He lives on...gag, vomit

[AKBowman]

The picture does not do him justice. He is a large bodied deer.

I got into the stand tonight right at 3pm. It was sprinkling and lightly raining for the first time in probably 10-12 days here on the wet side. I heard something moving in the reprod in front of my stand a couple different times over the first hour, sounded like it was within 50 yards and paralleling the trail I was set up on working from my left to right.

I hosed down a couple of key wicks pretty liberally with doe piss. Well about 3:57 I hear a crashing noise in the reprod in front of my stand and slightly to the right. No doubt it was deer, elk, bear or human. I grabbed my bow off of the hanger and situated my legs, look up and to my right and I see the front half of a deer half in and half out of the reprod. Cant tell if its a buck or doe yet until he lowers his head, yup buck...and a big bodied one at that. Hes about 35 yards away angling towards me. He makes his way towards me and around a small fir. He is now about 20 yards and staring a hole through me. He shakes the mess of branches and grass from his antlers (the crashing I heard was him raking brush) He's on alert looking around but fairly relaxed. He works his way closer to my stand still facing directly at me until he is now under 15 yards. My doe piss wicks are now only 15 feet in front and to the right of him and if he walk towards them to check them out it would put him 12 yards almost perfectly broadside. Well thats exactly what happens, I draw back and he lifts his head to inspect the movement. I keep thinking to myself get your anchor point make sure your anchor point is good. I draw, put my 20 yard pin about 6 inches up from the bottom of his chest just behind the front leg and release. In slow motion I can see the flight bath of the arrow looks perfect and all of the sudden I see the arrow strike exactly on the bottom line of his chest and a puff of hair. He takes two big mule deer jumps and stands 35 yards quartering away.

 I was so shook up I figured if I cant put an arrow in him at 12 than I am not shooting at 35. He walks off out of my life. Hopefully not for good.

[bobcat]

Sorry about that, but at least it's better than sitting there the whole time and seeing nothing. It is tough when you've got a buck that close. You'd probably be better off if he was 25 yards instead of 12. Do you have to the 31st in your unit?

[BOWHUNTER45]

O NO ....That suz 

[dreamunelk]

I think most of us who have hunted for many years have similar stories.   Reading your just make me remember.  I have to laugh and smile a little. 

[AKBowman]

Open through the 13th in this unit.

Thanks guys, after I missed from 12 and he ran to 35 yards and stood there it seemed/looked as though he was standing at 80yds. Not a good feeling.

[DWP]

Been there and don't want to go back...except I was high with a tiny bit of hair on the ground...

[AKBowman]

DWP- Do you drive a 90's Ford Explorer or a small white tacoma type pickup?

[CoryTDF]

Been there, done that. Sucks ass! good luck to you on your next encounter with him.

[colockumelk]

I did the same exact thing on a white tail buck a 3x3 this year. Ranged him at 25. Put the 20yd pin on his lower lungs and sent a broad head that shaved off some belly hair. At the shot there was a "poof" and a bunch of white hair on the ground. Except unlike you I thought I smoked him. He acted like he was heart shot. Took a couple bounds stopped, looked back and walked into the thick stuff. So unlike you I sat there in my stand sending texts to people talking about this buck I just smoked. Because after all how could I of all people possibly miss right So gave it 30 minutes climbed down walked over and found my arrow, clean as a whistle. Not a single drop of blood. Just hair. Man did I feel dumb so AK Bowman at least you didn't sit around and have to text people and explain that no you did not actually smoke a buck

[Angus]

At least you had a shot opportunity

I spent all day working a clearcut that I saw alot of deer in last year. At 1st light I spotted a 2 point at 70 yards, closed to about 55 when I spooked his 2 girlfriends that I didn't know were there.
Saw another 9 deer in this clearing throughout the day, none of which presented a shot. Then to add salt to the wound, driving out this evening I passed 8-9 other deer feeding in farmers fields, most standing within 20 yards of the road watching me watch them.
Can't wait to get back next weekend

[AKBowman]

I did the same exact thing on a white tail buck a 3x3 this year. Ranged him at 25. Put the 20yd pin on his lower lungs and sent a broad head that shaved off some belly hair. At the shot there was a "poof" and a bunch of white hair on the ground. Except unlike you I thought I smoked him. He acted like he was heart shot. Took a couple bounds stopped, looked back and walked into the thick stuff. So unlike you I sat there in my stand sending texts to people talking about this buck I just smoked. Because after all how could I of all people possibly miss right So gave it 30 minutes climbed down walked over and found my arrow, clean as a whistle. Not a single drop of blood. Just hair. Man did I feel dumb so AK Bowman at least you didn't sit around and have to text people and explain that no you did not actually smoke a
buck




That's wierd this buck did the exact same thing after I shot, two huge mule deer bounds then stops looking around like WTF was that?
I saw the puff of hair and knew right away what had happened.
Sucks, I'm in another stand about 250 yards from the spot I missed him yesterday but nothing so far. It's so hard to keep hunting after that.
It's spitting snow so at least the weather is cooperating.

I feel like an idiot.

[DWP]

DWP- Do you drive a 90's Ford Explorer or a small white tacoma type pickup?

No sir. I have a silver 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 with a matching canopy and a lumber rack. Cummins powered, of course:)

Although right now the fuel cost has me wishing for my old '86 Mazda pickup!
 

[blackveltbowhunter]

Good luck man.... at least you know your setups are producing

[AKBowman]

BVBH, my setups are producing its just I've been working hard to see deer. I passed on a spike on the 23rd then one on T-day. I also busted two deer that were feeding in front of my stand on the Friday following T-day. I've hunted that stand 8 days (some morning sits, some evening sits and some all day) and have seen a total of 4 deer during daylight on 3 different days. So 3 out of 8 days in there I have seen deer and 3 of the 4 deer were bucks.

I scouted a SW slope that is only 1/2 mile away during the middle of the day yesterday and found a large amount of sign and two fairly fresh, large rubs. I was thinking about switching it up with how cold it was last night and dragging the climber to the SW slope for a sit this PM. I cant decide if I want to switch it up.

What is everyones opinion on the amount of deer I have been seeing, would you continue to hunt that spot or make a move with only two days remaining in the season?

[colockumelk]

Man I have had that dillema more than once.  I would sit your current spot this evening.  Then if you don't see anything go sit your SW slope spot for a full day.  If you don't see anything in your SW spot go back to your current spot.