I hunted a tree that we use to refer to as the blowdown tree stand, a spot where a big blowdown had fallen in a feeding area the deer used that had lots of acorns.
The newest challenge is, the management group that manages the property had this area logged and the cover is hard to find. Well I found a tree that was in a perfect spot with a beach tree growing right next to a perfect size oak to climb up into my lone wolf. I got settled in and like clockwork the deer started filtering in around 4 pm. The only problem was they came in behind me and at eye level on a hillside. When I turned my head I got busted. They didn’t know what I was and the deer just spooked just enough that they decided to take another shot using a different trail 40-50 yards away.
But they started moving through my area giving me some hope and confidence that this new tree was going to workout.
That evening was a huge success in finding this new spot but there was work to be done. The next morning I cut some peach tree branches from some near by trees being careful not to take to many from one spot to change the look in this area that might alarm any smart deer that would enter this area.
I placed the branches on the beach tree next to me creating more cover so when the deer came down the hill it would help with my silhouette as the made their approach.
It worked perfectly. I stuck some branches in my tree stand as I always do to give me some cover in front of me as well.
Now this morning started out really slow, no deer came in and I started second guessing my plan, I soon found out what was going on. Coyotes, I looked up the hill and saw a couple coyotes mousing I tried to draw them in making a squeaking sound with my lips, believe it or not I made this work before. But they were content with finding their mice. This went on for a while. Then they finally left, within minutes a small buck came in and was feeding 20 yards away. He was relaxed and the wind was blowing right at him giving me some confidence my sent was blowing over him and the plan was working.
A few minutes later he blew out of there like he was on fire. The coyotes returned with a couple new pack members in tow. Five to be exact, this went on for a couple hours, all they were doing is trying to catch mice, it was fun watching them but they were not helping my hunting chances at all so I thought.
When they finally left 15 minutes later I see a big bodied deer coming and sure enough one of the buck I was hoping to see came out and was looking very high strung. He was walking very nervously and jumpy. He got about 50 yards out and I grunted at him, he about jumped out of his skin in fear. He looked like he was going to bolt then, he just turned and started walking in my direction.
He past my tree and 2 yards and that was my best chance for a shot. I was afraid to stop him with a grunt because of the past reaction. My shot was lower than I wanted and a little back, probably because he was moving. He ran 80 yards and stopped. He was standing there for five minutes and I kept saying please fall. Then he took ten steps and stopped again and again. He went past this blowdown and I never saw him come out. He is now 125 yards away. I took a deep breath and was thinking a mile a minute. I decided to wait a few hours before even climbing down. I’m thinking wow, all this happened in just a few minutes in time. I didn’t want to leave the areas with a buck down with a questionable hit with all the coyotes in the area. So I got down at 11:30 and started slowly following his blood trail, there was lots of sign of a good hit. When I got close to the blowdown I was stopping every 2 steps looking through the binoculars, then I saw him in his bed still alive. Now I was thinking of the right thing to do at this point any other time I would just back out and come back in five or six hours but the coyotes. I came up with a plan, not perfect but I had to try. The wind was wrong but I got away with passing through it, I worked my way in to approach from his back,I would get a second chance. The plan worked perfectly. I got past him and the wind was in my favor. I worked my way into position to about 15 yards. I was in the best possible position. I blew it, I shot just over his back and he shot out of his bed like a rocket. He stopped at 80 yards and started walking away. I waited for a while then started after him. The blood got harder to find, then it just stopped. I heard my truck coming towards me and my son-in-law drove up to me as I was at the place my buck crossed the road. Colin was going to get ice for the buck he shot the day before. I told him to continue on and he could help me when he got back. I kept looking in every direction I could think of this buck would have taken. Colin returned and we continued to look. Frustrated and disappointed in myself for some things I thought I should have done differently. I told Colin to go back for lunch and to get something to drink, I planned on continuing the search. Colin told me he was hanging with me. So I regrouped calmly said, let’s go back to the last blood. We fanned out and started looking for any sign, I was looking in this clear cut I was sure the buck entered, I found what I was looking for blood and a direction, 6 spots of blood made my heart jump. I called Colin over to that spot, I told him I know this buck is within 100 yards of us right now. Let’s start a grid and find him. And that exactly what we did. Less than five minutes into the search I heard a whistling, I asked Colin as a approached him, did you find him. He pointed and covered his lips as to say quiet. He’s laying there I can see his antlers. So I moved into a position to get a better look. Sure enough he was bedding 20 yards away with his head up and alert. I got 15 yards away and did not miss this time.
Topic: Never give up never stop looking (Read 1982 times)
