fly Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Had a great first firearm season even though I didn't see anything larger than a fork horn. Hunted sun up till sun down Friday (12 hours in the stand) and saw one fork horn at 9am. He was fun to mess with. Kept leaving then coming back to my grunting and doe calls. He actually licked the tree I had my stand in! What a blast! I've always wanted to hunt a stand all day now I've done it. Saturday morning I had 4 or 5 does come up to me right at sun up. I kept my eye out for a trailing buck, seeing none I figured I'd go ahead and fill my doe tag. There were a couple larger does and a couple fawns. They were acting nervous as most deer do on public ground after opening day. Anyway the larger doe was about 30 yards from me and just before I pulled the trigger she caught scent of something she didn't like and bolted. I shot as she ran but missed! The deer seperated with the fawns on one hill and the larger does on the other. I figured they might try to re-group so I let out a doe call. Sure enough here come the fawns back in my direction. Then a few minutes later I heard and saw a deer coming from the other hill the larger does had ran to. The approaching deer was in a creek bed so I couldn't see it real well. She walked to within 40 yards and stopped. I briefly saw the head and did not see antlers so I figured it was one of the larger does. She stopped with her head behind a tree and vitals in clear view. Bang! this time I didn't miss, however, the shot was a little low. I decided to shoot again and made a better shot (after missing again). However, those things have a will to live! As I looked at the deer in my binoculars it was down, but not dead. That's when I saw the little spikes on top of the head! (That's where the DOH! comes in). I got out of my climber and finished the year and 1/2 old buck with my knife. I'm not dissapointed though, I love everything that goes with deer hunting (not just the big bucks) and was glad to bring a legally harvested deer back to camp even if it meant using the coveted either-sex firearm permit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Congrats on the harvest...did you register it as a doe or did you have to burn a buck tag on em? It happens to the best of us Frank, sometimes you just can't see those spikes. My fiance did the same thing on saturday morning...i'll post it soon. No biggie, and at least you filled one tag...once again, congrats! he'll be a tasty critter! dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 What a blast! I've always wanted to hunt a stand all day now I've done it. ...and to be rewarded with some prime eats after a long day at the office is just icing on the cake. Congrats on what sounds like a great hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airman312 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearClaw Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted November 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Congrats on the harvest...did you register it as a doe or did you have to burn a buck tag on em? It happens to the best of us Frank, sometimes you just can't see those spikes. My fiance did the same thing on saturday morning...i'll post it soon. No biggie, and at least you filled one tag...once again, congrats! he'll be a tasty critter! dan The regulations say an antler 3 inches or more requires the either sex tag. I'd say the buck had spikes about 5-6 inches long so I had to burn a buck tag. The next firearm season is also the ML season and I have an either sex ML tag so I can still get a crack at a big boy if I see one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubledrop Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 that sucks having to burn a buck tag, but you know what either way nice deer. i an sure that will be some fine eatin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Congrats Fly! Meat for the freezer, man. It's all about the experience....not the score. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backwoods07 Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 That's not the first time this happened during IL gun season, I can assure you!! My best friends dad put a hurtin on a basket rack 6 pointer that he thought was a doe. The funny thing is when he went up to the deer, he wanted to keep looking for his "doe." When he couldn't find the doe, he swore the deer must've grew antlers after he shot it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 24, 2009 Report Share Posted November 24, 2009 Congratulations on the meat in the freezer Frank. Good luck with the ml'er. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandonBowling21 Posted November 25, 2009 Report Share Posted November 25, 2009 still back straps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.