johnf Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 I've been hunting with my Xbow now for about 5 years now with no success at all. Last year I had a doe and fawn come within about 20 yards of me, but were in brush that I couldn't shoot through. Three weeks ago I made a bad shot on a little doe and loster her, and think she probibly made it through it alive. I went out this morning and saw several deer (4 doe and 3 bucks. The cool part was that all three bucks came within 5 yards of me. My stand sits @15 feet up 5 yards back from one trail and directly above another one. Every deer I've seen in that stand has gone down one of the two trails and crossed in front of me giving me a nice broadside shot. All the doe I saw this morning were 75+ yards from me so no shots presented themselves. The first deer close to me was an obviously poor gentetic buck. I would guess by his body size that he was 3 1/2 years or older but he only had 2 pts on 1 side and 1 on the other. (Not legal here) He gave me a perfect broadside still shot, but I was forced to hold out. The next one was a little dink spike that probibly weighed in at 85lbs or so. He and the 3pt passed directly under me, the big one even scratched his side on the tree I was in. (Major cool for me. Never had that happen before) At about 9:00 I saw a big 10 pt. bruiser about 175 yards away browsing the brush. I gave the little can a couple turns and he popped his head up, looked around and went back to munching. I gave him the can again and up he came again. After doing this about3-4 times, he turned down the tree row and started in my direction. I could feel myself shaking. Buck fever was about the show it's ugly head. He disapeared around a corner but was still coming my direction. About 10 minutes later I saw his rack through the brush, hit my safty and got ready to make a shot. By this time my nerves were settled and I was feeling pretty confident. I now understand how big bucks get big. He was coming down the same trail that every deer has come down and a soon as I could see him he turned straight into the brush about 5 yards from the trail I was on. ARRRRRGGGGGGGG!!! He stayed within 10 yards of me for about 5 minutes, just browsing around mocking me behind the brush. It was like he knew I was there and was just teasing me. When he disappeared into the nothingness all I could do was laugh. There was never a single open shot that I could have taken on him. I didn't pass him up, he outwittted me. As I have said on here befor, "any time you are out in the woods and don't get hurt or wound an animal, it's a successful hunt." I've never been more exhilerated after not shooting a deer. It was great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slughunter Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 Re: Success? Even if I dont kill one I love watching them and having them around me. sounds like you had a fun hunt. youll connect soon enough with your crossbow, good luck. -shane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bowhunter56 Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 Re: Success? AS we get older and our number of seasons left winds down, we finally appreciate the outdoors and what it gives, us, it is not about the killing but the experience, which is the real trophy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbarnhart20 Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 Re: Success? I'm only 21 and since i've been hunting which is since i've been like 10 i've already realized that it's great just to get the chance to hunt which not many ppl do... i love just being outdoors. Whether i see deer or not, it's time to myself that i enjoy!! It gives me time to think and if i see deer and get a shot at a nice buck, it's just that much better!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nutz4bucks Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 Re: Success? Yep that's why i hunt to see and watch gods beautiful creatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest IllinoisMackDaddyHunter Posted October 29, 2006 Report Share Posted October 29, 2006 Re: Success? I couldnt agree with the replies in here. Just being out in the outdoors is good enough to me. I think all you guys are cool to admit that you are willing to wait for that perfect shot and not just shoot at a deer to say i shot a deer. takes a better hunter to let 1 pass then take a shot just because. I stopped hunting witha buddy because he was a risk shooter. I just plain got sick of tracking wounded deer in the dark for hours. Dont mind helping anyone track but with a recorded like that, gets old. well enough said. You guys take care and hunt safe and good hunting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 Re: Success? Nothing like getting the blood flowing in anticipation huh John? That feeling ever leaves me I will hang it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zemmer18 Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 Re: Success? I had a similar hunt on Friday the 27th. I hunt a small woodlot behind my inlaws house that connects to some big woods that is posted. I shot a doe out of my stand on the 21st. She was with 2 other does. Well those 2 other does came in Friday evening. Then I hear the grunting and see the movement of a third deer coming in behind the large doe. At this point the doe is 20 to 22 yards away behind a small group of trees and all I see is her behind sticking out. This buck comes crashing towards her grunting up a storm and chases her out into the filed and stops in the exact spot the doe was standing in behind the trees. Im holding as still as possible while holding my bow and I see his head move to the ground and see my first glimpse of his headgear. I only saw about 6 inches of his left beam at this point so I know it is a buck at least from what I saw and the grunting. Well he stands there for what seemed to be an eternity between 6 and 10 minutes and all of a sudden he darts back the way he came. AS he is trotting away I catch a good view of the largest rack I have ever seen while out hunting. Guessing, his inside spread was 16 to 18 inches and his beams were over a foot high. I never could count his points. I was in awe and fumbled for my grunt call. I grunted a few times and heard leaves moving. About 1 minute later I see a deer working back towards me from the direction he ran off so Im getting excited. Light is fading fast and I see the head of this deer. It is a different buck and the top 4 inches of each of his horns are glowing white. He works his way towards my grunting point and stops at 15 yards and guess what was in the way? More trees. Two more steps and who knows what would've happened but again light was scarce and the shot wasn't there on either of them. I have dreamed about that big guy all weekend and hunted for him on Saturday but never saw a deer. I hope I can get out this week before the weekend and catch up with this slammer before someone else does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted October 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Re: Success? Any ideas in getting him to come down the big trail to give me a better shot. I had some tinks #69 on the trail and the other two bucks went straight to it. I thought about maybe putting a hand warmer under a scent stone soaked in tiniks to get the smell to spread a little more. Do you think that would work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Re: Success? Mock scrape in somewhat of a triangle shape if possible, then might juice up the scrape with some tinks 69 when the pre rut starts. I set one of my mock scrapes up where it is along a brush pile about 30 yards out from the base of my tree. Food plot between the brush pile and the woods I am in. The deer usually come out of the point or corner opposite of what would be the base of the triangle, work there way out to the wider part of the food plot which is where I am sitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted October 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Re: Success? I did the mock scrape when I came down the tree. We are rutting right now. I hope he's still around Saturday, maybe I'll get lucky this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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