Second Day Success

[pawle76]

After an uneventfull opening day of Reg. season in 4R (Westkill,Greene County) I was late getting out the next morning and mad at myself for it. I didn't get to where I go into the woods until 6:55 am. As I eased my way in I started to see orange almost everywhere I looked. Now I'm furious at myself. Didn't see one hunter the day before but that day I had to weave my way through 6 different hunters to get to my pop up blind. I finally get to the blind around 7:35-ish settle in to the blind look off to my left across a big draw which we call "the bowl" about 200 yards out what do I see ? Another hunter. So now I'm having a full out arguement with myself. After calling myself a few choice words I decide I'm not moving it's too late and I liked where I was. So I took my orange vest hung it in a tree next to my blind and hoped the hunter would see it before he shot in my direction if a deer came between us. On top of all this the weather wasn't exactly the best, it was chilly but the forecast said it would warm up into the mid to upper 50's and the wind was gusting to 30-35 mph. I didn't bother to put out any of my normal spread of scents because of my late start except for my scent killer I sprayed down with at the truck and I had set up a few mock scrapes out in front of the blind a couple days before the opener. I had a dripper over one with Active scrape and the other 2 srapes I had poured Code Blue Buck urine in. I finally settled down and began scanning the woods . About an hour later I was enjoying some hot chocolate and I was looking out the right side of the blind and I thought I saw the hind end of a deer about 8 0 or so yards out. I looked with the binos and I didn't see anything so I chalked it up to one of those deer trees we all have seen many times. A few minutes later I looked the same way and this time thewre was no mistaking. I saw a deer headed straight towards me and I thought I could see antlers.I remember thinking how could this buck walk right past six hunters to get to me ? Then I picked up the binos and saw that it was a good buck and the antlers were over the ears. I didn't know exactly how big he was but I knew he was big enough to take. So now all hell breaks loose in my blind, hot chocolate goes flying and I'm fumbling around trying to get my .35 Marlin and my shooting stick. I finally get into a shooting position and he stopped walking and now is looking right in my direction. He was 80-85 yards so I doubt he heard or saw me in the blind but in my scope he looked like he was staring right at me into my soul. The only shot I had was a head on neck shot. I had the cross hairs right on his throat patch but I was concerned about the amount of sticks and brush between him and me. So I waited for him to make a move. The wind was still gusty and I could tell he was not relaxed and I thought if something happened that he didn't like noise or scent he was gone. So he turned broadside and started to head towards the left which would bring him out in front of the blind where the mock scrapes were. By now I knew he was a big deer and his antlers were respectable. So my heart is in my throat and the crosshairs are dancing around like Chaz Bono on dancing with the stars. I did what I knew I shouldn't of and took a shot through all that brush. He ran in a semi circle towards the left and my hopes and dreams were running with him into the next county (I thought). Then he stops ! Right out in front of the blind still about 80 or so yards. The only problem was he stopped behind a cluster of trees and the only thing I could see was his butt sticking out. Now I'm a mess so I take some deep breaths get my heart rate down (if that's possible) and my breathing somewhat under control. I put my crosshairs in just in front of the tree he was behind and waited until he started to move. He started to walk and as soon as he stepped into my crosshairs I squeezed the trigger. He hunched over and kicked. I knew I hit him now. He then does a 180 and starts booking right back to where I missed him. So now I'm worried about all those hunters I walked through getting a shot at this deer if he doesn't go down. I found an opening in the brush and waited for him to step into it. Just as I was about to pull the trigger he hits the ground hard. OMG ! he's down ! Ok Paul get a hold of yourself and make sure he doesn't get up. I stumble out of the blind and make my way towards the deer at a brisk pace. When I got there I saw he was done and I let out a Yeah Baby ! He was an 8 pt. with his left G3 broken. The butcher estimated him to be about 170 dressed making him over a 200 pound deer. What a great hunting trip this year.

[pawle76]

Wow guys thanks for the congrats ! You are all too kind.

[burmjohn]

Sorry I missed this, congrats! Good story too!

[NFA-ADK]

OK Im am glad to be the 1st. Congrats on a nice buck! Sounds like a great story and to be honest you got my pulse going, thanks... To be in the area with that many hunters and still be able to get that shot that counted is awsome!!! Just goes to show that even though you might have hunters around you does not mean you can't get a nice buck. Bet they all woke up after you took that 1st shot, lol. Thankfully that 2nd shot put him down or it might have been someone elses buck. Great story, thanks for sharing.

[Skillet]

Good job. Did the first shot hit him?

[First-light]

Nice story!

[mbucks27]

congrats on a nice buck!!!!