Archery
Lakewood, Townsend, Mountain areas
10/6/11 @ 12:29 PM
Displaying 1 to 15 of 475 posts
After indulging in a brief period of self loathing, having blown what was in all likelihood the only real chance at a nice buck I’ll get this season, I was back at it Friday 11.03.23 and then again today, Tuesday 11.07.23. Saw absolutely zero deer either day.
Monday 11.06.23, however, I did observe a fine young buck (not a monster) that came trotting through my yard (in Riverview) while I was out on the deck slurping my morning coffee.
How aggravating.
RR
Monday 11.06.23, however, I did observe a fine young buck (not a monster) that came trotting through my yard (in Riverview) while I was out on the deck slurping my morning coffee.
How aggravating.
RR
Well, I have no venison in the freezer, and no photographic evidence to prove it, but this past Thursday (11.02.23) I saw the biggest whitetail buck I have ever seen in the Nicolet National Forest. And I’ve been hunting up there with my Dad and Grandpa since 1965.
I stopped about half-way into my evening stand site, and took a seat upon a convenient freshly fallen birch tree to rest (on account of my being old and all). My Tenpoint crossbow was strung with a bolt in place. I sat there for a few minutes, when suddenly I sure thought I heard a deer approaching. Then I heard it again.
A massive doe came thundering to my left at 20 yards, with an equally massive buck in hot pursuit, grunting and snorting. The buck made a wide circle, and passed by me broadside at 20 yards. He was looking right at me, apparently unconcerned, and continued his circle, seemingly attempting to locate the path of the doe. I had him briefly in the sights, quartering away at 25 yards, and then again broadside at 40 yards. Then he was gone.
I never fired the weapon.
So there I sat, stunned, cursing myself for passing this opportunity to take my first nice buck with the crossbow. There again, the quartering away shot was ugly, and the second broadside shot was at the far edge of crossbow range. I sat for several additional hours in that spot, but the magic was gone, as you can imagine.
I’ve made peace with myself that I didn’t maim this magnificent animal, and he’s not lying out there suffering in agony with my careless and sloppy crossbow bolt in his guts. They’re still out there gentlemen.
RR
I stopped about half-way into my evening stand site, and took a seat upon a convenient freshly fallen birch tree to rest (on account of my being old and all). My Tenpoint crossbow was strung with a bolt in place. I sat there for a few minutes, when suddenly I sure thought I heard a deer approaching. Then I heard it again.
A massive doe came thundering to my left at 20 yards, with an equally massive buck in hot pursuit, grunting and snorting. The buck made a wide circle, and passed by me broadside at 20 yards. He was looking right at me, apparently unconcerned, and continued his circle, seemingly attempting to locate the path of the doe. I had him briefly in the sights, quartering away at 25 yards, and then again broadside at 40 yards. Then he was gone.
I never fired the weapon.
So there I sat, stunned, cursing myself for passing this opportunity to take my first nice buck with the crossbow. There again, the quartering away shot was ugly, and the second broadside shot was at the far edge of crossbow range. I sat for several additional hours in that spot, but the magic was gone, as you can imagine.
I’ve made peace with myself that I didn’t maim this magnificent animal, and he’s not lying out there suffering in agony with my careless and sloppy crossbow bolt in his guts. They’re still out there gentlemen.
RR
Food plot is thriving, apples are plentiful and dropping, and haven't got a horn on camera yet this year. Very unusual! I do believe that many deer are following the food source which is the clear cuts from the wind storm from 2019, but you would think that there would be a younger one hanging around. Can't wait until the first frost!