Started off the New Year pretty well.

[pdk25]

As most of my friends know, I haven't had much time to hunt as a result of my work schedule, but I have been out a handful of times for a few hours each.  Shot a small spike that I thought was a doe at last light a little while back, but no other shot opportunities other than that, up until this week.

In the NW corner of my alfalfa field (which seems to be eaten into dirt), I found trails coming in from both the west and the east that were loaded with fresh tracks since the recent rain.  A cold front was coming through, so I hoped something would be moving into the field during daylight. 

I didn't have much cover for a spot on the ground or in a tree to the west, so I followed the trail from the east into a drainage, and found a decent tree for an ambush.  I quickly pulled a treestand and some climbing sticks from a different field and got seated for the evening hunt with less than 2 hours of light remaining.

around 45 minutes before dark, I could see 4 day and a small buck up in the field, which must have entered from the west.  Around 20 minutes later I heard deer coming through the drainage toward me from the Northeast.  At first I only saw two, and they were nice 3.5yo deer that I have been following since last year.  I had previously resolved to hold off on shooting them because they should be really nice next year, but my mind was racing, with season ending soon.  I was doing complex mathmatical equations in my head, regarding how many mature deer I would still have next year on my property if I shot one of these, and was getting ready to draw down on a buck a freind named 'High and Mighty', when I heard noise further up the trail.  I grabbed my binoculars and saw a mature  8 point that I had some night time pictures of.  I let the 2 younger deer pass, even though they had nicer racks, and decided to hope that things worked out for the older 8 point.

The other 2 contined toward the field, and the older deer slowly made his way down the trail.  He passed by at around 10 yard, and even though I was 12 feet up the tree, he was nearly level with my because of the contour of the drainage.  I drew as he crossed behind a tree, and he was nice enought to pause nearly broadside just after passing by the tree.   

I had recently been shooting my Silvertip in the expecation of using one of my ground blinds, so I left my Stickflingers at home for this hunt, and that reliable Silvertip did it's job.  I put a real good hit on him, using Nitro stinger arrows made up by Gary at DM custom arrows. tipped with wide 2 blade VPA head.  Got a mule kick, and he ran around 30 yards toward the field before doing a spin and flop, making for a shorter drag for me.  Anyway, I am pretty happy with the result.

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Some pics of him on the hoof.

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[fnshtr]

Congrats on a fine buck!

[Chumster]

Glad to see you are able to get out and doing well!

Congrats on the fine looking buck!

[Bisch]

Awesome buck Pat!!!

Congrats!

Bisch

[Big Ed]

Well done sir!

[kennym]

Great job Pat !! 

[Orion]

Well done.   

[chinook907]

Real nice Pat.

[pdk25]

The buck that I passed on to shoot this one.

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And the other I passed on.

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[pdk25]

Another couple left for next year.

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[MIBIGHNTR]

Awesome buck, CONGRATS!!

[KAZ]

Well done! Congratulations 

[Crittergetter]

Good job buddy!! You have some awesome bucks on your pace!!

[Alexander Traditional]

Very nice buck! Congratulations.

[GCook]

Dang fine buck.  Congratulations!

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[kennym]

Next year is lookin GOOD !!

[Yooper-traveler]

Wow!  Nice work sir!

[1/4 away]

Way to go, Pat  , Congrats!

[Roy from Pa]

 

[doubleo]

Great buck! Congrats! Good luck next year!