After striking out for the Bear season, I finally have been able to get down to our woods in LaCrosse. Having seen more deer in 4 outings than perhaps all of ’05 season, I’d say things are looking up. Nice thing about this land is that your chances of seeing bucks are probable better than seeing does….also, the prospects of coming across a true monster.
Last nite was my fourth outing and after seeing 2 shooters last Sunday and unfortunately wounding a massive low-riding 10-12 point, I had mixed feelings about even being out in the woods trying to shoot yet, another deer. Man does that feel terrible. All the practice time, patience for the right shot…and yet still screw it up. I just hope he’s still alive. Hate to have him die and not be appreciated by somebody both as a trophy and as a meal.
But, there is not much else I care to do than sit in a treestand with a bow…so it wasn’t too difficult to talk myself into venturing out again. If you don’t feel bad about having lost/wounded an animal I don’t think you’re a true sportsman. Not to get too preachy…anyhow, after seeing 3 does come sprinting by (kicked up by a neighboring hunter) I could only enjoy the obnoxious squirrels that would not stop barking….so, I decided to make some noise myself in hopes to get them to shut-up. I know from past experience that during some blind grunting/rattling that the squirrels will either shut up or start in even worse. So, I took out my bleat can after scanning the woods and gave it a tip….squirrels still barking….looked around again and wooooh here comes the wide 8 point I saw last Sunday….not massive and not very high – but wide…well the more looks I got from him head-on the more I leaned towards wantin to take him. After watching him create a new scrape, he would slowly continue to make his way in the direction of an occasional bleat and grunt. After finally comitting to investigate my calls he presented me with a 26 yd broadside shot…not 20 yds from where I had the opportunity Sunday nite at the larger buck. Fifty yards later…and lots of blood…in fact, I have never seen so much blood from an arrowed deer before..those NAP Nitrons had worked quite well…DOWN! He’s not the biggest I have ever shot but he still had my knees shaking for 5 minutes after.
All I can say is get out there….they sure seem to be moving. This next week should really light up and I will certainly have my boys in the woods trying their luck at their first archery buck. Good luck!
October 26, 2006 at 7:58 pm
#199069
That shows your heart is in the game. 
