After the phillies lost on sunday night I decided to sleep in on monday morning knowing the rut was kicking in here in SE Pa. Monday afternoon I got in my stand at 2:45pm . Nice afternoon to be in a tree, a bit warm but I was excited about the hunt. I got all set up and settled in for the evening . 30 minutes into the hunt while checking out SFC on my blackberry, I looked over my shoulder into a small clearing in the middle of the swamp I was hunting and saw this buck come out of the thicket and destroy a bush and scrape.
I watched this buck pound this scrape for 10 minutes. At 80 yards I could hear him pee on this scrape (awesome sight) . I grunted at him a few times and he would pick his head up look my direction , think about coming my way and go right back to hammering that scrape.
I then hit the primos can call, and the same thing , he was interested but just couldn't get away from that scrape. I watched him for a few more minutes and then decided to hit the rattle bag a bit and see if that may convince him to come my way and boy did it ever. I clacked that bag together and immediately he put his ears back and started for my tree.
As this buck is coming my way I got all setup for the shot according to the trail he was traveling on. He was going to walk right by me .... from behind and to my left (perfect I thought) .He got to 20 yards behind me and decided to change direction and come to the other side of the tree. I carefully but quicky got switched around just in time for him to give me a perfect shot at 7 yards.
The arrow flew and I knew I smoked him , literally the steam was coming out of the entrance wound right behind the shoulder. The buck was dead and didn't know it , he trotted 5 yards and started the drunk wobble with blood just pouring out of the exit wound.a minutes later my buck was on the ground right in front of me.
I must say it was awesome to watch this buck go down right in front of me. The hunt was awesome to say the least. I would normally pass this guy up, but having lost my best property this year, i have been scrambling just to see deer and salvage the season plus the way this happened and the interaction I had with this buck was awesome .The way my season has been, I am proud of this buck. I have shot bigger bucks in my life but this one is special to me, we all know how mundane being in a tree day in and day out can be when your not seeing deer.Last evening was worth all the time and work.
This pic is from my phone. I will upload better pics from the field when i get them.
Thanks guys .He weighed 157 dressed He looks bigger cuse he was all rutted up,huge neck and stanky . inside was just under 17" . took ride around the area just now and saw two Giants in the same area as I shot this one. Really second guessing myself now. only one buck tag in PA
Pa only allows one buck tag... either bow or gun. I am happy I took him, just seeing the bucks I saw today driving around make me want to hunt more.
We did check the teeth and to the best of our knowledge he is a 2 1/2 year old. Like i said I am usually the first one to pass up young samller bucks , but I have been scrambling to find new property. lost my ole faithful just before opening day. had to go in and take down 12 different sets.
Great hunt and I am proud of him, plus he is gonna taste real good.
Dude nice buck. I have a friend that has some land in Pa that he takes me once in a while I love it up there the animals are hude compared to what I see here in Cape May.
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