Wednesday after opening day I had been down at my club for 3 days and had seen some deer and had some opportunities (mommas with spotted fawns or mommas with 2yr old bucks) but for the most part it had been a tough 3 days. I knew that since I was heading home after Wednesdays evening hunt that would probably be the best hunt I would have. Crazy how it works that way. At 2pm I headed out to a feild that I shot an 8pt in 2yrs ago on the 2nd day of bow season. Had 5 bucks on the field that day and it was an awesome hunt. I get set up about 2:30. At 3pm a doe came out and fed around about 80yds from me. Wasnt planning on shooting a doe since I was leaving that night. At 5 i look over my right should and saw a deer with it head down eating in the field. There was a tree limb about 20ft from me that was in the way but the deer was 45yds from me. When he held his head up i could tell he was a decent deer. 8pt with really tall but narrow rack. Decent mass. But looked around 150lbs. I figure it for a 3yr old. While watching him 2 spikes and a 4pt came out. About this time the tall racked but was out in the open in the feild eating. All of a sudden he looked hard back at the treeline. Through his head to the ground and took of in the direction he was looking. Clash! Sounded like someone with a set of large r

you gonna leave us in suspense?

He must have fell out of the tree

Maybe the buck ran him over and toook him out!!! It's a shame, it was a good story up until....

Rattling horns going nuts. I couldn't see the other deerbut I knew that it wasn't a spike he was sparing with. Now I have seen and heard bucks sparing before but nothing like this. It was an intense 30 seconds. Finally they stopped and went back to feeding like every thing was cool. I still couldn't make out the other deer because of that durn limb. While glassing him 2 more 8pts and arough old 6pt came out. Both the 8's were pretty deer but not what I was after. Finally the other deer stepped out for a good look. Beautiful 8. 16-17' wide. Tall g-2 & 3's. Good mass and dang near perfect! Def the one I wanted. He was about 50yds away behind that limb. The other deer are working there way closer but he is taking his time. One of the smaller 8's got to the point where I had crossed the field and through his nose in the air. Once he got nervous they all Goya nervous. Once he started going the other way they all started going the other way only to go back in the woods. Before the hunt I had bathed sprayed down and done everything I know to do to prevent that from happening. But it was 80deg outside. I knew they smelled something but hadn't got down wind of me and flat out busted me. Wind was in my favor and 2 more hours before dark. 15mins late a doe came out from there direction and fed past me. About the time she got out of sight I look back over to my right and all 8 of them are back on the field. This time they are headed my way a little faster than before. The tall 8 Gets to 25yds. The big one Gets to 45 but that dang limb is in my way. I needed him to take 5 more steps for a shot. All the other deer were within 35yds but he wasn't budging. All of a sudden the tall 8 Gets to the same spot as before and threw his nose up. I knew it was about to screw me. Back they went. Dangit! They didn't immediately go back in the woods but it wasn't long after that they did and all I could do is watch. It was the hardest thing packing up and leaving that night. To add to the pain another guy in the club killed one of the smaller 8's the next day. Scored him at 110. Ive got better deer than that on the wall but it still kinda sucks. Good news is that there were 2 better deer on the field that afternoon that still alive. I don't blame him for shooting it. If i had it to do over again I might do the same thing.

I have no clue why my computer cut the story off in the middle. But I just retyped it on my phone. I will never do that again!

That story got me fired up!

It should fur! Gets me fired up just telling it again! Def what one can refer to as a bachelor group...

You need to cut that limb

"You need to cut that limb"

x2

You didn't tell the other guy about all those bucks did you???? Oh yea, cut that limb!!!!!

Great story. Has anyone suggested that you cut that limb?

To heck with cutting that limb, shoot it and put it on the wall! In fact you might cut the whole tree down. On a serious note, do you spray the bottom of your boots and do you wear them anytime other than walking in the woods? (You might stick them on the wall with that stick.) Great story!

I trimmed that stand a month ago and didnt trim that limb because I had already been there trimming an hour and that limb would have required alot of other not needed trimming just to be able to trim it. I havnt hunted it since then. No I didnt tell anyone. And since the other guy killed that deer, him and his dad have been living on that stand. I heard through the grapevine that the biggest deer they have on camera there is a 130' 8 point. They scored it with one of those computer programs. I figure it was the deer I saw. I've got pics of big deer all over the place so thats ok. And yes I sprayed all my boots, gear and clothing. My rubber boots had been in back of my truck inbeetween my toolbox and back window.

Experiences like that are what makes hunting great. Sure, taking a good one is the topper on the cake, but the pursuit is what is so great. To be there and see it all come together and fall five steps short makes my fire burn hotter for the next hunt.

I wish you could of gotten him on the ground. Man, what a hunt!

rglock you are dead on. I learned that while fiddle-fartin in the woods chasing turkeys that I didnt have to kill something in order to think, "man that was freakin awesome"! I dont see how people that dont hunt or have something that gives them that shot of addrenalin or excitment can live day to day. The anticipation of the next hunt and everything that goes into it. Its my addiction. I know I will get old one day but I hope those feelings never go away.