I have been hunting this piece of urban ground with a small woodlot. The area is surrounded by homes and schools.
I have had one run-in with this buck in the past. It was about 2 weeks ago, before I left for Alaska. I made the mistake then of using a small nylon blind on the ground as cover. The buck jumped a small fence and proceeded to rub a good sized tree. I got the honor of watching him for 10-15 minutes. This allowed me to calm down a titch and focus on putting one in the goodies. However, as soon as he was done with the tree he proceeded to move toward me at about 25 yards and lock up dead at the site of my blind. I am sure he was wondering what the heck this thing was in his backyard. Needless to say he turned and vanished. I did hunt the next day and relocated myself behind a large double trunked tree, minus the nylon blind. However, no buck.
Well, while in alaska I thought about the location and how best to capitalize on my now arch nemesis. I decided that I would build a ground blind out of the underbrush and relocate myself further back from his living room.
I guess I should also tell you that all over his living room are rubs, 4-6, some as big as my thigh. Now, my thigh isn't overly huge.
Well, there I am pruning brush and limbs for a blind. I am using a pair of pruning shears and a small saw that my fellow bowhunter and friend Darren Haverstick gave me. I locate this blind about 20 yards back from my previous encounter and clear away some leaves and place my little fold-up stool for comfort. The wind was quartering into my face and the sun was in and out from behind the clouds.
I do have to tell you that about 2.5 hours into the sit I was getting the urge to get up and stalk around a little. However, not being a ballerina or even remotely light on my feet I used some will-power and decided to sit it out. About 30 minutes before dark I heard this crunching and scratching behind me and to my right. A slow turn revealed the buck horning a tree about 20 yards behind me. Luckily, this kept him out of my scent due to the quartering wind in my face.
Now, I am nervous. I looked at the ground and remembered some of the advice given on this wonderful forum, "aim small, miss small", "pick a spot", "don't look at the horns", and by all means, "don't lose control of your bowels".
For a short while I thought he was going to move behind me which would have made for alot of movement and a tricky shot due to all the brush. However, he moved ahead off to my right. At about 15 yards he moved behind a bush and I stood. My breathe was coming ragged and deep now and I had to stare at his hide and forget his head. Completely oblivious to my presence he moved ahead nose to ground and stepped into a clearing at about 8-10 yards. I drew and released and saw the arrow hit low behind the shoulder. I thought it looked actually lower than it should have but saw the arrow stick in the ground on the other side of the deer.
He bolted forward about 25-30 yards and stopped looking dead away from me. He didn't even know what happened. I was reviewing the shot and waiting for him to move. Next thing I know he begins to sway a little. Not much but definately not normal. A little sway turned into a big sway and he tipped over right there in plain site.
Now let me tell you I was a moist pile of used acorns. I sat down in astonishment and awe. Guess what, I heard another sound beind me and to the right. His younger partner came the same trail he did. He was an 8 to but just a little smaller and his body wasn't as big. He walked up about 25 yards from his buddy and got real spooky. He walked by me at 10 yards completely unaware that I was there. Next year.
Can't wait to dig into the loin and backstrap.
Bret
Topic: First Buck From The Ground---pics!!! (Read 3851 times)
