Now for the story. With 5"s of fresh snow last Wednesday I was chomping at the bit to get out but couldn't until Thursday evening. I am normally (about 95% of the time) a treestand hunter BUT, I have a great funnel area close to my house that you just CANNOT use a treestand in. I went there after my daughter got home from school Thursday evening just to be out in the snow. I started seeing deer after a while in the distance and noticed the younger doe acting a little strange. Well, it wasn't long before I knew why. This little 8 pointer was trailing the younger doe like he was...well, let's say 'lookin for a girlfriend'. The area I was in is a narrow stretch of hardwoods and laurel. All trails lead to one big trail near a creek and that's where I hide in the laurel. I've ambushed several deer there over the years. It wasn't long before they all started coming by with that buck in the 'not so far' distance. He got to within "about" 18 yards and presented a shot. I drew, released and DANG, he jumped the string. Oh well' at least I had the experience to remember. NOW, for the rest of the story...
The very next evening guess where I'm at? That's right, I'm in that little 'honey hole' I just described. Didn't see a deer UNTIL about 5:00pm. Same doe came by really quick. I'm thinking I'll NEVER see that buck again so, maybe I will shoot a big doe if I get the chance. I take pride in being very patient so I'm waiting and watching and MUCH TO MY SURPRISE at almost the exact same time as the evening before and on the same trail here comes that same buck. He get's into shooting range, the almost exact same spot as the evening before but this time he is VERY alert. Then, as much to his surprise as mine I hear a wheeler across a thicket on the next ridge. I'm thinking...it's over now. Then, all the sudden the guy really cranks up the throttle on the ATV. This spooked the buck, he jumps and locks in on the 4-wheeler noise presenting me with a perfect shot while his head is turned. I put a Snuffer right thru both lungs and he didn't go 40 yards painting the snow red as he ran. NOW' the rest of the rest of the story. When I was admiring him I noticed a streak of hair gone from his back AND, when I skinned him I found where my arrow (from the evening before) had just cut the hide leaving about a 1/4" gash on his back.
Now' you would think he would have learned from his near death experience the day before BUT, I guess them little doe were smelling REALLY good to him. I know he's not a wallhanger BUT' on the ground, in the snow, with a traditional bow AND a week after gun season....HEY' I would rather be lucky than good ANYDAY.
thanks gang for the nice compliments.
Topic: SSWV late season buck from the ground/ story added (Read 6367 times)
