Well, been a slow season for me with year with one little 8 point passed early in the season and no shot opportunities on does that I wanted to take. I always take a week off in November for that special time of the year and I was really looking forward to it as usual. The weather forecast looked good and the alarm rose me from a restless night sleep at 4:15am Monday morning for the hour drive to the farm I was hunting in WMU 2A in Washington County.
Monday November 4th:Cold and clear at 24 degrees and I climbed into a stand I set on a old gas line on a point that funnels down to a creek crossing. The morning hunt had me seeing three bucks cruising with one being a good 8 point that never came within range.
At noon I climbed down and hit another stand high on a ridge in a saddle. My favorite stand on this farm. Two more bucks cruising that evening with one being big but I never got a good look at him. A small 7 point passed within 15 yards but he got a pass from me.
Tuesday November 5th:Cold and clear at 28 degrees. History has shown this to be my best day for buck movement. History proved it self again as I saw five bucks from my ridge saddle stand. Had a very large bodies buck parallel me at 33 yards yards. I could tell he has busted his left G2 off at the base. 3 on the left side and it looked like 3 up on the right. Big body but as he walked through my shooting lanes I made the decision to pass on him. Only after he began walking straight away did I realize he had 6 inch brow tines and a 18-19 inch spread. Ugh!!! What a frame he had but it was too late. Some grunting only drew a quick glance.
Ended without any bucks seen in the afternoon. So far I have 18 hours logged in the stand over two days.
Wednesday November 6th:Cool and clear and 36 degrees. I decided to hit the saddle stand again in the morning. The big 7 point never showed but I did pass a 14 inch 8 point and saw 5 other bucks cruising. 9 more hours in the stand today. No afternoon action.
Thursday November 7th:Weatherman was calling for high winds and rain in the morning and when my alarm went off he was right. Blowing a gale and heavy rain. I decided to sleep in this morning to recharge the batteries and hunt the afternoon.
I made the drive and climbed into the gasline stand at 11:00. West northwest winds and falling temps. Right off the bat, the big 7 point cruised on past with no interest in my calling. Man he is nice and I kicked myself again for passing him earlier in the week.
At 3 o'clock some crashing over my left shoulder brought me to high alert and a nice buck came charging down off the hill past me at 50 yards. Right on his heels was a bigger buck with 4 up on his left side. He had his ears laid back and he was all bristled up as he chased the smaller buck off of that hill. I thought for sure he would wander on back up and would be receptive to calling but he never showed. I heard some chasing and grunting on the next hill and finished the day with a small spike under me at dark. 7 hours in the stand today.
Friday November 8th:I wanted to hit the saddle stand in the morning but the strong winds had me choosing the gasline stand. It was cool and 32 degrees when I settle in at 6:00am.
At 7:15, a doe trotted down the hill past my stand at twenty yards. She had her tongue hanging out and was getting out of dodge. I expected to buck to show any minute but after about 30 minutes of waiting I sat back down to calm my nerves. Not 15 minutes later I caught movement and here comes a nice buck right on the trail of that doe.
I could easily see 3 tall tines on both sides but had to make up my mind quickly as he was hot to trot. When he hit my shooting lane at 20 yards, two loud grunts stopped him and he looked my way. When I saw his beams even with his ears, the TenPoint Tactical XLT was unleashed and the Lumenok disappeared into his knuckle.
A mule kick and he plowed down the hill about 60 yards to his resting place with hardly a last kick. It turned out that the Easton Full Metal Jacket tipped with a Ramcat had nearly severed the heart away from the lungs and he died about as quick as I have ever seen a arrow hit deer die. Another testament to what a well placed sharp broadhead can do.
Here is the Easton after passing through. My daughter had signed the arrow the morning before as I needed a change in luck. She wrote "Good Luck" and drew a heart on it. How cool is that!!
Here is my gas line stand looking back at it from where the buck was standing. It is 20 feet up in a maple tree.
The blood trail. No tracking required as I saw him fall but it is always reassuring to see good blood which breeds confidence in your setup.
And where he came to rest. He turned out to be a 7 point as his one brow time was cleanly broke at the base.
And the hero shot of one very tired but very happy hunter. An above average buck for the area I was hunting and I am very happy to put my tag on him after 38 hours in the stand, 20 bucks seen, some smaller bucks passed and one bigger one passed, during the first week of November 2013.
