Hey guys,
I'll write out a scenario that happened to me the last day of late buck just two days ago. I'd like to know if you guys would have done anything differently.
he's looking right at you! What do you do?
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I know I'm coming late to the conversation, and hindsight is 20/20. But here's what I would have done.
With the wind what it is, I'd have gone up to the top of the main ridge on the right and worked my way up until I was directly above him, for three reasons. First, you gave the wind in your favor, second if he's laying on a hillside, he's more than likely looking downhill or parallel for danger. Deer rarely bed on a hill in a position to look up, although they may turn their head to look up once in a while. They are in a position to cover a lot of ground with their eyes, but the advantage for them is even with or below them. Third, there appears to be a tree or trees you could use to your advantage to hide behind as you make your way down the hill and there is a gully close to those trees that you can work down into for heading down to where you want to make your shot . Judging where those trees are on the middle ridge will give you a pretty good idea of where to slowly come out of the gulley and still be above him and down wind of him and hopefully you can get a good close shot. If there's enough wind, it can also cover up any slight noise you may make on your stalk.
If for some reason he's gone when you get to a comfy range, No biggy, there will be another chance at him or another buck. Personally, I'd rather lose a buck trying to stalk into close range than lose one I shot at. Either way, you don't bring the meat home, but there are a lot more bad scenario's if you shoot and lose him than if you just don't get a good shot. I've done both over the years which is where I got to where I am today.
When I get time, I'll post a couple pix of one I spotted from about 400 yards and made a stalk on only to lose him after I got within 30 yards of him, due to some airheadedness on my part.
