Alright, now that I got you in here to read this, I can tell the full truth. It's actually my FIRST BUCK!!
Where to start? Well after a year or two of missed opportunities, I finally got it done. Opening weekend, I thought my morning was over at 6:49am, but what becomes the norm in many Eastern WA GMU's, it was another 2pt taunting me. He popped up behind me at 30yrds and then proceeded to feed for 10 minutes less than 100yds for about ten minutes. Bummer, but there will be more.
Opening day continued rather slow, with more 2pts than I care to admit. I will say I had a few good stocks and stare downs with some monsters that just wouldn't grow that 3rd point even when I asked em to nicely.
Sunday morning, more of the same. This time though, it was later in the day. I sat down at a stellar spot that the deer funnel through between a water source and CRP field. Put my coat on, grab a bite to eat, and finally I sit down. Sure enough across the way is a great looking buck staring at me from 240yds away, just chillin in the dirt like I'm not even there. 45 minutes later, I finally confirm he is only another great looking 2pt and proceed to just watch him until he had enough and decided he was done napping. I head home empty handed.
Monday morning, one of my hunting partners gets his buck, the other gets his first thing Tuesday. My good buddy, couldn't hunt opening weekend and left after work Wednesday with hopes of filling his tag.
Well he listed to me Thursday and let them all walk, but couldn't handle not getting his buck and around 9am Friday morning his buck was down. I'm the last one left, and the clock struck 11, I told my boss I was out of there I had to get back out in the field. I arrived in time for the evening hunt and activity was pretty slow. On the hunt out, we found 3 bucks, one of which was legal at 300yds. I took the shot and he didn't even move, he just kept moving along like all was normal in the world. Humiliated and defeated, I headed back to camp with my head down, feeling horrible for missing.
Somehow, I woke up Saturday morning and tied my boots up and hit the field. The morning was slow, no movement of deer like there normally is. I sat with my buddy for several hours waiting until we finally decided to move to another spot. As we crested the top of the next field, we spotted a heard of 15-20 deer, grazing along. We spotted several bucks, one of which was a 3x3. He was at 300yds and steeply down hill, I just couldn't take the shot.
Wanting to get closer my only option was to head way down the field so I was out of sight enough to where I could get on there same level, drop in to a canyon and try and sneak up behind them. It was on! En route, I found my new good luck shed that might be a little cumbersome to carry with me each trip out. I spotted even more deer, had another stare at 200yds with a wide 2pt who I'm 95% sure had eye guards, but he is still walking and will be there next year. During this stare down, yet another 2pt walked 25yds in front of me without a care in the world. Back to the chase though.
By the time I made it to where we had spotted the legal buck, him and his posse of doe's were moving up hill and in to the field I just walked out of. He presents me with a better 300yd shot, but I still just couldn't pull the trigger. Back up the hill and across the field, we are baffled as to where they went. We decided to look over the edge of the next hill and sure enough there is a group of does with a buck. But it wasn't our buck. Upon closer inspection though it really was but they were moving again! Back in to sprint mode, we try and cut them off.
The does decide some nice thick green field is where they are stopping for a snack, but the legal buck says he is moving to the next county. I decide I'm still following him, but my buddy and his dad stay back, watching me from up high. I crest a hill and spot a buck bedded down, another 2pt. I watch him, eat a snack as we are going on 3plus hours of chase and decide to move on feeling defeated and just ready to call it quits.
Cresting the next hill, I spot two deer feeding below me on a a gentle slope. Two bucks, a spike and the 3pt! A 3rd 2pt moves his head and gets suspicious and stands up. All I'm thinking is crap, they are going to run! Well they don't I set up my shooting sticks, get a bead on the 3pt, and wait for him to give me a broad side shot. By the time he turns enough, his new friend the 2pt walks in front of him and continues walking further away but in front of me, the 3pt follows. I decide this is okay, it allows me to move at the same time in the tall grass. I move up about 50yds, set up my sticks, catch my breathe, slow my heart rate, and wait for them to pop out of the small ditch to the near by hillside. They pop up, I wait for the shot, the shot is there, it's taken, and I have my first buck.
The emotions that came over me I can't even describe. I was happy, sad, and excited all at the same time.
