Got my first buck off his bed early season and second saddle buck. First public land archery hunt of the year and my brother and I both set up 2 hours before daylight within 25 yards of the bucks bed right over acorns that were being eaten daily with buck scat in the acorns. His buck bedded one hour before daylight and got up to feed at 8am and he shot it at 25 yards. His bow is loud and the deer "ducked the string" and he got a tenderloin pass through. His deer lived...he filmed the shot and we were able to verify what happened and feel better knowing the deer will probably live. It was windy and I can't believe the deer heard his bow go off. My buck came in with another shooter right at legal shooting light and was feeding on the acorns 20 yards from his bed when I shot him. He was still in a bachelor group with a bigger buck that I couldn't get a shot at. There was an active community scrape 40 yards from the bed that I watched several does check. I was able to make a good shot that exited his heart and he only went 40 yards. This is my largest buck to date and quite a bit larger than my other NC public land bucks. I am hooked on the early season bed hunting! When we get the video of my brother's buck and my recovery I will post a link.
