A Red Light Cost Me a Buck!

[Tim]

   Yep, a RED LIGHT!  If I had not caught that one light I would have been 5 minutes early and everything would have played out!

I'm not really sure if that's the case but that was the first thing that came to mind as I finally slid down onto the seat of my stand.  

This time of year is all about timing and so far my timing has been awful...all year long!  I left work at 2:30 yesterday and planned on being in stand by 3:00.  I pulled into my buddies driveway, got changed and than drove a few 100 yards to attempt the walk in.  I say attempt because the woods was like walking on potato chips.  I don't think it could get any louder!!!

Here's were the my Red Light philosophy came to be.  Actually it could have been a whole host of things that delayed me getting to my stand 5 minutes sooner but that one red light gets the blame!

I was 5 steps from my tree stand when a doe came crashing over the hill right at me, with a second doe in tow.  As I dropped to the ground nocking an arrow, the lead doe buried her feet into the dirt, sliding to a stop not 15 yards away.  As I came to my knees all I saw was the quick outline of a rack, the third deer in the line.  The lead doe spooked, the second doe never saw me and the buck stopped just out of sight, not 30 yards away.

Bottom line....it never happened.  I successfully slipped into stand after a 10 minute stand off as the two does quietly fed away.  They never caught onto me.  The buck....well, he just vanished.

That's been my season so far.....so close, so many times.  Any one care to golf this afternoon!    

.

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

Oh Tim...I know the feeling exactly!

Been hunting a buck for 5 years, and 2 years ago on the last day of the season I have a picture of him watching me walk to my stand as he stands under my stand perfectly in front of the camera.

Look on the bright side...at least you're getting close. I haven't even seen a mature buck in over a year... Keep on keepin on!

[Nuctech]

My entire season so far summed up Tim!
 

[Tim]

Don't tell me that Gabriel!  I'm heading to your fine state of Kansas on Saturday morning!    

[woodchucker]

Gee... My last Red Light cost me $150!!!    

[Nuctech]

Tim,

   You picked a good week to come to kansas, temperature is going to drop on saturday for the rest of next week. Only supposed to get into the 50s for the high. Should really get things moving hopefully getting a little seeking and chasing started.  I am going to be up in northwest kansas on a buddies place all next week. Good luck brother!

Gabe

[Tim]

LOL of Gabe!  I'm heading to Oberlin to hunt with Jon aka snakebit40.  Between the 3 of us someone should have a story to tell!

[KentuckyTJ]

Hang in there Brother. I have faith in you!

[A.S.]

Been there, done that Tim!!

Good luck in KS buddy!!

[Montanawidower]

I've got one... I wait all season for a north wind in early Nov to hunt a certain stand.   Under these conditions, I've killed two of the best bucks in the last decade off this land.  

So... yesterday I get the wind I need.  I slipped in extra early, but realize I have veered off the path and missed my stand by 40 yards to the north east.  

First shooting light arrives and I hit the antlers... Just like many times before, hear comes a buck trucking out of the thicket to my stand.  He was a MONSTER.  Easily the biggest I've ever seen in Montana.

He gets to 18 yards head on.... and locks up because my dumb butt just walked there after taking the wrong approach to the stand!   He sniffs the ground and retreats stiff legged.  

I am aching just writing this...

[John146]

Originally posted by Montanawidower:
I've got one... I wait all season for a north wind in early Nov to hunt a certain stand.   Under these conditions, I've killed two of the best bucks in the last decade off this land.  

So... yesterday I get the wind I need.  I slipped in extra early, but realize I have veered off the path and missed my stand by 40 yards to the north east.  

First shooting light arrives and I hit the antlers... Just like many times before, hear comes a buck trucking out of the thicket to my stand.  He was a MONSTER.  Easily the biggest I've ever seen in Montana.

He gets to 18 yards head on.... and locks up because my dumb butt just walked there after taking the wrong approach to the stand!   He sniffs the ground and retreats stiff legged.  

I am aching just writing this...

OUCH!!! That hurt me way over here in Louisiana!

[Tim]

Oh my!   And you can't even point the blame!      

Stay after them!   It's all fun, just sometimes more than others.

.

[mlsthmpsn]

Three years ago my brother-in-law had been getting pictures of these two nice 8pt'ers on a couple cameras he had set out. They were mostly night shots, but they always always were on one camera walking through the wide open middle of a perfect opening, and always looking the opposite direction of the stand sorta past the camera on the opposite side of the opening...every time. (stand is in the background of the cam pics)

So, he's out for most of the season trying to run across this pair....day in and day out, nothing...but pictures.

So he decides to go out mid day on a whim, nice late October sunny day. He's sitting in his stand all day, nothing at all.

So he climbs down, and goes and switches the card on the way out. Gets home...only picture is these two 8pts walking right in front of him....WHILE HE'S SOUND ASLEEP IN THE STAND!!!!!

   

[SERGIO VENNERI]

Whew! For a second there i thought you missed running him over because of a red light! LOL just kidding!!

[straight_arrow]

Tim, good luck to you and Jon.  I'll be hunting in that area as well.  May run into you.

[Jayrod]

Best of luck in kansas tim!!as far as PA its been a slow road for me also...all of my so called heard of does and certain bucks that live around have absolutely vanished i am in a slump and the 75 degree temps dont help either but hopefully better days are ahead i only have one more week in my 2A wmu that in live in  :(

[maineac]

The big ones have an aura that seems to keep them safe. I have one that keeps them safe also.  That close a contact is a success!  Good luck at making a second connection that includes and arrow!