Fourm needs some hunting content so I thought I'd post my January archery buck.
Opener I missed him in his bed at 58 after a crawl. Arrow deflected on a piece of grass in front of him that I didn't see. Clean miss.
Next AM before light an epic battle occurred below me. Couldn't wait to see what they were. The guy I missed the previous day got whooped and was being escorted out of the area. He bedded on the top of small ridge. Guy who kicked his butt was a big old guy with crabs all around. He got a pass.
Solo stalks are fun with no spotter but I had a hunch he'd stay for a bit after his whooping. I started crawling up the slope stalking the bush he laid under. Stalk took 2 hours to get to 30. I got to 30 from the bush and no deer or sight of him. Figured he'd left but I've been burned before thinking I was done. So I stood up slowly and still nothing visible. Crept up standing.
At 22 yards a big rack was now visible from a bedded deer. I couldn't see him as his face was in the dirt. I only saw him after he woke. So he's at 22 yards bedded, doesn't know I'm there. No play. He's gonna have to stand and walk left or right three yards for a window.
4 hours later after I watched nothing but his rack move, and listening to him groom himself, he stood, stretched, and started feeding. Shot was 28 yards. He went about 150 and bedded. Found him dead in his bed an hour later.
Sorry for crappy photos. He's only 17+" inside but he's tall and forky and heavy and scores well.