Early on Saturday morning, I watched 2 yearling does from 8 yards and 15 feet in the air. I choose not to shoot, it was going to be in the mid-eighties that day, and I just enjoyed watching them wander through the beautiful woods. Saturday evening, as the sun had dipped below the tree line, and given some reprieve from the heat of the day, I caught a glimpse of another deer approaching from the south. As she stood 27 yards from me, I was able to harvest her and celebrate with good friends. The season was off to a good start.
Minnesota archery season would be a simple opener. I have had access to a beautiful farm within 25 minutes of my house. I have been placing my homebrew trail cameras on the farm since the middle of July, and have identified 5 different bucks that seem to use the property on a regular basis. All of them are young bucks, but I had set my sights and my many nights of dreaming on a deer my boys and I named “Gus”.
It’s a good name, and most weeks I would get a photo of Gus at night, often with a smaller 8 pointer I named “Buddy”. They were together a great deal, mostly at night, but occasionally during the day also. Here is a photo I got from August 11th during the day. Notice Buddy in the corn a few rows back?
I got to the farm at 5:25. A little later than I wanted, but still in enough time to get settled and let the woods quite down. As I went through the ritual of dressing and making myself as scent-free as possible, I wondered if I would get to see any of the bucks. I haven’t killed a buck with my bow, and though Gus was the deer I had dreamed of, I knew that if Buddy or the other little 8 pointer provided me with a clean opportunity, that I would need to take it. By 5:47, I was in my stand, bow hung with an arrow nocked, backpack secured, headlamp tucked away, safety harness facemask on, with my release hanging on my wrist at the ready.
Another dawn was getting ready to break, and I was glad to be in the woods. What were the odds I’d get to see a deer? I have hunted this farm pretty hard over the last 3 years, but never had an opportunity at a deer. In fact, other than the flag of a departing deer, I had not seen one closer than 100 yards. This year, I had moved my stand slightly, and felt I really had isolated a “pinch point” like I read about in all the magazines. So I stood, enjoying the morning, and hoping.
One of the ways I had isolated this point was by using the trail cameras I have made. As I sat waiting for daylight, I remembered that I had not removed the white flash camera, and any deer that approached from the west, would get their photo taken 20 feet before my shooting lane. Too late now to get down, “Oh well, they should be used to it, it’s been there all summer” I thought to myself.
As light began filled the sky, I noticed some movement to the east, and turned slowly to find a black house cat hunting along. It walked 20 yards from me, right where I had hoped a deer would be. I checked my watch, 6:14. That can’t be a good sign, having a black cat cross your path as you wait in a tree 20 feet in the air? The cat kept on its course and was gone as quickly as it came.
A short 15 minutes later I saw a small buck approaching from the west. “Picture time!” I thought to myself. I quietly grabbed my bow and moved into a shooting position. This was not a big deal, only a spike, but I had not shot a buck, and the temptation to shoot was there. FLASH…Cheese… The trail camera got the photo in the first light of the morning, 6:29, just four minutes after legal shooting light.
I knew I couldn’t bring myself to shoot a small buck on opening day, but the opportunity was heart-pounding. Seconds after his photo, a slightly larger 6 pointer followed behind the first buck….FLASH!
I knew these deer. Both youngsters were deer I had seen a great deal this summer, and in nearly all their photos they were together. These little guys stopped 10 yards from me, presenting perfect broadside shots. They were content to eat the falling acorns, and showed no sign that they had any sense of my presence. I wanted to shoot the little 6 pointer, and had readied myself, even loading a bit of pressure on the string of my Hoyt Alphamax. It was a “gimme” shot. I haven’t killed a deer with my bow. “Shoot him and be happy” I told myself. My mind said "Go!", but I stayed frozen and watched.
