Post by Professor T on Jul 22, 2010 20:39:57 GMT -6
"Hoss"
Kill # 16 Bow Kill # 6
6 Point Buck
October 24, 2008
The Killing Tree on the E-Plot
Weapon: Compound Bow (Hoyt Vectix)
6 Point Buck
October 24, 2008
The Killing Tree on the E-Plot
Weapon: Compound Bow (Hoyt Vectix)
Arriving at the camp on Thursday, October 23, 2008 I pulled the Trailcam pictures as soon as possible. I discovered that the bucks were using the feeder at the north end of the East Plot. Two evenings in a row they arrived before dusk. I hunted the Killing Tree that afternoon. I saw 9 deer including the big 6 point, a smaller racked deer, three short spikes, one doe, and the rest were not ID’d. the six point was a regular on trailcam that I named “Hoss”. The smaller deer were under my stand but Hoss would not come over. He stayed at the feeder.
I did not hunt the next morning but when I checked the trailcams I found out that both Hoss and Cut Off, a smaller six point that I had let walk twice were there until about 8:30 am. I knew that most likely Hoss would repeat his three day ritual so I hunted the Killing Tree that afternoon again.
At 5:00 pm the feeder went off but no deer came until around 5:50 pm. “Cut Off” came on my left side from behind and went toward the feeder. I took a few pictures of him and he fed on the plot going back south where he came from. He went behind me and eventually worked his way under the stand. I was again for the second time this year with this buck at very short range. “One in the hand is better than two in the bush.” But I knew that “Hoss” was likely to come out and if he saw “Cut Off” under my tree then he may come also.
At 6:05 pm I saw another deer coming from a trail I call New Roads. I zoomed the camera in and saw that it was “Hoss”. He went directly to the feeder (51 yards).
He fed there for a while then eventually headed toward my tree. He didn’t present a shot right away because of the limbs in the tree but eventually worked his way closer. I clipped on my release and started to draw back. I was about three quarters pulled back when he looked up straight at me. Oh No! I held at semi draw for a little while but not long, it was either let down or continue my draw. I pulled all the way back put the sight pin on him and was ready to release when he bolted taking “Cut Off” with him. They ran to the end of the plot and stopped. I figured it was over but kept my cool and didn’t move. They worked their way back.
It was a rarely given second chance, Thank you God!. Both deer came in and started to feed and “Hoss” was giving a clear broadside shot. I was getting ready to connect my release again when the bolted a second time. I hadn’t even moved yet. Ok heart BUMP! BUMP!
Oh! What was I saying? An even more rare third chance. Here they come back again. They came in on a string with “Hoss” in the lead. He is standing between broadside and quartering away and he picks up his head, turns away from me to look at “Cut Off”. I draw all the way a little quicker this time and settle the pin behind his shoulder. I pulled the release and it was a soft Whack! Not real loud. I couldn’t see where the arrow when but the deer jumped up and ran to the cut over near the creek. When he got just inside the edge he slowed to a walk.
I pick up my binoculars and look for my arrow. I was stuck in the ground in the right place and was solid red. I climbed out the tree and checked my arrow and it had more blood than any arrow I have seen yet. I left and called my SIL, Kevin. He is on his way to the camp with the dogs to give them a workout.
Kevin arrived about 10:00pm and we loaded up the dogs, Hunter and Belle and headed for the back. We turned hunter loose at the arrow and it took him a little while to get on the hot trail. Blood started heavy at the cutover. When hunter got on the hot trail we turned Belle loose and she picked it up right away and stopped to lick the blood off a leaf once before going to the deer. It laid about 10 yards into the cutover. It was worth the wait to see the dogs work. An extra benefit was that Kevin helped me clean the deer.
Hoss is on the right and the 8 point is a possible next target for me.
This is Hoss at the feeder on October 23rd
