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11-09-2015, 07:05 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 220
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The rut befalls another whitetail
With work being slow this year I've been putting alot of time into hunting. The girlfriend and I hunted as many days as possible for elk until the end of the rut. putting on miles is an understatement. some chances but very hard hunting non the less. Mid october I shifted my focus to a buck I'd been seeing on camera from time to time.
I made up my mind to hunt this buck and only him, unless of course something I couldn't refuse showed himself. I started sitting every chance I got. I dont know the exact count but due to almost no work, and the area he was located, I put more time on stand into this deer than any one animal I've ever hunted. Between some short encounters during bow season and the cam pics I couldn't stop thinking about this buck.
this brings me to last friday morning. I was sitting an old stand on a field edge that has been there since the beginning of time. Its an old welded stand about 10 ft off the ground and i"m sure every deer in the place knows where it is. But its a go too and I had become comfortable sitting it.
I got into my stand a half hour before sunlight, and settled in for an all day sit. Watching the mule deer that frequent the field had my attention and I was quite amused watching young bucks chase does and fight each other. I decided to do a little rattle sequence and see if anyone was interested.
No sooner had I finished rattling, that i noticed the muley does in the field had focused their attention towards the field edge to my right. I looked and realized my target buck was marching in to find the source of the rucous. I raised my rifle, but being taken by suprise as I was, I was a bit shakey. I decided to wait for him to stop before pulling the trigger.
This was my big mistake. He pegged my in the stand, right away, freezing with his vitals behind a tree. I was done. He turned and flagged, leaving faster than he had appeared. I couldnt beleive it. I'd messed up the only chance I thought that I'd get at that deer.
What to do now. Well I made a plan so if this deer did show himsealf again I would be ready. I made a change in stand placement and would sit any chance I got.
Fast forward to last night. I was sitting the new stand watching as the usual parade of muley's and whitetail does made themselves known. I was watching and enjoying the show when i noticed something familier. It was my boy, about 500 yeard out in the field, 20 mins before last legal light, chasing a doe. I grunted to him. nothing. He chased away a Mule buck that was showing interest in his girl. Then bed down.
This was it I thought. I know where he is, and with anyluck he'll be in the general area come morning.
5 AM the alarm sounded. I didn't have the usual amount of snoozing hitting as usual. I was out the door and in the stand by 6:15 AM. 1.5 hours before legal light.
As the sun came up I saw the begining of shapes that looked like deer begin to take shape in front of me. and as the lgiht grew i realized all but one were mule deer.
My buck wasent there. No biggy. Another moring watching muleys wouldnt bother me. Just before legal light I picked up my grunt tube and gave a couple little grunts. and just like that a buck that was in the bush to my left started to grunt and rake trees. so I grunted again, same response, followed by the crunching of footsteps.
It was obvious he was making his way around the back of my stand, to get a look, and a smell of what was making this noise. He circles me, grunting the whole time, andhe did catch my wind. He circled back to leave. I made on more grunt, and this time the mistake was his.
He turned back and for some reason gave me a shot. I took it. And like that it was all over. He went about 20 yards and piled up.
I was overjoyed and sad all at the same time. all this time, all those mornings watching and waiting had come to an end. the hard work had payed off. The chase was over.
He's not my largest but by far my favourite.
(tried to upload field photo's but will not work, will try again soon)
Last edited by Quinner; 11-09-2015 at 07:13 PM.
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11-09-2015, 07:09 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,507
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Congrats. Looks nice in velvet.
__________________
Life's too short to sweat the small stuff.
Aim Small = Miss Small
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11-09-2015, 07:37 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,822
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That's a nice buck. Lucky you.
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11-09-2015, 07:48 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: southern alberta
Posts: 594
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Great buck and story. Thanks for sharing!
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11-09-2015, 07:56 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 9,686
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And the non hunters think its only about the kill. Great buck and story to go with him forever. Congrats.
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11-09-2015, 08:05 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 73
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The story makes me want to go hunting right now! Glad you got your buck man, he's a beauty.
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11-09-2015, 08:27 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Calgary
Posts: 578
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Really nice deer and great story thanks
__________________
Don't retreat - just reload...... 
Alba gu brath! |
11-09-2015, 08:47 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Stony Plain
Posts: 1,146
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Not my catch phrase but "I love it when a plan comes together "
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11-09-2015, 08:57 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 833
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Great buck! congrats! He will look great in the man cave!
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11-09-2015, 09:01 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: CNP
Posts: 3,762
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Very nice buck, enjoyable read.
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You are what you do, not what you say.
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11-09-2015, 09:07 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 2,965
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Great reward for the hours put in. Congrats on a fine animal
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11-09-2015, 09:07 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Medicine Hat
Posts: 3,216
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memorable buck for sure - congrats !!
__________________
Participating in a gun buy back program because you think that criminals have too many guns is like having yourself castrated because you think your neighbors have too many kids...
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11-09-2015, 09:25 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 743
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Great story!
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11-09-2015, 09:39 PM
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Morinville
Posts: 1,312
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Great story, Great pics, Thanks for sharing!
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11-09-2015, 09:50 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 87
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Well Done |
Super deer man, way to go.
I keep hoping for an opportunity to harvest one like that...
Cheers
Greg
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11-09-2015, 10:16 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: WMU 303
Posts: 8,501
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Nice deer!
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11-09-2015, 10:24 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: AB
Posts: 6,639
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Great story and awesome buck,congrats!
