Joe Archer
11-17-2008, 03:55 PM
First of all I got to spend 10 days up North hunting the rut with my dad and 18 year old son. That was fantastic in itself. It was the first time my 18 year old ever experienced the rut, and to say that he is now hooked is an understatement. We bow hunted for 8 days, and stayed for two days of firearms. My son had numerous encounters with bucks grunting and chasing doe, but couldn't get anything to sit still. He didn't get a single shot but had some of the best hunts of his life.
While hunting my private property on Saturday morning (11/10) at about at about 8:50 am the coffee was working it's magic. I couldn't hold back the flood gates any longer so I stoop up and let it rip from an altitude of about 25 feet! When I was finished I picked up the grunt tube and did a little calling. As soon as I hung the tube, I could hear a deer moving in quickly. As I picked up my bow and got ready a nice sized buck moves into my shooting lane and stops quartering away at about 17 yards. I decided he would be nice for my freezer so I drew my bow, settled the pin behind the far shoulder, and released. I watched the arrow enter just above the spot I was concentrating on and knew I made a decent hit. The buck bolted about 50 yards and stopped looking around wondering what happened... "He’s goin down" I thought to myself. Sure enough he swayed and crashed right there as I watched. The arrow entered just in front of the last rib on his right, and exited about 2.5 inches behind the left shoulder. The DNR aged this deer as a 2.5 year old. My dad, my son, and I were happy to eat the heart and tenderloins for dinner that night!
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj62/JoeArcher/Hunt_2008/Resize319.jpg?t=1226952940
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj62/JoeArcher/Hunt_2008/Resize331.jpg?t=1226952982
After taking the 5 point, I moved out to my favorite state land swamp to hunt the 12th through the 16th. During my first six sits (24 hours) I only got to see one fawn that passed directly beneath my tree. However, there was electricity in the air opening morning of firearms. I arrived late to my stand and wasn’t set up to go until 6:28 am. At 6:32 I had a buck pass grunting on the trail that runs 10 yards in front of my stand. It was so dark that I didn't even see a silhouette, but it sure was exciting!
It was pretty quiet around me all morning, and once again at about 10:40 am. mother nature was prodding me to empty my bladder. I was forced to comply. Again, after doing so I did some calling. I was completely shocked when out to my west I hear "Eeeeeaaaaarrrrrp!".. "I thought to myself "NO WAY!" Sure enough I see motion and a nice set of wide - white horns. He disappeared and all was silent so I tried calling once again. Expecting him to respond, I quickly grab my rifle off the hook and hang up my deer call. From directly behind me I get busted by a doe that I didn't know was there. She continued blowing at me repeatedly until I picked up my call and grunted sharply at her five or six times. She finally stopped her God awful warning and snuck off into the distance. Just then, in the direction the buck was headed I hear ...an obtrusive "BOOOOOOOOOM!". I was sure that it was over. I hung up my rifle, and sat there deflated. I was totally dejected for blowing a chance at what looked to be a very decent State forest buck; one that I would have been elated with in any case.
