I was able to “slip” out of work after a 9.5 hour day and join my wife Stacie in the stand last night. It was still a little on the warm side yet, but still about 15 degrees cooler then the last time we sat on Saturday evening when it was 85 degrees. We were set up on the edge of a open field that was a well used travel route from the bedding area to an adjacent property food source. Our plan was to sit and Stacie had a green light to harvest a doe or any buck that she wanted to. The weather has been a little on the warm side as of late, but we had a good wind for this stand and we were hoping the over cast sky would get the deer up and moving before darkness would set in.
As we got settled in with all the gear and the circus that comes along with filming a hunt, a weird feeling came over me. Not sure what it was but, I think I want my wife Stacie to harvest her first deer just about as bad if not worse then she does. We got settled in and as I was setting up the camera she started to range her distances and get herself situated and set up for her hunt. The evening was nice and overcast with a few glimpses of sun with not much action to speak of besides a few a squirrels running around on the pine floor below us. That weird feeling was growing stronger inside of me and as the Sun started to hit the horizon, knowing that the magical 30 minutes of the evening every bow hunter lives for was just minutes away. The magical time of day when the deer get on their feet and meander there way to the food source for the evening. With the high hopes that the deers travel route, includes walking within bow range of a hunters stand. We sat there just enjoying a beautiful sunset, as the clouds cleared the horizon right at the last few minutes to allow us to see that bright orange ball sinking below the horizon.
The sun was down and the light slowly started to fade away. The coolness of the night was just starting to set in when at about 10 minutes after sunset, Stacie pushes the word ‘BUCK’ out of her mouth. I scan the open field in front of me and hit the record button on the camera. Still I can not see anything in the field as my heart quickens. With a portion of the field blocked by the tree we are in and Stacie, I move forward and look over Stacie’s shoulder to my left as I see the buck enter the open field. Still unable to get the camera on this buck as it begins to move towards us, it finally clears the tree and Stacie. I zoom in and notice it is a very nice buck for Stacie to shoot but knowing her standards are pretty high our conversations start as I struggle to keep this deer in the camera lens and help determine if Stacie wants to shoot it. I tell her it was up to her and what ever she wanted to do was fine by me. She asked me if I would shoot it? I tell her no, but that it was a 2.5 to maybe 3.5 year old 110-115 inch deer. This buck is now coming across the field and within her comfort zone as it stops and I range it @ 27.5 yards. I relay the info to my wife as the deer is standing there feeding slightly quartering to us. I can tell my wife is struggling with her decision as to what to do, as the buck closes the distance again and is now standing 21 yards broad side feeding in front of us. As I get done ranging him again and relaying the information to her, Stacie is still standing in the ready position to draw her bow. This buck makes his way a little closer to about 15 yards and stops to feed a little more. Then the buck turns and comes directly at us and walks behind a pine tree in front of us as he continues feeding directly below us. I tell her if she wants to take him, she could draw on him as soon as he starts to move as her last two shooting lanes are to the right of us and the direction the buck will most likely move. Sure enough the buck begins to move to our right and I see out of the corner of my eye Stacie draw back, as I’m trying to keep this buck in the view finder. The buck comes out into the open as he is moving to our right and goes behind some Pine limbs and stops @ around 20 yards quartering away from us. My camera view is totally blocked by the thick pines, but her view is perfect with the deer quartering away from her.
Even though the camera lens had no view of this buck, I was not going to tell my wife that and ruin her opportunity, I let her make her own decision and she finally let down on this buck as he begun to walk away. I then pan the camera over and could see the frustration in her face. The same frustration that I have felt many times before. Wondering, did I just screw up? Should I have shot this buck, that game me multiple opportunities? Only time will tell, but she impressed me very much last night, with her ability to hold back on a very nice buck and with her calmness during the entire encounter. Part of me wishes I would have told her to shoot last night to get her first one under her belt, but part of me is glad I let her decide and mature as a hunter. Knowing it is still September and having quite a few farms with very similar caliber and better deer on it. Along with the fact she has much more hunting time thsi fall, I think she made the right decision. Well that was our night last night and I’m looking forward to many more sits with my wife in the tree this Fall, as we pursue this passion of bow hunting big whitetails together! 
**CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE**
good read Rob
sounds like a great evening with an awesome encounter dont worry wont be long and Stacie will
one 
i cant even imagine all the stuff in the tree to video a hunt but ill probably find out soon enough
Nice work Stacie and Rob. It’s always tough to know what the right thing to do is. Light is fleeting so your look isn’t always the best one, and it’s a good lookin’ deer that’s offering a shot. It’s one of the tougher situations a bowhunter will face.
