buckbuster's 2004 hunt em' up journal

[buckbuster11]

Well, the first day has come and gone with little to show for it. I saw squat in the morning. Wasn't exactly a great day, it was windy and spitting rain. But, I didnt really care because I just wanted to hunt the evening. I really thought I was going to get a shot last night. We have been seeing all of the bucks this past week on 3 or 4 different nights. So, I get in my little ground blind which was a lot harder then I thought. Right about 5 minutes of shooting light left I hear grunts to my left, followed by deer running through the field. Sounded like a freaking horse race over there. They werent far but because all of the high weeds and fading light I couldn't see. 10 minutes later when it was completely pitch black I saw a couple outlined on the horizon about 45 yards out. One was a doe, the other looked like one of the big bucks. Then I had to sneak out of there. Wow....talk about hard. It took me 40 minutes to do what normally would be a 3 minute walk to my backdoor. I think I may have found another spot to setup though, that would allow me to see more of the field and it would 10 times easier to get in and out. Tomarrow night is supposed to be beautiful so I will be back.

[The_Kat]

Good luck Buckbuster. LOL, at least you didn't set all evening til crunch time and have another hunter walk right through your setup within 40 yards of you and ruin your hunt lol.........Get that buck!

[buckbuster11]

Went out back to sit on the ground and wait for the big boys last night. I was right behind my house in a small field that borders my neighbors backyard when I booted one of the bucks. He must of been laying right on the field edge, literally within 75 yards of my neighbors backyard. What is even more funny is they were racing their lawnmowers, yelling and making all sorts of racket. I looked up saw the buck, looked to my left saw my neighbors racing through their yard and just could not believe he would be bedding that close. It wasn't one of the big ones, he was one of the smaller 8's. Definately a shooter but not even close to the size of the big boys. I almost got a shot at him actually. He jumped up took a few steps and then stood about 25 yards away looking at me while I strapped on my release and knocked an arrow.Then he slowly trotted away. I went down and sat near my groundblind for the rest of the night and didnt see squat. I have not seen the big ones in the daylight for about 2 weeks. I saw them twice last week with a spotlight, but I haven't even seen them recently at night. I think I'm going to hit one of my stands tonight, and might try and pop a doe. I've got the itch.

[buckbuster11]

Well I gave the big boys a rest last night and went to my evening stand on the hill. I saw one decent buck about an hour before dark on the field edge, which is about 80 yards up the hill from me. He was an ok buck, nothing special. I think he was a 7 point but I wasn't to sure. I didn't get a real good look. That is all I saw. It was dang near a perfect night so I was really surprised I didn't see at least some does cruising through. I think I'm hitting the same stand again tonight.

[buckbuster11]

I went back to that same stand last night. It was a little warm but dead calm, not a bad night. The problem was they were picking the bean part of the field right up the hill from me. So I had to listen to that for the better part of the night. Probably didn't attract to many deer either. One deer stepped out below me about 30 minutes before dark, right after the tractor shut off. It was about 2 steps from coming out in the clear and it stopped. It stood there for probably close to 10 minutes without moving a muscle and then turned around and headed right back the way it came. I never did get to see what it was, though I'm sure it was a buck given the huge body and the way it was acting.
I'm back after the big boys tonight.

[buckbuster11]

I went back behind my house after the big boys tonight....and, well.......I didn't see squat....again. Can't complain about the weather, it was another great night. It might be a tad to warm that's about it. I busted one deer on my way out that had snuck in the field behind me. That's about the last place I expected to see a deer. This right here is shaping up to be by far the crapiest first week of bowseason I have ever had.

[buckbuster11]

Went to the hill stand last night, didnt see squat again. This morning I went to the new stand, first time I have ever hunted it. It was nice but cold. 30 degrees, foggy, and dead calm. Sometime after 8 a whole boat load of does came out to my left. A few of the smaller ones got within 30 yards but I wasnt going to take that far of a shot on a small doe. The rest stayed about 35 to 40 yards out. There were a couple monsters, and I mean one of them was easily the biggest doe I have ever seen. I wanted to nail that one but it didnt get close enough. I counted at least 8, and I saw one about 20 minutes later that could of been one of those 8 but I'm not sure. If there are does like that moving through there regularly, then there are going to be bucks crawling all over the place in a few weeks.

[buckbuster11]

So I went to a stand I haven't hunted yet this year last night and left with the same crappy results. Nothing....this stinks, I haven't seen a deer on any of my evening hunts this weeks and have only see 2 total in two weeks. I don't even hear anything that sounds like deer, it doesn't seem like there is anything within 20 miles. Everyone I have talked to is saying the same thing, they aren't seeing anything. I don't know whats going on, the only thing I do know is the last couple days I've had to make myself go hunting, because I'm really not excited about it right now.

