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Post by dylansboat on Nov 17, 2011 18:11:13 GMT -5
I have been bow hunting near my home in Western Ma about a mile from the Vt border. I have seen several nice bucks but hunting on the ground has been a little difficult to keep from being spotted. They have been responding well to the horn rattle. About 8:30 this morning I did a rattle & grunt session. I was standing by a big maple tree in a beech grove. After the session I held my bow at ready for about 10 or 15 minutes. With the wind blowing my release fingers were very cold. I turned around to look behind me & a buck was staring at me. It was a spike but I would have been happy to take him. After a 4 or 5 minute stare down he left blowing. I set my bow down to warm my hands & heard a crash from where the spike came from. That gave me time to grab my bow & hide behind the tree. In comes a real nice 6 pointer to about 20 yards. I watched him make 2 scrapes & stand on his hind legs to rub his horns in the branches of a hemlock tree & then start eating beech nuts. This went on for about 20 minutes. He was facing me & all I could do was peek around the tree & wait. My fingers were soooo cold but I pulled the bow back & stepped to the side of the tree for a shot. I could not pull the release trigger. He stepped further behind the tree & when I moved to get a clear shot he spotted me. I think that made me hurry my shot or I didn't see the branch on the sapling. Anyway the arrow got deflected & missed. Thankfully it wasn't a wounding shot. I had a chance & a great morning. Watching a nice buck that close for that long was awesome. Jerry
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Post by buckshot (Ben) on Nov 21, 2011 7:54:23 GMT -5
Sounds like a great day ! you will get him next time. good luck.
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Post by mikep on Nov 21, 2011 22:24:13 GMT -5
great story. next time I bet you get him.
MikeP
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Post by buckshot (Ben) on Nov 22, 2011 7:08:34 GMT -5
Went out last night and rattled in a nice spike horn, blew the shot and missed at 15 yrds, couldn't believe it. right over his back, watched him come in from 80 yrds just walking. had his little neck hairs all ruffled up ready to do some business.
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Post by dylansboat on Nov 22, 2011 11:20:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the support guys but I didn't get the job done again. I moved spots to a beech & hemlock covered knob in the same woods I have been hunting. I rattled around 07:30. The squirrels were especially noisy this morning and the deer was almost on top of me before I realized it wasn't a squirrel. I just had time to duck behind the tree. It was the same very nice 6 pointer only now he is a 4 pointer. His left horn is completely broken off just above the brow tine. He looked pretty ragged. I do not think he came in to the horns. He seem to be just walking down the trail. He was about 25 yards from me but only offered a neck & shoulder shot which is not a shot I am comfortable with. When he went by me I tried calling him back but no dice. He didn't even hesitate. This happened a little after 08:00. I am now going to stay out of this area until Monday when gun season starts. Sorry about the miss Ben. How have you boys made out up to camp?
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Post by fisher1 on Nov 22, 2011 19:33:52 GMT -5
Now if this same buck comes back as a spikehorn, shoot him! Great story, so far. Good luck. I've yet to see a buck this year. Jim
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Post by dylansboat on Nov 23, 2011 9:35:09 GMT -5
I checked my camera after done hunting yesterday. This is the used to be the 6 pointer I have been playing cat & mouse with. His left horn is broken just above the browe tine. Jerry
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Post by wellsley on Nov 23, 2011 13:43:51 GMT -5
Good luck with the gun season. I filled my gun tag here in NY and now wait for muzzleloader season.
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Post by buckshot (Ben) on Nov 24, 2011 22:50:01 GMT -5
Good luck Jerry, hope you bag him opening morning. Im hunting NH for the next three days, Hope the snow stays around. I posted a thread with our deer from VT so far.
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