As mentioned above hunting with Ms Hope is a joy. In the 6 days I hunted last week I could do nothing but smile every time I looked at her. The bow is just purty
Here in IL the second week of November is magic. Bucks come out of the woodwork...most of the bigger ones you never see. I had the best buck I have ever had in bow range with Ms Hope in my hand. I could not risk a photo but even if I didn't loose an arrow. She was there with me, and in some ways all of my Tradgang brothers.
I did rattle this big buck to 100 yards later in the week. He came on a string to where he should have seen a buck fight but didn't. I think a decoy would have worked but have given up that game after spooking a 200 inch deer with one a few years ago with another weapon.
The farm I am hunting is about half thicket/hardwoods and half crop ground. Hope and I would sit the edges looking for cruising bucks and if they were what I thought I wanted I would try calling. Most of these sets were in pinch points, hourglass woods, and inside corners to up our odds on catching some rutting bucks out looking. Good sign here including some great rubs.
Most of the week it was plenty of these guys. They seemed to be everywhere. The rut was on the verge of busting into a wad of chasing, and I wanted to be in the woods as much as I could.
Finally I saw the bigger boys were on their feet the last couple of days before the pumpkin army invaded. We nearly got it done in a thick travel corridor. Hope was ready (and so was I) but like big old mature whitetails do, he simply turned and walked away.
I had a great last day before the gun season. I decided to skip the pinch points and travel corridors as I had witnessed several big bucks tending does. I chose to duck into an overgrown patch of woods that is only about 5 acres. It is where I killed the big 'un in my avatar, and it is a place does bed and get tended to. Like clockwork at daylight a big 9 point with kickers pushed a doe nearly to my lap. I was gonna kill that deer I told myself...well it nearly happened. A young forky tried to get near the doe and the mature buck roared into him. I almost felt sorry for the young deer. He ran to me as the big buck stayed 40 yards away. I took this as my chance and snort wheezed. This did the trick and the big buck came back over to run the buck off. At point blank range (say 12 yards) he stopped quartering to me. I felt confident he would turn broadside, but we went north-end to south-end so fast that I couldn't draw. He marched over to the doe and mounted her right there. I had never seen that before, and didn't know if I should hide my eyes or hang on to Hope and pray for my shot. I did the latter, but he just walked off with the doe. I spent the whole day there, dark to dark, and never saw another deer. I did get the treat of watching this momma bobcat and her kit stalk a group of turkies in the field. It was just cool having visiters as the all day sit had about hurt me.
The last day before gun season left me this sunset and a few days to ponder the 10 days I have left with a special bow, for a special cause, in a special place.
Topic: The Adventures of Hope and Faith by Lewis Hollow... (Read 22131 times)