[buckbuster11]

Well today my luck finally changed!! I was in the same stand I was in a few evenings ago. This is only the second time I have hunted it, first time in the morning. About 8 or so a decent 5 point walked right up from behind me. He was missing browtines or otherwise he would of been a nice deer. He walked right in front of me, I'm talking like 10 feet from the base of my ladder. He had just walked out of sight when I heard all this racket coming from my left. I was pretty sure it was just squirrels at first, but when I glanced over I saw bits and pieces of deer moving through some real nasty stuff about 60 or 70 yards off. Not knowing what they were, I figured what the heck, I'll try the grunt tube. I gave a couple soft grunts on the true talker and seconds later I saw multiple deer and multiple sets of horns coming my way. They circled around and got behind me, then a 3 point and a small doe worked right up my left side and eventually got to about 10 feet right in front of me. They were standing in the exact same spot the 5 pointer was a few minutes earlier. But by now I was wrapped around the tree taking a look at the shooter buck standing behind me at 25 yards. I was praying the doe and small buck right in front of me weren't going to nail me. They eventually worked their way off. Finally, after scanning the woods a million times and doing tons of scent checks, the buck I wanted to shoot started making his way towards the deer in front of me. By now I am realizing he is at least an 8 point with a kicker off his right G-2, making him a 9. He was about two steps away from a shooting lane when I caught a glimpse of another buck still hanging back in the brush. All I know is he was wider then the 9 point that was working my way, so I decided to wait and hope he was bigger and was going to come out. Right about then I am starting to realize there are more deer beside me on my right, I can't see them but they are really close. I'm watching the 9 point who is watching the deer on the otherside of me when all the sudden he gets the idea something isn't right. I don't know if the deer on the other side of me spooked, or if he got wind of me or what. He turns and starts high stepping straight away from me. At this point I realize that I'm not even going to get a look at the wider deer and I'm either going to have to shoot this buck right now or I won't get either of them.So, I yank the string back as he hits my last shooting lane. I gave out a loud "baaaaaa" and that stopped him in his tracks, quartering away at 15 yards. I sent the muzzy 4 blade on its way and drilled him. He went about 60 yards and piled up. I'll tell you what, this is the first deer I have used with those 4 blades and I could not be more impressed. That thing blasted right through him, back shoulder and all, and left one of the best blood trails I have ever seen on a bowshot deer. He ends up being a 9 pointer, just short of 16" on the spread, with nice height and real nice symmetry. I couldn't be happier. I should have pics later today or tomarrow.

[buckbuster11]

Went back up on the hill tonight. Buck tag is already filled, I really don't want to shoot a doe right now so basically I just took my bow for a walk. I havent been out since I shot my buck and I want to get in some more hunts in this stand plus a morning stand I was saving for the rut so that I can get a headstart on what to do next year. So I went, sat, sat some more, and saw squat.
I'm going to a honey hole on Friday morning and I am scared because I just know I am going to see some gigantic freak monster now that my buck tag is filled.

[buckbuster11]

Took the bow for another walk this morning. I went to a stand I saved for the rut, doesnt do me much good now since my buck tag is filled but I still wanted to see what was going on up there. Rain started at dawn and the wind picked up too. It rained lightly most of the morning which was kind of crappy. It is dead calm here at the house but it was blowing pretty good up at the stand, I guess thats what you get for hunting hillsides. Needless to say, I didnt see squat. I was pretty sure a couple times I heard deer in the thick stuff though. I saw a couple real fresh scrapes on the way out too, same spot as last year.

[buckbuster11]

I was back out this morning in the stand I shot my buck out of.....terrible hunt, nothing went right. First I had no idea what time it was getting light these days. A local webpage said sunrise was at 6:50....negative, I could see to shoot at 6:30. So I got in way late and sent one flying right behind my stand. Then on top of that it was windy again, and way to warm. Didnt see anything and I left early. I just didnt have the patience to sit in the wind today. On the way out I bumped into a decent 8 point, actually he bumped into me while he was cruising a logging road looking for does. I did see a couple does down towards my car too.

[buckbuster11]

Saw 4 does last night on the hill. Bumped one that was in front of my stand on the way in as well, not sure what it was. There was obviously a buck or bucks chasing does in the thicket behind my stand almost all night. It sounded like somebody was hearding cattle back there all night. I caught glimpses but could never really see what or how many. The 4 does came out behind me and left and never came close enough for a shot. This cold weather has them moving, I've got tomarrow off so hopefully the weather cooperates.

[buckbuster11]

I went to the box stand last night to see some action and maybe fill one of my doe tags and man was I covered up in rutting action all night. I like to get in this stand early in the evenings because it's right on the edge of a main bedding area but I couldnt get in until about 2 hours before dark. I sent 3 does flying out of there on my way in. I had a 4 point walk around me not to long after I was in my stand. Not long after that a decent looking buck passed by at about 40 yards. I decided to grunt at him to see his reaction but he didnt seem to care. About 10 minutes later though another 4 point seemed came in. He most of been coming into the grunt because he was looking for something and constantly scent checking. He got downwind and busted me. Right before dark I heard all kinds of racket behind me....here comes a doe followed by a nice looking buck grunting like a pig. The doe passed within 25 yards and the buck eventually came by a little closer. There were more deer around once it got dark, but I couldnt tell what was going on. There were deer in about 3 different directions. Not to shabby of a night.

[buckbuster11]

A little update on this week....saw a lone spike on Tuesday night and this morning I saw a 4 point, spike and 2 does. Lots of small bucks this week, but I just cant fill my doe tag. All I see is racks, I guess thats not a bad thing. I had a boatload of turkeys around me all morning as well, I'll be after them very shortly. Weather looks iffy tomarrow, last day of archery is Saturday so I'm thinking of hanging it up until the gun season.