Yesterday, after bus duty and a faculty meeting, I was able meet up with my hunting budy, Big Gus, for an afternoon hunt. And boy what a hunt it was. We met up at 5 pm. Gus is a big fella, 6-4 & 300+, with long arms. He shoots a 64inch Jefferies Royal Hunter and VPA 250 Terminators. I had the Harrelson in tow. We we each got settled into our spots for the after noon at about 5:55pm. I was a beautiful afternoon with acorns dropping everywhere.
About an hour into the hunt, I desided to stand up and put a few calls out. Just as I stood, that little voice says look over your shoulder. I turn to look back up the hollow and see movement. Eventually a young eight point makes his way down the hollow in my direction. The spot that I am set up in is a creek crossing that is the easiest place for the deer to cross. As he gets closer Im thinking this could be it! But for some reason, instead of crossing he desided that he wanted to stay on his side of the creek. He pasted by me out of range. But it was great to get a look at him. But the fun didn't end there! Not fifteen minutes later, three does made their way down the draw just as the buck had done. As they hit the crossing, all three jumped to my side of the creek. Now i'm ready! The does worked there way up out of the creek and picked acorns just 15 yards behind my stand. Just when everything was looking good, the lead doe went on alert. The wind swirled and she blew and ran down the creek twenty yards and stopped. She never saw me but she must have picked up my scent. Not long after, she jumped the ditch and took her friends with her. So I thought that this would be it. It was over. Wrong! Twenty minutes before sun down a big deer blew right in front of my. He was coming down the hill and must have picked up a hint of scent. It was obvious that he wanted to cross and I was in his way. He would blow and stand in one spot for five minutes and then move closer. By the time he got to me, I could only hear him moving under my stand as he crossed the creek. I have never heard a deer blow and the sound be so deep! This was one of the best afternoons that I have had in a while!