So I got ran out of my set up this morning on what I thought would be my best property by a neighbor who set up 60 yards from me. I pulled my set and went to my parents place for the rest of the morning. Before I got down for lunch, I flipped a coin to see if I should stay and the ruling was to come back.
I was back in the stand at 2:30 and around 3:30 the wind stopped coming from the NW and started back drafting to the SE. Now I have faith in the smoker, but my wind was now going in the same direction where all the bucks have come from this year and it made me a little nervous. A half hour later, I hear a deer running and throw the binos up to see a 140" 10 point on the edge of the field in my new "scent cone". He was coming on a string before he locked up on the edge of the field 60 yards out. The wind had died down and I really don't think he smelled me, but he sure didn't come in as hoped. Instead, he picked up the trail of a doe I saw before leaving for lunch.
After he left, the wind picked up and was still blowing in an easterly manner which is horrible for this set. So I decided to move to my ground blind so I didn't booger up any good bucks. Smart plan right? Fuck no.
Around 6 I notice the wind has died and I probably would have been safe had I stayed. I watched 3 doe fawns play around and shortly after they left, I caught movement on the trail near my stand that gives me a 25 yard quartering away shot. I saw a big body and some tines, so I grabbed my binos and nearly shit my pants.
There in all his glory on his hind legs with his rack in the scrape right in front of camera, is one of the biggest bucks I've seen in some time. Easy 140 and probably bigger as a 9 point. His 5 point side is that of a 150" 10. Tall, heavy, and a huge body. He'd have given me that 25 yard shot had I stayed in that stand.
So my drought continues. I've worked so hard and wanted it so bad for years and I just can't catch a break. It's going to make an old man of me right quick...
I was back in the stand at 2:30 and around 3:30 the wind stopped coming from the NW and started back drafting to the SE. Now I have faith in the smoker, but my wind was now going in the same direction where all the bucks have come from this year and it made me a little nervous. A half hour later, I hear a deer running and throw the binos up to see a 140" 10 point on the edge of the field in my new "scent cone". He was coming on a string before he locked up on the edge of the field 60 yards out. The wind had died down and I really don't think he smelled me, but he sure didn't come in as hoped. Instead, he picked up the trail of a doe I saw before leaving for lunch.
After he left, the wind picked up and was still blowing in an easterly manner which is horrible for this set. So I decided to move to my ground blind so I didn't booger up any good bucks. Smart plan right? Fuck no.
Around 6 I notice the wind has died and I probably would have been safe had I stayed. I watched 3 doe fawns play around and shortly after they left, I caught movement on the trail near my stand that gives me a 25 yard quartering away shot. I saw a big body and some tines, so I grabbed my binos and nearly shit my pants.
There in all his glory on his hind legs with his rack in the scrape right in front of camera, is one of the biggest bucks I've seen in some time. Easy 140 and probably bigger as a 9 point. His 5 point side is that of a 150" 10. Tall, heavy, and a huge body. He'd have given me that 25 yard shot had I stayed in that stand.
So my drought continues. I've worked so hard and wanted it so bad for years and I just can't catch a break. It's going to make an old man of me right quick...