2015 is done

[Archerysniper]

This season started early with the spring turkey season and my excited  9 year old daughter on her first hunt.  That lasted a hour and half before she made a great free hand shot on a giant gobbler. I still get picked on by her because it had a bigger beard  then any of the ones I have taken.The rest of the spring and summer went into shooting my new bow,working on physical fitness and getting ready for my Montana elk hunt. September 3rd came fast and I was headed west bound. It was a great hunt spent with my best friend and 16 days of hunting.I ended up filling two deer tags and on my last day hunting with my friend I was and able to fill my elk tag on a cow calf.After such a sucessful hunt  I made it home for our archery opening weekend and some much needed family time.

With us being in a two deer area I was trying my hardest to hold onto my doe tag until the daughter was with. However plans soon changed as she sprained and fractured her ankle playing and ended up on crutches not able to climb into the stands with me. So it was time to fill my doe tag on the first lone mature doe that gave me a good shot.

After that I spent a lot of time passing does and young bucks waiting for the end of October and the bigger boys to start moving.

 

It all came together October 29th,I didn't have any work that day so I made it out for my first moring sit of the season. It was a wet quiet day without seeing anything till 9:30 when a fork and button came charging in acting goofy looking back where they came from. That was when I saw a white flag running by with a big deer right behind her grunting with every step.  Where the went through it was so thick I could just catch glimpses of them through the brush. After sitting till 10:30 I left the stand and headed home excited for what the evening will have. I climbed back into the stand at 4pm and ended up reading my book without interuptions till around 5:50 when I could hear some grunting comeing through the pines in my direction. Here comes the button buck with forky from this morning pushing him down the trail. The fork stops at 40 yards to freshen a scrape and the button walks right in under the tree. 

 

They hang around and give me something to take pictures and video of for about 10 minutes. I have the button buck right under the ladder stand and playing with him by dropping pieces of bark and stick on his head when all of a sudden he stiffens up and starts walking backwards while looking of towards my front left. Thats when I hear the deepest growl\grunt it sounded more like a red stag then whitetail and I could see a big deer at 30 yards coming straight in,through the rows of mature pines I could make out one side of his antlers as I was scrambling for my bow and trying not to spook Mr.button. At 25 yards my decision was made and I went into auto pilot,I drew as he went behind a big pine at 20 yards when he stepped into my shooting lane he stopped front leg foward and looked up at me in the tree. That is right when my thumb took the slack out of the trigger and I watch the green and white fleatching dissapper right behind his shoulder.

[96trigger]

Any one of those memories would make for a great year of hunting,  all of them in one year is something special. Great job getting the kids in outdoors, congrats on all the success! 

[paceman]

Awesome Deer! Congrats!

[Boar]

AN awsome season Arch! Congratulations, hope your daughters ankle is healing good. Its always a treat to watch your seaon unfold on the forum. Thanks for sharing your passion!!

[mrklean]

Nice job I see venison will be on the menu at the spearing GTG this winter

[rkhinrichs]

Nice!

[Scoot]

Well done- congrats!!!

[Shu]

Nice deer now get back to carpin'.....

[Jeff13]

That's a solid season! Congratulations 

[jerkbait]

awesome jog, congrats.

[ANYFISH2]

Seems to me the 2015 season was pretty solid for you and yours!  Congratulations.

That for sharing your seasons with us.

[DonBo]

Was sure fun sharing texts with you through most of these adventures.  Hope you see one from me soon  

 

[SmellEsox]

Nice job!  Great year!

[1eyeReD]

That's a biggun! Congrats and what an awesome year!!

[Ohboytimmy]

What a great year for you! Good thing you have all of 2016 to remember with every delicious bite!