My Last Chance Coues

[Gr8 White Jr]

This has been one of the toughest early archery deer hunts I have experienced. It was definitely a roller coaster of highs and lows through out the hunt. After my girlfriend, Angie, AMAZINGLY shot her buck the second evening of the hunt I had the rest of the hunt to concentrate on getting a buck for myself. I hunted every weekend sitting my treestand morning and night. Almost every sit produced deer but never any bucks. It was a long season of watching does walk right under me wishing that a decent buck would come by. The only buck that I saw was a young and dumb forky that I could have shot from the road on the way home Sunday of the second weekend. Not wanting to shoot a small deer and especially off the side of the road I elected to pass and leave the “freebee” for some road hunter. The last weekend of the hunt I had four days, Friday through Monday, to try to get a buck on the ground. I sat my treestand both Friday morning and evening and then Saturday morning with the same results, nothing but does walking by. I was really discouraged and needing a change of pace so Saturday evening I went to a different area and did some still hunting. I just walked around very slowly and quietly hoping to bump into a buck. Well that was a bust as I didn't see a single living thing. I guess my still hunting skills just aren't quite up to par with Angie's. Hahaha! Sunday morning, again wanting to do something different, my friend Justin, his son Dillon and I all went to a different area and glassed for the morning. We saw about fifteen deer, four of them being bucks. One of them was a nice 3x3 that I would have definitely been happy to put my tag on. We watched the bucks for over and hour hoping they would bed down so I could put a stalk on them. Well, they never did bed down before topping over a ridge and out of sight. We moved and repositioned ourselves to where we could see the opposite side of the ridge in hopes of relocating the bucks but we were never able to. It was a good morning and just a nice change to actually see some bucks. Later that evening I decided to to give it one more try and sit my treestand. As I hiked in to my stand I noticed that there were acorns all over the ground near my stand and many of them were chewed up. The game trail that I set my stand over was littered with more deer track and chewed up acorns. I had a new confidence as I climbed into my stand. To my disappointment, just as before I saw one doe for the entire evening. After it got dark I climbed out of my stand and changed out the memory card in my trail camera before hiking out back to my truck. It seemed like a longer hike that night as I walked out thinking “I can't believe the hunt came and went so fast and tuned out to be as disappointing as it did.” I was okay with not getting a deer, after all Angie shot one BY HERSELF off the ground and I couldn't be happier and more proud of her. I was just wishing that I could have had a little excitement myself during the hunt. I made it back to camp and was contemplating not going out in the morning. I had no plans to sit my stand again but I couldn't decide whether or not to go glassing again in the morning or whether or not to just sleep in, brake camp and head home. As I was trying to decide what to do I got my laptop out of my truck to look at the pics from the memory card I pulled from my camera. I was blown away by what I saw. A forky and a 3x3 were on camera over and over again. I sat my stand, morning and evening, everyday that I hunted for three weekends and never saw a buck. The one evening and morning that I decided to try something different is when the bucks decided to show up. Unbelievable! Saturday night and Sunday morning both the bucks were there. I knew I probably bumped them earlier that afternoon while I was headed to my stand and that is probably why they didn't come in on my last sit. I decided that I had to go sit my stand in the morning and give it one last try and try to kill the 3x3. As I was getting my gear together for the next morning hunt Dillon came over to me and asked if he could go with me in the morning. I told him I needed to think about it. It was my last chance and I really wanted to go by myself so there would be less movement, less noise, less scent etc. but I knew Dillon really wanted to go with me. After thinking about it for about a half hour I told Dillon to get together all the cloths that he was going to wear in the morning and bring them to me. He did and I sprayed down all of our cloths, pants, shirts, jackets, socks, boots, hats, EVERYTHING inside and out with scent killer and left them hanging over a downed log all night. 3:30 AM came quick and Dillon and I were up, dressed and in the truck by 4:00 AM. We made the short drive from camp to where I park and hiked down to my treestands. After we got nestled into our stands we sat in the dark and waited with high hopes for it to get light. It was an extremely windy morning and I was nervous that the wind was going to keep the bucks bedded late into the morning. Thankfully this wasn’t the case. At about 6:00 AM I looked through the thick trees in front of me and I could see the forky come up and over the hill about 50 yards away and headed in our direction. I got excited hoping that this was the same forky I had on camera and was praying that the 3x3 would be with him. Sure enough, my heart started racing as I watched the 3x3 come up and over the hill right behind the forky. They were both headed in our direction and went right into a thick patch of trees that I couldn't see through. I whispered to Dillon that the bucks were coming. I took my bow down off the hanger and waited for the bucks to come out of the other side of the thick trees they walked into. I waited and waited but they never came out. Then Dillon whispered to me that he thought he saw them walk away the opposite direction from us. We waited patiently. After about 20 minutes of not seeing the bucks I put my bow back on the hanger and relaxed and continued waiting. Another few minutes passed by and I spotted the forky back up on the hill he