Ground Pounding and crickets

[flintlock]

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.



Wess

[M Sharpe]

Mighty fine buck and a great story

[SS Calls]

Awesome story and buck!!

[renegade19]

 

[Old Timer53]

What a great story !!!
Congrats on a fine buck !!

[stone road turkey calls]

 

[guesswho]

Dang!  Good one Wess.  Congrats and good job.  Nice to see someone who enjoys the whole experience rewarded with such a fine critter.

[chatterbox]

Fantastic Wess!
No one is more deserving! Congrats on a fine, fine animal!

[mgm1955]

Great story, thanks for sharing. Congrats on one fine, fine buck!!!

[Gut Pile]

That is great, I needed that right now, thank you for posting

[marshboy]

Way to go, Wess!!!!
Congrats!!
Hope all is well.
Greg

[vaturkey]

Great story to go with an AWESOME BUCK ! Congrats Wess ! 

[Devastator]

 

[TRKYHTR]

Simply awesome.

[VA_Birdhunter]

Awesome!!!  I really enjoyed that!


God Bless