Last nights Buck

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j.krug
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Location: Amherstburg, Ontario

Last nights Buck

Post by j.krug »

Or maybe that should be...the buck's last night??

Shot a decent spike buck with my Vortex last night. I'd been at the farm all afternoon working on my stands and moving another stand and clearing some brush and doing some other stuff that needed doing. It's just over a kilometre to the back of the farm where I hunt and I wasn't able to drive my truck full of supplies back as the field was still a muddy mess from all the rain lately. This meant several (4) trips back and forth through this mud carrying a ladder, a 16 foot ladder stand, back pack full of tools, a pole saw, lumber and a couple 50 lb bags of corn. Needless to say when it finally came time to walk back one more time to hunt I was exhausted.

I took a quick shower, donned my hunting clothes and headed back one more time. I decided to hunt the double ladder stand that my daughter and I put up a couple weeks ago as I liked it's location and I've been seeing some good sign there. I reached the stand at 3:40 pm, cocked my bow and hung it on the haul line then made my way up into the stand. I attached my harness took off my pack and sat down. I had just sat down when I caught movement in the wheat field to my east about 500 yards away. I quickly got my binos out of my pack and saw a nice spike nibbling on the winter wheat slowly moving toward a small bush lot on the land next door. I grunted at him a couple times. He looked my way but was more interested in eating...I was starving too so decided to have a granola bar and keep an eye on him. I hauled up my Vortex, loaded an arrow, put on my gloves and face mask then enjoyed a drink of water and my granola bar. The deer in the meantime slowly ambled south and wandered into the small bush lot. I gave him another grunt before he entered the bush but he paid it no attention. There was another hunter somewhere in that bush and I wondered if he'd get a crack at him?

It's a little after 4 pm now and I'm settled in nicely and glassing all the neighbouring field looking or any action. It's still early and very bright out so I'm not expecting much yet. I happen to stretch around and check the field behind me and to my right and wouldn't you know it....that spike buck is headed my way. He's about 150 yards away and nibbling wheat here and there while he's walking. I start to get excited...easy there Jim, I tell myself...but I need to stand and turn around as he's going to pass behind me. I rise slowly and make the turn...he spots movement but didn't pin point where it came from. The buck hesitated for a few seconds and then continued towards me. He crosses onto my uncle's farm at about 60 yards away. I've already done my mental check list and checked my bow....arrow loaded and seated properly, safety on, scope caps off,I'm good to go. He breaks into a trot when he enters my field and now I'm worried I won't get a shot and I'm getting ready to do a mouth bleat when he gets into my shooting lane. No need, he slows to a walk just before he reaches the back of my stand. I'm well concealed by some big trees, my bow is up and my eye is to the scope. He enters the view in my scope, I move the bow with him, pick my spot and squeeze the trigger....thunk!!

I keep the scope on him, he does a big ole donkey kick and I see a stain forming where the arrow entered. I lower the bow and watch as he trots down the hedgerow about 40 yards or so and ducks into the brush. I turn to see if he passed through the ditch and into the next field but didn't see him. I decide to wait a bit before going to track him just in case.

I'm excited as all get out but suddenly it hits me that I'm gonna have to drag this deer all the way back to the farm through the muddy field. :( I text wife, uncle, brothers father and fill them in on my spike buck. Luckily father offers to come help with the dragging. It's dark by the time he arrives and makes it to the back of the field so we grab our lights and start tracking. Blood trail is quite good and we locate him in no time in the edge of the hedge row.

As luck would have it one of the neighbours was out in his stand and heard the shot earlier. When he saw our lights in the field he wandered over to check things out. He congratulated me , we chatted for a while and then I told him I needed to tag this deer, gut it and start dragging it back. When he found out I had to drag it back he made a quick call and a minute or two later his son was on the way back with a 4 wheeler. Man was I ever thankful for that!! We dragged the deer a short distance to the edge of his property where he has a dry laneway loaded it up and he dropped it off at my uncle's garage where it was waiting for us when we walked back....dang I was happy not to have to drag that thing back!!

I quickly got it gutted while dad held the legs and moved it this was and that for me. Then we carried it into the garage and hung it up too cool. Took a few picks and had a beer to celebrate. It was a long hard day and I was dead tired but oh what a great day it was!! :D

A bloody Big John Zombie Slayer:
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On the tail gate:
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Hanging in the garage:
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TheBig1
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by TheBig1 »

Looks like you were properly rewarded for your effort. Congrats on your harvest!

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agingcrossbower
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by agingcrossbower »

Congrats and great story. One thing is don't stand next to your deer. You make everthing look little. :D One big Canuck. :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by newbie »

Congrats!
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Carnivorous
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by Carnivorous »

Way to go Jim. A fine Essex county Deer.

I am on my way to M\L camp. Now I am pumped up!!!!

Jeff
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Normous
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by Normous »

I'm happy for you Jim and Patti sends he congrats too. We depart shortly to hunt this afternoon as well.
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bubba
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by bubba »

Very nice deer! Congrats and meat for the freezer..
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xcaliber
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by xcaliber »

Congratulations, way to go!
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wabi
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by wabi »

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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j.krug
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by j.krug »

agingcrossbower wrote:Congrats and great story. One thing is don't stand next to your deer. You make everthing look little. :D One big Canuck. :lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol: :lol: Point well taken aging. Next time I'll stand back about 10 feet behind the deer!! :lol: :lol:
Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.

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j.krug
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by j.krug »

bellerivercrossbowhunter wrote:Way to go Jim. A fine Essex county Deer.

I am on my way to M\L camp. Now I am pumped up!!!!

Jeff
Thanks Jeff. Good luck and safe hunting. :)
Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.

Vortex
Trigger Tech 2.5 Trigger
ShadowZone Scope
S5 with dB Killer Bumpers
Boo String
Big John Zombie Slayers
Rage Broadheads
j.krug
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Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:17 am
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by j.krug »

Normous wrote:I'm happy for you Jim and Patti sends he congrats too. We depart shortly to hunt this afternoon as well.
Thanks to you both and I hope you two have a safe and successful hunt. :)
Gun control is like trying to reduce drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.

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Sandman
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by Sandman »

Congrats
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Fletch2
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by Fletch2 »

Good job :D
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Re: Last nights Buck

Post by georgiaboy »

Congrats on your harvest!!! :D :D :D
Sounds like you earned that one!! :wink:
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