So this year I picked up the bow after 7 years. During my summer scouting I pin pointed a very nice buck. He would be the largest buck I have ever had a shot at in 38 years of deer hunting. I don't post about the one that got away after I arrowed it, but now is the time for the story. The 1st of Sept. was the night I first hunted him, good set up but as evening came the wind changed, he came in down wind and my hart was pounding out of my chest. I had good sent control but you can't stop it all. He stopped about 75 yds out and turned and walked off. The next day I hung a stand where he came out, I gave it a day and was back that evening. A half hour before last light I herd a deer coming down through the brush, I saw horns but didn't know if it was him, then I saw his double eye guards. It was him, it's been a long time since I got buck fever like that. He stopped at the edge of the field at 14 yds, I came to full draw and took the shot. Right under his belly. I Blew it. He ran about 50yds and turned snorted looking past my tree stand into the woods. He stomped and walked closer, I knocked another arrow. He stopped broadside at 20yds. I aimed low thinking he would jump the string right behind his leg aiming for his off leg. He didn't duck down at all, I hit him low. After the shot he ran about 100yds and layed down out of site. All the other deer came out of the draw but him. I gave him time to die and climbed out of my tree. I walked way above him glassing the draw, it was pretty dark by now. He saw me and jumped and ran off, cleared about 400yds and into the wood line. I thought he would bed down in the wood line so I gave him 2 1/2 hrs. The blood I found wasn't good blood but i could fallow it, he kept going and didn't bed down. I got to bed after midnight and was sick. Up at dawn looking for him, he was gone. For the next week I didn't hunt but looked for him, no crows or magpies anywhere. There was about 5 to 6" of blood on the arrow, the 100gr thunderhead and 1" of arrow were broke off in him. I thought I might have gotten him in the brisket and if I missed the lung he might make it. AND HE DID.
Today is my birthday and got the best present of all. I checked my game camera and at 4 am this morning there he was right in front of my camera. My wife is rifle hunting so I have a camera still out. If he doesn't get shot it's going to be a fun year next season.
