Free: Contests & Raffles.
Me and a couple buddies hike in approx. 6-7 miles and set-up base camp. From there, we usually hunt 0-2 miles away from camp. Opening day did not see much (does). 2nd morning, hiked into an area I like to look over (open rocky area). Did not see anything. After a couple hours, decided to hunt my way over across a huge draw (timber) over to another open rocky area. While side hilling thru the timber, I spooked a deer approx. 75 yards away (could only see body jumping away). I froze and tried looking for it. Could here him "blowing" about 10 times (trying to get a scent on me). I have heard a lot of deer "blow", but this was crazy loud and numerous times. Still could not see him, but at least I knew he was close and did not leave the country. I stayed put (did not move at all) - actually sat down hoping he would show himself. About 15 minutes later I see movement about 200 yards down a dry creek draw. Put my gun up and he is standing completely broadside. Only problem, I can see everything except his head. The entire body I can see, but there was a huge tree blocking his head. This stand off goes on for about 5 minutes - finally he moves his head down for a second and I see 2 points (big crotch). Remember this is a 3-pt. area. Back to him standing where I have a perfect kill shot but cannot see his head again. Now I know he is a buck, but did not see 3. The 2 point crotch I did see looked big and to be honest with you, it did go thru my mind (poke and hope). But I decided NO, just wait him out. Between going back and forth with my binos and gun scope trying to get a better view (10 minutes of this is extremely long and I'm going crazy). He would not move! During going back and forth with binos and gun, I noticed he moved and he actually bedded down. I thought finally, put the gun on him looking for at least 3 points. He is bedded down looking directly away from me. I see lots of tree branches near his rack (he is aprrox. 225 yards away). While he is bedded, he would not move his head. A few times I think I see 4 points, but with all the tree branches behind his head - I was not for sure. Hard to explain - but this goes on for about 20 minutes (now I have been on this deer and knew it was a buck for about 30 minutes, but could not put 3 on him). Finally, he stands and moves his head - bingo I said (lots of those branches were his rack). One shot and down he goes. The rest is history - got down to him and realized there was no ground shrinkage - this is my biggest buck yet (could not believe he was a 6x4 and I could not put a 3rd point on him for what seemed like forever). Me and my buddies boned him out and back to camp we went. Hunted another couple days with my buddies (nothing) and packed back out. Sorry for the long story, but kinda fun going over the experience again.
