Close, but no cigar.

Well after countless days in the treestand this year, and passing up small/scrub 7 and 8 pts over and over I finally got a chance at the caliber of buck I have been looking for. I got in nice and early this morning, freshened up my scrapes and hung a tampon of devastator 249 on a limb, then settled in my stand.  Nothin till about 7:30 ish I hear a deer coming hard to my left, immediatly I realize its a buck, grab the bow and get ready.  This buck was coming full boar intill it was about 5 ft from the base of my tree.  Caught a wiff of the tampon, stopped dead and looked around.  It walked a complete circle around my tree as I watched it through the bottom of my stand.  Finally trotted into a very thick spot just to my right, never could draw on him and then he was gone.  It all happened too fast and if I would have drawn, I would not of had an ethical shot.  Big 140-150 inch 8 point.  Tons of mass and awesome tine length.  I'll give the stand a few days and be back after him.

Those close encounters sure get the heart pumpin....

You guys are correct, that's what hunting is all about.  A lot of my spots are just starting to heat up, don't really have a rifle plan together if I don't arrow a buck.  Usually just expect to kill a buck every year with a bow, but this year I have set my expectations of a big big buck.  Only time and patience will tell.

120-150 inch deer in Erie county are somewhat common.  Huge bucks up here compared to mountain areas. I have seen bucks spotting in the years past that would have to push 180's, never in the woods though. I have a lot of nice bucks around here because I hunt a lot of populated woodlots that are backsides of neighborhoods and the deer often get hunted from year to year by people, but there smart as hell.  My two best stands are within 100 yrds of walnut creek.

ORIGINAL: krott243

Well after countless days in the treestand this year, and passing up small/scrub 7 and 8 pts over and over I finally got a chance at the caliber of buck I have been looking for. I got in nice and early this morning, freshened up my scrapes and hung a tampon of devastator 249 on a limb, then settled in my stand.  Nothin till about 7:30 ish I hear a deer coming hard to my left, immediatly I realize its a buck, grab the bow and get ready.  This buck was coming full boar intill it was about 5 ft from the base of my tree.  Caught a wiff of the tampon, stopped dead and looked around.  It walked a complete circle around my tree as I watched it through the bottom of my stand.  Finally trotted into a very thick spot just to my right, never could draw on him and then he was gone.  It all happened too fast and if I would have drawn, I would not of had an ethical shot.  Big 140-150 inch 8 point.  Tons of mass and awesome tine length.  I'll give the stand a few days and be back after him.

Thats Why i love hunting! So close but nothing.  Be patient and he will give you that shot you are looking for.