Dubbya

Well, I decided this morning to sit on the ground in a big fallen tree, it was a perfect ambush spot. The deer came and passed just out of range, so i decided that I would do a little still hunting as the west wind was in my favor. I was walking slowly to the south along a small river and a buck jumped up ran across the river and stood on the bank looking in my direction. I thought for sure I had jumped him, until he started walking right at me. He was a descent buck probably 115 class. When he got back to the edge of the river (on the other side) he started walking up the bank towards me. After about fifty yards he was well within range but I had no shot. He casually walked back away from the river into an area that is really think grease wood type stuff. So I decided I would walk back down the river, cross and come back up. So I did but when I go there he was nowhere to be found.

The thick stuff has a perfectly straight N/S edge that parallels the river. As I was walking on that edge back to the truck, I noticed a doe on the other side, then another , then another. There ended up to be 4 in all and a buck, the same one I had just stalked. Then from the rear comes a big 8pt, well within the 140's. Super heavy and super long tines. The deer were about 40 yards but on the other side of the thick edge, there were no shooting lanes. As they are getting closer, they begin to drop off the shelf and follow a trail that is ony 7 or 8 yards from me but on the other side of the thick stuff. I hunker down and they begin to pass slowly, first the does then the littler buck then the big boy. He passes at 8 yards and all I can do is watch. About 10 yards past me the stuff gets real thick. As soon as he got in it, I grunted. Immediately he turned broadside and froze. Now i'm shaking. It's a good think I had my binocs strapped to my chest cuz they woulda been bouncing from my heart. Anyway he begins to walk towards the river. "perfect" i think he's goin to pop out about 15 yards and I'll drill him. He stops and listens, I look down and check to make sure my arrow is good to go, it is. I get in perfect shooting postion, he's still standing there. I'm watching, all I can see are his legs and rear end. I'm thinking as soon as he takes another step, I'll draw and he'll be there. All the sudden, he pops out. What the heck!! he takes about 3 steps into the clearing, looks up and sees me. stomps and takes off. Well, evidently when I looked down to check my setup he moved ahead out of sight and the other buck moved to the same place. Anyway, needless to say he'll be around next year. I wish it would have ended differently but it was exciting.

sorry this is so long, hope you enjoy.

BowHuntingFool

Sounds like a good hunt! I'm sure the deer heard your heart pounding as well![8D]

drstalker

That's the kind of hunting I love.I could tell a gun hunter or even a non hunter at work, a similar story and they just wouldn't get it or believe that such a thing could happen.Well dwd maybe next season you'll get another crack.Good post.

nubo

Well at least you had an interesting day of hunting ,it's certainly got to be better than seeing nothing .

nubo