Most fun ever hunting tonight. We had a full moon, cold front moving in and light rain. I figured I would see some action. I decided to hunt a gully area that is a huge funnel. I normally hunt it during rut. I took a deer lure inscent with me. Never tried one before. I thought that the damp air might trap my scent down in the gully I was in and the insent might mask it. I was in stand watching some turkeys and a few does move up in the field when I saw a flash of antlers. I pulled out my can call an bleated. I know it is early, but you never know! He stopped dead and looked around. I bleated again and he started to move further into he field. At this point I could not see him. So I grunted very loud and rattled my bag like a nasty fight was on. That buck came barreling into that gully. He ran in to 15 yards dead in front of me. One problem, he was facing me. He was a beauty. Very tall and wide 10 pointer. He had a good thick neck! Man I was stoked! Neither one of us moved. I felt like he was staring right at me. He was looking for the fight:) He turned his head to sniff my inscent stick and I got into position. I think it was maybe 15-20 minutes of him sniffing and eating leaves with no shot. I do not shoot the chest. Finally her started to turn. I raised my bow but he just spun a 360 and trotted up the ridge. I grabbed the can call and bleated but he did not care for the lady anymore. So I hit the rattle bag again. He bolted back down into the gully, this time East of me. I was grinning like it was Christmas. I have played with little bucks before calling them back but never a mature buck! He stood 35 yards broadside with a thicket between us. Biggest decision of my hunting career at this point. I knew he would soon step out and give me a clear shot. I knew I could hit him, no problem. I have never taken a whitetail at 35 yards. I only pull 40#@23". I knew rain was heading my way. I was unsure if I could get a double lung at 35 yards. He was so beautiful I wanted him bad but would be devastated to hit him and not recover him. I decided that "an arrow is like a spoken word, once released it can never be taken back". So I waited for him to work his was in closer to me. He took his time. He came in 15 yards broadside and it was dark! I thought I would be heartbroken to lose this deer that I had such an amazing experience calling in. Yet, I had the biggest high that I have ever gotten from hunting. I have had to learn this game by myself. No one to teach me first hand. I have learned a ton from this site as well as Traditional Bowhunter Magazine. It was a huge accomplishment for me to call a beautiful deer into me twice and have him never see me in my stand. What an amazing sight to have an animal like that in front of you. A whitetail buck is truly a beautiful sight. I could only thank God for nature and this awesome hunt and go home with a smile.
PS- I will be back after him tomorrow:)
Katie
Topic: Greatest hunt ever! (Read 1124 times)
