I was talking to a buddy of mine this morning and the topic turned to bowhunting for some reason. He is a gun hunter but invited me to his place to try my luck still hunting some creek beds. I was able to sneak off work early and headed down to his ranch and he gave me a short tour of the place. After a few rounds in the pick-up he dropped me off at the mouth of a dried up creek and said he'd wait for me at the gate.
Now I this was my first time in the ranch and two miles of winding creek had me a little worried, but I figured I could walk out of there before darkness settled in. I was carring a 2-piece Shrew 51#@28 and wearing nothing more than a thin fleece jacket. I ever so slowly headed off into the abyss and gave myself a few minutes to adjust to the terrain and darkness. I had been still hunting for about 20 minutes when something caught my eye 30yrds out. I stopped and slowly raised my binos. Through the brush I could see a white-tail flickering thru the brush. Didn't see the rest of the animal so I slowly sneaked up to about 20yrds. He eventualy moved on out of the creek and I paralled him out to the pasture. Next thing I knew that deer was working a scrape and I looked him over again with my binos. Massive 10 point with about a 20in spread. Each tine looked to be 10 inches long. I watched him for about 2 minutes and took a knee no more than 12 yrds from his location expecting him to come out into the pasture right where he was. 5 minutes later I didn't hear him no more and couldn't spot any movement at his previous location. Did he wind me, no the wind was blowing in my face. Maybe I made a noise he didn't like, how, I could've make a statue green with envy with my lack of movement. About that time I heard a twig break to my left and I sneaked a peek. There he was in all his glory, 10 feet from me and about to walk into my sent stream. He never saw me, but the brush never opened up for a shot, not even the tiniest of holes. When he hit my scent he stopped and almost reared up to get away. He didn't blow not even raise his tail. Just took one giant leap and cleared 20ft of creek and then trotted away. If I had stayed in the creek, it would have been a gimme shot. If I had realized he was an older buck when I first saw him I would not have followed him out to the pasture. I know that a buck will walk along the pasture 10-20ft in the brush looking it over without giving up his location. I made a rookie mistake and it cost me...I don't think I could have enjoyed the afternoon any more. I walked up on a doe and 2 yearlings, but passed on the shot. Did count coup on one of the yearlings though. And at dusk a herd of Javalina walked within 20ft of me and never even knew I was there. Right after them was another nice buck. However in the fading light I could not pick a spot and passed on what might have been a bad shot. I can't wait to get out there again, and this time I will remember to stay behind the animal, not beside it. The first buck outsmarted me in every way, but he never knew where I was, never knew how close he came to meeting his maker. Maybe next time, if not...well that is why it is called hunting and not shooting.
Topic: Why are deer smarter than me (Read 304 times)
