open field stalk

[wtnhunt]

Sunday morning on the way back in, had what I thought was a young doe feeding in one of our plots. I thought I might be able to use the hillside to get within range crawling through the wet probably 8-10 inch high grass. Looked like the deer was by itself and was about 100 yards away. I left my back pack behind and started crawling.

Every minute or so the deer would raise its head up look around and then go back to feeding. I watched and would stop as it raised its head to look around. I stayed just the other side of the ridge where I just could see its back. As I got closer my heart started really beating. Within about 50 yards and thinking I might just make it and it raises up and looks dead at me. I froze with my head looking downward held my head where my cap pretty well vcovered my eyes and held my bow off the ground held in my left hand and the deer watched me for what seemed like 5 minutes, but was probably less than a minute.

Finally it went back to feeding and I eased up a little closer another 10 yards closer, head up again and I stopped thinking I did not need to get much closer. As soon as the deer put its head down again I started back to crawling and this time got to about 35 yards. The deer raised its head up and I knew I could get a shot but thought I would try to get a little closer, the deer put its head back down and then quickly raised back up. I had not started moving again yet. It started moving towrds me a little and looked a little nervous, but I stayed still and it went back to feeding again.

Started crawling again and this time got to within about 20 yards and knew I had a great shot. Raised up to one knee and drew my bow. The deer looked up and I had my pin settled right behind the shoulder at 20 yards perfectly boradside. I could see it was not a young doe, but instead was a button buck and I decided to pass it up.

Now really unsure the little guy decided to look around and he then went a short ways and stopped looked back at me like where the heck did you come from and then went on off towards the river and I let off my bow when he got out about 80 yards out.

First time I have stalked into bow range and gotten my bow at full draw. What a blast.

[RyanH]

Re: open field stalk

Even th0ugh you didnt take him that was a successful hunt! That was awesome Congrats!