An accidental discovery

[horst]

Ive spent countless hours over the last few years bowhunting from the ground, figuring out what works, what doesnt, trying blinds, different camo patterns to blend in with the ground cover, figuring out how and when its safe to draw back on a deer thats in bow range, and have had decent success doing it.

This weekend however I actually kind of stumbled into a new set up that really blew me away and put everything Ive learned so far to the test.Friday night I was late getting to my usual spot because of a run in with a sick doe on the road.The bucks are still chasing does here and as I was driving past a large chunk of private ground I noticed a couple does heading for the public ground about 1/4 mile away and a large 10 pointer stepping out of the trees where the does had just come from.I went on down and turned around, came back up and parked.The does were about half way across the field by then and I snuck through a grove, through a standing corn food plot behind it, and watched as the does came into the public ground about 20 yards west of a point where the state ground and two private fields make a corner in the fencelines.Thinking the buck couldnt be to far behind I ran up the corner and looked for a spot to hide.The only thing there was a small, dead bush that really only amounted to about a dozen sticks poking up out of the ground.I knelt behind it, and realized the grass was hiding a small depression in the ground.Not much cover but I only planned to hunt it for about an hour.It sits on top of a hill, the highest point in the area and below it are three farms where no deer hunting is allowed, I could see them all.

For the next hour I watched amazed as deer after deer came out of the slough holes, CRP ground, and evergreen farm that makes up these farms.There were well over 100 deer and many bucks of all sizes in the bottom below me.It was one of the most perfect scenes Ive ever watched unfolding around me.As it got close to dark small groups of deer started working up towards me and the state food plot behind me.In the next 20 minutes I had at least 18 deer come through the crossing I had accidently discovered, small bucks and many does feed in the private ground below me well within bow range with no clue I was there.I just watched.Finally at dark another hunter came over the hill behind me, a guy I know that had been hunting far back in the state ground.The deer trotted off and none of them discovered where I was hiding right in the middle of them.

Saturday night was a virtual replay, I went early, about 2 1/2 hours before dark and there wasnt 5 minutes of that time when there wasnt deer in sight.About 1/2 before dark 5 does came into field out of a slough hole in the private ground.As they were feeding I heard something crashing through the cattails below me.Then I heard a grunt, Ive never heard a deer grunt like this before, he was at least 250 yrds away and I could hear him plain as day.He crashed out of the slough hole and started chasing does around below me.He was a huge 8 pointer with the whitest face Ive ever seen on a deer.He chased one doe across the fence and lost interest in her, he was now on my side, but the other 4 does were feeding towards me, heads down, paying little attention to anything.He paralled them as they fed, hanging back a little and staying in the grass on the state side of the fence.The lead doe was coming straight at me, not looking up, just walking as she fed.The closer she came the lower down I tried to sink behind the little bush.Finally I was almost doubled over, my head was almost on my knees I could just see legs my head was low.I could see the buck walking towards me and was praying the doe would continue past me.She came right to the other side of the bush I was hiding behind, I could here her breathing and there wasnt 3 feet seperating us.The buck was 15 yrds away and stopped, turned broadside watching the does.I was stuck, and starting to panick, my legs were shaking from kneeling for so long and my hand holding the bow without any gloves was freezing, soon my whole body was shaking.The doe noticed e finally and jumped back, started bobbing her head and then pretending to feed only to jerk back up and stare at me. I didnt move.My attention was on the doe now, she was going to decide if I got the shot or not, the buck was oblivious to me and watching the does only. He wasnt moving.

Finally the buck turned, walked away and soon all I could see was antlers in the grass, the doe knew something wasnt right but but couldnt fifure out what, slowly she led the other 3 down the hill and soon started feeding peacefully again about 70 yrds away.I was badly shaken very seldom have I ever had a deer that close, I finally took my bow and crawled back away from the fence till I could get up without being seen.It was a experience I wont forget, and nothing could have prepared me for it.

[Buckslayer]

Re: An accidental discovery

Great story horst, I really enjoyed the read! Too bad that doe busted ya right before you got drawn back on that buck...

Still, it sounds like you had a blast of a time!

[bfletch7441]

Re: An accidental discovery

That's a great story! Congrats on the new honey hole.

Ben

[sskybnd]

Re: An accidental discovery

that what im saying sounds like you found a honey hole, i should pay off for yrs to come. i would put a little brush over the summer so you could sit a little more comfortable.

[wtnhunt]

Re: An accidental discovery

Great story Chris. Sounds like an awesome spot.