I finally got it done yesterday morning. This deer was #1 on my hit list, and was named Muley because of the double splits on his left side.
I got up at 4:00 a.m. to try my first morning hunt of the year. I don’t usually do mornings, because I usually get busted on the way in. With the rain the day before, I figured I could get in much quieter with the wet leaves. There was also a 10mph wind to help cover any noise.
I was on stand at about 5:15, and got in without disturbing any deer(that I knew of). I was sitting where three trails converge, with a west wind, which is the best wind possible for this stand. Just before shooting light I had a deer blow to the north of me(with a west wind??). I thought to myself “I should just go home”. Since the rut is kinda going here, I decided to stick it out.
I had a fork come through at about 6:30 alone, and a doe at about 7:15 who was also by herself. I texted my buddy to ask what he was seeing. The answer was one small buck, pretty quiet. Told him I was gonna crack out the black rack, and do a rattle sequence. I did a light sequence, and hung up the horns. About 2 minutes later, there was Muley at about 35 yards to my west, up wind. My mind raced “It’s him…..holy crap, it’s him!!”. I have a ton of pictures of this buck, but none during daylight hours. Not sure if he came to the rattling, or would have showed regardless. He started eating acorns at 25 yards.
The game started in my head. “If he goes straight, I have a 40 yard opening.” “And if he goes to his right and follows the trail, I have a 15 yard chip shot”. My knees started to shake, so I STOPPED looking at the rack. He takes the right and slowly walks the trail, oblivious that I was there. I drew as he walked behind a small pine tree, and settled my pin into my shooting lane. I said to myself “squeeze the trigger and follow through”. He walked into my peep, and I let it fly. Crack! And I could see blood squirting out the entrance hole. The shot was a touch back from where I wanted it, but knew he was a dead buck walking. He slowly trotted away down the trail. I took a seat, before I feel out of the tree. I did it!! I texted my wife, and told her “I just shot Muley”
I waited about ten minutes with my mind in overdrive, before I started to gather my gear. Then got down out of the tree. I found the arrow sticking about 10′ in the ground with great blood on it. I started on the trail, which was absolutely painted with blood. I quietly follow the blood for about 70 yards, and started thinking “should I back out?” Just then I saw the rack laying on the ground about 30 yards in front of me. If I wasn’t getting old, I would have been doing cart wheels.
I went home and got my 8y.o. son Landin and a deer cart. Picked up a couple buddies to help, and back to the woods. I put my son on the blood trail about 60 yards from the buck, and set him to tracking (I didn’t tell him I found Muley). He easily followed the trail, and started screaming “there he is!!” when he saw the buck. I will probably remember his reaction more than actually shooting Muley. We proceeded to take a pile of pictures.
Took the today off work, and Muley is headed to the Taxadermist!! Just writing this has me all jacked up again…
Nut
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