Does "Almost" Count For Something?

[mcgroundstalker]

Talk about a heart pumping turn of events! Let me kinda start at the get go. After two days of rain and wind opening day in the Catskill Mountains was grand. A Stalkers Heaven with steady wind in my face and wet leaves throughout the heavy cover I dig so much.

It took me about three hours to cover maybe 150 yards. The tree rats were so close to me I heard one breathe. Sounds like a cat purring. Then I see a deers eye at about 15-20 yards inside the brush. Used my binos to check out if there was more than one or maybe a buck bedded in there. Saw the "eye" again and a short tail flicker... Then nothing. I mean not a thing. Wind was right. No noise on my part to scare the deer off. Did it walk away?

I closed the distance to where I first saw this deer to about 7 yards. Kept looking as far as I could see with both the naked eye and my Zeiss glasses. I relaxed a bit thinking it was over when suddenly... Her head popped up right in front of me! She lay bedded facing me behind the roots of a blow down. Watching her being confused and preparing to jump was a trip! She let me raise my bow and put tension on the string although no shot was possible at this time.

She won the stand-off and took off like a bat outa #*@% with another one in tow. Simple terrain structure, a little shallow spot hid her from me. Guess next time I'll move slower and keep focus real close around me. Must of done something right. Made my day! Just no cutlets yet......

... mike ...

[koops4]

Good job on getting close.

[ishiwannabe]

And then a brush with a grouse...sounds like a great time to me Mikey.

[Bjorn]

From the sounds of it you had an exciting time with a minimum clean up!  

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Close enough to smell em

[Sixby]

Wonderful and exciting memories. Some of the almosts in my hunting lifetime stand out as far or even further than the kills. God Bless you and have a wonderful day. Steve

[Friend]

Good job. This experience may have placed its indellible mark of which you have now increased your hunting mojo.

[woodchucker]

Well Done Waysiah!!!!!!!!!!

If it was meant to be,she would have stood up and given herself to you.

The Great One is pleased with your patience,your time will come!!!!!

[mcgroundstalker]

I was thinking the same thing Chuck... And who could forget Monday afternoon with Jamie and TWO encounters with the same grouse... That in itself must have meant something. I mean in a spiritual way. This grouse, twice, landed on the ground right in front of me, then walked away slow... Missed a 10 yard shot with my "best" arrow.    Until Next Time.

... mike ...

[ron w]

          Waiting for more stories,I'm sure there will be more...

[maineac]

Sounds like you did everything right, but trust your vision.  Great job.

[bigbadjon]

I had a few almosts before closing the deal. Just think of it as good practice. If you are getting within shooting distance you are doing everything right.

[3dmuzzy]

It won't be long,your getting close  good luck!

[kadbow]

COOL!

[adkmountainken]

way to go bro!!!!! your time will come, and mine i hope!

[Guru]

Way to go buddy, very cool!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Mike, That is awesome.  what do you mean almost? you beat a deer at their own game and were able to close within yards.

Although you didn't have to drag anything but your butt out of the woods sounds like a huge success.

Congrats Mikey, you will get one before long!

[Hatchet]

WHAT ALMOST COUNTS FOR IS, THAT DEER WILL NEVER DIE, IT WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN YOUR MEMORY.

[Shawn Leonard]

Mikey, if I could get ya to sit even a ladder stand we could get ya deer!! Keep plugging away, it will happen buddy! Shawn

[Stone Knife]

That's got to be a rush, the first year I hunted trad I almost had a shot at a bedded buck. If we get a hard rain there is some standing corn by my house that I would like to stalk(no pun intended)