As I noted in a post from this morning, it is the peak of the rut here in my area (Eastern NC). The deer are moving around a lot, in classical rutting behavior.
Tonight, from my spam window, I noticed a group of four does along the edge of my south woodlot about three hundred yards away ... out in the wide open, standing in the beanfield, looking nervously around, with half-an-hour of daylight to go ... that doesn't happen this time of year unless, well, you know ... a big boy is hounding them.
Sure enough, five minutes later, I saw a BIG deer about a hundred yards from them ... and I got OL' DEATH WIND, my trusty .30-'06, and stepped out onto the porch to glass him (I don't have any binoculars!).
He was a genuine big-un for these parts ... well past his ears, good high rack ... I would guess in the 125 class. As good a deer as you'll ever see around here ... and he was out for action.
Sadly, he was off-limits for me tonight, as I killed today's bag limit this morning ... but there's always tomorrow.
Or not ... I don't really care. But he was nice, and I know more needy families who could use a tough old hamburger buck!
BTW ... a big bobcat crossing the field ran those does into the woods ... and he left a little later.
Lots of critters out here!
I know, I know ... you're thinking, "But would you have shot him right off of the porch, Grizz?"
Hey ... a permanent stand is a permanent stand ... be it 30 square feet or 3000 square feet!
You will have your chance,.....Maybe.....Well I sure