I haven't been on here to much lately because I been extremely busy with what life throws at people. I have been working 10-12 hour days at work, trying to maintain a 796 acre farm, (getting corn and soybeans out with losing a combine to a fire), along with my wife getting back surgery next week, its been truly difficult finding the time in a stand.
Yesterday I woke up exceptionally early knowing I took the day off to vote. I did my morning ritual of making my coffee and thinking of what I need to do for the day. My wife came down and said ,hey, why don't you go get some stand time. I just shook my head and said that I didn't have the time as I walked out onto our back deck. But after I felt the brisk air and checked the wind direction coming out of the south, I downed my coffee, showered, dressed, grabbed my bow, my pack and loaded up my side by side Ranger and off I went to my upper pasture.
I parked down low near a creek crossing dreading the 400 yard walk to my anticipated stand. Wind in my face as I walk up the long sloped hill. I walk up to my property line, fence line, I get out my James Valley Full Rut and smear some on my boots and start walking down my fence line hooking into my stand location like a "J" pattern to where the wind is at my back as I make my final approach to my stand. I place a little James Valley around my stand, Full Rut in three locations and Wall Hanger in one place. I hook on my bow and climb to my stand. I sit there for a moment to enjoy the early morning air giving thanks for letting me enjoy another morning on stand.
I get situated and get ready for the morning light to awaken my part of the world. After about 30 minutes of shooting light, I hear it! A very distinctive grunting sound coming from the west. I grabbed my binoculars and started to scan the western side of my pasture. There, two bucks bumping does into the opposite direction. I sat there for a second, looked again and seen the one nice buck head into my neighbors property. Okay, where's your friend, I was saying to myself. So I grabbed my grunt call and rattling antlers to see what I can stir up. I hit a few long gated grunt calls followed by a snort wheeze I hit the antlers hard. I kept them going for about 30 seconds and I was placing the antlers up when I could see a buck literally running towards me from the west. I grab my bow without hesitation when all of a sudden without warning he STOPS on a dime at 40 yards! He just sits there like a statue for what felt like forever. I feel the wind swirl a little bit on the back of my neck. I remember thinking he's getting ready to wind that James Valley Wall Hanger as I slip my hand into my vest pocket and grab my grunt call. He starts licking and winding the air nonstop as I hit a few soft grunts. He's ears goes straight back, canters his head and starts walking with a purpose as I realize its going to happen. He walks over to a small oak tree where the wall hanger is and starts making a scrape but there's no shot. In the darkness I placed the Wall Hanger in not a great spot. He throws his antlers into the small oak several times then starts walking south easterly stiff legged with his ears pinned to his head. he comes completely broadside at 26 yards. I remember saying to myself its now or never, here we go as i feel my bow string tighten against my finger tips, come to my anchor point, pick a spot and as always, the entire world goes into slow motion as I release my arrow.
My view,
Topic: Election Day Iowa buck,, (Read 3939 times)
