I talked my boss into letting me off today early and I headed to the farm to try and fill that last doe tag again with my Tall Tines. I got in the stand around 2:30. It was windy and cool the leaves are about all gone here and it felt good to be out. At 3:23 I hear foot steps and look up and see a deer coming out of the thicket headed my way. Before I got all the way stood up I could see it was a buck. Even though I don't have a buck tag left I went ahead and got my bow in case he wasn't alone. He was a 11 pointer with a 16" or 17" spread. He has some real gnarly character and heavy mass even though his points were kinda short. I practiced my draw as he passed at 15 yards, and again at 10 yards. I let down and with a huge smile as he walked down the logging road away from me thinking I hope I have bucks this close next year when I have my trad bow and a buck tag. At about 20 yards he stopped, he could smell where I walked into my stand. He stood there for a minute and turned around and walked under me at 8 yards. By now I'm about to come unglued. Then finally at 11 yards he stooped and stretched out like a show dog and stood broadside slightly quartering away for a full minute. Again I practiced my draw two more times. And again I smiled while shaking my head as he made his way back into the thicket he came out of originally. The orange army hits the woods tomorrow for 10 days I hope he wises up some and makes it he will be a stud next year for sure.
About 30 minutes before dark a doe started working up the ridge to me and I thought to myself finally its going to happen. She got inside of 10 yards but I was unable to find a hole to get the arrow through. I need her to take a couple of steps and I could shoot. With tension on the string and ready to draw I watched her turn strait away from me and walk out of range before turning and continuing up the ridge. I had a blast and feel good about the morning even though there will be guns going off everywhere. Maybe just maybe tomorrow will be the day that I get that first trad trophy.