I arrived home at my parents farm last Friday night about 8PM. My anticipation was as high as ever. The rut should be just kicking in and I had 8 days of hunting planned. It had been two weeeks since I was home and pulled camera cards. On that last pull a buck showed up with double split brow tines. I was ecstatic to see he replaced my original #1 buck, a wide old 4 point. I also was still seeing a very nice 5 that had been around most of the summer. Add to my list were a few borderline bucks who had also recently showed themselves. Yes, anticipation was HIGH! I slept very little after finally falling asleep around 1:30AM.
Up in the box blind, that had recently blown down in the wind storm, it was 30 minutes before legal shooting. I got situated as always and had my bow hung with an arrow knocked. I sat on the floor to try and get my phone to go into silent mode(man it makes me mad that $600.00 phone won’t go into silent mode). I peaked out with about 10 minutes to go, a deer was in front of me. COOL, A BUCK! I watched him graze to about 20 yards. He is a very nice young 4 point I pray makes it until next year. He has potential. It’s getting lighter by the minute, but not great as it’s very cloudy. I checked my phone, 1 minute to go. About then another buck shows. A nice 5 point. I glass him, yup, he’s on my list as a borderline “new” buck. I draw back, he’s at 20 yards, broadside. I just couldn’t commit to the shot. It was too early and I wasn’t 100% confident it was the right buck. We have 2 nice 5’s that are young and I really want to give them a pass this year. As my mind is racing, here comes another new buck. He’s busted up and he rules the roost. He runs the bigger 5 off right away. I’m sickened as I get a better look at him. Should of pulled the trigger. My focus returns to the bully and the little 4. They are sparring a bit and it’s not long and the bully takes off north after the nice 5.
About the time I start to think “you idiot, you should have shot that buck” here comes the nice 3×4 we have ear marked for Mom this year. He stands broadside at 16 yards, 18, 20 and 22. I could have easily arrowed this deer but I told myself he gets a pass until the last few days of the hunt. Pic #4 makes him look huge. He’s definitely impressive from a distance. Anyway, he looks back over his shoulder, it was that look. I peaked out the north window of the blind, saw lots of horns, a mature buck and new it was GO time. I drew, waiting for the buck to hit my window. He was walking very slowly and at 18 yards I let my arrow fly. It hit exactly where I aimed! He jumped and right away I knew the hit was odd. I could see it came out lower than it should have. I watched the arrow fall out about 30 yards away. The deer stops at 80 yards. He’s hurting. I can see blood running out his side and belly. He tips over! I’m ecstatic!!! Note, this is less than 15 minutes from legal shooting light and he is the 5th buck to come by. I text several of my buddies. I was so pumped!!
I grabbed the video camera and finally got it setup, when I return to my editing station I’ll get some film up of the buck tipping over. As I’m filming this buck a couple doe are headed my way. I started to feel a bit greedy and knocked another arrow. I’m gonna pile up these deer….Well the does were really nervous as the buck was thrashing out at 80 yards. About then the buck stands up. I about filled my pants and I can’t repeat what I said. He moved about 20 yards and tips over a again. He’s laying on his side, all I can see is one half his rack. He does this twice more, but this time he’s against a fence line. He’s not ready to jump it and going under doesn’t seem to be an option either. At this point, I’m freaking out and second guessing myself. I quickly got out of the blind and snuck to within 50 yards. I’m gonna arrow this buck and put him down. I drew back and centered my pin. Just as I released, the buck jumped the fence. At this point he headed north into our trees again. I decided to back out, very sick and confused. As I packed my gear I see the deer bed down about 300 yards north of my stand.
I called in some help and the plan was to return at 2PM, 6 hours after I shot him. I had my Dad go sit with binocs in the neighbor’s pasture to the north and two buddies and I started tracking. The deer was bedding down about every 10 yards with lots of blood. In my mind, this deer is dead. About then he stands up and we were all caught off guard looking down at blood. I still drew and made a weak effort to end this. We watched the buck head to another set of our trees. The decision was to back out and come back in the AM. He was moving pretty good. Now I’m really sick. How could this happen, I KNOW I made a good shot. So, another night of restlessness. I replayed the scenario in my head a 1000 times, talked to several other hunters and the conscensus was to back out til the AM.
The next morning we sat in the same blind, it was a LONG sit and the only deer that showed was a the small 4 point. I was hoping my buddy would get a shot at a doe at least. After our sit, we jumped down headed for the last sighting. The blood trail was ridiculously easy to follow. As we crossed the trees into the CRP, my buddy says “Kooty, DRAW!!”. I quickly drew and about then I spotted his horns. We walked up at full draw and found my 2012 buck. The emotions quickly spilled out of me. It was a feeling I’ve never really had. I was sad and happy and relieved this trophy wasn’t lost. What weight off my chest.
Sadly, all the meat was lost on this beautiful buck. I attempted to cut him up last night and the meat was simply spoiled. For that, I’m truely disappointed and of course second guessing waiting overnight. As you can see, the entry would was close to perfect. I crushed one lung, but somehow my arrow took a hard 90 degree left turn upon entry and hit the front of the guts and came out his belly. I’ll probably never figure that one out as the deer was perfectly broadside at the shot or maybe even slightly quartering away. I wish I would have had the video camera rolling that morning. So a bittersweet ending for this magnificant SD prairie monster. I don’t know his weight, but it took three guys to get him in the Mule.
Well, I have 5 more days to fill two does tags, shoot some roosters and envoke some revenge on those stinkin’ coyotes. Have a good week all! 
Anyway, we are working towards the southern end of the property and I spot something odd in a low spot in the prairie. I say STOP, but quickly follow “Oh, it’s just a corn stalk”. About that time the coyote turned it’s head. Jeff was hurrying to get out with the 22-250. I had my trusty Marlin 22. The dog was only 60 yards but Jeff forgot to put a shell in. As the coyote finally spotted us and started to trot off, I zinged a wing and a prayer at his ear. About then Jeff finally gathered his composer. He missed also and the dog put it into HIGH gear. Needless to say we were both pretty disgusted with the lack of action for such a great opportunity. Next time. 