Here is the story from my last hunt of the year on the last day of the season. 12-31-10 I didn’t get to write a story about a buck of a lifetime, so here is something a little different! It is a bit long, so don’t say I didn’t warn you!!
Well thats it….It’s over
All in all it was a good night. It only took me about 45 minutes of trudging through waist deep snow to get to the plot (did I mention that I really need snow-shoes) When I got there I was excited to see that since early in the morning there were already several sets of tracks heading to the plot to dig up Turnips. 
I thought about the wind (5 degrees out 25mph NE Gusting to 35mph)for a few moments pondering where I might stay warm, and where the deer will be likely to come from if they should decide to dig turnips before the next round of snow. I decided on a stand I had hanging in a good sized Oak that is on the west edge of the woods. This has been one of my favorite spots this year and sits only 31 yards from a heavily used trail entrance that leads right into the plot.
After about a half hour of sitting and fiddling with my phone, I looked into the woods over my left shoulder, and sure enough there was a doe and fawn making their way toward the plot. They were exactly where I imagined they would be if there was movement before dark. Of course, the fawn walks right out and starts digging turnips as the doe waited at the edge of the woods for a few moments. Soon enough, the doe felt comfortable enough and slowly made her way right into my open lane at 33 yards.
As I stood up and drew back the Eliminator II I realized that she stopped a little farther out and the opening in the tree branches was not high enough. 
But wait a second, if I can fold up the seat and sit on the platform maybe I will have a clear shot. So as quickly as I could I backed up and used the back of a leg to fold up the seat and sat on the platform. Clear shot, Check. Still in the same spot, Check. Nice clean broadside opportunity, Check. I carefully took my aim and settled my 30 yard pin right on the sweetspot. I took a deep breath and touched the trigger of the release as I slowly exhaled, and the rage was off. She jumped a bit and took off running for about 20 yards and stopped next to the fawn in the turnips and started eating….What the!!! How in the world did I not put that arrow right through her boiler room!!! The two hung out there and ate for about 15 minutes and then headed back for the woods giving me a much wider berth and not going in on the same trail as they came out on.
After they were gone and shooting time was up, I got out my flashlight and headed over to where I shot, to check things out, look for any sign of impact and see if I could find my arrow. Nothing 
No sign of impact, and too dark to find where the arrow went into the snow. Next I walked over to the area where the deer were eating just to be sure that there was no sign of blood at all. (at this point I was quite certain, but still had no idea how I missed). Nothing, then I followed the trail they ran on for 75 yards or so into the woods and still nothing in the fresh snow… And its confirmed….A clean miss!
As I stood there upset with myself it began to snow heavily and I decided it was time to make the 1/2 mile hike back to the truck so that I could actually make it there. For about the first 30 steps in the nearly 3 feet of snow I hung my head low Then after really thinking about how much work it was to get myself in and out of there I decided that missing that sure shot was the BEST shot I ever missed! It took me 45 minutes to make the trek to the truck, and when I got there I was beat.
Overall, I am pleased with my year. I just got back into bowhunting this year after a 6 or 7 year absence, and this is the second year of having plots on this property. I got many, many pictures of both shooter bucks and up and comers this year.
I had an encounter with the buck in pic 1 an 2 at about 75 yards during the rut but he was too worried about the doe out in the field.
The very next day I let the buck in picture 3, 4, and I’m pretty sure 6 walk at 28 yards. Mostly because I really wanted a crack at #1 since this was only 1 day later and he has a lot of potential since we isn’t very old. After leaving my bow tag open I kindof have mixed feelings about this because it was a really hard decision; not only would this have been my first bow buck, it would have been a personal best buck. I am really hoping to see him again next year, I do have pics of him in early December 
I also passed on decent does within 30 yards 7 times and countless fawns over the 24 times that I made it out with the bow. The rest of the pics are just some randoms of a few of the other bucks I got on camera
I have learned a lot this year, and in the end I am super thankful to just be able to get out there and enjoy the woods. I had really high hopes for this bow season, but there is always next year
With bucks like that around it will be allot of fun for you next year 
