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Mike Belt

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Joined
Mar 26, 1999
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City & State/Province
Lakeland, Tn.
I've made eight sits thus far in five different locations and still haven't taken a shot. The does I've seen never presented a shot although a fawn did. I don't intentionally shoot fawns. I've had shots I didn't take on 2 120", 1 125", 1 128ish", and a couple smaller bucks. They would all have been perfect, close range broadside shots. I waiting on rifle and the rut to bring out the bigger boys. The great thing is that not a single deer has picked me off yet. By now I usually have had 1 or 2 bust me.
 
Hang in there Mike it will happen. At least you are seeing deer,that always keeps going back.
 
Sounds like you got the buck hunting figured out. But if I'd be dying if I'd been this far into season and not had a shot at a doe. But that's cause I haven't really gone after the bucks yet. Hope you get a chance at a giant in a few weeks


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When I first started bow hunting I basically used it to scout for rifle. It wasn't until my 5th year that I took it seriously and began killing deer. Up until a few years back I killed deer every year with a bow. I think I began sliding back into using that season as scouting time for rifle season again. Along with cameras I hunt areas checking out deer movement and sightings to keep in mind once I get a gun in my hand. After finding a potential rifle area I pull out without hunting it any more until that season. It looks like along the way I'd get a few shots at does but that isn't happening. I have absolutely zero faith in shooting a buck I'd be willing to shoot even though these other bucks keep teasing me. I think maybe they "sense" they're safe and the does feel otherwise. Blind luck has never worked for me. I guess I need to get serious again if I want an archery doe.
 
One buck looked to be 3.5, maybe 4.5. Our club minimum is 125". Although I've killed a couple 128" bucks I've passed on quite a few 125"-130" bucks and a few that would top 130". I'm greedy. I want a mature buck with a set of antlers that strikes my fancy or they walk. I just haven't been able to get a good shot at those fitting that description. I still consider my hunt a success when I have that caliber of bucks 12-25 yards away and they never know I'm there.
 
I finally seen a set of horns on Saturday. And am finally starting to see some deer move. Seen 6 does Saturday morning and seen 2 bucks and 3 does that evening. One of the bucks was a 9pt that was probably 130". He came to 36 yards and got a really good look at him. He was almost a 10, his left g4 was just a little bump. As a 3.5 yr old i really hope he makes it because i have no doubt he'll be well over 140" next yr. The 2nd buck was about a 120" 8pt.
 
I'm just like you this year. The times I go to kill a doe I won't see anything but a few small bucks. Or when I'm in a spot I'm thinking a shooter is going to come I'll have a doe stand there at 20yds. My bigger deer seem to know where my range is I've had 4 encounters this bow season with shooters less than 80 yds away but can't get one within 40 yds.
 

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