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Multiple Opportunities Multiple Failures

Tmh0209

New Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2021
Messages
6
Location
SW Pennsylvania
This season has been one of the most successful seasons I have ever experienced as far as seeing multiple bucks while in the saddle. I set goals for myself each year and this years theme was understand the wind more in the each area that I hunt. This has absolutely paid off. At the beginning of the season there were 3 bucks that I was truly interested in. Two of which are 4 y/o 9 pts and one is a 5+ y/o 7 pt who has bases that might as well be considered trees. So fast forwarding to Saturday October 30th, I climbed up into my tree early in the morning around 520 AM. This spot is a small transition area in between two bedding areas that are made up of primarily briars but, it over looked a trail that ran on the lower edge that bypassed the bedding areas. As the morning progressed I watched multiple 2 and 3 y/o bucks moving around aimlessly. Around 930 AM I threw out a couple random soft grunts and immediately I look to my left and see a buck shredding a tree. Seemed like something a little more substantial but, didn't seem like one of the three I was after. So I hung my bow up, grabbed my phone, and started recording (which I never even hit the record button). As the buck worked his way towards me I realized he was one the 9 pts I was after. I also noticed his right ear had a split now im assuming from fighting. So now by the time I had my bow in my hand he was out of the thicket and fully exposed to the left at 15 yds on my strong side. Couldn't be more perfect right? So I am waiting for my chance to draw and he finally puts his head down behind a thin bush and I draw. As soon as I got to half draw he of course looks up directly at me and runs about 15 yds then quietly walks away.

Again fast-forwarding to Thursday November 4th. There is a small field/opening on a big bench that I have been waiting to hunt all season waiting for a SE wind. I had to move out early in the morning to make sure I really take my time getting there. The sun rose and I immediately saw a doe being harassed by someone. I waited a few minutes and saw to my surprise the same buck with the split ear. I threw a few quick grunts at him and he started my way. I drew back well before he was within bow range. He made it to about 35 yds and was walking broadside but wouldn't stop. I was nervous to grunt due to my previous experience with him. However, he looked up at me and finally stopped. I came down on him settled my pin and release my arrow. He immediately drops and my shaft soars over him. Clean miss. I have never had a deer drop under a shot for me ever. Up until this point I thought it wasn't a real thing for the longest time.

At this point I am thinking what a loser. Two chances at the same buck does that ever happen?

For the third time now fast-forward to Saturday November 6th. I had the same SE wind in my area so I figured hey I might as well go back to the same bench since it really hasn't seen much pressure all year. I'm off again and jump back up in the saddle. Around 830 AM I see something moving in a thicket to my left and I grunt. Low and behold its my buddy "Ole Split Ear" and he's coming back in towards me. I cant believe this. I draw back and get comfortable in the saddle. He comes to about 30 yds but, the whole time working his way in hes watching my location. The right side of his body is facing me perfectly broadside and I wait until he stops. I steady and release.

As soon as I release his reaction was to turn the front of his body clockwise and i catch him parallel across his left shoulder. I wait about an hour knowing my shot didn't hit my mark. Very upset thinking a may have severely harmed him I jump down and grab my arrow. There was minimal blood and so I backed out deciding to come back in a few hours just to see if i can get some clarity. I grab a buddy and put him at the end of the strip of woods that eventually thinned out into a field. I knew if i pushed anything out he would see it at the end of the stip. After about 20 minutes of walking/following a few drops of blood and hard tracks I see movement ahead of me my buck is already harassing a doe ( I guess chix dig scars). As i'm watching him he turns and I see his wound which was about a 3" cut on his left shoulder. I was thankful to see he will be ok and I didn't mortally wound him. Still upset thought that i harmed him.

I have never had multiple opportunities with one buck. Have any of you guys? I feel like the fact that I did is an absolute blessing in disguise and a very humbling experience too.
 
During the rut, anything can happen. That's what is so great about hunting it!!
 
