Walkin' Away.....

[KSshrewman]

A ladder stand overlooking a scrape.  Cool Saturday afternoon Nov. 1st in KS.  A couple grunts.....then the leaves....then another grunt.  4 does walk into a meadow followed by a nice tall 9.  Here he comes at 8 yards to the scrape.  Perfect quartering away shot just steps away.  Nothing better!?
I draw my elkhearts back......hold for a second...and then....let down.
Huh? ..... I watched him walk away.
 

He was a good buck.  A buck I could have harvested from my little farm in SE KS and been proud.  But.....what was going through my mind was...this is Nov 1st.  I'm at deer camp with some good friends.  We only get one buck in KS.  Did I really want to be done now.  In years past....buck down....but the older I get the more I enjoy just being out here in November.  Buck or no buck, time spent at camp for two or three weeks is time I just didn't want to give up.  Good friends, the memories, the laughs, the time spent alone on stand....those are the larger reasons for the season.
Don't get me wrong.....if I see him again in a couple weeks the outcome and story may end different.  But for now I'm content watching him walk away...and having to tolerate a few more nights of camp.
 

Pure awesomeness!!!!!!!!

Good luck with the rest of your season! Sounds like you already have a dandy start to it!

Bisch

[johnnyk71]

good gravy...

I believe I'd have had to drop the string and just volunteer as camp cook and videographer for the rest of the season.

[mangonboat]

   

[SAM E. STEPHENS]

I have let a few walk myself , I also have a cool camp with some good guys. The rut is on and a cold front just hit us a few hours ago and now I fell it (no walking away the next few days) it's on now....

,,,,,Sam,,,,

[D. Key]

I think it's what you are smok'in in your pipe. Has to be fogg'in your brain. In any case you demonstrated more restraint than I would ever have.

[ron w]

Originally posted by johnnyk71:
good gravy...

I believe I'd have had to drop the string and just volunteer as camp cook and videographer for the rest of the season.

X2......and I can cook !!!

[kadbow]

   

[South MS Bowhunter]

You nailed it, without nailing him!

[beaunaro]

ron w....

I'm always hungry.

Any chance we can get together?

   

[huntnmuleys]

hey that's cool.  I did similar yesterday, passed the biggest muley ive ever passed up on.  kinda fun

[Marc B.]

Nice camp don't blame you at all for wanting to stay awhile.

[awbowman]

Yes sir, that's what it really is all about!

[23feetupandhappy]

Awesome just Awesome  

[Krex1010]

Your camp looks awesome, can't blame you for not shooting but......lol. I've been there done that and then I've been venison free all winter. No regrets though. Although I have to say it's kinda nice getting a buck early and then just enjoying camp time, cooking, sleeping when you want, being able to stay up late playing cards, and watching your camp mates walk out into the bitter cold and knowing you can hang by the fire and have fresh tenderloins and eggs for breakfeast.

[medic77]

That is what this is all about.  That is awesome and hope i can get to "that place" in my hunting career

[Thumper Dunker]

Catch and release.        Done that a few times on real pretty coyotes.

[Jerry Jeffer]

[CoachBGriff]

Very cool!  It's all about the hunt.

[David Brent]

Fantastic! I am fighting the feeling envy right now. LOL. Looks like a great group of guys and a great camp. God Bless you guys.