Yesterday afternoon was the first time that we have been out since Thanksgiving evening. I killed my 2nd buck Thanksgiving week and relying on him to go in order to fill his second buck tag. He was sick all Thanksgiving weekend, and it has poured the rain every weekend since. We were supposed to go last Saturday morning, then Christmas eve afternoon, and then yesterday morning. He backed out each time as he hasn't felt the greatest now either. I think a little laziness might have been in there too which is unlike him.
Anyways, we headed out to a place that we haven't hunted this year but did go walk around a little a few weeks ago scouting. Even though he's already killed a nice 8 pt and let several bucks walk the last two years, he said a few days ago that anything 4 pt or bigger is getting shot since it's so late in the season. I told him whatever makes him happy. We got to the stand about 10 after two yesterday afternoon. I was still standing up in the stand getting situated and thought I heard a deer walking. There were 4 or 5 coming around the hill below us. He got turned around, and a big doe hit an opening about 70 yards below us. She stopped, and he missed her. He said later he got excited since he hasn't been in so long and jerked the trigger. She never moved even though the other deer ran. I told him to rack another in, take his time, and kill her. Bang flop...........I thought boy that was quick.
About 3:30, I decided to do something that I very rarely do which is blind call. I can called and grunted. About a minute later, I heard something behind us. I eased around, and a deer was about 75 yards above us. I seen it rub its antlers on a tree limb. He got up and turned around so he could see it. I asked him if he was shooting it and got an instant yes.
It started down towards us, and I told him to find an opening the direction it was going. He said you stop it when I say now. He said now, I grunted, and the buck stopped. It was angling a little towards us but kind of hard to tell as I was still sitting, and he was standing taking rest off the tree. He shot, and the deer ran past us. I couldn't see a hole on its side and watched it run a long ways around a flat away from us. I told him that I thought he had missed. I then asked where he aimed, and he said behind the shoulder. I should have told him to aim at the shoulder due to the slight angle, but he said the angle didn't seem bad to him. Anyways after sitting a few minutes thinking about it, I thought he could have gut shot it since it had its tail tucked the entire way around the hill which would have been odd for a miss. We sat til dark, got down, and walked to where he went around the hill. We found some blood and confirmed it wasn't a miss. Long story short, he ran about 250 yards around the hill with a pretty decent blood trail. I knew he had hit gut but was pretty sure he had gotten liver too so we kept going as it was then close to 2 hours after the shot. The shot wasn't terrible but existed the gut due to the angle. He hit forward enough to get liver and maybe one lung. I thought it was a little bit bigger and a 6 pt if it had brow tines but ended up being a 4 pt. Either way, we found him and think the smile says what he thought which is what it's all about. Praise the Lord for another great day in the woods and possibly a great end to our season. He wants to go back to try to shoot another doe, and I would like to shoot one with my muzzleloader pistol but not too excited about going back without a buck tag. It's been a great season with no complaints either way.
Anyways, we headed out to a place that we haven't hunted this year but did go walk around a little a few weeks ago scouting. Even though he's already killed a nice 8 pt and let several bucks walk the last two years, he said a few days ago that anything 4 pt or bigger is getting shot since it's so late in the season. I told him whatever makes him happy. We got to the stand about 10 after two yesterday afternoon. I was still standing up in the stand getting situated and thought I heard a deer walking. There were 4 or 5 coming around the hill below us. He got turned around, and a big doe hit an opening about 70 yards below us. She stopped, and he missed her. He said later he got excited since he hasn't been in so long and jerked the trigger. She never moved even though the other deer ran. I told him to rack another in, take his time, and kill her. Bang flop...........I thought boy that was quick.
About 3:30, I decided to do something that I very rarely do which is blind call. I can called and grunted. About a minute later, I heard something behind us. I eased around, and a deer was about 75 yards above us. I seen it rub its antlers on a tree limb. He got up and turned around so he could see it. I asked him if he was shooting it and got an instant yes.
It started down towards us, and I told him to find an opening the direction it was going. He said you stop it when I say now. He said now, I grunted, and the buck stopped. It was angling a little towards us but kind of hard to tell as I was still sitting, and he was standing taking rest off the tree. He shot, and the deer ran past us. I couldn't see a hole on its side and watched it run a long ways around a flat away from us. I told him that I thought he had missed. I then asked where he aimed, and he said behind the shoulder. I should have told him to aim at the shoulder due to the slight angle, but he said the angle didn't seem bad to him. Anyways after sitting a few minutes thinking about it, I thought he could have gut shot it since it had its tail tucked the entire way around the hill which would have been odd for a miss. We sat til dark, got down, and walked to where he went around the hill. We found some blood and confirmed it wasn't a miss. Long story short, he ran about 250 yards around the hill with a pretty decent blood trail. I knew he had hit gut but was pretty sure he had gotten liver too so we kept going as it was then close to 2 hours after the shot. The shot wasn't terrible but existed the gut due to the angle. He hit forward enough to get liver and maybe one lung. I thought it was a little bit bigger and a 6 pt if it had brow tines but ended up being a 4 pt. Either way, we found him and think the smile says what he thought which is what it's all about. Praise the Lord for another great day in the woods and possibly a great end to our season. He wants to go back to try to shoot another doe, and I would like to shoot one with my muzzleloader pistol but not too excited about going back without a buck tag. It's been a great season with no complaints either way.
This is deer 18 for him, and he hasn't field dressed one yet even though he wanted to this year. He killed a doe with a crossbow and was getting hot when we got to her. I field dressed her as I wanted to get it done quickly and cooled down. His second this year was an 8 pt that he is going to mount so I didn't cut up as far and did it myself. Then yesterday afternoon, we were in a hurry since it was after dark and had two to fool with so old Dad did it again. It was around 6:40 before we got them loaded up and headed out. It's coming for him though.
