M
mathewsman
Guest
You ever come across a day that was just made for hunting? Thursday was just such a day! Since not getting anything on the opener, I've been going up to my "plan B" spot on the front religiously one to two times a week since the begining of September hoping to catch up to some of my "plan b" bucks I have been keeping track of all summer (around 6 shooters for my standards). Until 2 days ago I hadn't so much as drawn my bow back, so I was getting pretty blood-thirsty, but just hadn't had any opportunities. I mainly treestand hunt the front because I have such a hard time getting close to the bucks up there. Those of you that regularly hunt up there can attest (I'm sure) of just how hard it is to get in on those animals-STEEP, THICK, TOUGH WIND, COMING IN FROM BELOW just to name a few. Instead of hunting spooked game (by me), I decided my best chance is taking it to the trees. That opens up its own can of worms. In a word, PATIENCE is the key to stand hunting. On any given day, you can have the buck of a lifetime walk by or you can go several hunts without seeing a thing. I had made 10 or so trips up there prior to thursday, had 2 close calls with a couple of dandies around the 1st week in september and this past monday, but other than that, squat! The second word to treestand hunting, PERSISTENCE. I KNEW bucks were there, but it's tough to sit for hours and not see anything much less get shots. But I still felt this was my best chance at getting a good shot at a nice buck.
So thursday (2 days ago) rolls around, the day after that stormy wednesday, and the critters were out big time! I was bumping deer all the way to my stand. Knocking off of work a bit early, I got in my stand at around 4:30, after the 2 hour hike in. At 6:00 I got up to stretch and put a sweatshirt on, and I decided to get out my grunt tube and try some grunts. Before I got in my stand I had set out 8 scent wicks with mule deer buck musk because 4 days prior when I had that second close call I mentioned earlier, I watched a nice buck for the last 20 minutes of light walk by (no cleear shot and too far), but as I observed him I noticed that he was acting a little different. He was acting like pre-rut buck. Every couple of minutes I could hear him grunt, he was walking really stiff legged, and every few minutes he would rake a bush or shrub. It seemed like he was looking for a fight.
So back to thursday. After what I saw on monday, I had the idea of taking some scent and my grunt tube with me and I would play around with grunting. As a matter of fact, I posted a question about grunting/rattling here on mm to get some feedback on some of your experiences with using these tactics on mule deer. Well 6:00 rolls around and after stretching, and warming up, I decided to give the ol grunt tube a try. Every 30 seconds or so I would let out a low pitched, 3 second grunt. I did this 6 times over the course of several minutes. Not 5 minutes after I stopped I just so happened to look behind me and I could see a deer coming RIGHT at me. He was already 30 yards and closing fast! I never even heard him. He came in silent, and he was not feeding, he was lookin....looking for fight (I think). So after checking him out and determining he was a taker, I got set up for the shot. Like I said, he was literally coming right at me. After about 15 minutes and at 10 yards, he stopped in a little opening. It wasn't the ideal opening, but he had changed directions and was working his way behind me, so I figured it was now or never. I had to play twister getting around my bow holder that I had attached to the tree. I'm half hanging off my treestand, 30 feet up, at full draw at a nice buck right below me! I would have been better off just dropping the dang arrow on him! Ok maybe not, so when he stopped in that opening I let it rip. GAME OVER! He never even knew what hit him. Honestly I didn't know where I hit him, I just knew I hit him cause my blood covered arrow was sticking out of the ground below me. So I hurried out of my stand because it was getting dark. I picked up my arrow and started tracking him quick. I know you're supposed to wait, but I figured he was done for. Turned out I was right. He made it 100 yards or so and was done.
All that time sitting paid off in a matter of 15 minutes. Talk about an awesome experience! I'm really happy with him. More importantly I learned, by experience, that when used under the right circumstances, scents, grunts, and rattles can be a real ace in the hole! I have no doubt that played a major role in me getting this buck.
Nate
p.s. The count down to 2010 starts now!
Later that night when me and my help went back up to bring him down. That was a long night!
Great family/friends that come at a moments notice. Thanks guys!
Now for the fun trip out
What a fun year! Can't wait till next......
So thursday (2 days ago) rolls around, the day after that stormy wednesday, and the critters were out big time! I was bumping deer all the way to my stand. Knocking off of work a bit early, I got in my stand at around 4:30, after the 2 hour hike in. At 6:00 I got up to stretch and put a sweatshirt on, and I decided to get out my grunt tube and try some grunts. Before I got in my stand I had set out 8 scent wicks with mule deer buck musk because 4 days prior when I had that second close call I mentioned earlier, I watched a nice buck for the last 20 minutes of light walk by (no cleear shot and too far), but as I observed him I noticed that he was acting a little different. He was acting like pre-rut buck. Every couple of minutes I could hear him grunt, he was walking really stiff legged, and every few minutes he would rake a bush or shrub. It seemed like he was looking for a fight.
So back to thursday. After what I saw on monday, I had the idea of taking some scent and my grunt tube with me and I would play around with grunting. As a matter of fact, I posted a question about grunting/rattling here on mm to get some feedback on some of your experiences with using these tactics on mule deer. Well 6:00 rolls around and after stretching, and warming up, I decided to give the ol grunt tube a try. Every 30 seconds or so I would let out a low pitched, 3 second grunt. I did this 6 times over the course of several minutes. Not 5 minutes after I stopped I just so happened to look behind me and I could see a deer coming RIGHT at me. He was already 30 yards and closing fast! I never even heard him. He came in silent, and he was not feeding, he was lookin....looking for fight (I think). So after checking him out and determining he was a taker, I got set up for the shot. Like I said, he was literally coming right at me. After about 15 minutes and at 10 yards, he stopped in a little opening. It wasn't the ideal opening, but he had changed directions and was working his way behind me, so I figured it was now or never. I had to play twister getting around my bow holder that I had attached to the tree. I'm half hanging off my treestand, 30 feet up, at full draw at a nice buck right below me! I would have been better off just dropping the dang arrow on him! Ok maybe not, so when he stopped in that opening I let it rip. GAME OVER! He never even knew what hit him. Honestly I didn't know where I hit him, I just knew I hit him cause my blood covered arrow was sticking out of the ground below me. So I hurried out of my stand because it was getting dark. I picked up my arrow and started tracking him quick. I know you're supposed to wait, but I figured he was done for. Turned out I was right. He made it 100 yards or so and was done.
All that time sitting paid off in a matter of 15 minutes. Talk about an awesome experience! I'm really happy with him. More importantly I learned, by experience, that when used under the right circumstances, scents, grunts, and rattles can be a real ace in the hole! I have no doubt that played a major role in me getting this buck.
Nate
p.s. The count down to 2010 starts now!
Later that night when me and my help went back up to bring him down. That was a long night!
Great family/friends that come at a moments notice. Thanks guys!
Now for the fun trip out
What a fun year! Can't wait till next......