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11-09-2015, 10:50 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: RMH
Posts: 662
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great story and great buck, thanks for sharing
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11-10-2015, 02:21 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Beaumont
Posts: 3,390
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Congrats!
__________________
The kill is the satisfying, indeed essential, conclusion to a successful hunt. But, I take no pleasure in the act itself. One does not hunt in order to kill, but kills in order to have hunted. Then why do I hunt? I hunt for the same reason my well-fed cat hunts...because I must, because it is in the blood, because I am the decendent of a thousand generations of hunters. I hunt because I am a hunter.- Finn Aagard
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11-10-2015, 05:38 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 938
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Great work for a nice Buck !
Dog_River
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11-10-2015, 05:55 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: West Central Alberta
Posts: 6,672
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Congrats on the nice whitetail
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11-10-2015, 06:51 AM
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 247
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Good Job
Thanks for sharing the pictures!!! Good buck/Good Job
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let em fly watch em die
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11-10-2015, 06:57 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Alberta
Posts: 273
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Dandy buck. Congrats
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BOBBYDEE
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11-10-2015, 07:02 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,191
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Great write up and Great Buck..I would put the same amount of time in pursueing a character Buck like that to !!
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11-10-2015, 07:07 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 412
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Awesome story and a great end to the season! Congrats!
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11-10-2015, 07:09 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,103
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big buck
Well done! Super nice buck!
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11-10-2015, 08:24 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,011
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Nice looking buck. I like your story and know exactly how you feel.
__________________
You can not live a positive life with a negative mind.
If there world is warming why is there so many new snowflakes?
If we are all equal why are you demanding special treatment?
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11-10-2015, 08:27 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Alberta
Posts: 171
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WT
Stud of a deer !! Congrats and thanks for sharing!
S
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11-10-2015, 08:35 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: AlbertaSask
Posts: 4,183
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Quinner
With work being slow this year I've been putting alot of time into hunting. The girlfriend and I hunted as many days as possible for elk until the end of the rut. putting on miles is an understatement. some chances but very hard hunting non the less. Mid october I shifted my focus to a buck I'd been seeing on camera from time to time.
I made up my mind to hunt this buck and only him, unless of course something I couldn't refuse showed himself. I started sitting every chance I got. I dont know the exact count but due to almost no work, and the area he was located, I put more time on stand into this deer than any one animal I've ever hunted. Between some short encounters during bow season and the cam pics I couldn't stop thinking about this buck.
this brings me to last friday morning. I was sitting an old stand on a field edge that has been there since the beginning of time. Its an old welded stand about 10 ft off the ground and i"m sure every deer in the place knows where it is. But its a go too and I had become comfortable sitting it.
I got into my stand a half hour before sunlight, and settled in for an all day sit. Watching the mule deer that frequent the field had my attention and I was quite amused watching young bucks chase does and fight each other. I decided to do a little rattle sequence and see if anyone was interested.
No sooner had I finished rattling, that i noticed the muley does in the field had focused their attention towards the field edge to my right. I looked and realized my target buck was marching in to find the source of the rucous. I raised my rifle, but being taken by suprise as I was, I was a bit shakey. I decided to wait for him to stop before pulling the trigger.
This was my big mistake. He pegged my in the stand, right away, freezing with his vitals behind a tree. I was done. He turned and flagged, leaving faster than he had appeared. I couldnt beleive it. I'd messed up the only chance I thought that I'd get at that deer.
What to do now. Well I made a plan so if this deer did show himsealf again I would be ready. I made a change in stand placement and would sit any chance I got.
Fast forward to last night. I was sitting the new stand watching as the usual parade of muley's and whitetail does made themselves known. I was watching and enjoying the show when i noticed something familier. It was my boy, about 500 yeard out in the field, 20 mins before last legal light, chasing a doe. I grunted to him. nothing. He chased away a Mule buck that was showing interest in his girl. Then bed down.
This was it I thought. I know where he is, and with anyluck he'll be in the general area come morning.
5 AM the alarm sounded. I didn't have the usual amount of snoozing hitting as usual. I was out the door and in the stand by 6:15 AM. 1.5 hours before legal light.
As the sun came up I saw the begining of shapes that looked like deer begin to take shape in front of me. and as the lgiht grew i realized all but one were mule deer.
My buck wasent there. No biggy. Another moring watching muleys wouldnt bother me. Just before legal light I picked up my grunt tube and gave a couple little grunts. and just like that a buck that was in the bush to my left started to grunt and rake trees. so I grunted again, same response, followed by the crunching of footsteps.
It was obvious he was making his way around the back of my stand, to get a look, and a smell of what was making this noise. He circles me, grunting the whole time, andhe did catch my wind. He circled back to leave. I made on more grunt, and this time the mistake was his.
He turned back and for some reason gave me a shot. I took it. And like that it was all over. He went about 20 yards and piled up.
I was overjoyed and sad all at the same time. all this time, all those mornings watching and waiting had come to an end. the hard work had payed off. The chase was over.
He's not my largest but by far my favourite.
(tried to upload field photo's but will not work, will try again soon)
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Very good write up to go along with your pictures, love it!! Thanks so much for taking the time to take us along on your hunt...Awesome for you that you harvested what looks like a great buck to be putting on the table for the winter meals.
Zip
__________________
"Never be ashamed of scars it just simply means that you were stronger than what tried to hurt you"
"Good judgement comes from experience, and experience...well,That comes from poor Judgement"
"KEEP SMILING"
Zip
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11-10-2015, 08:43 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Alberta
Posts: 3,650
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Beauty, thanks for sharing and congrats on your trophy !
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