It's Like MJ Missing a Layup
2 Comments Published by David Blanton on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at 9:04 PM.
"Realtree Outdoors" producer and cameraman, John Tate, is as good as it gets when it comes to capturing footage from a tree stand. He is durn near flawless.
He and I make a pretty good team. As a matter of fact, when a “shooter” buck comes to within bow range of us and he leaves without an arrow hole in him, you can rest assured that my arrow has missed its mark...again. But the video is always awesome.
Imagine my surprise when, just a few days ago, John and I, while hunting in Montana with Northern Rockies Outfitters, had a big 8-pointer pass within 25 yards of our stands, through a wide open shooting land, and nary an arrow was flung!
Chalk it up to flat out weirdness. Were we both surprised!
Here’s how it happened:
John spots a couple of small bucks making their way through the cottonwood bottom as
they head for the irrigated alfalfa field. Immediately, I grab my bow off the EZ-Hanger and rotate my body just in case a bigger buck was following.
Well, there wasn’t a bigger buck following, there were TWO bigger bucks bringing up the rear. About that time John sees them as well. From my vantage point (two feet lower than John) I could tell that the first “bigger” buck was the biggest of the bunch, a 135” 8-pointer, and that the last buck was a 125” 10-pointer.
However, from John’s viewpoint he couldn’t quite get a read on the last buck and just figured that the last buck in line would be the biggest (which a lot of the times is the case during early bowseason).
I whisper to John that I’m going to shoot the third buck in line and come to full draw, settling the pin behind the buck’s shoulder. John, not realizing that I had seen the last buck clearly, told me to hold off.
Still at full draw, I glance up at John with the camera pointed at the buck I’m aiming at.
Now I’m confused.
Had I misheard John and was he expecting me to shoot the buck I’m holding on?
Once again, I whispered what to do?
This time I heard John say that the biggest buck was bringing up the rear. At that point in time, the last buck cleared the brush and John realized he was not as big as he’d thought. We swing our attention (and camera) back to the “shooter” and by this time he had gone through the shooting lane.
In other words, we had just been “snookered” by the entire bunch of bucks! Pretty clever on their part how they devised such a crafty plan.
As for me and John, we didn’t think it was funny. As it turned out that was our only chance at a good buck during the week.
BUCKS 1 BLANTON/TATE 0
Just weird. We’re still shaking our heads over this one.
He and I make a pretty good team. As a matter of fact, when a “shooter” buck comes to within bow range of us and he leaves without an arrow hole in him, you can rest assured that my arrow has missed its mark...again. But the video is always awesome.
Imagine my surprise when, just a few days ago, John and I, while hunting in Montana with Northern Rockies Outfitters, had a big 8-pointer pass within 25 yards of our stands, through a wide open shooting land, and nary an arrow was flung!
Chalk it up to flat out weirdness. Were we both surprised!
Here’s how it happened:
John spots a couple of small bucks making their way through the cottonwood bottom as
they head for the irrigated alfalfa field. Immediately, I grab my bow off the EZ-Hanger and rotate my body just in case a bigger buck was following.
Well, there wasn’t a bigger buck following, there were TWO bigger bucks bringing up the rear. About that time John sees them as well. From my vantage point (two feet lower than John) I could tell that the first “bigger” buck was the biggest of the bunch, a 135” 8-pointer, and that the last buck was a 125” 10-pointer.
However, from John’s viewpoint he couldn’t quite get a read on the last buck and just figured that the last buck in line would be the biggest (which a lot of the times is the case during early bowseason).
I whisper to John that I’m going to shoot the third buck in line and come to full draw, settling the pin behind the buck’s shoulder. John, not realizing that I had seen the last buck clearly, told me to hold off.
Still at full draw, I glance up at John with the camera pointed at the buck I’m aiming at.
Now I’m confused.
Had I misheard John and was he expecting me to shoot the buck I’m holding on?
Once again, I whispered what to do?
This time I heard John say that the biggest buck was bringing up the rear. At that point in time, the last buck cleared the brush and John realized he was not as big as he’d thought. We swing our attention (and camera) back to the “shooter” and by this time he had gone through the shooting lane.
In other words, we had just been “snookered” by the entire bunch of bucks! Pretty clever on their part how they devised such a crafty plan.
As for me and John, we didn’t think it was funny. As it turned out that was our only chance at a good buck during the week.
BUCKS 1 BLANTON/TATE 0
Just weird. We’re still shaking our heads over this one.
David,
That's ok. Ya'll will get them next time. We are only humans and Tate thought it was a bigger buck. Oh well better luck next time. Keep ya'lls heads up ya'll still have time to get another big buck.
Talk to ya later.
God Bless & Good Huntin'
Kristle Oberlander-GA
David,
I can sympathize! Yesterday I missed a deer of a life time. A nice 10 with a right side 8 inch drop tine came walking into my stand right at me. He was walking with a purpose, licking the air and his neck swollen. I had put out an estrus waffer early that morning to stirup interest and it was working. Closing in the distance fast I still had plenty of time to stablize my rifle and get into position. Waiting for the opportunity to shoot this monster, hoping he would stop and give me a good broadside shot, never happened. Now within 80 yards of my stand he paused as I let off the safety, well would happened next was heart breaking. My safety click and he heard it, I could see his eyes and body move to the sound through my scope. I pulled the trigger and tried to save the momment, that never happened. He spun and I missed. I have never been so disappointed with my abilities as a hunter and in my equipment. I can still see him in my mind so clearly even now, well back out again I go to try again.
Danielle Bigsby
Floridagirl