I’ve been beyond busy this year with work and 2 little boys at home, havent got out to scout as much as I’d like to, but it is what it is and its hunting season here in michigan so the first chance i got to get into the woods i was there!
October 3rd: my first sit of the year! After slipping into an old stand i had next to a bedding area, putting a new strap on it since the tree grew and broke my previous, i got settled in for an evening hunt with no Hope’s or intentions other than to get some much needed seat time in my stand! At 615 I knew it was early in the year but i decided to pick up my grunt and bleet calls, i made a series of short choppy grunts with a couple bleets in between and after 10 minutes in walks a mature buck madder than a hornet and starts working a scrape! After that he came in to 24 yards looking for a fight! I had one opening and decided to aim a hair high with my 20 pin and as I drew he was locked onto me! I thought now or never and let her rip! He ducked my arrow and I clipped him in the top of the back, I tracked blood for a short period and backed out and had a deer tracking dog brought in the next day with no luck! I was pretty bummed out and kinda depressed about hunting and stayed out of the woods for a few days as work and family duties prevailed. 6 days later I had a chance to return to the woods but the wind wasn’t right for my spot where I had the encounter before so I decided to sit behind my house where I also havent scouted or have ever had an encounter with a mature buck but know they’re around. I climb in my tree and as I’m setting up I’m caught off guard by a doe and her yearling, they catch my movement and begin to inform the entire county of my presence before running off to where they came from. At that point I figured my hunt was over for the night but I would stick it out to see just incase. At 615 i started my typical series of grunts and bleets with no results, about 20 minutes later I did a second series of calls, as i looked dead down wind behind me i see movement and figured it was the mom and yearling back once again. I reached for my binoculars and saw that it was a little 4 point however I did catch movement behind that deer. Out steps a mature buck following the 4 point and heading right towards me! I get turned and into position and told myself you will not screw this up like the previous hunt After ranging at 38 yards through some heavy foliage i knew i had to wait for a clearer shot, and after what felt like an eternity the buck came into the closest it was going to get before walking away from me at 32 yards. I drew back as the buck stopped, I told myself to concentrate and get on him! I let the arrow fly and watched my lumenok blow through both lungs completely passing through the pump station! To top it off this was the first harvest on my own property! I have long dreamed of a day when I would get to walk out my back door, walk to my stand on my property, and harvest a mature buck! My dream came true last night and I am beyond blessed once again to be able to harvest this beautiful animal! 225 pounds not gutted 8 point! Thank you lord!