I had a fun hunt this evening. I went on a 3 and 1/2 mile scout to explore some new dirt. I got out there about 10:30 and headed South. I went about a mile and a half deep, started to see old sign, then headed back West and then gradually started heading back North towards the truck. Along the way I soft bumped a doe out of a fallen tree top where she was bedded. She didn't spook, just trotted off.
I looked the spot over and found lots of fresh deer poop. Someone has been spending some time in that spot. I figured she was bedded up near a feed tree, so I started looking around. About 80 yards from the treetop was pretty decent sign under a pair of huge red oaks. It was about 2 o'clock so I could either continue scouting back to the truck or just hunt. I decided to try the spot out. I looked around and the trees near the oaks were either spindly little things or telephone poles with no cover. I had my 2TC kit with me and in the pack there is the small Torges seat. I decided to sit on the ground against a shoulder width red oak that was up inside a fallen tree. It made a perfect little hide.
I was all set up in no time. Soon the squirrels were back at it. At one point a hawk came through and scared the poo out of them. I was rooting for the hawk.
Around 5 it is getting dusky in the woods. I heard something behind me, and I slowly turned to see a big bodied deer walking west to east behind me at about 80 yards. He is tough to make out, but I could tell it was a buck. I assume he is headed somewhere else and when he gets out of sight, I store that info away for later and go back to watching my front. A couple of minutes go by, and I catch movement out of my left eye. It is a deer coming in! It's the buck.
He apparently made a right turn and came into these oaks on a string. He is just walking at a leisurely pace, and I don't even think about it. I just pick up the bow that is across my lap, draw back and settle the pin over his heart. I shift focus and can see he is a tall, somewhat heavy six. I'd guess in the 110 to 115 category. I let him pass and let down the bow. I don't need another 110 inch 6 point and I sure don't need one on the ground 3/4 of a mile from the truck ten minutes before dark.
It was a fun hunt for sure. I'm glad I let him pass. If he'd been a big doe, the story would have ended differently.