I can tell you right now that Stacie’s first buck will be bigger than the first one I took with archery equipment! Congrats on the great hunt either way, just getting an encounter like that on-film isn’t easy.
Thanks too Rob for giving us a “behind the camera” perspective. I think lots of people get to see these finished products on TV, without getting a glimpse of the reality that goes into filming a hunt like that.
Good work!
Joel
Thanks Guys!
Gut, wait till you film a RUT Hunt and you do not have a second (camera)stand hung yet, and you need to carry all the camera gear, all your own hunting gear (calls, horns, etc), a stand, a decoy, and your bow.
Joel, filming a hunt with good footage is a lot harder then one would imgaine. It is hard enough to find a tree to put one stand in, much less two. Hunter stand angles are often way different from camera stand angles. Add on top of that trying to keep that deer in the frame and get good footage. The whole time trying to do everything in my ability to make sure Stacie can get a good shot off by ranging, figuring out angles and trying to stop a deer in the exact right spot, etc. It is a tough chore, believe me.
Stacie has handled things unbelievably.
She is getting more experienced everytime out and already has experienced many things most bowhunters only dream about. She has been inches/seconds/feet/steps away from harvesting 2 or 3 record class bucks, now we just need to seal the deal. I guess it is hard enough on your first deer normally much less having a camera rolling with what I’m sure is even added pressure. 
Great report Rob!
Stacie I respect your decision to let that buck walk!
That’s not an easy thing to do especially since you have not shot one with your bow before. May you be rewarded later on this fall! 
Good story Rob and nice setup. Your right it is a ton of work bringing everything you need and want to use.
Great read, I was at the edge of my seat expecting the next line to be that she shot it. I think you will be happy with your decision, I feel good things coming for a lot of this fall!!
Nice job you 2 !!! Next time it will be the big boy walking by Stacy and you will put the
on him . Good read Rob 
If it were my first buck with the bow I would have SHOT!
Just kidding Stacie…you will have another opportunity at a good buck yet this year!
Great post. Sounds like you two had a great time with more to come. Congrats on a good sighting Stacie and I can’t wait to hear about “The day” I’m sure it will happen. Good luck.
Any footage to share of the encounter????? Good read, it will happen….
Thanks everyone! It was a fun night in the tree. There was footage that will probably be shared at a later date.
PassThrough not everyone gets to shoot a giant like you out of the gate.
Giant out of the gate? Do tell!
Joel
why isnt this ringer in the deer contest??
I pimped him ealrier today as we are looking for 2 more to fill out the last team.
I think he is more of a “sleeper” then “ringer”.
Great story and i’m sure a hunt you two will always remember, hope she gets a chane at a bigger one sounds like she’ll know when its the one
Very nice report…I like the pics of your setup..I started filmin a little this year and a guy needs to plan about an hour earlier to set all up…I was out the same night as well and I see you wore the Gamehide pullover…I wore the same…works great in this warm weather
…Jay
Thanks Outdraft!
Yep Jay, that Gamehide Base Camp Pullover that is still on Sale in their Closeout Corner is a great article of clothing for mid to late September when it is still a little warm until the sun gets down. It is also good into October and November as a layering piece when it gets colder. Even though it is warm it still wicks any moisture and distributes it through out the garment.
It also sounds like you know all too well about the Circus that goes along with filming a hunt.
Good luck this season Jay and I hope you lay down some good footage. 
Nice Job Rob sounds like an exciting night in the stand yeah i have been out almost every day. it is warn but There still moving a liitle bit. Good Job
Wow sounds like a great evening hunt. Thanks for sharing.
. Great job guys 
Its cool that you guys had such an encounter. My hat goes off to your wife for having so much disciline
Thanks everyone
Given it is so early in the season I couldn’t have asked for a better encounter. It was very frustrating trying to decide on whether or not to shoot, but I know it’s early & I’m NOT ready to be done so quickly.
After I passed it up Rob says, “wow, you just passed up a nice buck…”
So we have a new rule… he just can’t say that around me…well at least until I shoot something– 
I have to admit that after watching (several) hunting shows, videos, etc. with Rob over the years I have become much more aware of what a shooter is (or what I want). As much as it haunts me now, I know I made the right choice.
Stay tuned…
Good job on passing on a nice buck Stacie
Knowing you and Rob I am sure it will happen for you this year it is just a matter of time.
Way cool encounter experienced by husband and wife in the tree
My wide would just push me out of a tree so I leave her at home
Its just about as important to pass up a deer as it is to shoot it if a persons after a bigger one and may have a good chance later on. It takes a good decision to pass a descent one up right off the bat.