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Old 10 down early!

I'm late to the game. Big congrats on your strategy, attention to detail with the wind/bow, making minor tweaks as the game evolved. and sealing the deal when he least expected it. That's success like no other. Thanks for sharing.
 
UTGrad said:
I've always considered killing a smart, old buck in early season the ultimate accomplishment. They aren't making stupid mistakes yet. Noted how you only hunted him with the correct wind and made adjustments to your set up. Huge congrats.
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Couldn't have done it without your old Lone Wolf & sticks! My normal hang on stands are pretty heavy so I don't move them much. And where I was hunting a climber would have left me exposed in the wide open with no cover other than height, and I hate shooting straight down. That Lone Wolf paid for itself this week.
 
Ski said:
Thank you! He gave me a little more trouble than I'm used to for sure. Smart old deer. He just wouldn't give me a chance. I kept readjusting and somehow it seemed like he'd know it. I knew I was inside the few acre core he spent his daylights in but when you're bow hunting, a few acres may as well be a few miles. You have to get inside his personal space bubble. Fortunately the day prior I was finally able to pin him down on a particular tree. Didn't get a shot but I was able to see him continually circling one particular white oak, vacuuming up the acorns. I moved the stand yet again to shoot that tree and I got him.

Just like he did in the velvet hunt, he stood back in the shadows watching like a statue as the younger deer browsed around & through my shooting zone. He got me like that when I was trying to get him in velvet. He waited & watched from afar as a younger buck snooped all around under my tree. When he saw the young deer catch my ground scent & get nervous, the old guy turned 180* and disappeared right back into the thick. Same thing this time but lucky for me he's chased away all the other competitive aged bucks so it was only a couple young does, fawns, and a yearling buck under the stand. As soon as they drifted off without alert he dropped his guard and came right in. Once I saw him comfortable with face on ground slurping up acorns, I felt good. He'd done messed up. I don't even remember aiming. It's like I drew the bow and next thing is that unmistakable sound of smacking a drum. 60yds and 4 seconds later and he tips over. Then I'm up til 1am cutting meat!

I love bow hunting. Shot my first bow buck in the early-mid 90's and still get just as excited. I amost can't even enjoy rifle hunting. Almost :)
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Great buck. I agree. Nothing like bowhunting. I have no interest in shooting any deer with a gun
 
Andy S. said:
I'm late to the game. Big congrats on your strategy, attention to detail with the wind/bow, making minor tweaks as the game evolved. and sealing the deal when he least expected it. That's success like no other. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you! It was as much luck as it was anything. I usually lose at this game but boy it sure feels good to win sometimes!
 
Ski said:
Couldn't have done it without your old Lone Wolf & sticks! My normal hang on stands are pretty heavy so I don't move them much. And where I was hunting a climber would have left me exposed in the wide open with no cover other than height, and I hate shooting straight down. That Lone Wolf paid for itself this week.
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It's hard to beat the mobility and flexibility of a lightweight stand and stick combo. I've got a couple sets I hung this summer but it's nice to be able to move just a little ways to get the right angle.
 
UTGrad said:
It's hard to beat the mobility and flexibility of a lightweight stand and stick combo. I've got a couple sets I hung this summer but it's nice to be able to move just a little ways to get the right angle.
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That's exactly why I picked it up. I shot him from an 8" diameter hickory with branches & leaves all over it like a bush. I'm 6'2x235lbs. No way I should be able to hide in an 8" tree. But that's what was available and it worked.
 

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