I took the second half of last week off to head down to southern Ohio for some hunting. Wednesday was rough with the cold front moving through, but right after it passed the deer started moving. Saw some does, but nothing presented a good shoot opportunity.
I got up early on Thursday and had the best and worst morning in my 18+ years of hunting. I set up in a climber about 25 yards inside the tree line next to a natural clover field. The field hadn't been planted in two years and grew a ton of clover. I set the stand about 10 yards from an active scrape along a trail hoping to get a quartering away shot as the deer travel the trail.
The morning started with a nice 8 point buck feeding out in the clover field as it started to get light. He moved to cover early, but soon after, one of the largest deer I've ever seen while hunting stepped out in the field about 70 yards away. He fed and milled around for close to an hour. A smaller buck appeared but they didn't seem to mind each other too much. He would have been a nice 8 point, but half of his rack was broke off right after his brow tine.
About 5 minutes later 5 does came running across the field with a nice 10 point buck trailing them. The does run between the two bucks that were already there and head to cover. The 10 point broke away from trailing the does and goes straight toward the deer with half a rack. He lowered his head and they go at it. It was a cool sight to see. As soon as they started the largest of the three came barreling in and now all three bucks were fighting. It was the coolest thing I've seen from a stand. I've seen two bucks fight, but never three at the same time.
The 10 point chased the broken rack buck off the field and the biggest one just stood there. He looked around for about 30 seconds all alone in the field now. I decided to try rattling. He popped his head up and started toward me like he was on a string. I couldn't believe it. The problem was the direction he was coming from was opposite of how I set the stand up. I was expecting a shot to the left of the stand as I am a right handed shooter. He was coming from the right side.
As he got closer I kept telling myself to stand up and finally managed to as his head went behind a large tree. He starts down a trail that only has one spot that would offer a shot. It's a 4 foot opening about 18 yards away. The next tree he went behind, I positioned my feet and body for a shot. He hit the opening, I drew, and realeased. Perfectly inline with the vitals, but sailed right over his back. I couldn't believe it.
I've hunted most of my life killing deer with just about every type of weapon except for trad archery gear. I started seriously shooting trad early last year and decided to commit to it this year. I practice with the longbow 4-5 nights a week and hadn't touched my wheels in almost a year. This was the first deer I've missed, and the first shot at one with a trad bow. The only consolation was that it was a clean miss and I didn't wound him.
It all happened so fast that I rushed the shot. I wasn't expecting a shot to the right and my arm hit the safety harness that was attached to the tree as I drew. I also didn't account for the extra elevation drop as he was even further below the tree I was in, down in the bottom of the ravine. No excuses though, just factors that went into it. I blew it. It was all me. The biggest buck I've seen while hunting just gave me an 18 yard broadside shot, and I missed.
He wasnt' spooked. He just kind of lingered around a bit behind my tree and finally moved off looking for the fighting bucks. He was a big main frame 10 pt that had several extra points coming off his G2/G3's.
After the miss I waited and waited, hoping he would come back. He didn't. Before getting out of the stand I took several practice shots and hit every one of them within inches of my target.
I saw him again the next two mornings, but he never got closer than 50 yards and he was focused on chasing does. I even set up in a different location that should have put me right on him, but his pattern changed. I just hope he's still around after gun season and gives me another chance.
Topic: Best and worst morning hunting (Read 329 times)
