OT: This evenings bowhunt

[bigbore442001]

I arrived at work to find some more bovine effluent to have to handle. It seems that some people need to justify their position in life by creating paperwork without meaning. Needless to say I wasn't too thrilled at that prospect but I did do what I had to do until 2:45 PM. I got my things ready and then took off to my friend's home. He asked the neighbor if I could hunt on his property. He gave my credentials and stated I was a fine , upstanding character in the community and so the landowner said no problem. Just go on the land and hunt.

As I drove down the road I spotted a large hen turkey running across the road in front of me. It was following a small flock of about five birds in his back yard. After I parked and began to get my things ready the rest of the flock flew over his room and now about twenty five birds were in his field. Needless to say the fall turkey season is all over. I guess they know that they are safe. I met Bob and we chatted a bit. He soon left and then I got my camoflage on along with my rubber boots and bow. I started to head westward down a long abandoned railroad bed made somewhat famous when the financier went down with the Titanic, along with the money for the railroad. So there is just a bed and no rail. I cross the wet ditch on the side and begin to head down the old right of way to where I placed a ladder stand with Dad the other day. As I walked I stopped to place some Little Rhody deer lure on my scent pads. I then proceeded further and then down the hill to where my stand is. I suspect that the deer , if they show up, will come from behind me where there is a small stream and hidden valley or down the main railroad bed and somewhere in my vicinity.

As I was about to remove my scent pads I was suddenly surprised by something. It appears someone was walking their dog along the railroad bed and guess what I stepped in? Yup. I figured that maybe the scent pad was a moot point after having noticed the mess on the bottom of my boot. I carefully removed them and placed them on a tree. Then I rubbed my boot into the humus as much as I could to remove the offending matter. I did what I could and time was a wasting. So I then proceeded to climb my stand and perch until sunset. I sprayed my clothes with scent killer and some acorn scent in the hopes of killing the dog scent. In addition I have a bottle of fox urine. I spilled some from my perch above to add to the mask. After settling in I began the wait.

I sat for a while thinking about the world around me and the nature of things. I watched the trees and the lay of the land. I can see through the trees some homes but that is the nature of the hunting in the East. Many places will be near some habitation of some kind. The deer and turkey have learned to live in pockets of land and good hunters adjust their tactics.

I sat and then noticed something. To my left at sixty yards a patch of white moved through the woods. It was a deer. I could not tell what kind as the area is very brushy. This happened at 4:36 PM and it was begining to get dark. I sat and then heard something behind me. I turned and soon spotted another deer sneaking its way about forty yards behind me. If it was shotgun season the deer would have been taken but with the bow you have some significant limits. The deer angled towards where the other went and soon it was out of sight. This event occured at 4:46 PM. I figured at least I am seeing something for my time spent . Son I heard something to the south west of me. I can hear footpads through the leaves and it sounds like they are coming from the exact spot that I walked down to my stand. Sure enough, a deer followed my exact route. Was it coincidence? Was it the Little Rhody doe musk? Who knows but I soon stood and got ready with my bow in hand. I am not sure what happened but the doe stopped about fifteen to twenty yards in front of me. She stomped one foot and stood behind enough cover to make a shot unethical. In addition it was fast approaching the end of legal shooting light and I like to follow the rules. She then blew at me and ran about ten yards. Then she stopped and began to wander in semi circles . The wind was somewhat irregular but mostly from the northwest. I do use scent killer and the specialty soaps but I am not sure if there were other issues involved. I know someone was burning wood because all I could smell was woodsmoke. Did the woodsmoke cancel out the deer's olfactory system? Anyways she played this game for a solid half hour. She kept on circling around me but never to a point where I could take an ethical shot. I did make up my mind at the end of legal light to put the arrow in the quivver and wait for her to leave. Well, she stuck around to give me a show of sorts. She did some prancing and blew a couple of times but kept on doing the semi circle thing. I am not sure if she seen me or she smelled something not quite right.

Finally at about 5:20 PM she veered off to my north and it sounded like she went away. I turned on my LED light and lowered my bow and day pack. I began my descent to the forest floor when I heard a final blow and some bounding. It appears she was just over the edge of the woods at about thirty five yards away.

Now I am not sure if this stand has been compromised and I will have to move it. I had walked out looking for any yard bombs that someones dog may have left but I got lucky. No messy boots on the way out. I went home and chatted with Dad. He hunted Connecticut with his cross bow and reported that he saw the deer that I hit but did not recover. It appears to be quite healthy feeding in the safety of the posted land. That itself made me feel good and now I know that I still have a crack at him next year. Time will tell.

[RIHMFIRE]

You didnt get a deer...
but the hunt was successful nonetheless..
Always enjoy stories like this...
better luck next time!

[rjohns94]

thanks for sharing . great hunt and great memories.

[Nath]

Thanks Bigbore, she is a smart doe.
I wouldn't think the stand is compromised though, a few hours of nature will soon sort the smells of dog etc.
We have no legal hours of light over here to hunt with bow! I best stay in the thick stuff then hey

Nath.