So my year started slow this season. My first 6-7 sits left me skunked on sightings... It began to pick up little by little. It wasn't until this past Friday that I had a doe in range to shoot. It also happened to be my first time at a property that I, admittedly, have screwed up the last few seasons. Anyways I took a small doe and it was good to bust something.
For some dumb reason, I did not hunt yesterday.... I was kicking myself all day!
I knew I was headed out this evening with the simple hopes of seeing some rut activity and obviously the opportunity to harvest a buck. I got to my stand, same one I took my biggest buck out of last October. It was around 3:45. As I got everything ready and began to settle in, I heard bang... I dropped my dang rattle bag and grunt, right off my stand! Whelp, shimmy down the steps, grab my crap and back up. Set my bow on the holder and sat down. It wasn't 5 minutes, now about 4:00, when I heard walking from the south. I glanced over and saw a big body, then antlers. I made a decision to kill given the chance. This buck walked exactly in front of me at 2-4 yards and through the same spot where I shot 2012 buck. I had to hug the tree and hide most of my face as he was so close and I did not want any funny stuff.... Anyways, he looked up, smelled the air and decided it was all cool. He made it to about 7-8 yards, I stopped him and squeezed her off. I immediately knew it was a hit and the blood was pumping out, but I got very concerned due to my shot placement.... It was back, he was quartering away. After the shot he walked another 10 yards and stopped, I grabbed another arrow, but he slipped over the steep bank and out of sight. Never heard any crashing or banging, just silence....
Fast forward 40 minutes that always seems like 4 hours. I decided to grab my binos and check where I hit him for blood. Sure enough there was plenty.
I then begin scanning the bottom of the hill he went down, and there was brown, then antlers! What a huge relief!! I decided to slowly and quietly slip down and to the hill edge to confirm he was dead. He was toast!
The grim reaper did the job yet again! I nipped some tummy, but think I got liver too. The cavity was BLOODY.
This deer has a great body, the rack is good. I'd shoot him again, given the chance.
Thanks all and good luck!