Wow what a season this has been.  My whole world was flipped upside down back in June when we sold our house after just 2 weeks on the market.  The contract came in the day my family left for our summer vacation and I had just 5 days to pack my entire house (including all my bowhunting gear) up and be gone.  With no real plans thinking it would take 4-6 months to sell we were in a pickle.  Thanks to my gracious in-laws who offered to let us live with them while our new home is being built.

Thing is they live 2 hours from where we are building so I knew from the start that hunting on my own property this season would be hit and miss. On the positive side they also have a nice 13+ acre piece of property that just happens to be a travel route for the local deer herd.  So early in September I set up a pop up blind and two hangs on stands together so that I could hunt with my 12 year old son, Wes.  

Wes attended the Hunter Education Class this fall and can hunt on his own now, but I felt like dad still needed to be by his side to help him out learning the hard knocks that I had to learn on my own.  Any way we have been hunting really hard all fall getting up early to hunt a few hours before school and hunting the last hour of daylight when he gets out.  He shot a nice doe back in October but the shot was low and after 2 days of searching the neighboring woods we were unable to locate his deer. From the evidence at the shoot location it looked like the hit was low, nothing but white belly hair.  

We tried a few more times without any success.  We have had deer all around us but just couldn't put the dots together.  So thinking we needed to connect on a deer before he looses interest I decided to let him hunt with the black powder. Well we have had bucks all around us and Monday evening just before dark I was able to grunt in not one but 3 different bucks and still no shot presented itself.  So yesterday when Wes got home we had about 45 minutes before dark so we went and sat in the blind. I told him I had been seeing the same little 4 pt. every day walk past the blind.

He agreed and we sat in the blind. Well 15 minutes for dark here he comes. Stops broad side but Wes can't get the shot off. I tried to stop him when he started walking off but he was not interested and away he went. Dang I just cant seem to get my son a deer to save my life.

Ok now for today. Well I got all my work finished up this morning and with about 3 hours to kill I decided I would walk down and sit in the tree for a bit. The wind was whipping, a cold front had moved in so I put on my wools and headed out the door.  Takes me all of about 10 minutes to get to my stand from the house. Well I get to the tree and climb on up, pull up my bow and get myself ready to relax for a bit. Not happening!  The first time I looked back behind me on my entrance trail here he comes head down.  

I had a scent wicker in my fanny pack, so I don't know if he could smell that but he was sure nose to the ground and coming fast.  He walked by it 17 steps, I mouth grunted, he stopped and my Silvertip send a woodsman through his side.  The hit looked a little far back, but still good. I watched him run back down the hill, cross the road into the thicket. I thought to myself, "dang what the heck just happened".  

I got myself together, climbed down the tree and walked over to where the buck was standing. Thinking to myself, good blood he won't go far. I walked back up to the house (10 minutes or less) and grabbed my yagd terrier "Rocky" to join me on the track.  Well it wasn't much of a track, he made it about 100 yards before it was over.

He is one of my nicest with a bow and man does he smell of Rut... I don't think I have ever smelled a deer that smelled so stinky.  

       

Equipment used:
Silvertip 66#
Trad Heavy tipped with Wensel Woodsman
Art Vincent Arm Guard
Art Vincent Stalker Quiver

Nice buck! They're still rutting down there huh?

   

  Good job!  

Congratulations!

Nice Read, Very nice Buck, And Great Bow  

good one Rob, Congratulations !!   They hav'nt even started to rut here yet !

Nice wide rack on him. Congrats Rob!

Very nice indeed however I like the Silvertip better !  

Congrats!!!  Very nice photo and deer.      

Great job. Now its your son's turn.

Very nice and great picture!  

Congrats, Rob!  Nice one!  Make sure you send Jack a pic for the magazine.  I see one in the next issue of you already...

Nice buck Rob, Congrats!

Sweet! What part of Va are you in?

That is a great buck.  

Now, about that bow...Is that a scrimshaw inlay there?  How about a couple more bow pictures...I am always looking for Silvertip ideas  

Those 'Tips just keep "tipping them over" , congrats!!

Nice buck Rob   :D   The way that wind was blowing here today you probably didn't mind the short sit too much.  

bbassi, they seem to be still going here but i expect to have a lull any day now.

Blasterjdh you are right I need to get him a deer, hopefully this afternoon will be his day. I have everything all ready to go so wish him luck.

Kevin I just sent Jack an article, but I will need to send him another one now.  

A.S. i'm living in White Stone in the Northern Neck for the next 6-8 months while we are building a house in western Hanover.

Mac I must agree with you. I needed to kill about 2 hours. The hunt didn't last much time but the work after just about ate it all up.  

I need to add a piece of equipment:  I just noticed I was wearing my Trad Gang ball cap for the pics.  We have to wear blaze orange now that the regular season is in     :(      I hate having it on especially in photographs so it goes in the pack and my trusty camo hat comes out.