I thought I'd post a quick story on my late season buck from today.
It started way too early this morning. I made sure I was up and around in time to get "my spot", the late season is so crowded sometimes I swear it's more like Puget Sound duck hunting, or Manastash elk. I didn't bother sneaking out since the snow is way too loud right now so I just blazed out as fast as possible then setup in my new little honey hole I've found.
Two hours and no deer, it was very cold (at least for this cold blooded lizard) so I decided to pack it in a little early and head to work. I had a trail camera out on another trail close by that I didn't want to leave out for the season so I decided to pick it up on the way out. I got to the cam only to find the I somehow didn't have it set right, though I swear two of us spend ten minutes verifying it was working correctly when we set it out, and I had no pics. I was pissed. So pissed that I quick trying to be quiet and just started hiking towards the truck.
Half way back I thought I heard some deer in front of me, I figured I'd jumped them in my haste. Now doubly pissed I stood hands in my pockets trying to decide if it was worth chasing them when all of a sudden I saw antlers coming over the ridge. I dropped to my knees hurried to get my bow in hand and arrow knocked. I looked up to see a nice buck cresting the nearest ridge on high alert, ears up, eye wide looking all around, yet walking towards me. I ranged a couple of bushes and just barely had time to draw when he stepped behind a tree trunk.
I let him have one at 30 yards quartering toward me. Upon impact he hunched down and looked like each step was going to be his last. At this point he's not see me and kept coming my way, crossed broadside at 20 yards then kept going. I started to think I should get another arrow in him so at forty a made a little noise and movement and he turned broadside to look at me. Second arrow double lunged him. He took off with all he had but I knew he wouldn't make it far.
As I stood smile on my face, hands still shaking, listening to him crash through the brush I heard something behind me. I turned to see two Coyotes coming my way. One was one this bucks track and one was 20 yards uphill both in hot pursuit. They came right by me and when they got within 20 yards or so I hollered at them. They turned looked at me without any fear, then continued on. I didn't want them pushing my buck so I picked up a stick and threw it at them (didn't want to waste one of my last two arrows). They finally got the drift and veered away a bit more. I've never seen coyotes act so predatory and have such little fear of humans. On top of that when packing my deer back to the truck I looked up to see the same two coyotes trying to circle three does and making short runs at them. I will say the does didn't look all that scared, every yote run was met with an aggressive foot strike. I was in too much of a hurry to stay and watch how it played out.
My buck managed about 200 yards before laying down and expiring. He was kind enough to not only give his life but not run straight downhill. The pack was short and easy.
