When the deer started to filter back in, I thought that maybe I could get another shot. The 8 pointer came back, 3 button bucks, the 6, and a couple of does. The 8 pointer was posturing a bit when the others would get close, laying his ears back and doing his best to look nasty.
All of a sudden his demeanor changed and he and the others headed to the far side of the feeder, and they were looking to my left and behind me. Slowly I turned my head, and saw a forkie, another 6 and a doe coming my way. Behind them was a nice 7 pointer with a freakish rack. His left antler was a normal 4 point, the outside edge just at the ear. The other side had 3 points, but was probably 6 inches past the ear.
When he got there, you knew he was going to be running the show. The others gave him lots of room, staying well out of his way. Once again I eased into position. He seemed to be calming down after feeding my way for a while, looking like he was pretty relaxed, or as relaxed as a Solana deer can be.
He was facing my right, maybe 15-17 yards away as I started my draw. Thumb knuckle in front of the ear, check. Nose on the back of the feather, check. Skinny bird leg out of the way, check. I picked a spot low on the chest, just back of the elbow and once again felt the arrow slip away.
I've never seen a deer move so freaking fast in my life! The buck dropped down and did a 180 before the arrow arrived, and I got nothing but air. The deer scattered as I sat there wondering what just happened. This buck definitely "ran the script"!
There's still a bit of daylight left, but I have no more broadheads in the quiver. This is a situation that I've never faced before. For some reason I carry one field point or hex head in my quiver in case I want to stump shoot on the way in or out. I was really regretting that decision on this hunt. I decided I'd better go retrieve the 2 arrows I could see while there was nothing in sight.
As soon as I opened the door to the blind deer started blowing on the hillside behind me. I slowly closed the door and sat back down, not wanting to ruin the spot for the next hunter. I figured that the action was over for the evening.
Then the pigs showed up. They came in fast, from across the field behind me, right at dusk. Here I am, no broadheads left, with 15 pigs at 7-10 yards. The thought did occur to me that I should shoot one with the field point, but I didn't think that would work very well and held off.
My flaslight shining on them startled them briefly, then they returned to the feed. Nothing I did in the blind seemed to bother them, and they stayed for around 20-30 minutes as I waited for the guys to come get me.
The wait seemed like an eternity for me. I was a bit nervous about the turkey, thinking that the hogs may go over there and eat it, but I was ready to rush over and defend it if necessary!
Finally I saw headlights coming and I started out the blind, still shaking from the excitement. Katman noticed the vacancies in my quiver and I told them what had happened.
I was pretty sure where the turkey was, but we retrieved the arrows first, and the one I hit the turkey with was covered with blood. I followed blood on the ground to where he had laid down, then headed to the cedar tree where he died. The guide found him first, and I had my prize!
Upon further inspection back at the ranch house, we discovered that the turkey was a special one- he had not one, but TWO beards! I was ecstatic, and called my wife to tell her the news. She immediately asked if I was going to have him mounted, and I told her that I believe I would!
It was an unbelievable afternoon, one that I will never forget!
Topic: OFFICIAL 2013 SOLANA RANCH HUNT THREAD (Read 19308 times)
