A few seasons back....
"My normal routine for hunting..has always been to never get into a routine" ;^).
Yes, some of my ways remain the same ..... I normally hunt from treestands , often hunt many of the same natural blinds for several years as well . I also have a deep rooted weakness for spot and stalk.... In most cases the latter (for whitetail) is about the least effective method for putting meat in the freezer , least in the East .
Some years just beg to test those perimators.
I have gotten shamefully close to sealing the deal on many whitetails over the years doing just that . Some within feet . Small game like ground griz...squirrel-rabbit be how I cut my hunting canines at a very young age. Stalking ground hogs is a great teacher , and I wish everyone had the opportunity to do so . ...but, I'm getting off track some....
Back to the hunting....
This year , as like many of you ...My little piece for hunting has had lots of competition for the few deer in the area. In heavily pressured lands you better be adaptable physically and mentally. I do a LOT of watching/glassing at great distances across the open flats. More often than not , open crop fields will see the bulk of what little movement there is to be witnessed in huntable days such as these.....
I've closed great distances on many Bucks working hot does like this . The smart Bucks holding the does in the open flats knowing danger awaits those that travel within the shadow of tree's ...... .
This is where the learnt art of reading animal body language , terrain , wind , and a touch of luck play your odds. If a second buck is in the ritual mix , it adds to the Dominant bucks distractions....it also adds 2 more eyes and a relentless nose to the equation.....
The doe warrants the bulk of the hunters attention on these type scenarios ....for all eyes are upon her with great intensity . In my neck of the woods I've seen many bucks play "Bull & matador" with a doe Often resorting to a good antler jab to remind her to stay where HE WANTS. They do not "ALL" play follow the doe , as many have been brought up to believe . .....
This particular season was testing, with many trespassers/poachers & legal hunters all about. All this human (if you must call poachers human;) activity had most of the movement in the dark of the night....but the rut always has movement for those with open eyes and open minds..... .
After yet another eventless morning , I took to laying my eyes upon those open flats....Some 4-500 yards out I saw what from this distance looked much like 3 brown dogs in an open cut corn field.....Game on ;^)
I use a small feeder stream between us as a vantage point to watch .... devise a plan. The Large Buck was what I refer to as a "Bull " ..... Now Standing over a large doe , with a lesser 4x4 buck (looked small compared to this Bull) standing off in wait. The Bull was a true TANK in all regards....Large thick Rack...enormous neck and huge body. You know when they look BIG at this kind of yardage they are Big ..... The moments slipped ... hours tallied ...
THE doe would periodically make a break for it while the smaller buck would press his luck . The Bull would remind him who was in charge....the Doe only to be cut off by the BULL , and forced back to the center of the field. Over and over again this game played out before me......
In this type situation I constantly scan the huntable area for enough cover to sneak and hide in ambush. More like hide in hope that the stars align , lady luck shines , and that Doe run's my way on one of her ATTEMPTS to be freed from nature's dance.
I was Ooooo so close several times over a 2 day play on one of these bucks. The smaller 4x4 Buck I had the closest , just out of range both times. He had a very distinct dark brown tail marking , matching V on his chest , and the top of his back oddly Dark brown stripped as well . I've taken two Doe's over the years with similar markings in the area......
The BULL was a real brute ! For two days he managed to ward off the small buck who was relentless , and still managed to move his big body fast enough to keep this Doe matadored to this large open field .Actually I was impressed he didn't collapse as I watched this playout over and over again throughout the two days .
All things come to an end.......
By the 3rd day the dance was done...All participants were gone as if the dance had never been.... A couple days later I set a natural blind some 200 yards from the now non active field with a favorable wind for any deer approaching from an adjoined thicket to my North.
I set the side of a small steep, with an open cut corn field to my North and West , with a small feeder stream to my East below.. With 45 minutes of hunting light remaining I catch movement to my north some 300 yards out....As the deer closes the distance heading my way I can clearly tell by its gait & head to the ground movement it's a Buck.
Bow in hand , I'm ready ....
As the buck steadily nears closer , I can clearly see his chosen path will place him directly before me
.Then .....As he closes the gap to 50 yard's .... he freezes !
OOOoooo come..On ! I know the wind is good, as it is blowing pretty steady from North...N.W.....I notice he seems very focused above me...I slowly tilt my head in search .
I can faintly see the head of a doe looking down at the buck. She is frozen as well... My moments are ticking away...Then the Buck commits and heads my way . Just in front of me is a scrape . The tall lanky buck looks familiar as he stops to work it...Now feet from where I hope and ready for the shot. A moment later my arrow flew true and the buck now lay still a short distance away.....
I glance back from his previous path of approach in time to see the doe and her young of the year watching what had just transpired with great intensity .She gives a blow and off they go....
As I approach my buck I can now clearly see this was the same 4x4 that days ago was pestering the Big Bull and Doe in the open flats....Those same very distinct dark brown markings ....but now the right side of his rack cleanly broken just above the skull ! My guess is he stood his ground and got a serious reprimand ....from the Bull in control ;^)
The break ,clean and shiny white ...
I Truly couldn't have been a happier Wolf with the way my season played out that year. I wish I could say I had been hunting that Big Bull for years. Truth is I had never seen him before , likely from a city several miles away searching for the few does at the time. I had seen my buck two other times during the season with another smaller buck .
I didn't take my buck spot and stalk ....But as with every hunt I learn.
Truly grateful for the many gifts given ....for the observations , the beauty of every animal , the great teachings in behaviour , individualized characteristics of each living thing, and for the meat this fine animal provided me and my family.....
Best with your seasons my friends.......
Hope you enjoyed the story of my
"Lost Antler" Buck......
sincerely,
Ralph"Riverwolf"Webb
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Topic: "The Lost Antler Buck"...... (Read 1390 times)