originally came over. He was looking straight in our direction. I was certain that they winded us. The wind was blowing 90 degrees to my left and the bucks were in front of me 50 yards and to the left maybe 20 yards. I could only see parts of him as he was feeding around on the other side of the thicket of trees. He kept stopping and looking in our direction. Then he disappeared again and I could not see either of the bucks but Dillon said that he could still see them from his angle. Dillon and I were in the same tree but I was about 5 or 6 feet higher. This went on for another few minutes or so, Dillon would see them but I couldn't and then I would see them but Dillon couldn't, back and forth until neither of us could see the bucks. As we sat waiting we had about 20 turkey walk down the hill behind us making all kinds of noise. The turkey passed very close in the thick trees and moved on. Shortly after the turkeys were gone Dillon whispered to me “don't move, the bucks are coming.” I looked but still could not see the bucks from my angle. I waited and then I could see movement through the thick trees. I looked through my binos and could see that they were slowly feeding in our direction and the buck leading was the 3x3. If the bucks continued in the direction they were headed in they would pass by at 23 yards directly to my left but I was nervous because that is exactly where the wind was blowing. I kept thinking that they were going to catch our scent long before he got into my shooting lane. There was one beach ball size hole I could shoot through further out but the buck would have to be just perfectly lined up for me to have a shot. If he was a foot higher or a foot lower on the hill I would not have a shot at him through the hole. I told myself that if he walked just perfect and lined up in that hole that I was going to take the shot there instead of waiting for the closer shot and risking the bucks catching our scent. As the 3x3 approached the shooting hole I could see that he was on track to be perfectly lined up to present me with a shot. I took my bow back off the hanger and ranged through the hole. 39 yards. Perfect! My heart was beating out of my chest and I started shaking pretty bad. The buck had another 10 feet to go before I could shoot and he was feeding very slowly so I turned my head away and leaned against the tree. I looked away from the buck and took some long deep breaths through my nose and out my mouth, telling my self in my head “get a hold of yourself and make it happen.” Amazingly that helped big time and I calmed down quite a bit. I looked back at the buck and his nose was just entering into the shooting hole. I drew my bow and waited for the buck to step into the hole. He took a step forward and as I settled my pins behind his shoulder he bent his head around to scratch behind his ear with his hind hoof and was completely covering his vitals with his head. That gave me a few seconds to consciously think about my form, my grip and my anchor point. Check, check, check, everything perfect! The buck finished scratching and brought his head back around in front of his body and continued feeding. He was 39 yards so I held for 35 to compensate for the angle and in anticipation that he would jump the string. I held my pins on his vitals as he stepped forward with his leg closest to me completely exposing everything behind his shoulder. I followed through with the release and watched my arrow as it was on its way. The buck dropped hard at the sound of the shot and I thought for a moment that my arrow was going to sail right over him. That thought was ended by the loud sweet WHACK sound of my arrow hitting the buck. He spun around and ran disappearing over the hill 10 yards from where he was standing when I shot. Dillon immediately started telling me “you got him, you got him!” We were both so excited and practically jumping up and down in our tree stands. I told Dillon that we needed to stay quiet because I wasn't sure of the hit. It looked to me that when the buck spun around the arrow was hanging out his neck on the opposite side. Dillon disagreed and said “no way man, I saw it, you shot him perfect and the arrow was hanging out right behind his shoulder where my dad always tells me to aim.” I wasn't sure so I wanted to wait a while even though Dillon kept telling me “he's dead, that buck is dead!”. I sent a text to Justin and to Angie letting them know that I had just shot the 3x3 and told them to come and bring my frame pack. Dillon and I stayed put until Justin and Angie got to us. They really came quick and got to us exactly and hour after the shot which was perfect timing to start tracking. There was LOTS of blood and it was full of bubbles. We fallowed the blood trail for the short 60 yards until I saw the most wonderful sight, my buck piled up down the hill. He made it about 100 yards total including the last 30 to 40 yards that he rolled down hill. Words can't explain how happy I was to walk up on that buck. Dillon was right about the hit, it was perfect entering high and tight to the left shoulder and exiting low behind the right shoulder. Double lung baby! Everything that morning was text book perfect! Angie found my arrow only 10 yards from where the buck laid and very surprisingly it was not broken. I couldn't be happier with this buck especially after such a slow hunt to pull it off at the very end. I am SO GLAD that I let Dillon go with me. This was such an amazing morning and to have Dillon there with me to share it with made it that much more special. Thanks D for coming out with me, you were my good luck charm little buddy! Thankfully Angie wore her Coueswhitetail shirt for the pictures because I forgot mine back at camp. After pictures we cut the deer in half and started the hike out in the rain. What a great way to end a hunt. Thanks to Justin and Angie for helping pack out my buck and all my gear and a HUGE thanks to Dillon for coming along and hunting with me. As always thanks to Amanda for such a great site where we can share our passion and thanks to all who stuck with me through another one of my long write ups! Haha!

