Year 15 was the magic number for me to draw the coveted December hunt at PI.
I owe a big thanks to several Tndeer members who reached out with advice on areas to scout/hunt!
I arrived at the island at 5:30 on Thursday and was the 2nd person there. I was the first to check in and first through the gate. The excitement got to me and I took a wrong turn headed towards my #1 spot. It looked like Walmart on Black Friday with guys rushing in all directions to get to their spots first! Lol
When I realized my mistake I went ahead and went to my #2 spot. I got a ladder stand hung in the same area a Tndeer member hunted last year. I then proceeded to my #1 spot and hung my climber. I found a few other good spots and ended up putting a ground blind up on a field edge. I ended the day soaking wet as it rained and sleeted.
Friday morning started with a 4:30 am check in. The wind was no good for my #1 spot, so I headed to my ladder stand. I took my time walking through tall wet grass, but I bumped several deer getting in. I got soaked walking in and was freezing by the time daylight hit.
I cut the tarsals off a buck my dad killed last weekend and hung them at 50 and 30 yards. At daylight, what looked to be a big buck was at 30 yards checking out the tarsal. With low light and fog I could not count points to see if he was legal. He then turned and ran towards a doe that was blowing behind me
At 8:15 I see a buck crossing the thicket at 110 yards. I saw 9 points and then gave him a few grunts. He immediately started heading my way with his ears pinned back. He was circling around me to get my wind. He caught wind of the tarsal at 50 and walked right to it! I shot him at 50, he mule kicked, ran about 60 yards into the woods and crashed! Ended with a great surprise seeing a hook on his base to make him a 10 point! 15 years of waiting for about 2 hours of excitement! lol
When I went to pull my #1 stand down, the biggest buck I'd ever seen was bedded 100 yards away! He stood up, stared at me for 2 seconds, then trotted off.
I met some great guys scouting and after I shot the buck. I walked past an older gentlemen named Calvin who actually helped me drag him out.
I went back this morning to deer watch and to retrieve some items I left hanging in the tree
As of 11 this morning, 4 bucks were checked in and all were shot yesterday.
I've killed bigger deer, but after years of dreaming about this hunt I am very happy with him and the hunt! Good luck to all the guys still out there!!
I owe a big thanks to several Tndeer members who reached out with advice on areas to scout/hunt!
I arrived at the island at 5:30 on Thursday and was the 2nd person there. I was the first to check in and first through the gate. The excitement got to me and I took a wrong turn headed towards my #1 spot. It looked like Walmart on Black Friday with guys rushing in all directions to get to their spots first! Lol
When I realized my mistake I went ahead and went to my #2 spot. I got a ladder stand hung in the same area a Tndeer member hunted last year. I then proceeded to my #1 spot and hung my climber. I found a few other good spots and ended up putting a ground blind up on a field edge. I ended the day soaking wet as it rained and sleeted.
Friday morning started with a 4:30 am check in. The wind was no good for my #1 spot, so I headed to my ladder stand. I took my time walking through tall wet grass, but I bumped several deer getting in. I got soaked walking in and was freezing by the time daylight hit.
I cut the tarsals off a buck my dad killed last weekend and hung them at 50 and 30 yards. At daylight, what looked to be a big buck was at 30 yards checking out the tarsal. With low light and fog I could not count points to see if he was legal. He then turned and ran towards a doe that was blowing behind me
At 8:15 I see a buck crossing the thicket at 110 yards. I saw 9 points and then gave him a few grunts. He immediately started heading my way with his ears pinned back. He was circling around me to get my wind. He caught wind of the tarsal at 50 and walked right to it! I shot him at 50, he mule kicked, ran about 60 yards into the woods and crashed! Ended with a great surprise seeing a hook on his base to make him a 10 point! 15 years of waiting for about 2 hours of excitement! lol
When I went to pull my #1 stand down, the biggest buck I'd ever seen was bedded 100 yards away!
He stood up, stared at me for 2 seconds, then trotted off.I met some great guys scouting and after I shot the buck. I walked past an older gentlemen named Calvin who actually helped me drag him out.
I went back this morning to deer watch and to retrieve some items I left hanging in the tree
As of 11 this morning, 4 bucks were checked in and all were shot yesterday.I've killed bigger deer, but after years of dreaming about this hunt I am very happy with him and the hunt! Good luck to all the guys still out there!!
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