2018 Hunt #13: Crossbow Buck.

I knew November 20 was going to be a busy day of stuff and things. I didn't realize how busy. I got in the chair around 11:30 AM. While I was having some lunch I looked outside and I thought to myself, "Today looks like a buck day." After lunch we burned down to Lisbon because I had a physical therapy appointment and after that I decided to get my hairs cut. In the back of my mind I knew I wanted to go hunting when I got home but I didn't know if I would have time. While I was getting my haircut, Rick the barber and I started having a conversation about hunting. I knew right then I was going to go hunting when I got home.

When I got home I had to tilt back in my wheelchair for my required 10 minutes. As soon as I was done I washed my hair quick and started getting dressed for the evening hunt. The temperature was around 35°, it was an overcast, dank day when I headed out to the blind north of the house around 3:30 PM.

This being my being my 13th sit of the year, and I think eighth time sitting north of the house in my pop-up blind, I pretty much knew the routine of the deer. But four days before, the corn that was surrounding the farmstead was harvested so I didn't know for sure how that would change the deer movement. I sat the week before during the snow storm and had deer moving the whole time. But that was when the corn was standing. All I knew was that the rut was hot and heavy. The trail cam that I have set up next to the blind has been capturing deer steady for about 10 days. There were at least nine different bucks that have showed up, but mostly nocturnal. I just needed one of them to get twitterpated and make a mistake.

The deer usually come in around four thirtyish. So as that time passed I was beginning to wonder if I was going to see a deer. I thought maybe I was making too much noise trying to muffle my coughs because I was just coming off of a head cold. Then at 4:50 PM, I looked to my west where the deer usually come from and I saw the old lady skinhead. One of those wise, smart does that usually bust you if you make a mistake. Usually she has her fawn with their but tonight she did not. She also did something unusual, instead of working her way in between the two shelter belts to the east she took a right turn and trotted south into the old shelter belt and decided to lie down. This was very strange. But I soon realized why.

 

I am glad I put a cam right here. This is him when he came in. The time is an hour off.

It wasn't 10 seconds after she laid down I saw antlers coming from the west. I recognized him right away. A nice 4 x 4 that I have had on trail cam numerous times throughout the fall. I thought for sure he would follow the old lady into the bedding area but she wasn't having none of it. We have all been there. Anyway, he walked straight towards the bait which was within 10 yards directly in front of me. The problem was he was facing right at me. He would eat and put his head up and look right at me. He had no clue I was there. The wind was at his back and blowing right in my face. I could smell him. He was rutted up. He even did that thing when they rub their glands together on their back knees. He was full on twitterpated. The problem was, he wasn't moving in any direction. Just eating and staring my direction. It felt like forever but it always does when you can't move an inch knowing you will get busted if you did.

 

This is the fawn as she is circling back to the west. At this point the buck is following her. You can make out the white of his belly in the trees. He follows her back out of the belt.

All of a sudden his back legs started to work their way south and he was moving into the direction of a better shot. But he was still quartering towards me. Not good. I wanted him to be perpendicular. I didn't want to blow this. All of a sudden I noticed the old lady's fawn trotting through the new shelter belt on the north side of us. She had her tail down but made two soft bleats. I thought she was going to entice him away, forever. The 4 x 4's head went on a swivel and he stepped to the north to see what was up. He grunted a couple times and became perpendicular. It was a perfect shot, but right when I was reaching for the trigger with my right arm he took off to the east and followed the little one. But like her mom she wasn't wanting any either.

I thought my opportunity was gone. My brain was spinning. It was a perfect shot but it was just too quick for me to get on him, aim and pull the trigger. All of a sudden I heard another grunt. He was coming back. I couldn't see to my east because I have that window in the blind covered. But I could tell he is getting close. Then all of a sudden he was perfectly broadside standing within 10 yards of me, facing west this time. He put his head down and I lined up my crosshairs right behind his shoulder, waiting for him to put his head up. As soon as he lifted his head I took the shot. I don't even remember the pull of the trigger. It was one of those shots. You just know it was good.

 

The 4 x 4 after the shot, heading west while nosediving.

The next thing I knew I heard that big crack and he nosedived hard into the ground. I knew I skewered him and I was hoping he would go down. He ran to the west and I lost track of him. But it sounded like he crashed in the slough which isn't more than 50 yards away. I looked down at my phone and it said 4:58 PM. All that took place in under ten minutes. That is good stuff.

There was good light left, sunset was 5:26 PM. So first I called mom at the house, which is only about 80 yards away from where I was sitting. She knew something was up, I said, "I just smoked a buck, a big buck!" She was excited. I could hear it in her voice. I told her she could come out as soon as she got some orange on and to make sure to bring a flashlight. As soon as I got off the phone with her I needed to contact a tracker. My regular tracker Don B was out west chasing mule deer. So I first called Lawrence. No answer. Then I called Trauty. No answer. Then I tried them both again. No answer. Then I remembered that Brad should be done with work. As soon as he answered he knew why I was calling. I told him not to get excited but I think I killed a buck. I told him what happened and he said, "Oh yeah, he is dead."

 

The Muzzy Trocar broadheads aftermath.

As soon as I got off the phone with him I looked to the west and I could see red everywhere. I didn't notice this right after the shot in all of the excitement. Where he first nosedived I could tell that he wasn't going to survive very long. Then mom got out there and she lifted the blind so I could drive my wheelchair out. As soon as I got out of the darkness of the blind I was feeling pretty confident with the scene in front of me that we were going to find him.

 

The unsettled dirt is where he was standing. Just under 10 yards to my Primos-The Club blind with Mossy Oak Break-Up.

It seemed like it took forever for Brad to get out there but it was the anticipation that was killing me. It was only about a half-hour. He came with my sisters. I could tell it wasn't one of their new pickups. It was the 86 Nissan. The next thing I knew I could hear it driving through the stubble field banging and a clanging. It sounded like it was going to fall apart. Anyway, Brad made his way towards me from the west and asked me where it went. He said he hasn't seen any blood yet, as he was walking towards me. My guts dropped. I knew the 4 x 4 had of went that way. Then he said oh, here is some blood, a lot of blood. He turned around and the buck was laying right there. The reason why he didn't see any blood on his way there was because it didn't make it that far. It only ran about 30 yards and crashed. I'm sure glad I switched to Muzzy Trocar broadheads with a bigger cutting diameter. That thing did its job. I have to confess, I only took three practice shots with the new broadheads but they all hit the mark at 20 yards.

Then the excitement took over. I got to admit I got a little verklempt. This is the biggest buck I have ever shot. That isn't ever my goal, to shoot the biggest but it doesn't hurt when it happens. Then of course the congratulations were given and pictures were taken. That's when the gutting crew took over. It was Randi's first time seeing this process. She took it like a champ. Shelie has gutted numerous deer. They held the deer secure while Brad did the dirty business. When we were done they put it in the back of the Nissan, I made a cocktail in the house, mom and I got in the pickup and we headed to town to raise some hell. Dad was going to be at the meat locker when we got there. It was a family affair. Good times.

  

After the buck was hanging in the locker we went to the Spare Time for a celebratory drink or two. I would like to thank mom and dad for taking me hunting whenever I want. I would like to thank Don B for setting up my trail cams and hunting spots. I would like to thank my gut crew Brad, Shelie and Randi. I would like to thank the other landowners whose land I hunt on. I always have an option of where I can hunt and I truly appreciate that. I truly have the best family and friends. You all don't suck.

Thanks for reading, Clint.