TN Larry
Well-Known Member
Last year was one of those years that makes you scratch your head. Even though I was getting over two hip surgeries, I was still able to hunt but just couldn't make the right decision. Even though I let several walk, I didn't kill a deer for the first time in nearly 30 yrs and didn't kill a decent buck for the first time in 24 years. This year has been a polar opposite.
My son punched his last buck tag on Wednesday afternoon. I asked him to take my daughter this morning even though he wanted to sleep in. This 7pt stepped in the field feeding a little after 10 this morning. She watched it for a few minutes before deciding to shoot it but got a good look and said he was worthy of her last tag. She got a little lucky on the shot as the deer made a step as she shot and angled towards her. It was still a good shot even though it went in a little far back and exited in front of the guts. Good thing she was shooting the 6.5 creedmoore. Lol. She was pretty excited and made for a proud Dad moment.
I headed to a spot that I found several fresh scrapes on Tuesday. I saw a pretty decent buck early which may have been this one but just couldn't tell enough about him to convince me to pull the trigger. A little before 8, I heard deer behind me or so I thought. I turned around to finally see 5 gobblers coming behind me after being convinced it was a deer. I turned back around , and they walked under me followed by 6 jakes. I then heard something to my other side and 10 hens with the lead hen being a bearded hen passing me at 30 yards. It was good to see them but disappointed it wasn't deer.
After they got past me a little or at least where I could hear some again, I heard walking above me. It was farther up the hill than the turkeys. I kept hearing it and finally saw the glimpse of it and thought another turkey. My heart sank, but I was wrong as a buck stepped out in the open instead of a turkey. I knew it was a good buck but didn't think I was gonna shoot it to start with. It was headed straight towards me. It got to about 50 yds and stopped. The wind was blowing that way and totally opposite than it was forecasted. I then saw the doe he was following a little to his left. She must have got my wind as she made a few bounces up the hill. He turned to follow her, and I finally got a good look at him. I knew then that I was shooting. He hit a big opening, and the 308 put him on the ground. I thought I saw a g4 when he turned and ended up being right as it is a solid 9pt. He had all kinds of barks on his antlers from rubbing and quite a bit of trash at his bases even though none were an inch.
My Dad came to help me drag him out, and I got a text from my daughter as we were walking in with the sled that she had killed. Thank you Jesus for what a wonderful and blessed year!
I now have to find a place to take my son second muzzleloader in KY to try to punch his tag there but what a year it's been. Very blessed!
Oh and got the @Shag knife bloody again.
My son punched his last buck tag on Wednesday afternoon. I asked him to take my daughter this morning even though he wanted to sleep in. This 7pt stepped in the field feeding a little after 10 this morning. She watched it for a few minutes before deciding to shoot it but got a good look and said he was worthy of her last tag. She got a little lucky on the shot as the deer made a step as she shot and angled towards her. It was still a good shot even though it went in a little far back and exited in front of the guts. Good thing she was shooting the 6.5 creedmoore. Lol. She was pretty excited and made for a proud Dad moment.
I headed to a spot that I found several fresh scrapes on Tuesday. I saw a pretty decent buck early which may have been this one but just couldn't tell enough about him to convince me to pull the trigger. A little before 8, I heard deer behind me or so I thought. I turned around to finally see 5 gobblers coming behind me after being convinced it was a deer. I turned back around , and they walked under me followed by 6 jakes. I then heard something to my other side and 10 hens with the lead hen being a bearded hen passing me at 30 yards. It was good to see them but disappointed it wasn't deer.
After they got past me a little or at least where I could hear some again, I heard walking above me. It was farther up the hill than the turkeys. I kept hearing it and finally saw the glimpse of it and thought another turkey. My heart sank, but I was wrong as a buck stepped out in the open instead of a turkey. I knew it was a good buck but didn't think I was gonna shoot it to start with. It was headed straight towards me. It got to about 50 yds and stopped. The wind was blowing that way and totally opposite than it was forecasted. I then saw the doe he was following a little to his left. She must have got my wind as she made a few bounces up the hill. He turned to follow her, and I finally got a good look at him. I knew then that I was shooting. He hit a big opening, and the 308 put him on the ground. I thought I saw a g4 when he turned and ended up being right as it is a solid 9pt. He had all kinds of barks on his antlers from rubbing and quite a bit of trash at his bases even though none were an inch.
My Dad came to help me drag him out, and I got a text from my daughter as we were walking in with the sled that she had killed. Thank you Jesus for what a wonderful and blessed year!
I now have to find a place to take my son second muzzleloader in KY to try to punch his tag there but what a year it's been. Very blessed!
Oh and got the @Shag knife bloody again.