2 1/2hrs of grit and determination
I couldn't go yesterday so I went after work today and sat in a ground blind I've had on the edge of a privet thicket for 4-5 years. It's an old Ameristep Brickhouse that my dad bought and he died in '06. The roof has holes in it and I have to leave 3/4 of the windows open because deer can come from just about any angle. I'm not about to move it or change it out for a new one because I've killed more deer out of it than all the other stands on this property combined. I've had deer walk so close I could literally poke them with a stick.
I pulled the card on the closest camera about a week ago and had a few does and 4 dink bucks. Nothing to really get excited about but I figure my son will get his first one from this blind this year if he wants to. My daughter killed her first one from this seat in '14.
I had to go by and pick up dinner for the family on the way home and then hauled ass the half hour to the stand. This stand isn't 100 yds from the truck and about that far from a busy 2-lane highway so it's also an easy spot that I can get into and out of quickly. That's another one of the many reasons I like it.
So I get in the stand right about 6:00 and have a raccoon roll up on me about 7:15. No other action up til now. 7:30ish, I get winded and hear a deer blow from over my left shoulder, back toward the road. Then, at last comfortable shooting light around 7:45, I hear sticks and steps to my right. There he is at no more than 5 steps. Quartering away, right out in front of me. Can't be this easy - I've only killed 2 other deer with a bow (both from this blind). He passes behind a grown oak tree, draw, MEAH, settle on front 3rd with some light bushes in the way, punch the release. Nocturnal buries and goes out. Pass through. I think I hit him good, but can't say for sure exactly where. I hear him thrash but not like he should be if he is checking out. I get up, walk right to my arrow, nock still glowing - and theres good blood. Not tons of it, but good. I follow it to where I knew he went into some sweet gum saplings, then I thought better of it and head back to the truck to put my bow away and give him a half hour or so.
Pitch black dark when I head back in, just hoping like hell he is dead not far away. I follow drop by drop, never taking more than 5-10sec between finding more drops. Then occasionally big spurts. They took me right to him.
2nd best deer of my life and certainly my best bow kill. 175# of upstate red clay full moon white tail buck deer.
Company car
#tarplife
EDIT:
He was on camera after all - showed up 3 days prior....
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Originally Posted by JABIII
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