Q
qvelvet
Guest
Have you ever noticed that the last hour of shooting light on the last day of the hunt is very productive? I have been fortunate enough to harvest a couple of last hour bucks over the last several years. There is something magical about that last hour. I had been hunting the general season this year without being able to get within rifle range of any deer that had antlers. The last day of the hunt no one was willing to go with me so I headed about 3 miles into some steep back country alone. I had never hunted the area before and it was getting dark so I started heading back. About an 8th of a mile back down the same trail I noticed some tracks on top of mine so I paused and hiked 25 yards up the other side to see across the thick brush that was surrounding the trail. A tall 2 point walked up the hillside from within the trees and brush at about 75 yards. It stopped and stood broadside for a while. I decided not to take it because it was young and I didn't want to dress it and drag it two and a half steep and gnarly miles in the dark. Eventually I went noisily back to the trail where I could still see it at about 45 yards. I still did not harvest it with about ten minutes of light left. I think it is probably a matter of effort and persistence. But it may just be the deer gods that I pray to year round having a good laugh at me. However, the last hour seems to pay off. Can anybody else relate? If so lets hear your stories.