 

-Tracy

 

 

Me with my trophy!

 

 

 

Angie and I. Notice Angie sporting her Coueswhitetail.com short.

 

 

 

Dillon and I. Thanks again D!

 

 

 

Justin, Dillon and I.

 

[Kaffer62]

Those pics do not do that buck justice! Congrats again brotha and thanks for bringing him by the house to get a up close look!

[tjhunt2]

Thanks for posting your story Tracy. That was a good read and a beautiful last minute buck to end the season. How much does Dillon charge to sit in the tree with ya? I might want to pay for his services. lol Tracy, because you decided to let Dillon tag along is why the hunting gods blessed you with this buck. I totally believe that. Way to go Dillon and thanks for sharing Tracy. You definitely deserve that buck after all the hard work you put in.

 

TJ

[200"mulie]

congrats on sticking one!

[loco4coues]

congrats! Thanks for sharing and taking us along on the hunt. Great buck!

[bobbyo]

Sweet buck congratulations!

Bob

[daryl_s]

I always really enjoy your write ups. All the details make it play out like a movie in my head. It takes a lot to stick it out like that when things are going tough. Way to hang in there and get it done. I couldn't help but think of your story from last year and what you went through to recover your buck. Must have been nice to find him so quickly this time. Congrats on a beautiful deer.

[AZwest16]

Great write up Tracey and congrats again on your buck.!

[Mikea81]

Great story and nice buck!

[270wsm]

Awesome write up. That's proof that hard work an patience really does pay off. Congrats on your hunt

[Pine Donkey]

Tracy,

 

Thanks for taking the time to make such a nice write-up. Congratulation on your well deserved buck.

[WISH I was on the MOUNTAIN]

Thanks for posting your story Tracy. That was a good read and a beautiful last minute buck to end the season. How much does Dillon charge to sit in the tree with ya? I might want to pay for his services. lol Tracy, because you decided to let Dillon tag along is why the hunting gods blessed you with this buck. I totally believe that. Way to go Dillon and thanks for sharing Tracy. You definitely deserve that buck after all the hard work you put in.

 

TJ

 

+1. Taking kids hunting is where its at. Congrats on a nice buck!

[girlygirlhunter]

Baby you deserved that deer and you put alot of time and effort into getting it! You even took time away from your hunt for me, Thank you! Congrats sweety and I already can't wait til next year! Hopefully Jackson can have D's same luckyness out in the field!

[bow.hunter8971]

nice buck tracey and like always heck of a write up congrats very awesome

[gotcoues]

Great job on the write up T. Thanks again for letting D tag along, I had a feeling things would go your way. Way to drop the hammer on that buck