Finally bought my deer license

[lokidog]

I was hoping to find this guy or his buddy that I saw on the same day in August. 

The first afternoon/night that I put my camera out had at least 16 different deer on it half of them being bucks. The time is actually 3 hours and a few minutes fast.

The fourth one is, I think, the one in velvet in the next set of photos.

[lokidog]

I set this camera based on the location of this buck that I saw in August.

[lokidog]

So, I set a tree stand up yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon and got in it about 2:00. And, sat... and sat....

Finally, I spotted a fawn in the distance at about 6:25.  At 6:50, I spotted this buck across the road, he finally came in and offered multiple shot opportunities. He was just a little too young for the first night out. I also think he is the first buck on the trail camera from the first afternoon.

He spotted a little movement by me and took off. While he was gone, a tiny little spike came in to eat a few apples.  Then, the first buck came back and chased the spike off. He ended up right under my stand eating the berry leaves that I had trimmed out of my way.

While they were there, another buck came in to the apple tree nearby and I eventually saw he was an average size deer as he followed the fork horn away.

The first buck in these trail camera photos came in about five minutes after I got down from the stand.

[lokidog]

Tease for tomorrow.....

[Timberstalker]

It’s tomorrow. 

[lokidog]

It’s tomorrow. 

Maybe I meant Friday....   

[Rainier10]

It’s tomorrow. 

Maybe I meant Friday....   

Friday is when it is going to have to be I just  Loki. 

[quadrafire]

It’s tomorrow. 

Maybe I meant Friday....   

Friday is when it is going to have to be I just  Loki. 

LOL

[N7XW]

Hahahaha.  Good story so far!

[slowhand]

Tag

[Oh Mah]

tag

[lokidog]

Alright....

I hit the stand at about 3:15 yesterday since nothing came in earlier.  Of course, some of the apples I put out around 11 were already munched on, but small bites.  I figured maybe the little spike had come by. It was a bit cloudier so I hoped the deer might move a little earlier.

About 4:30. I heard two spaced out gunshots from the direction the bucks had come the night before, WTH?  If it was modern season, I would have guessed someone shot a deer, based on the spacing....   

Around five, I heard a crack under my stand, two little fawns had snuck in through the thick brush behind me.

At about 6, does started coming out of the bedding area but then moved away from my position. Well, that was disheartening.  Seven fifteen and a lot of thinking later, I decided to take a shot at any buck that comes by that's not a yearling since I don't have as much time to devote to early season as I had hoped.

Less than ten minutes of legal shooting time and I'm thinking I'm pretty much done when I here a small snap from the brush under the apple tree... oh boy, please don't find any apples.....

Less than two minutes, hurry up deer.... It's pretty dark with the cloud cover, but I can still see my pins.  There it is... antlers, check... draw, check... steps into open, check... forget to aim low since he's so close, check... pull trigger, check....

The nock lights, the deer jumps, runs twenty yards, turns back and drops 6 yards from the tree I'm in. I LOVE NOT HAVING TO TRACK THEM!  My son would have been bummed though, if he was here, as he likes tracking animals. 
 

I wait a few minutes, high double lung hits take a few minutes to finish the job. When I climb down, I pick up the arrow and then walk over to discover I got lucky and got one of the two bigger ones that I saw in velvet.   

Thanks Rad Broadheads, TiCon 100gr.

I'm also thankful for a quick kill, meat in the freezer, and my awesome wife who is always excited about my success!
 

Now, to get to work.

[Henrydog]

Nice looking Blackie!  Well done

[Boss .300 winmag]

Nice island deer.👍

[huntnfmly]

Congrats and great write up
Thanks for sharing