I watched my neighbor shoot a button buck, that was smaller than one of my Ponters, from a ground blind last evening. I had just walked out on the porch and put the binos on the deer when he let the arrow fly, which was pretty coincidental.

Finally made it out with my son Saturday evening and yesterday evening in 2D.  Small properties where deer move through, but don't seem to stay much.  Had some really fun hunts, although he didn't let any bolts fly.  
 
Saturday we watched two young bucks sparring for a good 5 minutes, about 75 yards away.  Something I've actually never seen while I've been in the woods hunting.  Have seen it spotting, and just driving around, but never got to just sit and watch it unfold in front of me like it did.  Had a BIG doe sneak in behind us about 15 feet above our head on a high bench, and 10 yards behind us, as we just sat up against some trees on the ground.  This property is near a high fence operation, and the red stag were going nuts with their bellowing all evening.  
 
Yesterday evening was on a different property.  We were set up on a corner field edge where the deer congregate coming off of another property where they bed.  Had my 6 year old with us too, and he did an awesome job of being quiet and still in the ground blind.  At about 6:35, 2 does with their young sons came out directly in front of us.  If the bigger does had not been around, I would have had a really hard time telling that those were button bucks, and not 1.5 year old does without putting glass on them.  They were in great shape, and very healthy, but next to the adult does, you could tell they were a little smaller and leaner.  They made a retreat back into the woods after a few minutes, but then 10 minutes later came out single file from our left, but just at about 36 yards.  My son shoots well at 30 yards, but needs to get better at 40, so I made him hold off.  The property owner's wife came home at that point, and they retreated into the woods again when she got out of her car 100 yards away to walk into the house.  As we were getting ready to exit the blind, a single deer just inside the woods snorted and took off.  Didn't see it, but probably the buck that's been rubbing the saplings along the field.  
 
On the 150 yard walk back to the car, deer were in other fields on that property too.  
 
Couple of fun hunts with some cool action.  We'll let those properties cool off for a week or so, and hopefully get out to a few others this week.  

Just before six PM this evening I moved directly from my house to the ladder stand bordering my field and the neighbors bean field where I saw the deer standing last night.  Wind was out of the South which was ideal because I would be North of the critters should they come into the field as they did last night.  I broke every rule of approaching a hunting stand as I wanted to get to my ladder as quick as possible so, it wasn't until I turned into the tree row that I spotted a large doe standing 100 yds (+/-) into the bean field but luckily, she didn't follow the rules either because she was looking the other way.
 
I'm now standing stiffer than a dead tree, only ten yds from my tree stand and the doe put her head down to which, I took two giant steps then refroze as she picked her head up but, still looking in the opposite direction.  Two more giant steps followed by three baby steps when she dropped her head again.  Almost there when up pops the head, this time toward me and I am halfway through another giant step.  Dam I forgot to say "mother may I" and almost got sent home but the doe turns her head the other way and takes time watching behind her.  Nuts, I was certain another pair of eyes would becoming into the field so it was hop, skip, jump and, I was on the bottom rung of my ladder.  Head down one rung up, head up looking the other way; one rung up, head down; one rung up, heck if you think this is getting monotonous you shoulda been in my shoes. 
 
AT LAST on the platform, bow stowed in the holder, I now sitting and, the doe still feeding with no additional eyes seen along the fields edge.  Head up; I sit, head down; I sit then finally, the deer begins to move... away from me of course.  First it was one step then two steps then the doe turns toward me taking 3 baby steps followed by 4 giant steps before stopping, looking the other way before, laying down 100 yds (+/-) from my stand.
 
OK so it wasn't all a loss, it was a beautiful afternoon and I enjoyed the coolness of the evening air as I watched the fields and trees turn to a warm orange from the glow of the setting sun.  This time I followed the rules of leaving ones stand so I stayed well past sunset.  Although certain I could climb down without being seen by the doe, I checked with each step down, in her direction to assure she wasn't standing looking at me.
 
One rung to go, then I was on the ground turning toward my field when I was reminded that the rules recommend checking 360 degrees around your stand BEFORE descending.  I still don't know who scared who more and I'm still wondering where the hell the deer came from.
 
I'll be back at it, this time (maybe) in the morning.
 
 
 
Addendum:  Stupid deer!!
 
 
                                                                             Can you spot the deer in this picture?
 
