Root
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2016
- Messages
- 620
I've been after a 10 point all season thus far. I've picked my way around what I believe are his beds. I've watched him bed in the morning and snuck around in huge loops to try and catch up to him. He's skated me within 80 yards a few times now.
With rut behavior starting to pick up today I decided to go in after him. So I crawled / stalked through the brown brush and golden rod. In all it took me over 2 hours to get to the tree and set up. I had a pile of branches to trim quietly. The plan was to catch him between his bed and where I saw him making a scrape two trees up from where I set up.
Around 4:30 my wife texted to remind me the freezer is nearing empty. (I have a tendency to only hunt one deer unless reminded she says)
A touch after 5 I spotted a decent 8 point and decided if given the chance I'd work towards filling the freezer. He hung up about 80 yards away wrestling around some brush. ( I typically don't call) I decided to try my doe bleat. I reached into my bag and tipped it over, he spun and stared so I was stuck frozen in the tree waiting for him to give me a window to put the call back. Eventually he put his head down and I reached to put the call away in my pack pocket.
When I turned with the call is when I locked eyes with Mr 10 point who snuck in straight down wind of me. There he was 18 yards away and clearly saw my arm move with the call. After a few minutes he turned and took off.
He stood right in this opening. The one direction where I would be sky lit. Plus only being 3 sticks up he was almost the same height as me on the hill.
One problem with pushing into the middle of the action is they can and will come from any direction. I learned a good lesson. I'm giving it one more chance and moving onto another property.