Well folks it has been a hot while since I have updated and we are quickly nearing the end days of bow season. Every year it goes so fast. I hope all of you had a safe and successful hunting season.
I was unsuccessful in killing a deer, but I didn't go without opportunities. For all of our benefit I am going to tell the stories and highlight the mistakes that I made for all of us to learn from.
The 9 Point
I shot right under the ribcage of a nine pointer while out on a late October afternoon hunt. This one hurt, so close! Lesson learned: I had arrows with two different inserts which flew differently. An hour on the range and I was ready to return to the whitetail woods.
Primary Scraping Area
Based on some in season scouting I found a primary scraping area, and setup for another October afternoon hunt. I sat until just before dark when an 8 point came in to the scraping area. When he arrived at the scraping area I attempted to draw while he was walking behind a tree, but he adjusted his speed from walk to run out of excitement to work his scrape. This speed adjustment allowed him to pick me drawing. Lesson learned: I was setup way to close to the scrape, I should have sat 10 yards farther back and allowed the scrape to be a distraction during a shot opportunity. This was a good spot, and I will be back.
Buck Fever
The biggest buck I would mess up this year would be on a November morning hunt. Approximately 930 am a doe came in in a rush, which got my blood flowing. Not far behind her was a nice 8 point. He would go to stand on my weak side at 15 yards, and I was unable to pull my bow back on the weak side. I should have moved to the other side of the tree to shoot strong side, but I definitely got buck fever and rational thought went out the window. It doesn't help that this tree really wasn't the best possible tree, leaning and had a "y" right at hunting height. Lessons learned: Tree selection is important, and deer can come from anywhere during the rut it's on us as hunters to be ready. I will be back in June to set a different tree up for fall of 2025.
What's Next
I had fun this year. No doubt I would have loved it if one of these stories would have ended differently, but I will call it a success because I had fun. From here my plan is to upload more how to hunt stuff. Specifically focusing on saddle hunting how to's: staying warm, climbing any tree, and site selection