I went out yesterday morning and hiked a mile into a marsh and set up in a funnel between two small cattail areas. As it got light I smiled when I saw a very large rub 35 yards away. At about 8:30 I heard a branch break over my left shoulder so I spun my JX3 around so I could watch that area to see what made that sound. I was watching that way for a couple minutes and glanced back the other way and saw a very large bodied deer standing 30 yards away with it's head behind a tree. I quickly spun back around, grabbed my bow and was in position to shoot. I knew it had to be a buck based on the size of the body but I could not see it's head. I had a perfect broadside shot at a deer exactly 30 yards away( I had ranged that tree earlier) but I couldn't see it's head. It took a step past the tree and I instantly knew I wanted to shoot this deer. I drew but the buck's body disappeared in the swamp grass. It was on a trail angling away so I guessed he was at 35 yards when his body cleared. I put my 30 yard pin high on him and released my arrow. My arrow flew right under him. If he would have "jumped the string" the shot would have been perfect but he did not react until the arrow struck the ground under him. He just ran a few yards, stopped and looked back and continued on the trail into the cattails. I ranged where he was standing after I shot and he was at 40 yards. that explained the low shot.
I am not terribly upset at the miss. I am glad it was a clean miss and that the buck never knew I was there. I am upset that he snuck in on me like that. He came on the trail I expected him to and walked right in the area I wanted a deer to walk.. He even stopped broadside with his head behind a tree. Unfortunately he did all that without me seeing or hearing him. That stings a little. I am used to deer walking silently into range in this area so I know I need to stay alert.
I am not sure how many points this deer has but he was very heavy horned with a very thick neck, exactly what I am after. Hopefully this story has a second chapter