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Post by Professor T on Oct 27, 2006 21:46:36 GMT -6
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Post by Professor T on Oct 27, 2006 21:48:06 GMT -6
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Post by Professor T on Oct 27, 2006 21:48:58 GMT -6
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Post by Professor T on Oct 27, 2006 22:04:14 GMT -6
My hunt started off with a few mishaps. I left my pull up rope at the camp not thinking that I had removed it because I thought the tree might fall in the wind the other day. Only half the tree will fall but will put my stand in the open rendering it useless when it happens. Then after getting everything up in the stand I drop my water bottle which I had to climb down to retrieve. I had warmed up a little over the last couple of days so this didn't help the sweat situation (Which I forgot my cover scent). So in cooling off in my short sleeves the gnats started bad. Out came the Thermacell...It worked great. there was a slight breeze from the SE went I tested the wind. Great wind for everything except the little corner NW of the plot where I was in the Lone Oak Stand. OK, now I'm settled in.
About 6:15pm I notice movement about the middle of the plot. A big doe was running around. Just after seeing her I noticed a buck harassing her. He wasn't in full chase but definitely interested. It was enough for her to eventually leave the plot just under my tree. Now the buck was alone and definitely interested in what food there was on the buffet. He was also very wary but not nervous. He worked his way around the other side of the pecan tree and made a big loop coming back toward me, the rice bran, and the feeder (corn). He stood facing the south end of the plot seemingly looking for the doe but also doing what bucks do...just stand there and stare into space. He tried working his way to the rice bran but his 6th sense told him not to. He trotted away from me, made a circle and came back. HE stood there some more facing in my direction. The whole while my bow is up and he is standing at around 30 yards but I cannot draw.
He finally decides not to partake in the buffet and starts to exit via the trail that the doe and the spike came out of a few days before. While making his circle to do this I drew. He stopped at 28 yards in the cut over but not blocked by any trash. I let the carbon fly. He bolted into the cut over and he stopped about 30 yards inside, then silence.
I could only wait about 5 minutes before going to check to see if I hit him. I know I shot low because I have been high in practice and on my last deer. I also shot above the 6 point. I shot low intentionally this time aiming for a heart shot (If low I miss and if high I get lung). I walked over to where he was standing and saw my arrow right away, at least half the arrow. Red blood on the first half of the half and droplets on the fletching. I went back to the stand and sat for awhile. I figured the shot for 6:30pm.
I recognized the deer soon after seeing him. He is the one I call "Pistol". In judging from body size I would lean more to the 3 yr. old than the 2 yr. he still falls in the between category. Weight around 160 to 180 lbs.
About 7:00pm I started trailing him. He took the hard way everywhere he went. At first the blood was drops and then big globs with solid clods in it. His trail led to the T-Plot and then I lost it. I came out and started looking for Kevin. He came to pick me up on the west plot after seeing I wasn't on the stand and not at his buggy he came back to look for me. We drove back to where I lost him and found where he had turned away from the plot and had a great blood trail leading well off my property onto the neighbors and back toward mine again. At about 9:30 pm we heard a deer get up and move. Blood was getting really thin by now and sometimes it was almost a clear liquid. We continued for a little while but could not find any more. We gave up after trailing him 500 to 600 yards and hearing what was probably him get up.
I lost a good buck. Those that have lost one before know how I feel. It's not the loss of a trophy but the wasted life of a good animal. Enough said on that because I feel bad enough.
When returning to the west plot there were two yearlings on the plot.
When we got back to the camp we had to explain why we didn't call but the wives understood. It was a long night for them also not hearing from us coming out the woods.
I will post some pictures to explain where I shot and what the buck did on the plot.
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Post by Professor T on Oct 28, 2006 22:48:04 GMT -6
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