Post by flukemaster on Nov 4, 2005 11:35:04 GMT -5
Nov. 03, 2005
This was one of the best hunts I have had in a long time.
I got to the edge of the area I wanted to Still Hunt Just before it got shooting light. I waited there in a tower stand until just before the sun started to crest the horizon (6:45) and started to slip along this long ridge. The area was all planted pines that had been fifth rowed last year. So I was able to see for quite some distance but there were a ton of dead sticks on the ground. Nothing happened for the first 300 yards or so. But about 8:00 I heard a stick break off in the distance, in where the ridge drops into the swamp. So I got my Can call out and bleated a couple of times. I heard more sticks breaking and they were closer. By this time I was leaning up against a tree for some cover but the deer came past me still in the thick cover of the swamp. Just then the wind shifted and the deer was down wind. It ran into the swamp. So I kept going a little farther. The area started to get thick with new growth the closer I got to the swamp. Every time I stepped on a larger stick I would turn the can call over. I was about 50 yards from the edge of the swamp when I heard a stick break. I hit the can call and heard nothing else. I hit it again along with grunting and saw the top of a tree shaking. So I took a few steps closer and just then I saw a set of antlers but the rest of the deer was just below a small rise in the ground. I quickly realized that I was out in the open more than I should be. So I took three steps to my right and purposely stepped on a pile of sticks just before sitting down. I watched the deer coming up the hill and the cover in front and behind me was good enough the let him keep on coming. He stopped at about ten yards just behind a pine tree I leaned just a little to the right and put the bullet straight though the front of his chest. I shot through the hole that is shown in the next picture. Man what a deer. He is a massive 4 1/2 year old 9pt he weighed 131 pounds. This proves that, when done right, still hunting will work great. I shot him at 8:25
R&S 
OWNER/PRESIDENT
