Close, but, no shot . . .

[sumner4991]

I was hunting my regular spot along the creek bank this a.m. Around 9:25, I was thinking I wasn't going to see a thing and considering leaving(Property closes at 10a.m.). I glanced back at the trail behind me, where I came in a few hours earlier. Here come deer. I hunted this spot a lot last year and the deer NEVER came from that direction in the a.m. NEVER. The first was a small doe, the next three were smaller. The last two had potiential for some VP seats at the dinner table. At first sight they were 12 yards away and I was still hunting(sitting my arse against a tree). There I sit facing the wrong way. They keep coming, I have some cover but, not much. The first two deer enter a side shooting lane(10 yards away) that I cleared a couple of days before. The little leader stops, then they all stop. She looks me straight in the eye and I give her the invisible grin. Easy enough, I fooled the first one and it kept going, taking the smaller three with her and entering the creek bottom. As the little ones pass by, I'm trying to decide how I'm going to get a shot at the bigger one. I can't turn, I'll have to wait until they all pass and get into the shooting lane in front of me. Everything is going great until the two larger does enter that side shooting lane. I tried disappearing, no luck. I didn't have them fooled one bit. By this time the other four were in the shooting lane in front of me. Well, at this moment, the four small does stop to see why the two larger does have stopped. Now I have all six of them staring in my direction. All of them within 12 yards. I thought about shooting the biggest doe, but, neither had fully entered the shooting lane and I doubt they were going to stand there and let me take aim. Maybe at 20 or 30 yards, but, no way at 10. About that time the biggest doe decided she had seen enough and all six bolted. It looked like a bunch of scared cats running up the creek bank. They got to safety in the brush on the far side and snorted until they got out of sight.

Is that considered a successful hunt? I saw deer . . . . . .

[saxman]

LOL

I'm picturing you,out of position with 6 deer looking at you.
I hate it when they dont read the script.

Great story Scoot
Better luck next time.

[vixenmaster]

yes that is a very successful hunt, the kill is only the climax!

[DropTine]

Great encounter! I would have been shaking like a leaf!

Matt

[catcher]

You should have tackled them. makes you think of a hundred diferent way's you could have set up on them. At least you are seeing deer. Get em next time. And good luck.

[sumner4991]

I was just thinking, if I hadn't cleared that side lane, then I may have been just fine. I cleared it because last week a fawn came across the creek on the lower side and exited in the direction these deer came in today. If it had been a large buck, then I wouldn't have gotten a shot. So, I cleared a lane. Stupid!

I did get my heart rate up, so I'm skipping my afternoon workout.

[Sandman]

That was a very successful hunt in my mind~!

[mikej]

sounds like a good time and a little education for next time

[Benu]

Exciting tale! Good hunting.

[raydaughety]

Sounds like you had some good activity around your spot. I wish that I could get a deer to come close enough to me either on the ground or in a ground blind without spooking the crap out of them. Do you have good luck on the ground "consistently" as opposed to in a tree stand? Thanks.

[raydaughety]

Double posted

[sumner4991]

That was a lot of fun and it gave me something to laugh about this afternoon. I'd say that would be considered success.

Ray . . .being on the ground gives me these close encounters and I love it. I used a little cover spray this a.m., but, normally I don't use anything. I just sit down, using whatever natural surroundings to help me blend in. I surprisingly get by with a lot of "bad hunting" techniques. No special washing of the clothes . . .I smelled a lot like Downy April Fresh this a.m. I doubt the pine cover spray was good enough to kill that scent.

Getting too close to the trail is the one item that I can say will hurt me every time. Just like this a.m., I was too close to the rear end of the trail. However, based on deer patterns over the last year, I didn't expect them from behind.

There are definite advantages to being in the tree. However, if I could have pulled off a shot this a.m., then fooling those does would have been a great thrill. I keep replaying the scene . . .I think I may have looked at the ones in front of me, then looked back at the ones on the side. That may have busted me. Even though I was trying to keep my head still . . .I must have moved. I don't know, they were awefully close.

I had a coyote within 10 yards last Wednesday and it never saw me. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to shoot them on this property. I didn't have any cover spray or anything. It was so interested in the critter under the fallen tree that he had no idea how close he was to death.

[wabi]

Not sure about successful, but sure would be memorable!

Sometimes I think we'd be better off to clear shooting lanes where we don't want them to come in!

[Grizzly Adam]

Ray . . .being on the ground gives me these close encounters and I love it.

Boy, if you like CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, you'd love ground-hunting in East NC!

There just ain't no feeling like having a 500 or 600 lb. boar black bear emerge from the brush, corn or soybeans 10 yards away from you, huffing and chuffing. Just can't beat that teeth clicking routine. Good for adrenaline junkies.

I love the ol' "copperhead between the legs" surprise, too. A wonderful test of stamina in holding your position.

Then there's the cottonmouth hurdle exercise. Very good for the cardiovascular system. Levitation is hard to master, though.

I've done a whole lot of "bucket hunting" here, but I've gotta tell you, it is a bit unnerving at times, as is the walk in and out.

Personally, I'm getting to where I prefer some elevation or a box blind in my old age!

[Bluefish024]

Time to break out the buck knife and launch like a tiger...lol