I have always enjoyed the sounds of tree frogs and crickets. Sometimes if I am passing a place in the spring and the "peepers" are singing I stop and shut the car off just to listen. Life can be so busy at times and these simple pleasures are ones I always take the time to enjoy.
The crickets were singing that eve as I had slipped into position carefully since the wind was finally right. I was fully relaxed and enjoying their melodious chorus as I leaned against the tree a scant 20 yards from the trail I figured he might use while checking the does. It was then that I noticed a doe had come into view 15 yards the other direction. A nice big mature doe and I thought about arrowing her but then I remembered why I was there and just watched her browse about for a while.
The sound of 3 footsteps snapped me out of it and I slowly turned my head and looked into the face of the widest racked buck I have ever seen in the woods. He was locked onto me from about 75 yards and I cussed under my breath and hoped the head net and slower movement was enough. For a full 2 minutes he stared a hole through me, then she moved. The doe on my other side had caught his attention and HERE HE CAME!
At 35 yards he went into a small dip and I dropped to my knees and came to full draw. He popped out on the very trail I was watching but the brush was too thick. He continued closer as I knelt next to the tree and began to go through my check list. It was then that he sprinted through the opening I had planned to shoot from. I bleated but he never stopped and in a few steps he would be out of sight and gone. I panicked and took the shot.
The arrow sailed under his chest and in 2 steps he was gone from view. I had just missed the widest buck in 30 years of hunting. But, sometimes we learn from past mistakes and I immediately knocked an arrow. In 5 seconds a doe came from where he just went and here HE CAME right back!
He stopped behind a tree at 20 yards on the same trail and all I could see was his rump. For a full minute he stood there and I waited to draw. He started to turn back away from the doe and I knew this was IT. I came to full draw and he turned, I picked the spot and released and he was gone. In less than 8 seconds I heard thrashing, then all was calm.
I knocked another arrow and just stood there and soon I noticed the overwhelming chorus of crickets again. I thanked God for this eve in His creation and wondered if the big boy was down. I stood there for 15-20 minutes then eased over and found my arrow and the blood trail. He had gone only 25 yards and was down. As I knelt next to him and the sunset turned to gold I thanked God for his life. His meat and a short recovery.....and for the crickets.
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Wess
Mighty fine buck and a great story
Awesome story and buck!!
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What a great story !!!
Congrats on a fine buck !!
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Dang! Good one Wess. Congrats and good job. Nice to see someone who enjoys the whole experience rewarded with such a fine critter.
Fantastic Wess!
No one is more deserving! Congrats on a fine, fine animal!
Great story, thanks for sharing. Congrats on one fine, fine buck!!!
That is great, I needed that right now, thank you for posting
Way to go, Wess!!!!
Congrats!!
Hope all is well.
Greg
Great story to go with an AWESOME BUCK ! Congrats Wess ! :icon_thumright:
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Simply awesome.
Awesome!!! I really enjoyed that!
God Bless
Congratulations, what a hog. How wide is he?
Great story and a great buck! :icon_thumright:
Thanks guys!! He is 27" outside and a tad over 24" inside spread.
Be blessed!
Wess
Great story and awesome buck. Congrats.
I loved your story, you had me right there with you & a great buck.
Great story and AWESOME buck!! Congrats! :drool:
Great story. Congrats
goose bumps well done :happy0064:
Thanks guys and I wish everyone a great hunt and a Merry CHRISTmas!
Wess
Awesome buck Wess! I could hear the crickets too.
Nice hunt. Nice story. Nice buck. He sure does have all kinds of wide going on.
Awesome story! Great buck! That thing is MASSIVE!!! :drool:
That's a fine buck, and what a great story!! Congrats!!! :icon_thumright:
Very nice Weds... Congrats....
cool story, congrats
great buck and great story Wess time to start thinking elk.