This season has been one of the most successful seasons I have ever experienced as far as seeing multiple bucks while in the saddle. I set goals for myself each year and this years theme was understand the wind more in the each area that I hunt. This has absolutely paid off. At the beginning of the season there were 3 bucks that I was truly interested in. Two of which are 4 y/o 9 pts and one is a 5+ y/o 7 pt who has bases that might as well be considered trees. So fast forwarding to Saturday October 30th, I climbed up into my tree early in the morning around 520 AM. This spot is a small transition area in between two bedding areas that are made up of primarily briars but, it over looked a trail that ran on the lower edge that bypassed the bedding areas. As the morning progressed I watched multiple 2 and 3 y/o bucks moving around aimlessly. Around 930 AM I threw out a couple random soft grunts and immediately I look to my left and see a buck shredding a tree. Seemed like something a little more substantial but, didn't seem like one of the three I was after. So I hung my bow up, grabbed my phone, and started recording (which I never even hit the record button). As the buck worked his way towards me I realized he was one the 9 pts I was after. I also noticed his right ear had a split now im assuming from fighting. So now by the time I had my bow in my hand he was out of the thicket and fully exposed to the left at 15 yds on my strong side. Couldn't be more perfect right? So I am waiting for my chance to draw and he finally puts his head down behind a thin bush and I draw. As soon as I got to half draw he of course looks up directly at me and runs about 15 yds then quietly walks away.

Again fast-forwarding to Thursday November 4th. There is a small field/opening on a big bench that I have been waiting to hunt all season waiting for a SE wind. I had to move out early in the morning to make sure I really take my time getting there. The sun rose and I immediately saw a doe being harassed by someone. I waited a few minutes and saw to my surprise the same buck with the split ear. I threw a few quick grunts at him and he started my way. I drew back well before he was within bow range. He made it to about 35 yds and was walking broadside but wouldn't stop. I was nervous to grunt due to my previous experience with him. However, he looked up at me and finally stopped. I came down on him settled my pin and release my arrow. He immediately drops and my shaft soars over him. Clean miss. I have never had a deer drop under a shot for me ever. Up until this point I thought it wasn't a real thing for the longest time.

At this point I am thinking what a loser. Two chances at the same buck does that ever happen?

For the third time now fast-forward to Saturday November 6th. I had the same SE wind in my area so I figured hey I might as well go back to the same bench since it really hasn't seen much pressure all year. I'm off again and jump back up in the saddle. Around 830 AM I see something moving in a thicket to my left and I grunt. Low and behold its my buddy "Ole Split Ear" and he's coming back in towards me. I cant believe this. I draw back and get comfortable in the saddle. He comes to about 30 yds but, the whole time working his way in hes watching my location. The right side of his body is facing me perfectly broadside and I wait until he stops. I steady and release.

As soon as I release his reaction was to turn the front of his body clockwise and i catch him parallel across his left shoulder. I wait about an hour knowing my shot didn't hit my mark. Very upset thinking a may have severely harmed him I jump down and grab my arrow. There was minimal blood and so I backed out deciding to come back in a few hours just to see if i can get some clarity. I grab a buddy and put him at the end of the strip of woods that eventually thinned out into a field. I knew if i pushed anything out he would see it at the end of the stip. After about 20 minutes of walking/following a few drops of blood and hard tracks I see movement ahead of me my buck is already harassing a doe ( I guess chix dig scars). As i'm watching him he turns and I see his wound which was about a 3" cut on his left shoulder. I was thankful to see he will be ok and I didn't mortally wound him. Still upset thought that i harmed him.

I have never had multiple opportunities with one buck. Have any of you guys? I feel like the fact that I did is an absolute blessing in disguise and a very humbling experience too.
Good story. Sounds like you have a pretty good bead on this buck. I think you'll kill him if he's makes it through the season. To answer your question, how bout 13 opportunies in one day! It's long story that I will tell in another thread. short version is I had a big 145"9pt chase does from 12 noon till 3 pm. He was constantly going Back and forth from bedding area to bedding area for 3 hours. From 30 yds to 50 yds. Most of the time it was 40 -50 yds. My range finder wasn't working. It was a new tree for me so I didn't know the ranges so I didn't shoot. I just "knew" that eventually if I was patient that one of the does would lead him right by me at 20 yds. That never happened and I never saw that buck again.
 
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