What would you do

andrew_12gauge · Sep 5, 2007

Well im new to this whole archery thing and i had a really close encounter with a 160-170 class buck that ive been watching now for a while on this evenings hunt. Just wondering what you all wouldve done in this situation.

I spotted him bedded with 6 does in a draw running east and west, he was close to the north side so with the wind coming from the south i knew it would be a fairly easy stalk. I snuck right in to 30 yards no problem and came to full draw without the buck noticing but he was bedded in tall grass and all i could see was antlers and ears, so i slowly stood up assuming that my ghilli suit would kinda get a wtf kinda moment from the deer where he would stand and present me with a shot, but all i got was a wide eyed look of terror as he sprung from his bed and took off running all in one swift movement. what should i have done

1 Come at an angle that would put me slightly behind him then draw and stand so he would have to take a better look to identify me as danger.

2 Stayed crouched and grunted to get him to stand

3 other suggestions please

bobcatbess · Sep 5, 2007

ONE THING YOU SHOULD NEVER DO IS MAKE THE FIRST MOVE!!!

I GUARANTEE YOU HE CAN MOVE WAY FASTER THAN YOU CAN!!!

THE ONLY bobcat THAT KNOWS ALOT OF YOU HAVE HAD THIS IMAGE IN YOUR PEA BRAIN BUT DUE TO POOR SHOOTING TACTICS I'M STILL KICKIN!!!

lchcguide · Sep 5, 2007

Try and wait him out. He will eventually stand up. Hopefully it will be during legal shooting light. That would be my first choice if their was time for that.

WAstickslinger · Sep 6, 2007

I agree. Let him stand up on his own. I know the bucks around here this time of year are laying down right until dark but usually they get up right before dark with enought shooting light. Tough call though. Hard to sit there and wait after a long stalk. I have also heard of guys throwing a little rock across the deer. Get him to stand up and look the other way.
I like to just wait myself.

Kentuck · Sep 6, 2007

While turkey hunting this spring I came across a decent buck. I decided to see if I could get withing bow range of him. He new I was there and would look at me while he fed along. Everything was going smoothly until I got to within 30 yards. Once I hit that mark he noticably started throwing his head up from feeding and looked at me and after a short time ran off another 40-50 yards and went back to feeding. I really feel that once you get withing decent bow range of a deer it is best to let them make the first move. You are within what I call their "safe zone" and anything out of the ordinary will send them packing.

BrianID · Sep 6, 2007

Sounds like you did everything perfect but the risk you took by standing up didn't work that time. Being down wind is the most important thing. If I have a choice I prefer to be uphill from the bedded deer.

Standing will work in some situations but I'll only try it if I think I can shoot the buck out of his bed before he even sees me. Earlier this week I was 20 yards from three bedded bucks and decided to stand up for a possible shot. I could have shot the deer below right out of his bed.

After about 30 seconds he finally saw me and knew the strange object(me at full draw) wasn?t there earlier. He decided to get up and leave but didn't act too nervous. He stopped at 40 yards and gave me a perfect broad side shot. His two buddies decided to get up and follow him. Unfortunately, the velvet buck wasn?t the buck I hoped he was so I passed on shooting at him as well. I eased back from full draw and put down my bow and took a few pictures of the three bucks as they left.

The picture quality isn't that great but I thought most people would enjoy them anyway.

Throwing a small rock will work most of the time but it is risky. However, I think throwing a rock is much less risky than standing up or blowing on a deer call.
I like to throw the rock over top of the deer so they are looking the other way. The trick is to have the rock to make just enough noise to get their attention. Sometimes it takes 2, 3 or more small rocks before they get up. Make sure you wait at least a minute or two between throwing each rock. I've had deer get up to stretch over a minute after the rock landed. Throwing a rock hasn't failed me yet but I've only tried it a handful of times. If you can handle waiting for the deer to get up on his own that is the best option. I wouldn't mind waiting an hour or two for a deer to get up but if I think I will have to wait 5 or 6 hours, I'm likely going to chuck a rock.

