I have been hunting behind my house in the mornings before work for the past week. It's a small area, so I have waited for the rut to kick in before starting to hunt. Didn't want to burn it out early.
Last Tuesday afternoon was my first time sitting, and I saw a total of six deer, including one cool little buck. He was just a 1 1/2 year old (I think) but had nice tall tines and even a two inch kicker coming off the right side. But I waited and let him walk.
This morning I walked down and climbed in my stand before daylight. All I can sit is about 45 minutes or so before I have to quit to get ready for work. Shortly after daybreak a doe came walking right down the trail, twelve yards broadside. I hadn't planned on taking a doe because of the work commitment thing, but she stopped quartering away at 15 yards and offered me her side. Talk about temptation! But then she made a little move that saved her life. She turned and looked back over her shoulder. Hmmm....
Looking back on the trail she had come down I couldn't see anything else coming. But I let her walk away, and stood with my bow in hand, hoping she had been right. After about five minutes of watching I had about given up on the idea when I caught more movement coming. Sure enough, a nice buck was bird dogging on the trail she had used. I knew without a doubt where he would end up.
The buck was in a hurry to find his lost girlfriend, and moved quickly through the leaves, sniffing as he came. He was moving far too fast for a shot, so as he came in front of me I drew back and let out a grunt to stop him. He didn't hear my first one, but my second was louder, and he stopped, turned away, giving me a perfect opening. I experienced one of those things so many talk about where the arrow suddenly appears exactly where you were looking.
The buck crashed off through the brush, and into the surrounding marsh grass. About 50 yards out he stopped, stood still, and disappeared in the tall grass. It was over just that quick.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000607.jpg)
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000618.jpg)
They don't go far with a hole in this spot. This picture was taken from about the same angle as my shot.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/CopyofP1000620.jpg)
Nice buck! Congrats!
thats a nice deer you going to hang him on the wall i definately would congrats man .
nice buck! So I take it you had to call work, huh?
Congrats!! Thats a Nice Looking Buck, and Outside Your Backdoor makes it even Sweeter!! :clapper:
Yeah, I was a little bit late this morning. Luckily, my boss has permission to gun hunt my property. He can't say a word.
Sweet!
Congrats Joe! Nice buck and great shot. :thumbsup:
Way to go Brother Joe! That's a beaut for sure. From what I hear about you from our friends, it was well deserved. :thumbsup:
Great job Joe!! Congatulations!! God bless, Grodes
Congrats Whip! Looks like he was all rutted up too! :thumbsup:
Congrats. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
Congratulations!!!!
Claudia
Way to go Joe! Looks like my chances of getting that Cougar from you are getting smaller and smaller. Another nice rack to hang up at your camp! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Norb, that Cougar is two for two on things with antlers growing out of their heads. Just 'cause it missed a doe is no reason to throw it away :readit: You'll just have to get one of your own. If I know you that won't be long! :p
Congratulations, Whip! Beautiful shot on a dandy buck. That guy is built like an Angus steer. What a tank! :thumbsup:
Great deer Joe! I'm real happy for you! Congrats! CK
Way to go Joe. Notice how when the shot happens by itself and the arrow appears - its right in the spot. Real nice shooting and good notice on the look back by the doe. That's woodcraft - can't teach it, has to be learned by experience.
Nice buck. Can't tell where the neck stops and the body starts.
Congrats!!
Congrats nice buck!
Way to Go Whip. Excellent shooting on a Nice Buck. Congrats
Life is GOOD!!!! That is a great hunt.
Very nice. Good job.
Congratulations!!!
wow!! way to go bro awesome buck good shot :thumbsup: jeff
Oh yea...look at the body on that bruiser! Nice rack too. That's a dandy Whip!..congrats brother :thumbsup:
Nice, thanks for sharing!
Real nice buck, nice thick neck. A real bruiser. Congrats! That's one you don't mind calling out of work for.
Very nice. Congratulations. Jawge
"Whip it! Whip it good!", as DEVO said. Congratulations on a plan well laid and executed.
Congrats Joe!!!!!.....that's a dandy buck and a dandy shot. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Joe,
Awesome buck! I'm happy for you! Great looking shot too.
Chris
Bernie, you kill me. :D :eek: I bet it's safe to say that that's the one and only reference to Devo on TradGang. And that's a good thing. :scared:
Again, GREAT BUCK!!!
Joe,nice buck....congratulations! :thumbsup:
whip, pretty buck and pretty shot. Good for you, man!
hey, Bernie...I have a red plastic 3 ring dog dish around here someplace I can send you- you can wear it to Karaoke night and sing that song...just let me know so I can come and take pictures!!!!!!!!!
Thats one of the great 80's tunes!!
AWESOME!!!!
Joe, That's a great buck...congrats bud!!!
Awesome buck Joe!!!!! Man it sure has been a good year for the fellas of Wisconsin! I am very happy for you. Hope to see you at the WTA banquet in the Dells in March!
whip, congrats he's a butte--for sure :thumbsup:
Great buck Joe. If you would have waited a few days, you could have gutted it with Tippit's knife. LOL!!!!
I guess that means you just have to kill another one.
Congrats!
Very nice!! Congrats!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Way to go Whip!!! Congratulations on a very nice buck!!! Dan
Congrats, awesome deer!!
Great buck Whip. Good thing you got him behind your house hopefully not a long drag...Doc
Very nice buck. Huge neck on that bugger!
Not sure how i missed this thread. Congrats Joe! :thumbsup: Looks like you made a great shot on him. :clapper: