Gobble4me757
Well-Known Member
While I just recently moved to the great state of Tennessee and have had many close calls at good deer up here, my heart is in the swamps of the southwest Alabama river bottoms. I've grown up hunting these swamps since I was four years old. Used to, we would never see but one or two deer all season, but I cherish the memories of being at the camp with my Big Papaw. He used to wake me up 2 hours before daybreak, set me out ina stand an hour before daybreak, and would sit on the porch owl hooting up every owl around for seemingly miles. On this same field that we call the "Fruit Tree Patch", memories of being packed 4 deep in a single box and seeing a doe before dark flood my mind.
Fast forward to this weekend where I brought a couple buddies to our camp. After letting one of the guys use my deer rifle to try and kill his first deer, I sat in another stand where I proceeded to shoot one of the largest bucks I've ever seen while hunting only to lose its a different spot in the swamps. First time I'd ever not had my rifle or a high powered rifle with me as I had my ar15 with 55gr hollow points for hogs that turned out to cost me said deer. I was straight depressed after getting back in time to drop my buddies at their spots on a different property and wasn't interested in hunting that afternoon honestly. With the urging of a buddy, I decided to walk up the road to hunt the very Fruit Tree Patch I had referred to earlier.
I arrived slightly after 3pm and climbed up in the ladder my father and I had hung the season prior. I had already peed from the stand once when I stood up to pee again at 4:25. I really was just trying to clear my head when an owl went off hooting to which I always say "Hey big papaw I hope you're doing good up there." No more than 3 minutes later a two does came out at 4:30 at my 10oclock. The rut is getting cranking down here so I thought we have some bait. I look behind them and catch movement going parallel to the field. The does then trotted 15 yards and looked back in the woods in which I got my gun up and ready. He then stepped out and without question seeing his frame it was no doubt a shooter. This time having my rifle in my hands, I blew his heart out at 60 yards where he crashed into the woods! Immediately, I broke into tears praising the good Lord and thanking Him and big papaw for being with me on this hunt. What a rush of memories and emotions as I've killed many deer but few will ever top this. Sorry for the long read but just had to share! Here are some pics including the Fruit Tree Patch with the buck and some pics of why the swamps are my favorite place in the world. Enjoy and God Bless!
Fast forward to this weekend where I brought a couple buddies to our camp. After letting one of the guys use my deer rifle to try and kill his first deer, I sat in another stand where I proceeded to shoot one of the largest bucks I've ever seen while hunting only to lose its a different spot in the swamps. First time I'd ever not had my rifle or a high powered rifle with me as I had my ar15 with 55gr hollow points for hogs that turned out to cost me said deer. I was straight depressed after getting back in time to drop my buddies at their spots on a different property and wasn't interested in hunting that afternoon honestly. With the urging of a buddy, I decided to walk up the road to hunt the very Fruit Tree Patch I had referred to earlier.
I arrived slightly after 3pm and climbed up in the ladder my father and I had hung the season prior. I had already peed from the stand once when I stood up to pee again at 4:25. I really was just trying to clear my head when an owl went off hooting to which I always say "Hey big papaw I hope you're doing good up there." No more than 3 minutes later a two does came out at 4:30 at my 10oclock. The rut is getting cranking down here so I thought we have some bait. I look behind them and catch movement going parallel to the field. The does then trotted 15 yards and looked back in the woods in which I got my gun up and ready. He then stepped out and without question seeing his frame it was no doubt a shooter. This time having my rifle in my hands, I blew his heart out at 60 yards where he crashed into the woods! Immediately, I broke into tears praising the good Lord and thanking Him and big papaw for being with me on this hunt. What a rush of memories and emotions as I've killed many deer but few will ever top this. Sorry for the long read but just had to share! Here are some pics including the Fruit Tree Patch with the buck and some pics of why the swamps are my favorite place in the world. Enjoy and God Bless!
