Congrats Kyle! Few are as deserving as you for a buck like that!
Congrats. Sorry to see your season end so soon but he was definitely worth cashing-in early. Well done.
Billy Bob
jk, Congrats!
I picked him up on camera back in Aug, and had decided right then that if given a chance at him I would take it. I don't know or care what he would score, I just knew when I saw him that he was a deer I'd shoot.
I spent the entire last week in Las Vegas, sure glad I'm not there now...sad, scary stuff...what's wrong with people? I had been rained out last weekend on Pronghorn, though I did have one encounter and I blew it...so I got home late this last Friday night with intentions of heading back West. Looked at the weather and it was raining again with calls for a thunderstorm on Sunday. The main ranch I hunt really had nothing I wanted to go after this year, and battling the mud/tearing up roads just didn't sound appealing. I called that trip off and went to bed Friday night with no real plan for Saturday morning...but I set my alarm and would just figure it out when I got up.
What if he was still using this trail and still running with his bachelor group? The wind was blowing into the bedding area, I hate to even be in that situation, but if they were still out feeding it could work.
I drove past Argonia and headed towards Caldwell...going to take a chance and hope I don't blow him out early if he was even still around. Got into the stand with only 10min to go before shooting time, I'd like to say that's rare for me but I'd be lying. Most of my spots are 1-1.5hrs from the house and I suck at time management! Wind was as predicted, more E than SE but either fit into my plan for the time being.
It was quiet for the first 30min, except for the new oil well being drilled nearby. I was trying to cover as much of the area as possible with binocs and my "super deer vision"...but the tree's down there haven't dropped a leaf, and I couldn't see more than 100yds in any direction.
I'm almost always standing while I'm "on stand"...just don't like sitting...but I had just taken a seat/rest for the first time and over my left shoulder I caught movement in the Alfalfa. A deer at around 80yds, but so thick I couldn't see what it was...
Grabbed the binoc's and I immediately started shaking...it was him...looked like he was by himself and feeding my way? I stood slowly, turned the camera on and set it on the lane directly to my left, and the only really open area I had to shoot into. He was in no hurry going wherever he was going and that was not good for me. I'm not ashamed to say that I get adrenaline like no other and I was fully in it's grips. I tried to focus on the creek bed next to me, a happy little tree out front...hell I even told myself "it's just a doe man"...but I was shaking that whole damn tree!
He finally lifted his head and started starring at something across the field from me, I see it...it's a small buck, probably part of his bachelor group but he started right towards him. As he approached the other buck there was a fence between them, and a big dead branch hanging over the Alfalfa...he got to the branch and tore into it like it was November 16th!
At this point he is 40yds away, but I have no shot and wanted him closer anyway. He finished his arborist duties and turned back towards my stand...this is going to happen...and he's almost into the camera frame...
(this pic is from the morning I shot him, he was headed out to feed for the night. My stand is 150yds to the left of this camera, not actually on the trail)
Then another buck comes in from the left, neither are in my lane yet, the older buck starts towards him and that's going to take him East back to the trail...and away from me.
I had one other small lane that he was going to pass through at 30yds, I'd have to sit back down and twist myself around a branch but it was my chance. All of a sudden, and right when my but hit the seat...I was calm, I knew this was going to happen and instinct was taking over.
He was moving slowly, and I drew...he stopped but he was quartering too, just slightly, and his left front was blocking the "zone". Waiting at full draw is a challenge, I know you know this, but it didn't take long and he moved that leg forward and offered a shot. I was leaning out and at an angle but I felt comfortable...watched the arrow go through but it was further back than I had aimed and I immediately knew it wasn't perfect.
He jolted about 10yds and then just stood there...all I could see were his legs through the foliage. He stood there for 3-4min and then started to wobble and I thought "it's done"! Well it wasn't done, he started walking and yea he was hunched up...we all know what that means.
I was sick and he was sick but neither of us was dead yet...
I waited an hour and then got down and very slowly/quietly retrieved the arrow. It looked good...but it smelled bad...this might be a long day.
What to do? Lot's of armchair coaches I'm sure but I thought the shot had hit liver and that he was most likely dead or hurt very badly and my "gut" said to find out. I snuck into the area I had heard the crash...there he is and his head is down...wait, now it's lifting and this is going to be a long day again...
I was at 30yds, he had no idea I was there, but there's a cedar between us and I cannot slip another arrow in. I'm going to stand here and think...30min later I'm still thinking and he's not dead yet. He was in bad trouble, and I hated watching it, but my fear was that I would bump him if I moved to get another shot and that timber is THICK this time of year. I had a good opening about 10yds to my left and I was thinking I might be able to sneak but he was pretty alert even considering his condition.
At 33min he stands up and I'm thinking no...this is going to be a really long day. He takes a few steps and then stops and stands for 2-3min...he's breathing heavily and he's still hunched up. Five more steps and he stops again...this time he stands there even longer but the good thing is that he's headed towards the opening and I've got another arrow knocked.
It seemed like an hour...but he started again and this time he wasn't going to stop until he got down into the thick stuff...it was now or possibly never. The second arrow was good, I knew it, and he didn't run he just trotted...I heard another crash, but I was doubting myself completely now.
I backed out...
Justin and his son Easton arrived first, Easton was all "camo'd" up and to say he was excited would be obvious, Captain. Justin and I hung a stand for the two of them on one of my spots last year, and though Easton hasn't actually hunted yet he is already hooked.
The five of us headed into the area I had last seen him...I immediately started looking for arrow #2 as I hadn't after the shot not wanting to move him again. I'm standing right where I hit him and staring into the grass when Ben(taxi) yells "Kyle...right here"...
The buck hadn't made it 40yds...it was the crash I'd heard, but I am not doubting or sorry for the wait. I'm also not doubting the first approach as he may have made it deep into that timber after he got up...who knows?
Happy he was done suffering, and happy that I'd had a chance to take such a striking specimen...just happy.
Then comes the work...I'm mostly done except for grinding and making some summer sausage, gonna wait for a doe now, hopefully make a better shot, and mix a big batch down the road.
The day was indeed long, but worth every minute!
Congrats again buddy! Great story!
Appreciate the kind words all around, and the PM's folks...who knows I may just crank something up anyway ;?)
What are your plans for the rest of the season? I hope you’ll be hunting with your camera. I like trying to learn new tactics from your posts.
Congrats on a great deer, Kyle! I especially liked your attempt at aversion therapy when the adrenaline kicked in. “A happy little tree out front”. I can’t envision Bob Ross sitting in a tree stand;-)
He is........Kyle is a nationally renowned taxidermist. I have seen several of his works for sale at high dollar auctions. Here are a few he has done for me.
Billy
Sooooooooo are you mounting the deer yourself?
