Buck Down!! First with my Bow..

MuZZyMomentZ · October 19, 2006

So here's the setup. I currently live in Los Angeles, but I try to make it home at least once or twice to Oklahoma so I can get some quality bowhunting time in. I just happened to luck out this weekend, shooting a great buck. Being in the woods is so important for me after living in California for almost two years now, it's great to be able to get away from the noise and the craziness. Anyway, here's the story:

It was a windy Oklahoma afternoon, and I was hunting a modified tripod that had been back up to tree. The tree had actually been cut so the tripod backed right into it. The shooting lanes were great, and the spot had a ton of sign in and around the area. I arrived about 3:30, and settled in for the afternoon hunt.

I would remain actionless for sometime, spotting no movement save for the random armadillo here and there. The stand was close to a fenceline, and it overlooked a field with 3 foot tall native grass amongst the scrub brush. I wouldn't have any trouble spotting a big buck walking my way should he choose to do so. At 5:45 a single doe entered my view to the right. She seemed wary, and I am going to assume it was the wind that made her like that. She appeared to be alone, but then here comes another doe, and another, and another. So now I have these four does out in front, sniffing, smelling, trying to bust me, but alas they could not. Shortly thereafter four small one and a half year olds came into view. There were two that had a spike on one side and a fork on the other, a forked horn buck (who was very aggressive pushing the other deer around) and the last one was a nicely devoloped small six point. It was easy to tell he had the best genetics of the group.

Ding Ding Ding!! Let the sparring begin. These four small bucks did a round robin of fighting that was quite entertaining to watch. The six point eventually got respect, and the other deer remained cautious around him. 6:30 had now rolled around and I was starting to wonder if tonight was going to be my night. Hunter's often talk about a "funny feeling", and I most definitely had one as dusk begain to approach. From across the field a nice basket-racked 8 point made his presence known. He was a good deer, but not what I was looking for...

Then I heard him, I didn't see him, I heard him. Branches cracking, the tall grass getting brushed around beyond my view behind some trees. I wanted to see what this buck looked like, hopefully get that visual, and be able to set up my shot. Enter the TrueTalker!! A couple of mature buck grunts and my main man appeared, no more the 35 yards away, yet no shot was offere at the time. I looked his rack over, made the decision that I was going to take him if he offered me a shot, but dark was quickly approaching and if it was going to happen, it would have to happen fast... and it did. He began to nose a doe right out in front of my stand, about 20 yards at the furthest. I steadied my Hoyt Vipertec, drew back the muzzy, set the pin, and proceeded to play some sweet string music!! The hit was solid, loud, and I knew I had made a good shot. At this point I decided to back out, go get my my best friend and hunting buddy, then proceed with the recovery. It took us about ten minutes and then we walked up on this guy. It turns out he is the widest deer I have ever shot, and my first buck downed via Bow. I couldn't be happier. Now what you have been waiting for.... THE PICS!

On a side note, This buck has been named "The Bobtail Buck." About a 4th of his tail was missing, down the bone. It appeared to have been bitten off, perhaps by a hog.

Thanks for reading guys and gals!!

~Ty

RangerClay · October 19, 2006