards. He had stopped to smell where I had walked to the tree.
Well, my bow is usually in my lap, but this time was in the holder attached to the climber. I made the mistake of reaching for it too soon, and glancing over my left shoulder, saw him staring at me.
He didn't freak out - just jumped and ran about 15 yards, stopped quartering away. Of course too much branches to shoot through. I watched him walk away, not in much of a hurry.
I've technically been busted by him twice now, but today he wasn't too eager to leave the area and continued cruising on down the woods.
It is private land with not much hunting pressure. Is it worth going back after him soon? I'm thinking yes. But they say once you lose your chance at a mature buck, that may be your last chance. What would you do?
Today, I climbed up just after 1 pm, and one hour later, I was nodding off a bit when I suddenly heard a deer walking right behind me. I looked over my shoulder and there was this 8 pt at no more than 10 yards. He had stopped to smell where I had walked to the tree.
Well, my bow is usually in my lap, but this time was in the holder attached to the climber. I made the mistake of reaching for it too soon, and glancing over my left shoulder, saw him staring at me.
He didn't freak out - just jumped and ran about 15 yards, stopped quartering away. Of course too much branches to shoot through. I watched him walk away, not in much of a hurry.
I've technically been busted by him twice now, but today he wasn't too eager to leave the area and continued cruising on down the woods.
It is private land with not much hunting pressure. Is it worth going back after him soon? I'm thinking yes. But they say once you lose your chance at a mature buck, that may be your last chance. What would you do?