The next thing I know there is motion again and I see the buck moving back in the opposite direction. Once again I pick up, and call to him. Once again he responds and starts moving toward me grunting. I see three antler points sticking up on his right main beam as he approaches through the thick stuff. I focus closely, spot a brow tine, and decide to take him if he gives me the chance. I click off the safety! The area I am hunting is extremely thick and I literally have no shots as the buck stops 40 yards away broadside. I am sitting in my tree stand, holding on him without a rest. As the buck walks forward into the only clearing and starts to turn around, I settle the cross hairs on the junction of the neck and left shoulder, and gently squeeze off the shot. He piles up in a heap to end an incredible week of hunting! For fun I decided to surprise my dad and son so I braved the 3/4 mile drag on my own. When I got back to camp they ask if I had seen anything. I reply ... "I came soooo close......!" Slam the heart down on the table and continue ..."to letting this one get away!!!” Their faces lit up, and the rest is history.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj62/JoeArcher/Hunt_2008/Resize349.jpg?t=1226954428
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj62/JoeArcher/Hunt_2008/Resize362.jpg?t=1226955292
While hunting my private property on Saturday morning (11/10) at about at about 8:50 am the coffee was working it's magic. I couldn't hold back the flood gates any longer so I stoop up and let it rip from an altitude of about 25 feet! When I was finished I picked up the grunt tube and did a little calling. As soon as I hung the tube, I could hear a deer moving in quickly. As I picked up my bow and got ready a nice sized buck moves into my shooting lane and stops quartering away at about 17 yards. I decided he would be nice for my freezer so I drew my bow, settled the pin behind the far shoulder, and released. I watched the arrow enter just above the spot I was concentrating on and knew I made a decent hit. The buck bolted about 50 yards and stopped looking around wondering what happened... "He’s goin down" I thought to myself. Sure enough he swayed and crashed right there as I watched. The arrow entered just in front of the last rib on his right, and exited about 2.5 inches behind the left shoulder. The DNR aged this deer as a 2.5 year old. My dad, my son, and I were happy to eat the heart and tenderloins for dinner that night!
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj62/JoeArcher/Hunt_2008/Resize319.jpg?t=1226952940
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj62/JoeArcher/Hunt_2008/Resize331.jpg?t=1226952982
After taking the 5 point, I moved out to my favorite state land swamp to hunt the 12th through the 16th. During my first six sits (24 hours) I only got to see one fawn that passed directly beneath my tree. However, there was electricity in the air opening morning of firearms. I arrived late to my stand and wasn’t set up to go until 6:28 am. At 6:32 I had a buck pass grunting on the trail that runs 10 yards in front of my stand. It was so dark that I didn't even see a silhouette, but it sure was exciting!
It was pretty quiet around me all morning, and once again at about 10:40 am. mother nature was prodding me to empty my bladder. I was forced to comply. Again, after doing so I did some calling. I was completely shocked when out to my west I hear "Eeeeeaaaaarrrrrp!".. "I thought to myself "NO WAY!" Sure enough I see motion and a nice set of wide - white horns. He disappeared and all was silent so I tried calling once again. Expecting him to respond, I quickly grab my rifle off the hook and hang up my deer call. From directly behind me I get busted by a doe that I didn't know was there. She continued blowing at me repeatedly until I picked up my call and grunted sharply at her five or six times. She finally stopped her God awful warning and snuck off into the distance. Just then, in the direction the buck was headed I hear ...an obtrusive "BOOOOOOOOOM!". I was sure that it was over. I hung up my rifle, and sat there deflated. I was totally dejected for blowing a chance at what looked to be a very decent State forest buck; one that I would have been elated with in any case.
The next thing I know there is motion again and I see the buck moving back in the opposite direction. Once again I pick up, and call to him. Once again he responds and starts moving toward me grunting. I see three antler points sticking up on his right main beam as he approaches through the thick stuff. I focus closely, spot a brow tine, and decide to take him if he gives me the chance. I click off the safety! The area I am hunting is extremely thick and I literally have no shots as the buck stops 40 yards away broadside. I am sitting in my tree stand, holding on him without a rest. As the buck walks forward into the only clearing and starts to turn around, I settle the cross hairs on the junction of the neck and left shoulder, and gently squeeze off the shot. He piles up in a heap to end an incredible week of hunting! For fun I decided to surprise my dad and son so I braved the 3/4 mile drag on my own. When I got back to camp they ask if I had seen anything. I reply ... "I came soooo close......!" Slam the heart down on the table and continue ..."to letting this one get away!!!” Their faces lit up, and the rest is history.
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj62/JoeArcher/Hunt_2008/Resize349.jpg?t=1226954428
http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj62/JoeArcher/Hunt_2008/Resize362.jpg?t=1226955292