I've been taking the young lad out with me quite a bit in Oct (while it was still warm enough for him), hoping to have him be part of a harvest...No such luck, but we did see a few, which was almost as much fun. He can only sit for about 1.5 hours, so that limited our chances a bit, but I thought "whatever"...the season is long and I'm sure I'll get my chance. I'd rather spend time afield with him and not get anything....lots of years ahead to hunt alone once he's moved out. Gotta enjoy it now (and get him hooked on the sport - of course!)
Fast forward to yesterday - I recently placed a new ladder stand about 50 yards down a tractor path from one of my "regular" old faithful stands. I'd seen several deer entering the swayle grass from the bush "just" out of range...and it was driving me nuts. I thought "I'll show them"...well, I sat it yesterday morning for the first time, and they showed ME! I saw 5 deer, and one nice buck walked in front of my "old faithful" stand as I was 50 yards down the trail...damn!
So I went back this morning, and the entire drive out I was debating which darn stand to sit. It was quite the dilemma! I decided on "old faithful", which was a good choice. As soon as I climbed it, I let out a couple of doe bleats - to cover my noise getting in. About 30 minutes later, as daylight broke, I let out a series of small buck grunts with my newly acquired Brawler from Quaker Boy. I waited 30 minutes longer, then let out another small series of grunts..it wasn't 5 minutes after this that this little guy came strutting up the trail, looking for the source of the grunts! This was the first time I actually felt a grunt tube WORKED for me. He stopped 20 yards out, but caught me moving my Vortex into shooting position, and did a little startle move...and i thought "crap - he's going to bolt!"...he didn't...but took an edgy looking step into the grass, and stopped....and that's when a sent one of Big John's GTII's carrying a 100 gr Slick Trick and lumnok on it's way. It was a perfect double-lung..and he took off into the meadow, and I watched him topple over 60 yards from my stand - THAT'S a good feeling - no tracking!
I grabbed my phone and began texting my wife the good news....it's hard to text when your hands are still trembling with excitement! Then I looked down, and wasn't there a doe coming down the same trail!! She stopped to sniff the arrow that had just zipped through her boyfriend...all the time I'm sitting there with an unloaded crossbow and extra doe tag in my backpack..agonizing! She passed at 10 yards..offering several great shot opportunities along the way...ugh...I missed the double header...oh well, at least I get to go out hunting another day!
I went home and grabbed an excited little boy to help with the drag out. He seems to have the passion...It makes a Dad proud!
I Love it !!! Congrats
Way to Whack-em!