Room for optimism

[juniordo1]

Well, I bow hunted Friday and never saw a deer in the woods. At noon I went into town at noon to get propane and I saw a monster buck cross into the neighbor's property. On the way back a spiker crossed in almost the same place going in same direction. Now I'm really excited about Saturday morning.

Saturday morning comes I get into my stand and 5 minutes before legal shooting hours the neighbor shot twice. It must have been light on the field because I couldn't see much of anything in the woods. OK, now I'm a little angry but still excited.

At 9AM here comes my brother walking through the woods right to me. AAAARRGGHH!!! He stops and explains that nature is calling and he wasn't prepared. Now I'm really irritated and somewhat less excited.

Literally two minutes later I see movement in the shadows to my right. I concentrate on the spot (a very small sunlit opening) and suddenly a deer pops through the opening and then another. 30 seconds goes by and a deer comes by going back the way they came. Again a second deer follows but this time I see the sunlight gleam off his big rack! These deer must have been chasing in circles because minutes later three deer, including the buck go back the other way heading away from me. I was thinking I missed my chance when I see the buck's rack moving towards me in the brush. It was shadowy so I couldn't see the body.The buck gets within 50yds and lays down. I watched his rack turn as he tried to identify every noise. I watched this for ten minutes or so and then I didn't see him any more. He got away. I never heard or saw him go.

Sunday I sat in my brother's stand and I saw feet coming through the brush. I got ready at the opening and with the sun in front of me the deer's body blended perfectly with the brush and all I could see was the top of his head and his beautiful 8+? points. No shot.

Hunted Monday saw nothing.

So, I saw 4 deer all weekend and two were big bucks so I can't wait to get back out.

[CANOPY SAM]

They do get smart when there's so much activity around them.