huntn30inchers · Sep 6, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Sep-06-07 AT 03:50PM (MST)[p]Isnt that a crappy feeling? I had a very similar thing happen this year in area 10 in nevada. I was taking a very long route to get into position to ambush some bucks that I had watched the 2 days prior and thought that I could string them up. So, after climbing to a spot that I thought that would be a good vantage point I see a deer walking through the open sagebrush, I thing to myself, hey, there is a deer. I throw up my bino's and realize that it was the big boy from the group. So, being that I have yet to close the deal with my bow I am about to lose it. I crouched down and he fed to 76 yards and started feeding. He was facing me but the wind was good so I decided to wait and see what he was going to go. After about 15 minutes he turned and started feeding down and into a saddle that was chocked with thick quakies. I started creeping around above him while he had his head in a bush, I ranged him at 60.5 yards and was ready to zip him if he gave me the chance, well he didnt so while he again was feeding I crept to 45 yards from the bush he was feeding in, and then the wait was on. After 10 or so minutes I realized that I hadnt seen any movement and even though I KNEW he didnt move I talked myself into thinking that he went over the saddle into the trees. So as I masterfully moved to cut him off he blows up out of the bush I watched him feeding in at 27 yards. The biggest buck I have ever seen gone because of a dumb mistake. First I wanted to puke, then I felt like crying. Needless to say once again empty handed with a bow. And in 3 years I have blown great chances at big 4 points two of them, one of which was a miss at 18 yards. I should just quit. LOL.

JakeS · Sep 6, 2007

Then Huntn30inchers went and shot some annoying cows.

BomberBlackies · Sep 6, 2007

When its third and 42 and your getting your ass kicked...punt!

huntn30inchers · Sep 6, 2007

Hahaha! actually, I can say that there is a very strong possibility that had I not had to pick a different route because I wanted to avoid pushing some cows into the draw I planned on sitting, i never would have seen that buck. It was on a couple of other oppurtunities that the cows got in my way.

BLooDTRaCKeR · Sep 6, 2007

Yeah it really sucks to blow your cover when your not sure how the deer will react. Playing the waiting game is the best way to go as long as wind and shooting light are in your favor. When I first started archery hunting I had a similar experience as far as not knowing what to do. I watched a nice four point bed down solo in some thick trees on a ridge. I followed him into the trees using the wind to my advantage. As I was tip toeing through the trees I caught movement ten yards in front of me. It was the bucks rack moving back and forth as he was looking away from me. I froze, unprepared for that situation. At first I didn't know if he was looking at me or away from me due tot he thick brush he was in. I had an arrow already knocked with no shooting lane as the buck was laying down. I stood there, limbs a shaking, wondering what I should do. Finally the buck stood up. I had very small shooting lanes through the tree limbs so I waited. I thought the buck had winded me so I frantically looked for an opening wide enought to thread my arrow through before he bounded off. I pulled back, aimed, and let er fly. The arrow knicked a branch and went clanging into the next county. The buck jumped a couple of feet in the air and bolted for the next country. Right after all the commotion, I hear what sounds like a guy and his kid on a horse. They got louder and louder before I realized what was going on. They happened to be comming right up the ridge I was on which ment had I known this, I stood a really good chance of having that buck back track into me to get away from what origionally spooked him.

Don't even worry about the mistakes you think you've made. Take them and build upon that knowledge and experience and you'll be one hell of a bow hunter before you know it. Each hunt I go on is a success whether I get one or not. It's the lessons learned and experience gained that make you successful.

andrew_12gauge · Sep 6, 2007

Thanks for the suggestions guys and actually ive been seeing this buck for about 2 weeks now and hes usually up feeding by about 1 1/2 to 2 hours before dark but i hvent been able to close the deal i thought i had him when i finally found him in his bed but i screwed it up if i wouldve given him about a half hour or so he probably wouldve given me the shot opportunity i was looking for.

COLO3D · Sep 6, 2007

You might also try a cow call. That worked for my wife a few years ago. She was at full draw and I had the Hoochie Mamma. The buck stood up and took an arrow from my wife. It was a VERY hot day and staying there until the sun went down was not an option. It worked for us but I would not expect it to be fool proof.

Califelkslayer · Sep 6, 2007

I'm a waiter. Might have worked this time. Bull bugling 50 yards away with 30 minutes of shooting light left. Fraid to give up my location with a call. 30 minutes after dark, bull still bugling 50 yards away. Always tell myself to be more aggressive but rarely am.

Like the rock idea in this scenario. Used rocks successfully with a rifle but never with a bow.