So I have had the past 2 weeks off for whitetail hunting. I was so excited!!! The first day off I did all of my honey do lists. Next morning I woke up with a sore throat. I've been sick as a dog for the whole two weeks, hacking a lung up, stopped up nose, sneezing all the time. I got out for 3 hours one day and 2 hours the next day. Sucked. Last night we got dumped on, 7 inches of heavy wet snow. I headed out to the stand at noon. Just about killed me walking in, my lungs were on fire. Got all set up. Was in the stand for about 30 minutes. I look down and realize my fricken trail camera has been stolen. It was in a metal box locked with a python lock. I was standing in the stand, leaning against the tree with my left shoulder. I had my rifle cradled in my left arm at the 9 o'clock position. Fricken pissed that I had joined the stolen trail camera club when I looked to my right at the 2 o'clock position and see a HUGE stud buck walking in at 13 yards. No sound in the deep wet snow. He's walking straight at me coming uphill. I get the safety off and start turning real slow. I get about half way and he grunts and keeps walking straight at me. At 5 yards he stops, looks right at me. Stares for a couple of seconds and spins and runs. I get a millisecond of his ass in the scope before he is out of sight again. I see quick glimpses of him three more times as he leaves. No chance for a shot. I try a series of grunts, but the gig is up! What a nice big 5x5, neck all swollen. I put my back to the tree and in about an hour I do another series of tending grunts. About 2 minutes later I look to my right. Basket racked 4x4 is walking in at 15 yards or so. I get the safety off and start turning and he hits my scent trail and spins and leaves from there. 2 bucks in bow range and no shot opportunities!! What a beautiful night in the stand. I fly out tomorrow for a week back east. Got 2 more weeks of archery season when I get back.
