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This bow season, I held out for a big boy....I passed at least 10 deer that would have been the biggest I've ever shot, missed 1 top hat 8point that would have gone 160+, but I had sat 10hrs in a 30mph wind, with light rain, he was 40 yards away, and in pursuit of a hot doe.
The Chance I had been waiting for came in a river bottom ladder stand. I'd been sitting several hours, in the doldrums of the day, daydreaming about a buck on a trailcam photo, looking back to my right, where deer had been crossing the river and coming by, with my bow hunt on the left side(for the first time in my hunting life) because my hands were cold....and I felt my hair stand up on my neck, turned to my left and there he was....25 yards in my shooting lane, broad side and coming closer. as he went behind a tree cruising into my 15 yard lane, I grabbed my bow, went to click on my release and it happend.....he stopped, 15 yards broadside, to my left(perfect for right handed bow shooter)....looking straight at me, I couldnt' draw.
I stopped counting at 16 points, and definitely saw several pinky-finger sized stickers.....just as he ran away with my bow and dick in hand. I was physcially sick about that for 3-4 days and nights.
That pretty much took the wind out of my sails, and work picked up the past 2 weeks and I have only been able to get out one more time......
Shotgun season starts tomorrow, and we'll slay many of these car destroying beasts.
I kept a log/journal this year....others should do that.
I sat 81hrs. During that time, I saw 53 different bucks(hunting 4 farms) 85 does and 22 I couldn't identify. I saw 2 bobcats on separate occasions, both within 20 yards...and assortment of racoons, oppossums, coyotes, squirrels, some big ass woodpecker I've never seen before, beaver and piles of turkeys. I saw at least 6 separate buck fights.....had a small one tending and breeding a doe at 10yards for an hour.....and saw 2 bald eagles.
Interesting year, but disappointing to come out skunked(other than a couple of does).
We'll see what happens shotgun season(through monday)......and if I can get my 3 work deadlines done.....I may try to get out for some winter bow season from Christmas-jan 10...
Hopefully, I'll have something impressive to show off by monday.
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