Free: Contests & Raffles.
One trail camera I had set up last year didn't catch any bucks until October 24th. The last time a buck showed at that location was November 18th. The majority of the action was Nov 5-12. I had the camera there from July into December.
I know that during this "off time" of year the forum can get stale and the focus can become more on non-hunting related issues. That being said I would like to share the buck I harvested this year with everyone since I just relearned how post pictures today thanks to Bobcat. Disclaimer: This buck was harvested with a bow during a modern rifle season. I know that hunter's orange is required and while I was wearing it at the time I removed it for the pictures, I don't like a bunch or orange in my scrapbooks. This buck was harvested in the 620's GMU and I won't go into much further detail then that. That being said, enjoy!I spend countless hours and days scouting and locating areas that hold blacktails, almost to the point of a sickness. This year was no different and since I drew a multiseason permit I had set a goal of a wide 4x4 or basket 5x5 within the 100" mark and only using archery equipment. This worked against me as I was in AK from June all the way until October 10th with a short visit home in August. I got about 10 days of scouting in over the summer and had some great soaks on my trail cameras with some decient bucks but no shooters. When I got home I started practicing as much as possible and when I hit the woods opening day of modern season my range was set at 25 yards.Over the next six days I passed on ten bucks, all either being 3X3 or 2x2. I did however increase my range out to 35 yards with regular practice throughout the day between hunts. I had only been sitting in my ground blind or tree stands without calling or using scent, I wanted to wait for the rut to heat up before using those tactics. The morning of the 20th I decided to put out a figure 8 scent trail around my stand with the loops going 100 yards to each side of my stand and the crossing point 15 yards under myself. At 9AM a nice 2PT with eyeguards came under my stand hot on my scent trail with his nose to the ground, the rut was heating up! I waited for him to pass and pulled out at 10AM. That afternoon I decided to hunt the same spot where I opened up the season. I had passed on a 2x2 and a 2x3 (the 2x3 was later harvested by my friend on the 18th of November) there opening evening but had seen a few brutes in there the prior year. With 45 minutes the 2x2 came into the clearing I was sitting over and didn't pay any attention to the scent trail I had laid down. He did however rake a small fir tree to death, then close within 4 yards of me in the bushes and meander away. I waited another hour and fought the temptation to rattle and call because I was still not convinced the rut was hot enough. With 30 minutes to go until I would lose shooting light I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and watched my buck come into view. It took a second to realize this was a buck well within my goal and while he wasn't the biggest I had ever seen I couldn't pass on him. He closed the gap to 25 yards and began to sniff the bushes, at which I drew my bow from behind cover and slowly stood up. He never saw me rise or draw but began to fidgit like I have never seen. I was at full draw for about two minutes while he pivoted and turned never pausing long enough to give me an ethical shot. Finally as my arms were screaming in pain and I thought for sure I would have to let down he moved to 20 yards broadside and stopped. Without check I released and my arrow flew true and smacked home. He jumped hard and tore off for the brush and dissappeared out of sight 30 yards away. I knew my shot was good and thankful for the fact that he had moved closer, I wouldn't have taken that shot at 30 yards+ after holding at full draw for so long. I waited 20 minutes then went the 50 yards to where he piled up with a near perfect double lung shot that barely clipped the heart.I am overjoyed with this trophy quality buck and while I didn't get to rattle him in or fool him with a doe bleat I feel content with the terms of the harvest. My season did not end here as I helped two more friends fill their tags, one with the remainder of the general season and the other in the late buck hunt. I am still out scouting to this day and would guess I spent close to 60 days in the field this year dedicated to blacktails. In closing, I guess it is a safe bet I have a sickness when it come to being afflicted by blacktails.
