Well Button Me Up!

[Aspen Hill Adventures]

Had an interesting go tonight in one of my baited stands.

AT 5:35 I saw an antlerless shape headed my way, not one, but two. They were milling about in some brush when one started coming my way. When it was 30 yards away I drew my bow CERTAIN I'd fill a doe tag!

The doe came cruising in and was beading in on a few beets I had 16 yards from my stand. I was ready to take a final aim and saw two nice circles on the top of it's head in front of the ears.

Hold on, it's a big button buck! Neato, I've never seen one live. His ears also appear quite large and are heavily rimmed in black fur. He has the look of a small mule.

It was kind of windy and I needed to let my arrow down as this was definitly not a target. He turned his back to me and in the rustling wind I let my arrow down. He never heard me and then the other deer started walking in. I got ready in case it was "momma".

Nope, turns out to be sis or another doe fawn. The two goof around and eat a little then get nervous when the wind picks up.

The young doe walks down my trail and the button follows her. She stops and HE decides he's in the rut too like the big boys and jumps on her. Was I ever surprised! She moved off a few steps and he climbed back on. Looked more like puppies playing than anything else. They romped off and it was time for me to get down and walk out.

Interesting evening, I could have easily taken them both. Was more fun watching tonight.

[wild bill]

i had a 7 point chasing a doe around my stand the other morning and after they left a button came along following with his nose to the ground. the doe had made a couple of circles and the button kept getting confused when the trails crossed. needless to say i watched him go in the same circle 4 times before he left on the same trail he came in on. it was great to see and i wish i had my video camera with me.

[Aspen Hill Adventures]

WildBill,

That sounds cool! Looks like these little guys do get in the rut a bit. Sure surprised me because they are so young.

[mich buckmaster]

My buddy once had a deer in the snow, which they all look big in the snow in low light, and he saw a deer come down a fencerow just a grunting. He then saw the deer make a scrape, stand above it and urinate on his legs. He KNEW it was a buck and hadnt filled his buck tag. BANG!!!! Deer falls, and he walks up and it is a button buck. Talk about bad luck, but you should always see what it is and not look how they act. I probably would have done the same thing, when I was younger.

[wild bill]

just wanted to share a little more personal info that i have gathered. i have been using game cameras for the last 5 years now and always set at least one camera overlooking a scrape and 80% of the deer that i have visit these scrapes are buttons. i found this interesting so i thought i would share it.