November 30th, 2018 - A Day to Remember

[KAZ]

I really wanted to hunt yesterday to close out the Early Archery Season having given it my all! I had work commitments that were gonna take at least the morning so I made sure to get up real early and diligent to free up as much time as possible. This will be the last day of hunting until after the shotgunners take up arms.... I probably don't have to tell you this, but our woods are, shall I say different after shotgun season...

This really is my best shot...

Work was pretty demanding and new tasks just kept getting added. Finally I look at the clock and it's 1:30pm 

If I leave now, and travel the 1:15 minutes to my hunting area I'll likely be left with a 2 Hour hunt maximum.... That is not like me at all!!!

I contemplate for another minute. I ultimately decide that I'd regret not going far more than going for a short hunt that is not ideal...

[KAZ]

I'm off and headed South! Bike on the rack and ready to give it my all...

Quite a bit of snow down there and a soupy mess on the roads... Temps are pleasant ~34 Degrees, light NE Wind...

Last Hoorah!!! That means the Sanctuary Stand

I finally get settled in the stand around 3:30pm, which actually only leaves me around 1-1/2 hours to hunt... It's not 15 minutes and I see some antlerless deer on the hillside about 150 from me... I'm questioning if I bumped them coming in and they're gonna feed a cruise out of my life. After letting things naturally play out for about 45 Minutes, I decide I have to do something.... Tic Toc The season is fading....

I pull out the Can Call and the Grunt Call and I start subtle to gain their attention or bring in a slow lingering buck.... No Dice.... I don't think they can hear me.

[KAZ]

I decide it's now or never, loud as ever........ I'm all in

I lay out a pretty aggressive scenario with can calling, buck roaring / buck popping / buck chasing music!!!

While I'm focused on the hillside, I catch movement to my right at 25 yards

[KAZ]

What I've been waiting for all season has arrived and his ears are back, head tilted, stiff legged side ways walk

It's like he's coming to a decoy and ready to smash it... There's no decoy!!!

He's closing fast and I've got both hands occupied with calls and he's 270Degrees behind me on my right, and my bow is hanging 270Degrees to my left.... Not ideal....

I decide I need to get my bow. My left hand pockets the can call, and I reach blindly for my bow with my arm blocked by the tree. I'm watching the buck to the right, and I successfully feel the bow handle and lift... There's friction on the limb tip and it kind of springs loose. Instantly he picks up the movement and it breaks the trance

[KAZ]

Now I'm doing the "Iron Cross" with suspended bow arm holding bow to the left, and focusing right at a deer who doesn't like me very much.....

2-3 Minutes pass and he decides he's had enough and starts to turn to leave. I immediately hit him with a Snort Wheeze to remind him why he came

Much to my amazement, it works. He give me that look that says come on down here and fight me like a man..... No chance

He then circles behind me to better get the wind on the scenario which takes him to my left side. I'm able to rotate to align with my bow and play peekaboo cautiously. He reaches a point about 25 yards away, 270 Degrees behind me and totally stops to look my way. We're at a stalemate....

I can't help but think this eventually will explode in sadness, but I keep it together....

[KAZ]

He's only 10-15 yards from crossing my scent stream so I'm nervous. He stares motionless for like 7-8 minutes!!!!

I really think this is over... There's one opening at 22 yards that's a sniper's shot but the angle will be quartering too. No matter how bad I want him, I decide I will not risk that shot. I will wait for something better or nothing...

Finally, he seems to start sweeping his glare in a 30 Degree Cone out in front of him, instead of me...

I look ahead and notice there's about a 16"Tree Trunk that might work as a draw block, and an opening just passed it at around 18-19 yards, I'd guess.... That is where I'm committed...

[KAZ]

He takes a few steps to advance. And surveys again...

Then, it all goes in slow motion just as God had ordained long before this day....

He reaches the draw tree, and I pull back to full draw and focus everything I've got about 2 Ft in front of the draw tree. I pick him up in my peripheral as he comes out from the tree and into the opening. My mind, focus, and eyesight merge with the slow moving pocket and the arrow is on it's way...

It looks good, but a fuzz low to my liking... The animal turns a 180 at impact and barrels back the way he came. It's a mad determined dash that looks a fuzz like plowing.....

He's breaking sticks and crashing through the thicket. About 50 yards out I lose sight and there's silence...

[KAZ]

A flood of emotions hit as I focus my hearing and eyesight on the last known sighting...

What a season to ultimately come down to the last 20 minutes of legal shooting light...

When, the deer wheeled at impact I actually saw the arrow kick back a little, and I questioned penetration as there was 1/2 of a 29" arrow seemingly visible. I could see the arrow stay in during the run....

As I decided to quietly pack up, I spun around and there in front of me was a 2-1/2 year old 10 point that was now standing very near where I hit the deer. I am quite convinced that my buck was alertly aware of that buck coming in and that ultimately made the whole scenario REAL..... Not something I did, but something God blessed me with to restore what I messed up with originally alerting the deer. Thank you Lord for that divine intervention!!!

[KAZ]

Some texts were sent, and I decided I should quietly get down and check the impact sight for blood. Then exit in the opposite direction and sort out my plans....

I advance quietly to the impact sight, and there's some serious dirt thrown up where he 180'd.... And in the first step there's a 3 Ft wide Spray of Life Giving Crimson on a blanket of pure white snow..... My gaze advances along the trail and this spray continues as far as I can see. I snap a few photos to share for a confidence building consult...

I'm encouraged and know that something like that only happens with a pump behind it!!!!!

[KAZ]

I bike my way back to the Truck and start a search for help and folks to share this with....

Ben is super excited, knowing the effort that has gone into this season and he is happy for me. That goes for several others including Josh "Altiman94"... Thank you both!

Ben's at work, and even had to work this morning but he stills says "I'm in!" Let's do this together...

I drive back home for a different set of clothes, a different truck, settle down, and grab Ben....

I will delay no longer, as Ben has already stated in the Teaser / Starting the Fire. Hours before the Shotgun Opener, we walked a Pre-Ordained path of Crimson that brought Ben & I together on a trail we dream about....

Thank you Ben for everything, we did it together and it was good..... Praise God for our friendship and for this Wonderful Blessing on November 30th, 2018 - A Day to Remember...

[KAZ]

One Beautiful Mature Iowa Whitetail Buck Hand Selected by God Himself...

Thank you Lord

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Thank you all for reading....

54"Black Widow KB - 53lb @28"Draw (Drawn to 27-5/8" or so)

Easton Axis FMJ 400, 28.75"Long, Aluminum Footings, VPA 250Grain 1-1/4"Cutting Diameter 3-Blade Heads

Total Arrow weight 615 Grains...

Top of Heart and Lungs, down in 60. Praise God for it all....

[Bvas]

Great story!!!
And a great buck!!

You’ve had a season most of us dream about. Congrats 

[Altiman94]

Hard work and persistence pays off!  It could not have happened to a better guy!  This hunt will provide the sustenance and memories for some time to come.    Story well told.  I feel like I was there.