Movement from the opposite direction caught my eye. I slowly looked up and east to see 2 does coming out of the corn field. “Ah Yes..” This is why I waited. These girls were headed for the small pinch point, and would soon present easy 25 yard shots. I’ll take a doe. I moved my slider sight to 25 yards, and slowly, cautiously adjusted my feet to get a good shot. The doe in front was a nice mature animal much like the one I had shot in Wisconsin last week. She was quartering towards me, and I was patient, waiting for a broadside shot. All I needed was for her to turn, “Come on girl, TURN, TURN….” Wow, the heart was thumping, I was starting to wonder if the two little bucks at 10 yards would hear my heart beat. I could hear it outside my head, surely they would get alert here quick. I snuck a look down, but they were content to eat the acorns. “How is this going so well?” I remember thinking. I just need her to turn…”Come on…T…” OH NO, as I was thinking turn one more time, all 4 deer stopped, picked up their heads, and turned to look (for a second I thought I did something or my heart beat had alerted them) to the west… I thought since all of them were looking, I should probably take look too eh?
“Slowly Dan, don’t blow it now…” I turned, and saw Gus. He was closing, and about to get his picture taken. I noticed Buddy was also behind him, and made a quick realization, that I had 6 deer; 4 bucks and 2 does within 30 yards of me. I have hunted for 22 years, and never had that happen. MONGO EXCITEMENT as my fellow Ralston hunting crew would say. Gus was closing fast. I had a moment of sheer panic, when I remembered that Gus would get his photo taken also. None of the deer were on alert, so I hoped it didn’t spook him……FLASH! It was Gus’s turn for a photo. 6:33 AM.
As soon as the flash went off, I knew without a doubt that I would get a chance. He hadn’t spooked and I had a chance to draw my bow hidden from his view. Gus stepped into the opening I had cut in August, as the little bucks moved forward, and gave him some room. I didn’t make any noise. I didn’t dare stop him and jinx myself. As he moved forward, and my pin settled just behind his shoulder, the bow went off.
THWACK.
It has to be the most beautiful sound in the world.
The arrow had found its mark. (2 inches high, remember I had my slider at 25 yards? Ya, I didn’t either) All 6 deer went running. Buddy stayed and presented numerous shot opportunities for minutes after I shot Gus. I watched Gus run 40 yards, then turn and begin to travel through the corn field. At about 100 yards, he stopped, wobbled once, and fell over. I pumped my fist like I was Tiger Woods making the putt, and carefully hung the bow in the tree and sat down. I was worried I would make myself fall out. There is no better feeling than right after the shot, knowing you have harvested a deer. My Lumenok was glowing, and the arrow was buried half way into the dirt. I remembered a photo of my 3 year old Jack in a backpack in the exact spot the arrow was buried. He had helped me put out cameras earlier in the summer.
With a phone call to wake up Kelly, and another to my good friend Matt (who was the reason I had access to the farm) I lowered my bow, and recovered my arrow.
Since the deer had their photos taken, I figured I ought to as well.
After a few more fist pumps, I went and found my deer.
Gus is a trophy. Any deer is a trophy for the archer that finds success.
He isn’t the biggest deer I’ve harvested. His antlers will likely fall short of any record books, but he is my first buck with archery equipment, and the first deer I have watched over a summer then been able to harvest. I learned a great deal about whitetail behavior from Gus, and got lucky to be in the right place at the right time.
Matt arrived, celebrated with me, looked Gus over, took a few photos and helped me load him into the truck.
Gus is a symmetrical 10 pointer with small kickers on his G2s. A rough score by my friends Joe and Tom put him at 127 inches gross and 123 net after 4 inches of deductions.
I spent the warm day getting him quartered, on ice, and later cut into steaks and chunks for many upcoming dinner table. Not once through the work do I think a smile fell from my face.
I am a fortune man to have harvested him, but more fortunate to have grown up in a family that values hunting, a wife who supports my habits and passions, and 2 young boys who think they too want to hunt one day….
I love the fall…..
Excellent story!! Nice buck too!! You should send that story and trail cam pics to a magazine.