I’ve had a a slow season so far, just not seeing deer like I usually do. It had been grinding on me and making it hard to wake up, and even harder to stay focused while in the stand. I did get a doe during bow season and since then had been getting skunked repeatedly.

Today I was planning on making the third trip down to my small lease in Randolph county - and wouldn’t you know it aldeer was part of my morning reading. Coming across BOFF’s post in response to bad times hunting sorta hit me, and I appreciate his wisdom being shared with all of us. I had been putting too much pressure on myself and forgetting I do this because it’s fun and helps put dinner on the table.

Drove down from Atlanta to my lease and got set up in a tree I had been wanting to try out at about 2:00. This tree is right on the edge of a wash and with all the rain we have had it now was quite a little trickle. Initially I was very annoyed with the noise it was making, since I couldn’t hear very much other than the water, but then I recalled BOFF’s post, closed my eyes a bit and enjoyed the sound of the water and being able to have a holiday off to do something I love.

The day was pretty slow - only a few squirrels and the occasional bird moving - but I knew the deer would likely come to the little plot I planted in the late afternoon. I was keeping an eye on the time, and at 5:15 decided to just keep my eyes peeled until it was too dark to see. About 30 seconds later I catch noise off to my left, and see a lone doe working my way in some very thick underbrush. Since I hunt for the meat as much as the antlers I was ready to make a move and shoot her. I got set, and let loose with the 7 mag, and she disappeared - I mean gone, but two other does were apparently behind her and I saw them bolt out of there. I kept looking through my scope where she had been, and couldn’t see her at all. At this point I wondered if I had missed and she was one of the two I saw running off, waving their white tails at me. After looking for a couple minutes through the scope I glance up at the field about 100 yards away and see a buck with good antlers crossing it pretty quick. I immediately swung the gun that way, lined it up, and let it loose again. After the recoil and muzzle flash, when I looked back, he was gone, just completely gone.

At this point I look down at the clock and it read 5:20. Wow, that was exciting, but now I’m questioning my gun and scope and decision to shoot again. I sat til dark, thinking through what had happened and started packing up to climb down.

Once on the ground I worked my way over to the doe and there she was, laid in the thick stuff right where she had been standing but behind a good sized log. Felt great to know that I had one deer getting a ride home with me. I drug her to the trail and headed back to my truck since I would be able to get it to the field where the buck had been standing. Got to the truck and drove to the field edge to start searching and nothing. No blood, no hair, not even a place that was obvious a deer had torn out of there. I wandered the field, then circled the edge of it looking for any sign - still nada.

At this point I was frustrated - see a trend here? I turned off my headlamp and sat for a few, looking at the stars. Wow, were they out tonight and beautiful.


I decided I’d do one more circle and then go get the doe and started my search again. What’s that? A tiny tiny speck of blood! I found a couple more right there, and then one more closer to the edge of the field that leads into a briar patch. Onward!

About 20 more yards and no blood, time to circle back and start again, but when I did that move my light hit something white. There he laid - the big ten point I’ve been watching on cam for the two years I’ve had this spot.

5 minutes - from my slowest season ever, to my best buck ever.