Ugh. Cant make this $hit up boys! (diagram below to set the stage) I finally decided I would go ahead and shoot the 3x3 with good brow tines (so 8 pt) on the 35 acre piece of private I have permission to hunt. Ive been holding out for a bigger one that Ive had encounters with on public. The main deciding factor was where they have been coming across every time Ive watched is right in front of an old gnarly elm tree, so if I can get myself somehow in that big ol tree I can get him out of a saddle and get us an early 13 points. Along with a cottonwood right on the property line, that they haven't been going near, its one of only 2 "climbable" trees on the property; the rest are squat pinons. Ive never climbed a huge tree like this elm (+/-4' diameter) and to say the least it was challenging especially since my lineman belt wouldn't reach around it. Knowing the bucks are likely bedded only 75-100 yards away, somewhere behind the dilapidated ag building, I was trying to be quiet getting in the tree and had to get creative hanging my sticks . I knew one sticking it would be a total PIA or impossible so I took all 4 and some extra rafting cam straps just in case I needed to extend, which I did. Since the lineman belt wouldn't reach around I ended up tethering in by using the quick link as a chock in the crotch so I could set my second stick, it was slightly sketchy but I was "only" 7 feet up. At any rate it took me about an hour to get all set up with somewhat sketch stick hanging with the extensions on the first stick. Second stick and up was above the first big crotch so I could use the regular daisy chains because now the 4 splits are only 2' diameter. I could actually tether in too, but now Im on a leaning fork.
Half hour after Im all set, here comes the first buck, out from behind the ag building just like "always". Its the smaller of the two so Im just watching him knowing the decent 3x3 will be along shortly. He gets a big mouthful, trots over and lays down 30 yards away right behind the tree. I can see him with a hard lean. Couple minutes later out comes the 3x3. He comes out, strolls over and lays down in front of the other buck 25 yards away, no shot. Behind the tree with weeds covering his vitals and all I can see is his head (pic below). So I wait. About 30 minutes I sit with my bow in my lap, release on the string. He can stand at any second and only has 10-15 steps to take to his demise. He finally stands up, goes out of view behind one of the 4 big splits in the trunk and I draw. All he needs to do is clear the fence that juts out just shy of my shooting lane by 2 steps and Ive got him at 17 yards. Im at full draw and 100% confident Ive got this deer dead to rights in <3 seconds. Every time Ive watched them they strut past the fence and straight for the wash that has better browse than the dry crappy weeds in the field. He doesn't clear the fence by 2 steps. He hugs the end fence post turns 90 and heads straight away offering nothing but a fleeting Texas heart shot. He continues straight away til he gets to 72 turns broadside and starts feeding again in the crappy weeds. The raggedy 2x4 gets up and I think, you know what, after all this work getting in this tree, I may just bust his ass. Nope, does the exact same thing only stops at 68 and starts feeding across. I watch them feed off onto the neighboring property til dark and then I rappel down leaving my rope and sticks on the tree.
I'm comfortable taking a 60 yard shot at mule deer that arent alert. I shot my second biggest deer at 62 but Im not shooting 68 and definitely not shooting 72 at the better one. Of course the steady 80 degrees and sun we've had for two weeks is turning to 60's and rain tomorrow. How much earlier will they come out? Will they change up their bedding pattern with some daytime feeding? What time do I go in? Will they show at the old elm tree at all or will I just sit in the rain? Do I wait til Friday when its supposed to get sunny again? For sure I need to set something off the end of that fence post to get them to take the extra step or two I needed for a clear shot so they cant pull that move again.
Pic below is the diagram to help you better see the scene playout. The pie to the right is where I can shoot. The tree is too big to shoot around, there are suckers in between the forks and I have to be on the low side to keep from getting busted when they clear the ag building. The long dashes are the path the bucks have been taking the 3 times I watched them in the last 2 weeks. Short dashes is their path today. Other pic is the 3x3 bedded just 25 yards away.