After sitting for many hours and seeing multiple bucks each sit, all the stars finally aligned.
On the 9th, I went into my tree stand before light, and had a very long, cold sit. Determined to wait old papa out. #4 on my hit list, but also my obsession, I passed up 5 legal bucks. Which included #2 and #3 on the list, the old broken ear papa had taken control of me. As the day came to a close, and with 3 min left, I thought a big 2x3 that was chasing a big spike around, was right below me, and in front of camera. Fading light and old eyesight, Cold. I just waited for them to walk off, so I could leave.
The next morning came quick, adding another layer of insulation. I was determined to sit all day again, if needed. Sneaking into the stand, I pulled the SD card out of the cam to see if he passed during the night.
I started looking in reverse, to see what I spooked, if any sneaking in. And found his last appearance was at 2am, working backward, up to right before I climbed down, the eve before. 4:44pm it was not the big 2x3 standing in front of my old tired eyes, but big Papa.
With all these thoughts going through my head, about how to get him, I decided I would climb down, and go get another stand, and put it back 50 yards down the trail. With the hope, of sitting the followings Eve's after work the last week. And seal the deal. Not seeing anything this morning so far was very uncommon, now with knowledge and thoughts of what I spooked last night on way out, frustrated with it all, I stood and turned to gather my belonging, I caught an ear flicker on a trail I was unaware of, that intersected mine 25 yds behind me, thinking now I am going now where, a big doe steps out, standing and watching motionless, thinking, wait till she passes and the you can boogie. She takes two steps out of the huck, and then I see horns with his nose in her butt, my blood pressure hit the roof, when he turns and looks to his left, at his back trail. Ear hanging and all, it's my obsession. Big Papa. I slowly turn and sit when they are behind some bushes approaching, getting ready for the shot. They should pass me on the trail to the left, what seems like forever, no deer, I want to turn and look, but know that is not an option, then I see her, she is on the right in the huck sneaking along, no big papa, she comes out of huck 20 yards in front of me heading to left trail, when she stops and looks back, my heart races, still in the game, I think, I see him in the same huck head down trailing her, it's Dec 10th and he is still acting rutty. She walks up the trail. When he pops out in same 20 yard opening, muzzy up, front pin on it's Mark, I let her roar. The white cloud masks all, I hear them run off, and the thoughts start scrambling in my head. Good hit, bad hit, Miss. Why did he not tip over, 300 grains Barnes tmz, 120 grains triple x magnum, how did he not just drop. I reload and climb down, walk to spot of shot, and lots of hair and blood. My first muzzy shot at an animal, mind is scrambled. I start the trail, blood is real sparse, just little drops, I go about 80yds, and this is what I find. A great season comes to a close, cold tired and eleated, both entry and exit same size as bullet dia.
After caping and looking at teeth, old broken ear looks only to be about 4.5 years old. Those choppers would make a dentist envious.
What Taxidermist would you recommend, going to have him mounted with ear hanging, as he was.
Happy Holidays, And much thanks for answering all my question this past year.
