It was warm and overcast, 50 degrees. We had a strong (16 to 20 mph) SSE wind that day, so I parked on the NE corner of the property (white rect in photo at bottom) and walked in, straight south (NE white dots) across a mucky plowed field (likely to killed me) until I could cross the creek to my stand (bigger red dot in photo at bottom)...very calm down in the bottom. I could see quite well since the last snow had really beat down any remaining leaves and underbrush, but unfortunately had almost completely melted the day before due to rain.
About an hour into the hunt, I thought I picked up movement over 100 yds to the SW (bigger yellow dot), thought it could have been light colored leaves blowing in the wind or something. Pulled up the binoculars and saw white antlers instead...WOW!!! (only by the grace of God was I lucky enough to pick up movement in that timber at that distance) He and 2 other bucks were either just standing from bedding on the south hillside just below the wind or were just coming down the hill on their way through. I made a couple of excited texts and prayed they'd head my way.....NOPE!! They were heading WEST (small yellow dots), I believe, to one of the only fields not yet plowed, across the dirt road. It had just rained and everything was wet and more importantly QUIET…I made a quick decision to get down and head WEST myself, in the creek bottom (small red dots).
I continued, as fast as possible, to try to get in front of them before they got away...poking my head up every so often to scan the wide open timber bottom to my SOUTH...wind in my face!!! After falling repeatedly, soaking wet, I finally caught movement, took a couple of steps up the creek bank and scanned with binocs, only to catch a glimpse of a buck walking out of sight, still WEST of me...SHIT!!! As I lowered the binoculars, something caught my eye 40 to 50 yds directly SOUTH of me. It was a buck, he had me pegged, but I believe only my shoulders and head were visble and I was partially behind a tree. I drew my bow, while holding it straight down, raising it slowly behind the tree while trying to judge the distance and not pass out from the excitement....not breathing, heart pounding, and legs shaking...not only from the adrenaline rush, but from the 200 yds I had just 'ran', falling down, climbing over and under obstacles.
I picked him up quickly in the sight window, everything looked clear..he didn't seem flighty...with a small "please God" I turned it loose. Either he was closer than I judged, the uphill shot, a small deflection, or just nerves...but I hit him pretty high behind the front leg and it must have hit the opposite shoulder or back bone or both, because it didn't penetrate very far (arrow pic). He took off straight SOUTH with my arrow bouncing around and I watched him head up the hill, I thought out of the timber and veer back to the EAST before loosing sight of him.
After gathering myself, I decided to back out and I literally jogged straight through the timber back to my truck (to avoid the swampy muck of the plowed fields)...bad idea...about killed me again. Adrenaline dump...out of shape...bad shot...I was a mess. I called a couple of buddies, ran home to change clothes...decided to wait a couple of LONGGGGGGGG hours before picking up the trail because of the questionable shot. We parked on that old dirt road WEST of timber, down by the creek...followed a deer trail EAST (SE white dots) to the place where I'd shot him. From there, we headed SOUTH in the general direction he went, got to the top of the hill and there he was (orange dot)...he didn't go 100 yds!!!!
Due to my friend’s time restraints (had to be in Springfield in like 30 mins) we decided to drag him out some 200 yds without field dressing him...another monumental BAD IDEA. By the time we got him to the truck, I really did think I was literally dying. After getting him home, I let him lay for another hour or more before getting any pictures or anything...just trying to rehydrate and get my second wind (which never came)...man, am I a wuss!!! Home alone, I propped camera up on a chair...set the auto feature and ran back and forth taking pictures. Believe it or not... this kicked my butt too!! Exhausted...AGAIN...I sat down for a celebratory beer, called another friend, Roger Battles who 'assisted' ('supervised' as he calls it...I call it 'keeping me company') in field dressing, caping it out, packing chest cavity with ice and cleaning up...finally got to bed at 11pm.
Physically had a hard time getting out of bed the next morning...beat up, cramped up, just plain beat...but there was still work to do. I asked myself repeatedly..."Is this really worth it?" Remembering the previous day's HIGH, looking at the pics (I woke up at 5 AM just thinking about it...had to look at him again) and putting my hands on those antlers, I'd have to say "HELL YES!!!" The day was supposed to get WARMER, so I boned him out (found arrow tip then..broke off in shoulder) and disposed of remains (coyote bait!!!) Nothing goes to waste!!
After all of this excitement...and not to be or sound unappreciative of this blessing...my thoughts go back to those other deer that had walked out of sight....
Was this the "BIG ONE"?!?!?!?!
To be continued... (if I'm physically able...lol)
P.S. He ended up a 12 pointer...has a small kicker on back of his right G2
