First deer hunt this year

[Bird Dog]

I hadn't deer hunted yet this year up until Friday. This whole J.O.B. thing is really screwing up my world. I couldn't take it anymore, so I got out of work early and hit the woods. The goal was to shoot a doe to put some meat in the freezer so I could horns hunt the rest of the year with the rut being right around the corner. I decided to hunt the swamp behind the house in a ladder stand that has always been a great stand for the early part of the season. Weather was perfect. One of the coolest days this fall with a high in the low 60's, overcast, and some rain here and there. A slight breeze out of the west meant the wind would be directly in my face. Couldn't ask for anything better. Perfect.

Around 3:30 the radar cleared so off I went. About 4:15 I saw the first movement to my left. 2 small does playing around. They pass by me at about 80 yards. 30 minutes later more movement to my back left. Same 2 deer about 25 yards. When I say small, I mean small. These 2 were tiny. Well the larger of these 2 midgets got on the trail I walked in on, put her nose up, sniffed around, casually made a U turn and walked off. Oh well. I wasn't gonna shoot anyway.

Not 10 minutes later, more movement catches my eye from the left. I look back where the two little ones vanished into the woods and a small 4 pointer is walking right at me. He got behind some brush never to be seen again. Maybe he chased the little ones? Don't know where he went. Once again, wouldn't have shot but it's good to see deer moving early. No more action until around 6:00. This ladder stand sits right next to a creek that runs right down the middle of the swamp with deer trails on both sides. It's maybe 25 feet wide and a little over knee deep. I see the reflection of a deer on the water on the other side of a downed tree out in front of me. She comes out from behind the tree paralleling the creek coming towards me. Right down the trail like she's supposed to do. A good sized doe, exactly what I was looking for. Then another pops out, another big doe but a little smaller than the first. They cross the creek about 50 yards in front of me and start walking down the trial on the other side of the creek. 15 yards on the other side of the creek is a nice clearing, perfect for a shot and they're walking right to it.

The bigger of the 2 does is about to step into the clearing perfectly broadside. 15 steps, I practice this shot all the time, should be an easy one I'm thinking. My eyes are going back and forth from her to the one behind her making sure the second deer doesn't bust me as I draw back. F#$% me. This second deer won't stop looking my way. Well, I never could draw. That's OK, there's another clearing if she walks another 10 yards and I could always just shoot the second one, right? Wrong. Both of them move forward and are now each in their own little clearing. Both 15 yards and both broadside. F%$^ me sideways. Still can't get a shot off. It's like they were talking to each other. When one wasn't looking my way, the other one is. This why I love bow hunting. It's a challenge. Adrenaline is flowing and I can't move an inch. At this point, I'm running out of patience and time. They eventually pass by and get behind me and attempt to cross the creek back to my side. Well, the bigger one throws her nose up and knew something wasn't right. She sniffs around stomping her foot and starts blowing. F#$% me. She blew about 15 times and scared off every deer withing a 10 mile radius. F%$& me again.

Deer-2
Me with my Old Spice Swagger with 8 hour scent protection technology-0

Mondays are pretty easy at work since we're closed so I planned to hunt again. Yesterday I went out and got some Hunter's Specialties Scent Away shampoo and body wash. Used it this morning and I can already smell that it's working. If that makes sense.

I'll be back at it again this afternoon to see how it works. Hopefully, with better results.

[Catcher's Mitt]

big old does are in no way easy to kill. good luck.

[weekender]

forget the wind, just hunt......BULLCHIT!!!!!!!!!! and I agree with cathers mitt on the big does, most are smarter than bucks

[Bird Dog]

I guess the rut is officially on here. Saw 4 bucks late this evening. All had their noses to the ground and were running all over the place. They were on a mission. None were shooters but one was a nice young 6 pointer that should turn out to be nice deer in another year or two. Good spread, tall tines, and nice brow tines. Back in the woods on Thursday afternoon.

[weekender]

saw 11 bucks Sunday morning, watched two sparing for 10 minutes, saw one make a scrape then rub a tree for 5 minutes but no chasing. The bucks are still bunched up as I could see 7 at one time within 20 yds of each other.