Well on last thursday evening I went out right after work(4:30 in stand) to spend the rest of the daylight in the woods. The last forty yards I put out a few drops of Tinks 69 out every five steps or so til I was within 15 yards of my stand. At 5:10 I had four does come out and walk in the exact way I had come in. This time they were not on alert which made me feel pretty confident about the nights setup. They were all spread out around me when I heard some crashing coming my way(5:30). Two of the does headed down the trail that runs by my stand at 15yds and all of a sudden froze. After a few seconds they tore out of the imediate area running 30 yds or so and I knew a buck was coming. Just then in some thick stuff along side of the trail I saw a shooter come smashing through there letting his antlers reak havok as he went. But as he went was away from me towards the other deer. Not so fast, the wind had givin him a little snoot full of the tinks and he immediately turned and headed up the trail right for the spot I had put it out. I drew back as he was exiting the last of the thick stuff and grunted him to a stop broadside at 15yds right where I wanted him. As I was holding the bowstring at full draw I got a cramp in my biscept and can remember thinking my arm may as well fall off cause im not letting down. I released the arrow and new right away I had made a bad shot! 
My arrow hit just behind the ribs. He turned ran away and I could see my arrow bobbing up and down in his side as he disappeared into the woods. I just sat there with the worst feeling wondering where all the practiceing had gone. 
I got down just before dark found half of my arrow and followed blood for forty yards before I thought slipping out and coming back in the AM would be a wiser idea. Needless to say sleep wasnt very easy to come by that night. My friend and I went out the next morning and resumed the tracking at first light. We followed him to a river crossing which led into an enormous field of four and five foot tall briars, grass, and swamp. As soon as we were in the field we lost the blood which wasnt the best anyway and started to try and cover the field in a grid pattern. After two hours we had covered half of the field and I was seriously depressed. My phone rings and itsmy buddy with me asking how Im doing and if im tierd yet. I say “yes, I dont think we will ever find it. How do you feel?” My heart is pounding. You have an awesome buck. What???? I look across the field at him and he points down. I run over there and the buck is twenty yards away watching us and I left my bow at home. I walk up to him with my knife and when I get five feet away he stands up and charges me!! I barely jumped out of the way. That was stupid!! The buck runs twenty yards and lays down again. My buddy sits down and watches him while I went and met my wife who brought my bow. To make a long story short sticking with it paid off and I couldnt be happier. Last pic is my buddy. 
October 27, 2007 at 12:31 am
#198849
. Needless to say if you do not think deer do not bite think again! 
