Sometimes Mother Nature smiles on you

[Pine Donkey]

For the last several months Mark (MJE1) and my son Garrett have worked hard in preparation for the archery season. These two work harder to harvest their animals, than anybody I know. The area they have concentrated on is the one where they each killed a buck last January. It is about a 3 ½ mile pack from where the trucks are parked. They have made the trip in and out many times, hunting sheds, checking cameras, setting up ground blinds, and glassing. Their blinds are less than 100 yards apart, but due to the thick mesquites, they may as well be a mile apart. They have pictures of several large bucks, scores of javelina, troops of coati, and the occasional lion.

 

 

In the predawn chill of Saturday morning, they made their way to the blinds; it was time for all the hard work to pay off. Surely each of those big deer would soon make their way past the blind. As everybody who ever sat a blind knows, sometimes the animals just seem to disappeared. This was the case for Mark and Garrett…until 3:05. Mark heard a strange, soft noise. Was that a bird? Maybe that calf that they have pictures of? No, it must be something else. Then the lion appeared. Mark clipped on his release and slowly drew his bow. Just before Mark released the arrow, the big tom caught the movement and bolted, the arrow flew harmlessly behind the cat.

 

Excited, upset, and disappointed, Mark sent a text to Garrett telling him what had just happened. The two exchanged several texts of versions of what could have been… Now fast forward to the next morning. When Garrett arrived at his stand he first pulled the SD card from the camera. As he scrolled through the pictures he could not believe what he saw. There, 15 yards out his front window, at 3:06PM was the same lion Mark had missed. How did it sneak by unseen? It turns out that the lion walked past Garrett as he was texting Mark about the lion. Sort of Mother Nature’s way of saying “up yours”

 

 

With that little snafu behind them, surely the rest of Sunday would go much better. At least that was their state of mind until about 1:30. All of the sudden Garrett heard a commotion in the distance. A sharp noise followed by “son of a b%&$#”,” What the %#$&”. Mother Nature again decided to show them that she has a great sense of humor. She sent a 100+ inch buck walking past Mark’s blind. He was ready, came to full draw, and just as he settled the pin behind its shoulder, Marks 3-legged Primos chair broke, rolling him backwards onto the ground. Needless to say, the buck was spared.

 

Sometimes hard work pays off, and sometimes it just gives your hunting buddies a good laugh. Mark and Garrett, I can hardly wait to see what you post in reply to this, but I am sure we will all enjoy it. (yeah yeah I know, you were out hunting while I was at home watching football). I am also sure that you and Garrett will soon be posting pictures of large bucks you took from this spot, maybe even a lion. Until then, hunt hard, and thanks for a good laugh.

 

[coues hunter]

Got me laughing! Sounds like they have a sweet set up. Hope it all comes together for them both.

[bonecollector]

Now thats some tough luck!

[azslim]

supposed to be hunting not playing on the phone.....that'll learn em.....

[308Nut]

Goes to show you that no matter how prepared and air tight a plan is, sometimes unforseen occurances just happen. One thing is for sure though, your buddies who prepare religiously will still always have better odds and much more success than those who dont. Kudos for their efforts and preparation.

 

M

[Non-Typical Solutions]

Awesome story, good to see others having some fun with their hunts. It ain't always about the kill although that does put a smile on when it gets to happen too.

Keep up the hard work, it will pay off and check out the warranty on that chair, maybe you can get a refund

Better luck next time.....

[Browning'sCustomMeat]

Darn cell phones....maybe thats why I didn't see anything on Saturday.....I was facebooking from the tree stand! LOL!!!

[Mrs125coues]

Now that's just too funny, from our side anyway. Hope for success to both of them as they have obviously worked hard at it. Thanks for the pictures and post.

[CouesWhitetail]

Great story, that will provide some great memories

[elkhunter]

What happened to the arrow once the chair broke? Did it get flung into the air through the blind or stay on?

[ACW]

Cool story! Ive had a chair or two break on me, but never at such a bad time.

[Chef]

Love the story.

The topic title does good also!

[mje1]

I will have to say that was a very fun weekend, Garrett and I have been chomping at the bit to get into the blinds this year its been tough waiting a year to Hunt. Its nice filling youre tag in Jan. but its also a bummer.Robert, Garrett and I wont give you anymore grief than we usually give you we know that the honey do list has gotten very long and besides Garrett did mention on one outing that his mother still had something in her purse that she hadn't given back to you yet. As for the arrow it never left the bow, Im really suprised I don't have a hole in my Blind. The chair was actually a Cabela's, don't want to give Primos a bad rap. I really think it was my wife sabotaging my chair since last years Buck and lion are still at the taxidermist, she wouldve killed me if I wouldve come home with two more to deliver. I think the lion heard the chair thats why Im blaming her and of course she just grinned. Were ready for round 2 this weekend, atleast I think so that starring at the trees all day waiting for something to move is tough. 2 Deer and 1 lion on Sat. and 2 Deer on sunday that makes for a very long day but it will pay off soon.

 

Mark