Well i took this week off work to spend with family and do a little hunting. Ok a lot of hunting. I had some close calls but the bucks were avoiding me. On Tuesday I had 6 deer coming my way and 2 coyotes came out and ran them off I vowed for revenge on the buggers. I waited to till the sun set and no more deer came in. So I headed home for the day. Wednesday I was in the stand at 2:30 and a balmy -11 out. At about 3:15 I see movement about 100 yards off or so and realize it is a coyote and he is heading my way. click the safety on the crossbow is off. He comes behind me and gets to about ten yards and he just knows somethng is not right. So he turns and heads away from me. I had one opening at 33 yards. As soon as he crossed it I mouse squeaked and he stopped and looked over his shoulder. And crazy farmers bolt was on its way. I pinned him double lungs and he ran about twenty yards and pilled up along the swamp. So I was excited about that hunt and settled in for the rest of the afternoon n casea deer showed it self. Then about 4:05 I hear foot steps coming in the snow and look and see a little 8 pointer coming straight for me. And right behind him about 40 yards back all I see is horns coming through the woods. Talk about my heart trying to jump out of my clothes. I am trying to convince myself to calm down and it is not working. The closer he got the more nervous I got. Then the little buck stopped and the bigger buck caught up to him and they tinkled horns for a minute which was cool to see. They were not smashing each other just lightly tapping each other. Then the little buck starts to walk to me and the big buck was following right behind him. The little guy passed at about 22 yards and the big buck stopped at 30 yards and I was going to shoot him then but held off. Then after about a minute he walked forward and gave me a 20 yard broadside shot. I settled the scope on the crossbow right behind the shoulder and let an arrow fly. Then it is a blur. He took off out of sight and I start second quessing my shot. It felt good but I have a terrible habit of pulling my head up to see were I hit the deer after a shot. And of course you never can. So I gave him an hour before I got down from the stand. When I went to where he was when I shot him there is blood everywhere and the trail is easy to follow. It is spraying out 3 feet everywhere and he only went about 70 yards or so before he went down. Man there was no ground shrinkage on this walk up. If anything he got bigger. And of course it was the one hunt I did not bring my fourwheeler with me. So I had to go home and get the bike and help. Man this buck has mass he has 6 inch bases and 13 points and very cool bladed brow tines. And he has a kicker on his one side off the G2. I put the tape to him last night and I come up with 169 gross and he weighed 185 pounds. What an early christmass gift for me. I love to see all the countless hours scouting is paying off. the first pic is the coyote I got. I took that pic this morning after I got up and the other pics of the deer are at the spot were I found him. Good luck to all that are after whitetails still.
Laura
Vixen II/Optimizer/RamCats/NGSS
Camx
Boo strings, top mounts
[url]http://www.michigancrossbowfederation.org[/url]
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"Team DryFire"
Vixen, Micro 315, HHA Optimizer, Boo & VixenMaster strings, Munch Mounts, Dr. Stirrup accessories.
frisky wrote:That is a beauty. The years since I joined the forum you have got some BIG deer. Do you hunt the same area every year?
I have a few farms that I hunt. I scout and scout and scout and when I think I know where the big boys are I scout some more. I might just move a camera for 200 yards a then see big deer and 200 yards away nothing. My wife says I am cheating using cameras. I admit it I have a big antler addiction problem. I let a lot of 2 and 3 year old bucks walk. And every time I think as it is walking away. I hope I did not make a mistake there.
Ok a lot of hunting. 
I had some close calls but the bucks were avoiding me. On Tuesday I had 6 deer coming my way and 2 coyotes came out and ran them off 
I vowed for revenge on the buggers. I waited to till the sun set and no more deer came in. So I headed home for the day. Wednesday I was in the stand at 2:30 and a balmy -11 out. At about 3:15 I see movement about 100 yards off or so and realize it is a coyote and he is heading my way. click the safety on the crossbow is off. He comes behind me and gets to about ten yards and he just knows somethng is not right. So he turns and heads away from me. I had one opening at 33 yards. As soon as he crossed it I mouse squeaked and he stopped and looked over his shoulder. And crazy farmers bolt was on its way. I pinned him double lungs and he ran about twenty yards and pilled up along the swamp. 
I let a lot of 2 and 3 year old bucks walk. And every time I think as it is walking away. I hope I did not make a mistake there.