I have been having lots of knee issues ever since returning from elk hunting , so I took the easy way out and drove the 4 wheeler up the steep and muddy logging road. At the top , the road T's on to a long razor back ridge. I walked the gentle part up to the food plot . This is what the gentle part looks like
This plot is a special place. A real honest to goodness honey hole. When I bought the property four years ago all that was here was an intersection of two four wheeler trails. I clear cut, then bull dozed the stumps. What makes this place special is that three ridges all come together right here. The ground is level only where the plot is and all three valleys below the plot hold deer all day long. This is what you see when you enter the plot from the south as i did tonight
can you see the tree in the upper right corner with the strap? here is a little help.
ok , so it was about three pm when i finally settled in and it rained on and off for the next 90 minutes or so. Around 4;30 pm it got real quite and the wind stopped completely. I don't like it when it gets so quiet. Across the food plot on the north end where the logging road continues on, deer legs appeared. Two sets. . I was thinking that some one before me, must have rubbed real good Mojo on Faith, as this was the first time in 8 sits I saw deer while on stand! When their heads were behind the leaves and branches in front of me I slowly stood. The big buck fawn , all 90 pounds of him immediately came to my side of the field. The mom, a nice doe not huge but nice fed in the center. This is my view from the stand minus deer
Eventually the buck fawn had enough to eat and was heading to the east side logging road that passes all most directly beneath me. He had no idea I was there and of course was totally safe since I am strict QDM kind of guy. I knew the doe would be following shortly. They were passing on my left side. I suddenly was reminded of why I prefer hang on stands over ladders. The ladder plat form is so darn narrow and I was having difficulty getting turned to shoot. Plus it was still deathly quiet. As I oozed in to shooting position, one of my pant legs rubbed. The doe stopped and stared. What was that sound was the look on her face? Adult does are smart! She went on full alert and started to angle around me. At 20 yards she did present a brief opening and a broad side shot. With either of my long bows the arrow would have been on the way, but Faith and I are newly acquainted. We hardly know each other and to ask her to perform like that on the first date, well I thought it was a bit much. I let the doe walk, but I wore a big smile.
The evening ended with another spike buck right at last light feeding in the plot and then walking right by me. Two passes and almost a kill shot the first night! What a month this is going to be