It was November 9th and 27 degrees and I had just climbed into my stand. The weather was going to be perfect, sunny with a 7 mph wind blowing to the north west. As I got into my stand I thought of how lucky I was. I had a few stands to choose from but something kept telling me to go to this stand. I had only hunted it twice before and only saw does about 40 yards away behind me.
How I got to this stand site made me laugh. Last year I followed a heavy trail to a new spot about 400 yards from a spot I had hunted off on and on for years that was very sporadic. This trail crossed a mountain bike trail and then continued on past these houses. Well I found some nice rubs and a another heavy trail and where they came together I put up my stand. Late October I'm in my stand on a Wednesday and from the houses 50 yards behind me comes a guy with two big bernese mountain dogs. He is on the trail and goes right by me without seeing me. Well the problem is most of the people in the Hamptons are anti-hunting so I try to avoid them as much as possible. Plus he had both dogs off the leash. This happened the next sit too but with his wife and two small kids around. Well I decided, with this activity especially the dogs off the leash let me move my stand.
So I took it down and moved it further west about 200 yards to an open wooded area that didn't have many trees suitable to a stand. I found on where the tree leaned back a bit and there was the main trail behind me and another nice trail that veered off the main trail and went right in front of me at 15 yards. perfect. The trail that was behind me ran east to west and once it passed behind me it jigged a little north. Well I practiced that shot leaning way out on my stand connected to my lifeline and figured I could make the shot if need be.
:campfire:
The sun slowly made its appearance and I could see my breath move over my right shoulder and drift away. At 7:00am I hear the unmistakable sound of a deer coming from the west. A doe is coming in around 40 yards away and I'm hoping a buck is on her tail. As she gets closer I realize she is a spike buck. lol
Time for bed, more tomorrow.
The spike headed right under my stand and started browsing on some buds from some small bushes. While I was enjoying the moment I hear a deer coming from the west. Sure enough a nice eight pointer is making its way down the hill in front of me on the trail that will veer to my left and give me a nice 15 yard shot. He stops once he sees the spike and slowly starts walking in. I'm getting excited and just know I'm going to get a shot. he is intent on watching the spike and is not looking up at all. He is now about twenty yards away, slightly quartering too but he is going to take the trail jigging to my left and I'll get a broadside shot. he is done watching the spike and starts to walk when out of no where I hear. " Jasper, Jasper! come on boy, come come come! " Around 60 yards behind me are houses and the guy is calling his dog in. The buck looks over that way in my direction and then looks up and he has me. I rock solid still, but he slams his foot down! the spike bolts and then he runs off 30 yards and stops. My shot is blocked by brush and then he walks out of my life. I just had to laugh and say to God, cmon, it's the rut send me a bigger buck will you....
What's this? A huntin story and so few replies? I'm with ya man!! On with it!!
Well......cmon with it. :)
If this is "on The Island" and in the Hampton's no less...... well.... I am just holding my breath.... NEXT
:campfire:
I love hunting in "the hood". It isn't as easy as many think it is.
:campfire:
:coffee:
And??
That had to be Dana Porinos dog from the " Five" on Fox News lol. She has a dog she talks about all the time and his name is Jasper and they live somewhere in N.Y. :biglaugh: :laughing:
Sorry guys, worked until 1am last night trying to get ahead with the craziness going on.
I'm still thinking of that buck that got away and I hear the leaves crunching to my left and I think to myself a deer has got to be on that trail that is behind me. Sure enough here comes a nice buck, nose to the ground and moving a little quick. I pivot around and as he just turns to follow the trail that jigged a little east giving me a quartering away shot the arrow is gone. The buck books out of there heading the way he was going with the arrow sticking out about 15 inches. I listen intently and I think I heard him go down but I'm not sure with all the excitement. I text my buddies who are hunting about a mile away and they tell me to give them a call if I need help. I stay in the stand for a 1/2 and then get out. A drop of blood at the spot where he was hit, then a couple of more three feet away, then a few more, then a small stream then a really easy to follow blood trail for 60 yards and then I see him.
Nice!! Way to go!
I used my Palmer recurve 47lbs, heritage 90 and palmer Extreme Cut 4 blade broadhead.
Congratulations and nice buck...
That's awesome man :clapper:
Very nice buck,congratulations! :clapper:
Like that character rack. Good old warrior. Congratulations!
:coffee: :archer2: :campfire: :wavey: :o
Beautiful buck Jeff.
Great story! Awesome hunt! Congrats!
Very Nice!
Congratulations
worth the wait...CONGRATES !!!
Thanks guys! He was the only opportunity I had all season. Didn't get much time to hunt except Saturday afternoons and some Sundays since work was crazy. Feel very blessed that I had the opportunity much less take him.
Well done & congratulations on a fine buck :campfire:
I'm glad you got out. I was not so lucky, this year. Every day in the woods is a blessing.
:coffee: :archer2: :campfire: :thumbsup:
Congrats Mint. Great buck. I also appreciate a hunting story this time of year
That's awesome! Nice buck and congrats!
That's a dandy!! Congrats :thumbsup:
Next time, don't make us wait four months for the story :biglaugh:
Well done :thumbsup:
Great story and a stud of a buck!
Nice! I didn't even know their were woods on LI, much less deer being hunted!
Congrats! Awesome buck and great story!
Great buck! Congrats! :thumbsup:
City bucks can be bruisers, but we can't hunt them here.
:o
Quote from: SlowBowKing on March 19, 2020, 08:44:50 AM
Nice! I didn't even know their were woods on LI, much less deer being hunted!
Long Island has a lot of urban sprawl but out on the eastern end there is the pine barrens and a lot of woodlots. We have a deer population problem and a four month archery season with basically unlimited doe tags. Unfortunately we have a lot of anti-hunters and most of the many parks we have are closed to hunting. A couple of years ago a few coyotes were spotted but I've never seen one and they haven't established a big presence yet. We have trophy bucks but they tend to be on private property and the places where you aren't allowed to hunt.
That is one beautiful animal! Good story telling also! Thanks for sharing it.. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
way to go Jeff(Cookie). see you at the Muzzy
We can't hunt inside city limits here, and there are several hoss bucks I see while hiking or mt biking. That are among some of the largest I've seen in my life.
Wudstix, same here on LI but unfortunately we also have a lot of poachers and a lot of the big bucks get poached.
Sent a PM. He is the screen saver on my phone.
:coffee: :campfire:
Great story - Great shot - Great Buck! :thumbsup:
Congratulations!!!!
Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.
I enjoyed it very much and boy oh boy is he a beautiful buck!
Bravo