late archery

[arniejl]

Never really been here for the hunting forum, but figured what the heck, maybe somebody would read it.
Been hunting near Riffe Lake for blacktail deer. I have taken 9 record book Roosevelt's elk with my bow, and that includes a 14 year hiatus, in which I did not really hunt at all, if so, just a couple seasons for rifle deer. So, my goal is a record book archery kill blacktail buck.
This is my third season of targeting a big buck. I found where he lived two season's ago but have failed to see him, that is, until last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. I hunted "my hillside" and the only thing that I had going for me was that it was windy. I have tree stands out in Capitol forest, but the drag of sitting there all day drives me crazy. I see 50 times more deer on foot, but as we all know, getting a shot at a big blacktail, on his turf, is a lot of work and even more luck. So, with the wind, I had a chance to move silently.
Around 10:00 a.m., I had not seen a deer, yet, but that all changed. As I was creeping, sidehill, but working my way up towards the ridge top, I saw movement above me, 45 yards, a doe crossing the steep slope from my left to right. Virtually seconds later, she was running at me, and from my years of hunting elk in the rut, I knew that this could only mean one thing, something was chasing her, and I knew it was a buck. I leaned a little to my left to see up through the trees, and there he was, 40 yards out, but no shot as there were trees and over hanging limbs between us. Although I got a good look at his antlers, I could never count points as he was constantly moving in circles, definitely still in the rut. His horns, while not a monster, I believe, were plenty good enough to make Pope and Young. He was about 16 or 17 inches wide and probably about 14 inches tall. To make the book, a poultry score of 90 is needed, and I am sure, as long as he was not just a two point, that he would make it.
The waiting game was then on. I had to get closer as they were feeding away. Much like when I hunt elk, I waited for their heads to all be down, feeding, and then I would stalk. I had to get up the hill about 20 yards to get by some brush and I knew that it would be very difficult, at best, to accomplish that. I maneuvered over a big windfall and made it about 4 yards when I saw another doe, one that I did not account for, originally, checking me out. Much like elk hunting, too many eyes up there and I was busted.
I went back yesterday, Saturday, and it was loud. Frost and crunchy maple leaves. I knew what I had to do. I sneaked up the opposite finger ridge from where I saw "my buck" last week. And even though it was loud, I paced myself, as not to sweat, as my plan for the day meant that I had to stay dry inside my layers of clothes. I made to to where I had seen my brute, and I plopped my ass down next to a big fir tree. It was 11:00 a.m., and I was bound and determined to wait there, 1/2 mile from the road, for dark, in hopes that something would cruise by me. It was my only chance as the woods were loud.
It never got above freezing. There were frozen rain pellets around when I got there, and there size never diminished in my 5 hours of waiting. I got cold. I had the little handwarmers going and two stuck to each foot inside of my camo Muck Boots. I slept a bit hoping that the day would pass into evening hours. I ate. I watched squirrels chasing each other around and around, but no deer through the early afternoon.
As the woods started to darken, I thought that I had heard a snort, above me and over the finger. I passed it off. 5 minutes later, I thought that I heard a snap, same place, and over the finger ridge. I really thought that one sounded suspicious, but figured that it must have been a squirrel.
I looked at my watch and it was 3:41. I had made it through the cold. I almost gave up countless times as the thought of my pick up heater sounded pretty cozy. I challenged myself in one hour intervals. I will stay 'til two, then I am gone. When two showed up, I would say that I will stay until three. Now, it is 3:41, getting dark, and I am leaving at 4:00.
I turned and looked back up where the noise had come from 10 minutes earlier, and there was a shape that was not there before. A brown deer sized shape. I strained to see it and I had forgotten my binoculars that morning on my dresser. I seen it's face, tell tale of a buck in these parts, it was white. I stood up and tried to grow horns on him, finally, they appeared, a decent two point, 11 or 12 inches wide and equally as high. Although I want the record book brute that I had seen, I still need to kill my first blacktail buck, and this was going to be the guy. He turned and walked down the hill, just like I had visualized when I choose this place to sit. I had three trees picked out to range from, one at 23 yards, one at 35 and one at 44. They were nearly in a row, and when I ranged them, I picked those in hopes that these deer would stick to what I had thought, and use that finger ridge when they moved.
As he was moving down the hill, 65 yards, 60 yards, 50 yards, I kept thinking how lucky I got to pick this spot and to know enough about these particular deer to have the feeling that this is what they would do, and he was doing it. Eventually, he was 40 yards out and walking right directly at my range trees and all was good, almost. I started shaking. My legs went berserk, shaking violently and out of control. I felt fine. I was calm. My heart rate was slightly elevated and I was thinking clearly. The buck stopped between two trees at 40 yards and locked on to my epileptic posture. I was kind of smiling because I did not know if I was having buck fever, or if the cold and all that sitting finally took it's toll. Whatever it was, I could not stop shaking. My legs were wavering like a ten cent umbrella and they were sending waves through my arms and my bow. The buck is in a spot where he could not see my face but I knew that he could see the cam of my bow, in the fading light, shaking all over the place. I knew, right there, that I could never shoot this deer, even if I had the chance.
10 minutes passed and he finally decided that it was too risky to walk those last 10 yards that I needed for a clear, broadside shot. He turned and walked away back over the finger ridge, and he was gone.
I laughed it off, grabbed up my belongings, and raced out of there in an attempt to make the road before needing my headlamp. My truck was a welcome sight, but now, with sweat pouring off of me, it was not as welcome of a sight that would have thought two hours ago when I was shivering like a little baby.
A day has passed and I wonder if I did, indeed, have buck fever. I have shot at a lot of animals, with my bow, and have had a fair amount of success, but I have never quivered violently. If I had buck fever, then so be it. It would not bother me that much except for the fact that it was just a two point that I shook over. I guess time will tell, when I get another opportunity.
Next weekend, I will be back to my hill and maybe, then, I can add to my collection of animals that I have been fortunate enough to harvest, through the years.

