Doesn't get any better

Alright here is how the weekend hunt went down . It's a long story . It all started on Friday morning . There were some permits returned for this WMA . I work with my oldman (A/C tech ) I told I needed to be on my PC to try to pickup a permit , then I would start the work we had . By a miracle of God , I picked one up . He didn't want to go so I called my buddy Danny he had to work . Called a newbie and he said yea . Great I didn't have to dish the whole cash for the weekend . We were on our way Sat 5:00am . I told him the game plan . Game plan was ride around and spot and stalk . Saw a big buck as daylight came , but the fog rolled in and he disappeared as the fog cleared . No biggie it's early . Kept riding around saw a couple small legal buck but not really what I was looking for . Does were like ants . Ten oclock rolls in and no stalk yet . I was in back of the bed of the truck . We were passing a drainage ditch and I noticed a big black hog . I tapped on the roof and as the truck came to a stop I drew back and whacked a big sow . She ran bout 70 yards and disappeared in another drainage ditch . I kinda knew she fell there soo I decided to give her some time . We went a little further and saw a small six and he took of , no chance at all . 30 minutes later we came back to where I had shot the sow and went straight to where I had seen her last , there she was laying ,sweet hog down . Sow 158lbs , 22 yard shot , 70 yard recovery . I was happy , first morning and scored , and as some of you know , hogs there ain't was it use to be .

Sat afternoon brought more does and no bucks . Wait a minute 10 minutes before light we got to where I had seen the big one from the am . There were 5 does and a 6 or 7 baskett rack , he'll do . Stalk was on , I got 40 yards from the does , no Navy Seal crawl this time . I used a high dogfennel field to my advantage . When I looked the son of a gun wasn't with them . He was bout 90 yards away . But slowly he started making his way over , but I was running out of light fast . And I did run out of light and he only got 80 yards from me , oh well tomorrow will be another day . Sun morning went straight to the same area and on our way over I saw a big body deer feeding in a drainage ditch and it looked big . I picked the binos and all I could see was horns , Holy Crap !!!!!!!!!!!! . But he was gone in seconds , Darn !!!!!!!!! . Back to driving around and burning gas . I decided to show the newbie to do a little slipping through the woods . We saw 8-10 does within 30 yards of us and no bucks , man I though the rut was suppose to be in full swing . Well back to driving 2 more small bucks and called it quits at 4 pm . Mon morning I put all my gear in the truck and headed to my oldmans house which is where my work truck is at . I asked him if we had much work he said just a few calls . No problem I can nock em down quick . Was done by 11:30 sweet and all the sudden the cell rings and some lady had her A/C broken but she couldn't be home till 4 pm . I told my oldman , tell her if she wants to sleep with air tonight she better be home by 1pm cause we had other appointments (deer hunting ) . Well got her cooled and headed back changed trucks and picked up my son and we were on our way by 2:30 . Got there at 4:15 , checked in and game on . It got real dark with clouds and then the rain came . I love hunting after rain showers . Me and my boy were in the bed of the truck and enjoying a nice afternoon .


