Matt H, Matt C and myself left Birmingham around 6:30 Friday evening for the 5 hour trek to the farm. It's always a lot of fun to travel with these guys and the trip seems to go by quickly. We were all on high for the weekend with great weather being in the forecast. The guys weekend is a marked date on each of our calendars and a great way to put a finishing touch on the season that has been. We all rag each other hard all weekend and have a jam up time. I elected to bow hunt for the weekend and was looking forward to toting the stick and string. It is definitely my preferred method of hunting and what I normally have in hand when I'm not "guiding" the boys. I was ready to get rid of all the bad juju surrounding this past season and did something I've never done before. I broke out the face paint for the weekend hunts. It was go time! The morning hunt was fairly eventful. I had a nice high and tight 2-3 year old 8 point walk within 30 yards of me and I was able to get some great video of him cruising the WRP. I hope we're able to meet again next year, my friend. Other than a few deer here or there for everyone else, the morning was all quiet. Both Matt's decided to made mid day sits and were seeing quite a few deer during those hours. Once again, a true testament to the deer on this property having a mid day pattern. One of these days I'll learn to sleep in and hunt the mid-day and afternoon. I hung around the camp helping dad, Terry and Bryant prepping it for the new kitchen/den area that is under way. I finally got settled in the seat of my Ol' Man at 2:00 with anticipation of a great afternoon despite the wind. I ran 2 does, a spike and a 17" 6 point off while coming in that afternoon so I was very optimistic and looking forward to a 4 hour tree side vigil in the peacefullness of the great outdoors. After all, how can a beautiful afternoon spent overlooking this be bad? All was quiet until about 4:45 when a few deer began browsing. I had 4 spikes in front of me and was cussing my luck about not being able to get a doe close enough for a shot. At 5:30 6 deer popped out at 100 yards and I saw a buck in the bunch. It appeared he had broken off his poor side just above the base, but it was a no doubter that he was a messed up racked buck I had been getting pictures of since September. He was on the hit list, although I doubted he would close the distance before dark. He fed contently for a while and began to bump the does a bit, staying over 100 yards the whole time. I began to grunt at him with my mouth and he immediately picked his head up in interest. He started my way, very slowly. I was battling darkness and a cautious buck not to mention a few deer had crossed the bayou and ended up right right under me. Each time I'd grunt at the buck they would look up at me. I felt pretty naked in the leafless tree. Finally after about 5-6 sequences of grunts toward the buck, he decided to come see what the commotion was all about. He got to 12 yards, and miraculously, I was able to get drawn without spooking any of the deer around. It was a chip shot and I let the spitfire eat. He immediately went down hard on his front end and pile drove himself, both shoulders knocked out, down the field edge. He entered the woods about 40 yards from me where I heard him crash and I knew he was done. Praise the Lord for a swift, clean kill. I went and rounded everyone up and we had an easy recovery. There is something VERY, VERY special about sharing a kill with friends, no matter the size of the deer. We didn't care that he was a broke off, one horn, deformed buck any more than we'd have cared if he was a beautiful, high scoring, symmetrical 8 point. We all shared in the experience of a late season bow kill, a wonderful evening retelling the story around the fire pit and it was a perfect revitalization of what I've missed about deer hunting for a few years. I realize I have let myself get carried away in the big buck frenzy. I love growing big, mature deer and that certainly won't slow down anytime soon, but if shooting a 3 year old every once in a while means having as much fun as we had with this "little ol' 4 pernt", I say bring them on! After reviewing him in person he definitely was not the target buck I thought he was when I squeezed the release. He was a 3 year old I had pictures of as well that had only a spike on one side. I felt bad that I had a case of mistaken identity, although I'm certain this buck would have never made much, even at 4-5 years of age. He was the first buck I have shot on 3F and only the second buck we have taken in 3 years. We have let dozens of 3+ year olds walk over that time and it felt really good to zip an arrow through one. Both Matt's saw plenty of deer over the weekend and several decent bucks as well. Kudos to Matt C for restraining on a nice 16", 3 year old 8 on Saturday afternoon. I know your patience will be rewarded soon! This weekend was a wonderful experience with friends and family and enjoying ALL of God's blessings, no matter the size.
The big 6 from the picture above. I missed this deer twice at 280 yards on the afternoon of Saturday 12/28. He was tending a doe and would not leave her to come any closer. It was farther than I wanted Grayson to shoot and I shot under him both times. Hopefully our third encounter will be the one that I'm able to close the deal with him. |
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