long story long weekend

Well I feel compelled to tell my story not just because it was my first Archery hunt for deer. But because I had a blast even if I do not have venison in the freezer to show for it.

I did not get to hunt much sense the close of regular season for deer with the Muzzle loader and then the rifle then Pheasants; I finally got out last week for one day after doing winterizing on my home. So I planned a three day push for last weekend. Not hunting archery before I am not accustomed to where to locate deer this late in the season so I got help from friends. (not specific areas just a where ya seeing them in elevation type thing)

Friday was great except I was cold as hell and had to hike off the mountains early do to being wet and cold. But at 11:30 just before I headed down I had a nice big 3 walk out at 108 yards and hurry down a ravine. I waited an hour and a half fro him to come out or show me where he was but never saw him again. That ended that day’s excitement

Saturday I decided to make a play at the big three and see if I could find him after walking around most o the morning glassing and only seeing does and small bucks.
No luck I hunted all over that area but could not find where he went or any sign of him.

Sunday I hiked up again this time with the plan to just hike around the mountain and see if I could spot and stock some deer. I found my self in the same areas and by 1:30 I was back where I saw the big 3 again. I sat for 30 minutes then thought screw it I am going lower where I saw those smaller bucks on Friday and see if I can find one.

I started lower and right off the bat see 2 does and then out comes a buck but it’s not a small buck he’s a pig a big 4 point I had seen before the rifle way up high. Now he’s in this little valley with almost no cover. I start my walk and every few steps I stop to glass, I have a long way and the rest of the way they will see me for sure so I creep ½ a step at a time watching the deer the whole time. This lead doe is smart as heck I get to 400 yards and although she can not see me and the wind is blowing straight to me she keeps looking my direction ever few minutes for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. I get to 235yards and that’s it the buck after watching her alert and not settling down decided that was enough and went back into the valley she followed 15 minutes later 45 minutes later I was just getting to where I saw them last I sprayed some doe in heat and hoped he would come back but didn’t much think he would.

So I settled in and started glassing again. To the direct North of where I saw the big 4 I see a deer bedded on a hill in the open no cover at all I look and sure enough a buck I can only make out the fork so I don’t push down because he is about ¾ a mile away. He gets up and starts walking to me. Pretty soon I see he is on a trail that if I adjust will bring him right to within 20 yards of me so off I go. I get set in and get my bow ready and wait . I can see him from time to time and he is on the trail coming right to me. as he crest the hill at 135 yards I get the binos out and to my surprise he is a smaller 4 point he nibbles around and keeps looking behind him and then looks down in the valley and just stands there for 10 minutes looking into the valley then turns and leaves the trail for no reason and climbs the ridge and disappears, tell me deer do not have a sixth sense.
After I decide to see if I can make a play on the first 4 point and go to the bottom of the valley he was in and work my way to where it opens onto the hill side I figure they will be there eating , I get to the bottom and its getting just before sunset and I see a 2 point at 96 yrds he spots me and freezes I wait to see if he will come closer after I hide and he takes off up the hill. By now the sun is setting so I start the hike toward my truck and see some ears on the hillside, doe but I have a feeling so I walk around as quite as I can and sure enough a 3 point and a 4 point are there and they are chasing each other around. So I decide to climb up the hill opposite them and see if I can get a shot. As I crest the hill the 4 point is standing broadside at 80 yards. I have maybe 10 minutes of light left and it’s the last day and I have made 80 yards shots at the range fairly well as in I can hit a paper plate 8 out of 10 times and the others are just outside of it. So I decide this is extreme so I might as well give it a shot (60 is my ideal max) I pull back and rookie mistake I don’t set the string to my anchor point and take my time. I have the range right on but my arrow flies left about 2 feet. The luminock lighted the miss, as soon as I released I knew I missed. The deer didn’t wait for a second shot I hiked up to get my arrow and felt great about a great day afield. Man I had a blast! And I will never forget to anchor again I hope.