South Dakota hunting recap - Deer Hunting - Deer Hunting

I headed out to SD last week for two days of work. I started my trip at 3AM on Thursday morning. Things went so well, what was suppose to take 2 days was squeezed into one. With just enough time to sneak in my first hunt of the season on Thursday evening.

So after racking up 475 miles that day on my pickup, I pulled into one of my oldest and best friends farm. I called ahead and warned Jeff’s dad I would be swinging in and what stand I would be sitting in. It just so happens you can see this stand from the living room of the house. He later said he sat and stared at me most of the evening in anticipation of seeing me draw the bow back.

It was a rare night in SD, NO WIND…. What little bit I had was swirling and it was just enough to tip off several different does. I got busted by 4 different does from 4 different directions. Finally as the sun was setting a nice mature doe showed herself just 20 yards south of my stand. She approached cautiously headed for a water tank. Suddenly she got a whiff of me. She stopped, stomped a couple times and slowly turned to walk away. As she did, I drew back. CRAP. My harness strap was in the way. I slowly pushed it aside with my head and settled back into the proper sight picture. Now the doe was looking at me going what heck is that. At 19 yards, quartering away I let it fly. The arrow hit it’s mark about 2 inches ahead of where I wanted, but it still passed through. 60 yards later I had my first doe tag of 2010 filled. It’s a nice feeling when you can here the deer go down and start thrashing. Pic 1. Unfortunately taking pics in the truck headlights with a cell phone was our only option as my battery pack for the good digital has apparently puked on me. Rage 3 blade and the Easton ST Axis lived up to the hype!!

Day 2, Friday AM I’m up at 4:30, can’t sleep, still energized by the previous night. I had showered and tinkered on the computer for an hour when dad finally woke up. I helped Dad catch 175 pheasants and we delivered them to the local game farm. On our return trip, we saw a giant 4 point(8 point for you MN & WI boys). I’m sure he was over 140, on public ground no less!!! That evening I met Jeff at his parents house. I headed to the “north” stand. I had a great evening passing on 110-115 buck at 30 yards. Saw approximately 20 other does and 1 other small buck. A great night!! Topped it off by celebrating my dad’s 57th birthday that evening with my sister and a bunch of his friends.

Day 3, Saturday AM. We got a big order for birds. We are up at 5AM and have 260 birds caught and loaded by 6AM. I quickly head to Jeff’s place, about 9 miles away. I head to the north stand again, probably about 20 minutes later than I wanted. Oh well. I immediately start seeing deer moving everywhere. To my left I spot 3 bucks headed right at me, one is a possible shooter. One of the bucks laid down in slew about 200 yards west of me. The other two are on a string headed for me!! As the first buck got closer, I realize it’s Whitey, from the night before. I had a much harder time talking myself out of shooting him this morning as he was broadside at 20 yards. Then he laid down. The other guy with him is a cull buck and come November I’d have no problem shooting him if I don’t have anything else going. About 40 minutes goes by and I’m watching deer in all directions. Then the wind switched 180 degrees. Both bucks that were bedded down 20 yards from me spooked and headed out. Shortly after that, a large doe walks under my stand at 19 yards. I decided tag #2 needed to go on her. I’m sitting in a ladder stand and the doe is 90 degrees to my left. I draw back, settle the pin, release. WHACK. The bottom limb of my bow nails my knee. Luckily it was a clean miss and the old doe is now ticked. She has no idea where that came from and slowly circles. I knocked another arrow while she was looking for what spooked her. Here she came again at 26 yards. I drew back, settled and let it fly. She was quartering harder than I thought + I pulled the shot a bit. The arrow ended up entering her right in the hind quarter and buried to the fletching. She slowly walked 50 yards and laid down and expired shortly after. The G5 T3 blade saved my butt!!! While I did hit the guts the arrow penetrated her vitals taking out a lung and several other organs. Pic 2

As I’m watching this doe expire, I see a small basket buck behind me a couple rows over. Suddenly a bachelor group of 5 bucks appeared at 60 yards, leaving NOW. I’m sure they were right behind this doe and with all the commotion they didn’t want any part of it. Sadly, there was a 140 class 5 point leading this group. Oh well, I’ll reschedule the meeting for November. For the morning, 8 bucks and 20 + does again. That night I sat in a different stand, seeing a few deer, but not many. I’m down to my buck tag now.

Day 4, Sunday AM. I helped dad catch another 200 pheasants this morning. Then I sat in the stand at his place. Unfortunately the wind was just not right so I quickly headed back to the house for some breakfast. Pic 3 This is a SD breakfast, two eggs, bacon, cheese slice on toast!! It’s no wonder I have such a girly figure.

Jeff and I cut up and ground both my does this morning. Then I headed to Dad’s and did some work on the box blind we are building and we also prepared for tomorrows order of pheasants. It was a great weekend!!!! Glad I could help Dad out and still get in some amazing hunts. I’ll be back the first week in November. Hoping the bucks are a little dumber this time.