Not my biggest but a decent 3.5 yr old (my est.). Spread lacking a little but he had decent mass and beam length and I liked the way his mains almost touch in front. Said to myself, if I'd shoot him on the last day, I probably shouldn't pass him today. Earliest I have ever shot a buck.
Hunted near here Thursday evening and only saw a guy, walking his black lab, twice, in the last hr. (coming and going on the ATV trail). Took my bow for a scouting walk on Friday, mid-day and wouldn't you know it, way down in, walked up on this buck or maybe the one he was with, about 45 yds away through some thick stuff. No shot but did snap a pic with my phone. He finally hopped off when he couldn't stand it anymore (5-6 min. staring at each other). I slowly worked my way over to where he was at on an overgrown atv trail and right at an intersection, there was a huge 8' diameter community scrape already opened up and well used, several old, last year scrapes leading into this area on the trails, some crabapple trees...I back out and head up over the hill and about 200 yds above this area, an oak flat with tons of white oaks and tons of acorns dropping. Knew where I was going on Saturday night.
Set-up in a big triple trunk maple and thought I was golden. Between the leaves and the triple trunks, lots of concealment. Well, I guess not enough. The brother of this one pops out at 520pm below me on the hill about 50 yds away eating acorns. I watch, try to get a pic or two and then I notice a deer closer, about 35 yds on the hill. It is this guy. I did not budge at all, just watching, bow in hand..and this guy picks me out. He gets nervous and they both prance out the hillside and out of site. Have no idea how he saw me as half my body was covered by a tree trunk and tons of leaf cover behind me. Now, I was only 15'-18' high due to the leaves but still.
Anyways, curiosity got the best of him and he circled around getting downwind of me but must have misjudged as when he came in, he was a little less then 20 yds away and I think the steady breeze was blowing my scent over him. He did check me out again, doing the head bob and fake look away and look back real quick. I must have stayed still enough to have him relax, start eating, get his head behind a tree, I draw and made a good shot. Anchored him high on left and out low on right. Must have nicked the spine then deflected downward. No tracking...just a hellish drag. Hopefully I can get both my kids on bucks this year. Last year for my daughter as a Jr. hunter.