I know Churly will be fussing at me but what can I say. Last year I let some small deer go by and waiting on the big one that never came. 
Ended up without any deer meat in the freezer. This year I told myself that was not going to happen. If I saw even a small buck he was going to be freezer meat and then I would horn hunt after putting one up. emoHungry My food plot is dirt. emoDoh No rain, no green. Headed for the hard woods. Got there this morning at 7:15 and had my climber. Got up a nice tree where the acorns where falling like rain. Watched the sun rise and saw mother nature come alive. The mountain up by Dunlap was 38 degrees when I got there! emoThumbsup Sweet! Trees were all golds, reds and bright browns. Made me feel close to nature and really enjoyed the dawn of the morning.
I had not been there any time at all, it was about 8:05 Eastern and there were a couple squirrels playing around my tree. Next thing I hear are footsteps coming up behind me. Ease around to see a deer working towards me eating acorns. I saw a set of horns but not the set I wanted to see. Just a nice spike. I watched him coming my way looking behind him hoping to see a big boy following but he was all alone best I could tell. He got within about 35 yards, turn broad side and I kept thinking about not getting one last year. Thought, "Not this year." The ol' smoke pole did not let me down. Found the heart and down he went. I could see him still so no need to reload, he was down for the count. Waited for the woods to settle back down, got down at 9:00 eastern, loaded him up on the four wheeler. Gutted, checked in, at the butcher and home by 11:00. Can't beat that. emoTongue
I will be more selective on my next buck. emoToast Jmax
Ended up without any deer meat in the freezer. This year I told myself that was not going to happen. If I saw even a small buck he was going to be freezer meat and then I would horn hunt after putting one up. emoHungry My food plot is dirt. emoDoh No rain, no green. Headed for the hard woods. Got there this morning at 7:15 and had my climber. Got up a nice tree where the acorns where falling like rain. Watched the sun rise and saw mother nature come alive. The mountain up by Dunlap was 38 degrees when I got there! emoThumbsup Sweet! Trees were all golds, reds and bright browns. Made me feel close to nature and really enjoyed the dawn of the morning.I had not been there any time at all, it was about 8:05 Eastern and there were a couple squirrels playing around my tree. Next thing I hear are footsteps coming up behind me. Ease around to see a deer working towards me eating acorns. I saw a set of horns but not the set I wanted to see. Just a nice spike. I watched him coming my way looking behind him hoping to see a big boy following but he was all alone best I could tell. He got within about 35 yards, turn broad side and I kept thinking about not getting one last year. Thought, "Not this year." The ol' smoke pole did not let me down. Found the heart and down he went. I could see him still so no need to reload, he was down for the count. Waited for the woods to settle back down, got down at 9:00 eastern, loaded him up on the four wheeler. Gutted, checked in, at the butcher and home by 11:00. Can't beat that. emoTongue
I will be more selective on my next buck. emoToast Jmax
