It has been another very frustrating season for me, done my homework, scouting, trail cams and glassing. I have put in all my spare time into it this year like every other and I have never seen so few deer in a season. Two out of my three hunting area's have produced almost zip for sightings this year and only a handful of sightings in my third area. This weekend passing was my last kick at the can, the buzzer, do or die etc etc. I have been fighting a sinus infection for the last week or so and been doing my best to be rid of it (without success) for this weekends final attempt to fill a tag and put some meat in the freezer. I finally got a couple young bucks on the trail cams this past week so I crossed my fingers for my final hunt. Saturday got up early and went ice fishing for the first time this year with three buds (we caught 7 Walleye 2.5lbs-9lbs) came home got my gear together had a coffee and it was time for a good hot lunch.
Got Bundled up as it was chilly at -8 degrees and a steady breeze out of the north east, was settled in the stand by 2:40pm. Well I waited and waited and it felt like my sinuses were going to explode and could not breath through my nose at all and my forehead was pounding. I tell you an hour on stand felt like three and after what seemed like an eternity the sun was setting behind the trees over my left shoulder. At this point I was beginning to plan my exit and get out of there and in someplace warm. Just then I could hear faint crunching hoof steps in the hard snow to the north east of me approaching at a steady pace. I watched him come right to me and stopped at about 33 yards but he was facing me I had no shot, just then a smaller buck came into range from the east. Finally after what seemed like 10 min. but was probably only 30 seconds the bigger one turned broadside at 33 yrds to face the oncoming smaller buck. I placed my 30yrd marker in the lumizone at the top of the bucks heart and squeezed, the arrow hit its mark with hollow thud and the buck reared his hind legs straight up putting the buck in a vertical position then he hit the ground running. He ran like a bullet for 40 yrds before piling up near the fence line. I got out of my stand hoofed it back home to get some help, get warm and food in my gullet. Returned for recovery with lots of help and all with full guts, the blood trail was very easy to follow. Lots of handshakes and high fives, I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to take a buck this year, I honestly didn't think it was meant to be this year. Numbers seem to be way down in most areas.
I used my trusty old Exocet 165 with added magtips and a Boo string, 2117's with white wraps, 2" orange blazers, Wasp Boss 100grn, Lumizone and Bushnel Yardage Pro. The shot was a complete pass through through the heart at 33yrds. Recovery was 40yrds with a massive blood trail. 8 point buck.
Here is my entry into the much coveted Excalibur Photo Contest . 