By now it was 6:30 and no bucks insight . Ok this is the good part FINALLY . We were getting near a trail we could drive through . But in the past 3 scouting trips I hadn't seen a single deer in there . But I knew they were there . I knew this would be the last spot I could check before dark would end the hunt . Oh well what the heck it's been a great afternoon with my son and dad . As we headed down the trail a spot a deer moving through some high weeds . Tapped on the roof and glassed him , HORNS !!!!!!!!!! and legal small rack but it's my last chance . Stalk is on , check wind and headed his way . As soon as I got to 80 yards wind changed and blew right at him . It was all over and I was getting pissed . Got on the truck and my oldman was saying what happened , don't wanna talk about it . We went another 1/4 mile and I noticed 4 does about 160 yards from the truck . I told my son and he saw them . By now I was really diappointed so many does and still buck less . I saw another doe by herself and glassed her and when I adjusted the binos behing her I saw a rack , and it looked big . I told my son to be quiet and jumped out of the bed of the truck . I told my oldman leave the truck running even if it takes an hour . This keeps the deer fixed on the noise of the engine . Well this is gonna be a Navy Seal stalk . Low grass and not much cover . Hands and knees here we go . I was about 160 yards from them , wind was perfect . Made my way to 90 yards and started getting that feeling and I getting nervous . This was my last chance and I couldn't blow it . The 4 does kinda left , and it was him and his doe . Ok only four eyes that's good . She was making her way over to a flafpond he followed but going away . I kinda raised up to peek and I see another set of horns and another looking my way . Luckilly I was behind a small clump of grass and I froze . The stare down began and by now I was trying to keep it all together asking God to give just one chance . Finally the other buck dropped his head and was making his way over to the doe . He was a smaller 8 , the other one looked like a 9 but small frame too . But I was determined to shot the bigger body and more mass buck even if he had less points . They moved behind some palmettos and I quickly made my way over there . When I came out to look there heading away . I had left my grunt call in the truck so I decided to burp like a grunt . 3 burps and that got his attention . But quickly he went to town on a small shrub . I took that opportunity to move to the other side of the palmetto , I though I would have better cover . I was pretty much in a kneeling split in maybe foot grass and nothing infront of me . The doe noticed something and she started moving in to investigate . By now I was shaking and I picked up the range finder and ranged a cabbage palm infront , 24 yards . My hand was shaking like Parkison's . He noticed she was moving away and he followed about 10 yards behind . All kind of things were going through my mind and I was shaking . She got to the palm tree and began what seemed an hour stare down , but she couldn't figure out what that ball in the grass was . He was at 30 yards and looking but he was fixed on her . Sweat was coming down and the more she stared the more nervous I got . Finally he put his head down and I drew back , she jumped and he finally fixed his eyes on me . I knew once I released he would dropped to run so I put my 30 yard pin on the bottom of the body to compensate for the drop which I knew he would make . I released and that's when he dropped to the ground and the arrow sailed over him . He quickly bolted out of there and I almost threw my bow at him . My only chance at this great buck and it was over . Quickly I got settled and knocked another arrow and he was about 80 yards and doe behind . I don't know how I managed another burp grunt and she stopped at 40 . He realized she wasn't coming and he started making his way back . He was facing me , I ranged him at 60 yards . I have been practicing all prior week 40,50 and 60 so I knew I was comfident . I drew back and all the shakes went away and I was back in business . I held my 50 yard pin at the bottom of his jaw and squeezed the trigger and the arrow was heading perfect and all I heard was the hit and he high kicked and ran 40 yards and started going in a circle . Seconds later he went backward and fell , I quickly got up and was trying to knock another arrow and couldn't knock it from the shaking in my hand . Finally knocked it and made my way over and he was laying there , so I reshot him just incase , but he was dead already . From the shot to when he fell was about 20 seconds . I couldn't believe it , I had killed a great buck . At that time I let out a scream that anyone within a mile would of heard ( I got him ). I was shocked and tears were coming down . Then I looked infront of me there stood the smaller 8 at 30 yards . Only one deer per permit so I was done anyways . He ran off and I thanked God and ran over to where my son and dad were . I could barely speak with all the emotion . My son saw tears coming down and he asked me if I was alright if I had hurt myself . I told him no buddy I just shot a great buck and couldn't stop my emotion and tears from coming down . My oldman gave me a hug and we went to where he was laying . My dad told me he knew I was gonna kill him . More hugs and high fives , pics and once again I thanked God to let me enjoy his wonderfull creation which I love with a passion . Long story hope you'll enjoyed it play by play . BTW the smile could not be wiped off , I don't know where it came from , LMAO . 7 PT , 138 lbs . 2 small kickers bout 3/4" on the base .