Post by Professor T on Nov 9, 2009 19:48:20 GMT -6
The Faith Buck
First identified on trail-cam on July 8, 2009, he was a regular visitor to the Buck Point area. Only once was his picture captured at South Fork but he was still hanging with the other buck known as Cut Off. He was last pictured on trail-cam on September 16, 2009 while still in velvet. I have no photos of him with hard antlers before the kill on October 31, 2009.
On the day of the kill Jason Aythingy was filming my hunt for Bayou Bucks DVD II. We were in hopes of shooting a doe but the weather had turned perfect for a buck to show up. The front that passed through the day before had a lot of rain but did not carry much wind. Instead of taking two days for the wind to die down after the front it died down the next day. Perfect conditions for bucks to show up.
The evening was started with a light wind from the north. It was cool and the wind died down early in the evening with just a slight air movement. Perfect for deer to come out. The first to come out was the twin fawns that were regular visitors. They ate at the feeder and moved over under the Killing Tree soon after. They both looked near the feed trough and a spike came out to join them. All three fed for a while then a flock of doves near the feeder took off and scared the twins. They exited at Buck Point. The spike stayed and fed under the tree and to our right. A few minutes later the spike moved towards the road that leads to the Beech Tree Plot or Judas Branch. He walked towards the opening and was met by a 7-point. There the two interacted for a while in a way I had never seen. The 7-point soon came our direction and started licking branches and doing scraping activity. This was a real good buck to take and my eyes were set on him. That is until I saw more activity coming from the opening. The next to come out was an 8-point that was larger in body and antlers. He didn’t hang around the opening very long. He came out. He was followed by a doe and then a spike ( One long and one short a regular visitor). By this time the 7-point had take a path away from the stand but still in range. Jason told me I’m on him (Meaning the 8-point). I started to draw but the buck was looking our direction and had to wait. He turned his head to look at the 7-pointer and I drew. My intention was to take him where the 7-pointer was previously standing which was about a 35 yard shot. The 8-pointer took a few steps in that direction but as most deer do he walked a few steps away from the direction he intend to go then circle in on the spot. He did this like on a string.
This entire time I am drawn but not in a comfortable position. The cams broke over twice as I was losing my strength. To top this off Jason said wait. The buck continued on his path to the feed and I heard the word “Kay”. I picked my spot with about a 1/8th turning away position put my nose on the string, center my sight pin, aimed a little low because of the close distance and “WHACK….CKKKKKK!” The buck dropped low, twisted and on his first step I saw the arrow fall. All of the deer ran back to the Beech Tree Plot and I had a feeling of a real good hit. Buck fever was coming on fast now. I turned to the camera and made a few comments. I don’t know what I said because I was in shock. I remember that after a minute or two I started shaking. That is when it always hits me. Almost never when the deer is there but after the shot.
We discussed what to do next and decided to wait. After a high five we climbed down and found the arrow. There was no smell of gut and it was broken off on the fletching side just above the label. All but that last 5” had passed through. There was blood immediately and a good trail to the opening. We backed off and went back to the camp to view the footage and eat. When we saw the impact of the arrow we knew it was good.
Jonathan was filming for Bayou Bucks at my brother’s club about eight miles away. I talked with my brother on the phone and found out that all they saw was a spike. Jonathan was with my brother’s son, Justin and the other son Paul, killed a doe. They checked it in and came to my camp to clean it and help with tracking my deer. We ate some pork roast and gravy over rice while we view the footage again.
About 9 pm we tracked the buck and we found him at the very end of the BTP. The celebrating continued. Paul and Justin dragged the deer out for me. We cleaned both deer, caping mine out to be mounted. The day ended after midnight with everyone fairly exhausted. Thank God for all the help.
