Hit it hard this year for my first A22 season since my wife gave birth to our son a couple weeks ago and I knew rifle season was basically out for me this year. I got a bow about year ago and managed to stay disciplined and shoot around 300 arrows a week. My buddy and I saw exponentially more deer than we did hunters since we scouted basically every moment we weren’t working or shooting our bows. We had the deer patterned to a tee at several different spots. We knew where they ate, where they watered, where they bedded, which routes they favored when they were spooked, etc. Every time we thought we were going to tag out, we got burned one way or another. Surveyors pushed the deer out of our honey hole right after opening day, target shooters spooked the deer I was about to shoot, and I painstakingly stalked a buck for hours only to run out of light when I got close enough to make a shot. Last Sunday I finally got my chance. I parked it on a heavily traveled area and a buck and 3 does came straight to me. I would’ve almost gotten stepped on if I didn’t draw. My rest made a slight creak and spooked the deer at 12ish yards. I stood up at full draw and let out a slight “MERRRRRP” which stopped the dandy fork (by d16 standards) broadside at 50 yards. I knew I was going to kill that buck at that range. Somehow, in my haste to get the shot off, I completely dropped the ball and I sent the arrow right over his back. My only shot opportunity all season and I absolutely blew it. Welp, hopefully with a newborn I can sneak away for a morning or two for D16 season.
A22 - So Close
- Thread starter Lenny
- Start date
If not then, you always have the 2nd half of A22 (my personal favorite)
Addicting, isn't it?
I've also learned the hard way that getting too close presents its own dangers. Now I try not to get closer than 40.
I've also learned the hard way that getting too close presents its own dangers. Now I try not to get closer than 40.
D16 is so tough. I got an A22 in 2020 and spent a ton of time chasing bucks. I had one basically walk up to me 20 minutes before shooting light. Had one dick around at about 100 yards and walk a circle around me but not come closer. Had two bucks chased off by a coyote right as they got close. Finally got it done the last day of the first half of the season right before last shooting time.
What is it about the second half that you like?
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Right! I’m just bummed all my time scouting and patterning is out the window now that there’s pressure from rifle season. Do you know if the deer tend to return to their old habits once the pressure is gone or am I back to square one for the second half of A22?
Awesome. It’s so challenging but so much more exciting seeing more deer and getting up close and personal.
In my experience, which is admittedly limited, they return to their normal patterns within a couple of weeks of rifle ending. I also saw a lot more rutting activity as things cooled down more
The change in weather, opportunity to spot and stalk because there are more wet days (quieter stalking), and most importantly... way less people!
I put one over the back of a forky in D14 in 2022. It was like slow motion watching my arrow go right over its back. I think when I ranged it at "39-40" yards, my RF caught something behind it. It was probably 25-30 yards. It happens. Just stick with it.
Good points! I'm definitely excited about the change in weather and less people part!
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You're gonna get one man, just gotta stay grinding. I had two stalks on the same day on a nice forky two weekends ago and both times I got to 35-40 yards while he was bedded but didn't have a window to shoot so while waiting awhile to maybe see if he'd get up and move around he eventually caught my scent with the wind at my back both times and got up and disappeared.