[The Quadfather]

That was quite a story. I have never hunted before, but I really enjoyed reading that. I somehow didn't realize how much patience it took to be out in the bush hunting.

[Mossy]

I love bowhunting, unfortunately I haven't had any luck since I've started a few years ago. I had a couple chances on does this past week but I'm trying to hold out for a buck.
That was a great story, I definately know about the shaking, it's just different with a bow.

[Rollin with Rolland]

I saw six on opening day early season, but no shots. thus far i have been skunked as well, but have high hopes for the late season. man, pretty tough with this cold, but you gotta do what you gotta do. It would be nice if we could get and inch of snow or something.....

[mav186]

I shook just like that once too...but it was from some bad chili I ate over at Roosevelt!! Anyhoo...great story Arnie.

[Trent Hale]

I'm hunting the Winston for Elk and have seen elk every trip down. While driveing up on the 1100 line I came across a nice black tail stoped walked to the back door and grabed the bow and shot a nice 5x4 with brow tines. The deer just stood there at 10 yards and let me have a great shot. He went about 25 feet and fell dead. Elk on the other hand have troted off at every opp. Still tring for the elk haven't had one yet. Great story, here in Kitsap are some big bucks,living on Lk Flora rd I see them all the time not many hunters out here at all. Buck fever will pass after that first big buck. Good luck.

[arniejl]

Wow, great feedback. Glad to see that there are fellow hunters on here. I missed a two point at 14 yards last year, Yeah, yeah, yeah, don't ask why, lol. It was a perfect storm of mistake's that I made, but I guarantee that it was not due to shaking. I have taken two Roosevelt's with my bow that were big enough for Boone and Crockett, and never, ever, did I shake more than one would think. It could have been that this desire and time and expense has just added up to me getting nervous, but, I am proud and going to blame it on the cold, lol.
Trent Hale, I am not too lucky, it seems. That is awesome that you managed to kill that deer. Sometimes, I don't know why, things like that happen. I always seem to work and work to get my animals. Even when I rifle hunted. I would drive by clearcuts. I never enjoyed glassing them and, to me, I had to be in the woods. I have seen big bucks from the road, or better yet, in the road, but have not been able to get one like that, yet.
Roland, with you there. I am more hopeful for 3 or 4 inches. Two years ago, when I first jumped this big guy up there, I was in 12" of snow and the wind was blowing so hard that the snow would fall out of the trees and make a complete whiteout with every gust. Finally, that day, I ran out of the woods when I heard like the 4th tree blow over.
Bowhunting these critters is awesome. I am from Forks, originally, and hunt up there for elk. I only hunt the early season then turn to blacktails, after that. This is a challenge but I know that if I work hard enough, the perfect storm, in my favor, will come, eventually.