(Pics to follow) So, here I am hunting with my two brothers on my brother Bob's farm in the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge (VA). He has a game cam that showed a variety of bucks that have frequented the place, with a couple of nice trophies but also a number with odd-shaped headgear. Ground rules for this year: Tom and I were instructed specifically to avoid hitting a beautiful 4 point because he has a great starter rack and Bob wants to keep him around. Everything else was fair game, with an emphasis on culling bad headgear from the herd. Early on the first day, Bob passed on a 6-point with a narrow rack.... I know what you're thinking, but he didn't want to risk shutting it all down for this buck when we were just getting started... SDbirds would understand ;D. I saw nothing but heard plenty throughout the day. There was a big animal bedded down in a thicket just off his property above my stand, but when I tried to work my way closer it thundered off along the ridge. So day one was a pretty quiet day until sunset. Tom took out a nice 8-point buck as it ran downhill away from his stand. We got that one down to the truck and called it a day.
Day two, Saturday, Tom saw a buck and a doe in the morning but couldn't get a shot from his stand. In the afternoon he passed on a few does but hit a button buck in the mid-afternoon. His stand is between a 3-year old clear-cut logging operation and a stream bed, both of which are on Bob's property; and he's been seeing a lot more than Bob and me. By late afternoon, after seeing nothing all day, I thought I'd try a call about 40 minutes before sunset. I gave a tending grunt and rattled hard. Nothing definite but I thought I detected some movement over the rise. I rattled again and put the sticks away. About a minute later, a big, oversexed 3-point came snorting and stomping over the rise. He was looking around for the fight, and was a little confused to find no action. I think he saw me, but turned away as if to say, "Puny human, you are not going to fight me." He went back and forth, stomping and wheezing, and with all the noise he was making I just sat and waited to see who else he could call in. After 2-3 minutes I decided his rack was a little underdeveloped for his size... ;D Anyway I doubted that I or anyone else would believe my story without proof, and with all the adrenaline pumping I had to prove to myself I could close the deal. I've sniped deer plenty; it's easy to stay calm when shooting deer that approach unaware. But when you've called one in and he's looking pretty much straight at you well, that was a new experience for me. He was broadside to me at 40 yards; I took aim and shot him through the heart. He fell over dead.
There is no hunting on Sunday in VA. We were back out this (Monday) am, still quiet for me but Bob shot a 4 point with asymmetric antlers and Tom passed on another doe, a six point, a four point and a spike. We have this afternoon before we call it quits. Tom offered me his tree stand... I think I'll take it! 8)
Again, pics are coming.
Thanks BearTracks and Longbowhunter2 for the advice and info on calling, and to all the experienced hunters who post on this site. I've learned a TON this fall, and I'm an old dog so that's saying a lot! 8)
Day two, Saturday, Tom saw a buck and a doe in the morning but couldn't get a shot from his stand. In the afternoon he passed on a few does but hit a button buck in the mid-afternoon. His stand is between a 3-year old clear-cut logging operation and a stream bed, both of which are on Bob's property; and he's been seeing a lot more than Bob and me. By late afternoon, after seeing nothing all day, I thought I'd try a call about 40 minutes before sunset. I gave a tending grunt and rattled hard. Nothing definite but I thought I detected some movement over the rise. I rattled again and put the sticks away. About a minute later, a big, oversexed 3-point came snorting and stomping over the rise. He was looking around for the fight, and was a little confused to find no action. I think he saw me, but turned away as if to say, "Puny human, you are not going to fight me." He went back and forth, stomping and wheezing, and with all the noise he was making I just sat and waited to see who else he could call in. After 2-3 minutes I decided his rack was a little underdeveloped for his size... ;D Anyway I doubted that I or anyone else would believe my story without proof, and with all the adrenaline pumping I had to prove to myself I could close the deal. I've sniped deer plenty; it's easy to stay calm when shooting deer that approach unaware. But when you've called one in and he's looking pretty much straight at you well, that was a new experience for me. He was broadside to me at 40 yards; I took aim and shot him through the heart. He fell over dead.
There is no hunting on Sunday in VA. We were back out this (Monday) am, still quiet for me but Bob shot a 4 point with asymmetric antlers and Tom passed on another doe, a six point, a four point and a spike. We have this afternoon before we call it quits. Tom offered me his tree stand... I think I'll take it! 8)
Again, pics are coming.
Thanks BearTracks and Longbowhunter2 for the advice and info on calling, and to all the experienced hunters who post on this site. I've learned a TON this fall, and I'm an old dog so that's saying a lot! 8)