 
 
                                                                        
 
 
                                                                And doesn't this tree look like the tree in Mopar's picture?
 
                                                                             Ooops.. wait, what?  Honest it's in my yard!

Well what's up guy's, Been a few.  Well this year started off good by seeing quite a few deer first morning and evening hunt was nice also. Didn't get a shoot tho. Following sunday went to shoot a few arrows and well **** could not even pull my bow back.  Went and found out have pulled ligaments and some torn muscle. And so ofcoarse had to buy a crossbow. Bought a ten point titan ss,  **** that thing shoots pretty freaking fast and not even that loud. Last friday evening SLAMMED a nice doe she dropped like a bad habit  LOL  no tracking on that one. Got some meat in the feezer and one more doe then going after the BUCK. See a Piebald 9 point at the one farm I hunt and was getting bait for catfishing walked right by within 20 yards FREAKING COOL as it gets!!!

BeenThereDoneThat.
                                                                           Can you spot the deer in this picture?                                                                                                                                             And doesn't this tree look like the tree in Mopar's picture?                                                                              Ooops.. wait, what?  Honest it's in my yard!

. BTDT but my tree has deer under it .... lol 🍺😜🍺. Good story bud ...well yesterday evening I get to my favorite spot , ya know where the tree is at now this is on my uncles property ( only info ) I'm giving up . So I see my uncle walking down the field , he spots me and says hey you have a chain , I'm stuck so I go and pull him out, then go check my camera's , get ready to get in my stand get a call from my son telling me he just blew a tire but he is ok just can't get his car jacked up. Had to go home get my little floor jack and go help him anyhow got his tire changed then his car wouldn't start dead battery 😡...gave him a jump followed him to his house , checked his battery no water in it put water in it and put it on charger .... got back home at 7:30 so NO HUNTING ..... KIDS !!! 😜🍺

mopars0
                                  
. BTDT but my tree has deer under it .... lol 🍺😜🍺. ..... KIDS !!! 😜🍺

 
 
 
OUCH!!!  LMAO!  
 
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Welcome back Big Head and congratulations on your deer.

Dateline: Today; Right now.

OK thought I'd send an update while playing rock-a-bye BTDT in the tree.

Wind is south at 10 MPH, Sun is shining, humidity 44%, temp. is 72 and I'm wishing I would have wore my shortyshorts with the RealTree Fig Leaf camo pattern.

Thought I'd get an early start today and by now I'm guessing yinz know there is nothing going on because I am sitting in my tree rocking to and fro playing with my...... stupid phone.

Stay tuned, breaking details as they happen.

Film at 11... which I doubt but, I can allows hope.

Meanwhile don't forget to look for the deer in the picture.


PS. Not Mopars pictures.

PSS. Stupid Squirrels.

Yes congrats Big Head on your deer at least someone is getting them 👍.... and BTDT glad ya made it out this afternoon .... myself , well that didn't happen went out for dinner with my better half and neighbor lady .... couldn't turn down a free Italian dinner .... lol. HAPPY hunting guys 🍺🍺

Thanks Steve, it was good getting back out and I did get to see three doe this evening, one in the bean field came out just before dark and further to my south then last night, so no hope there.   A half hour before that two doe entered my field just to the East of me and it looked like they would be working their way up the edge maybe giving me a 20 yd shot.  Closer they got I could see they were both young-uns with one looking to be about 1.5 and the other 2.5 years.  Didn't matter, the older of the two seemed fascinated with something going on west of us and darted toward the center of my field then started the foot stomping thingy before heading back from which they came.
 
I'm thinking they stayed in the woods longer today because the deer I startled when I (thank goodness it was on the way down) missed the last rung on my ladder last night,  sent "hunter text alerts" out to everyone.
 
Calling for rain in the morning which I'm going to use for an excuse to sleep in but I thinkin I'll be back out in the afternoon.
 
Hope you enjoyed your dinner and thank you for making me hungry so late in the evening.  Do ya know if McDonald's serves spaghetti?

So getting the fever...have not been out yet holding out until last 3 weeks then going out as much as possible.
Glad to see the same ole stuff here...got a feeling BTDT puts a nice buck down this rut...hes over due right?
will take this chance to say GOOD LUCK to everyone!
I have an 8pt on cam I think 2.5 yr old with high g2 and g3 I know there are better around but if he steps out and stops broadside I know I will be tempted...looking forward to getting out soon
WCW