Elkhunter1 Report post Posted November 11, 2012 As the clock wound down to B-day, "BOW Day," I found myself getting antsier and antsier to get out in the field with bow in hand. Every week I was out scouting and checking my trail cams, (see posts in trail cam pics). I was seeing nice bucks and a lot of them but I knew there was bigger bucks in the area. One week before the hunt I checked my cams one last time and got this shot, my jaw dropped as I reviewed the pics. The alarm goes off and I jump out of bed, rush to get ready and out in the field. I spent all day glassing and hiking only to find most of the "nice" bucks I had already found. As the sun started to set on my last glassing session before the start of the archery season my mouth not only dropped but it bounced, twice! I found the biggest Coues I had ever laid eyes on and he was in a good canyon that I hadn't seen many hunters in. I watched him bed down as the light of the day faded in to the night. That night was the most restless night since the opener of my bull Elk hunt back in 95. I looked at my clock at least two dozen times before I just got up and got on CWT.com. Two hours later I was pulling up to my spot and found another truck already there. After parking a little farther down the road I went back to talk to the other hunters. After talking to them I realized they were after a different buck on the other side of the canyon, satisfied that neither party would interfere with the other I returned to my truck, unloaded my gear and started the short hike to my first glassing spot. A short 10 minutes into glassing light I found the big boy with a small buck just 300 yards from where he bedded the night before. 20 minutes later I found myself sitting there with no buck in sight as he dropped down into the bottom where I couldn't see. During the rest of the morning as I moved from one spot to another I spotted 15 other bucks, none worthy of my arrow as I focused on the giant. After making it 3/4 the way up the canyon I stopped to glass. Glassing for over 45 minutes I finally located the little buck that accompanied "Big Boy." He was standing under a Mesquite tree all the way back at the entrance to the canyon, five minutes later I found the buck dreams are made of bedded under a tree. I formulated a tactical plan to get me next to a bush about fifty yards from Big Boy, it was 10:39 AM. My plan was to circle around to the left and drop into a ravine that would take me right to the bush I wanted to get next to. I finally made it to the bottom of the ravine and I find my self standing less than 80 yards from a feeding doe. I knelt down and waited about 20 minutes. When I stood up she was gone. I took four steps and she walked around the bend in the ravine and bedded under a bush 15 yards right in front of me, again I waited. After 10 minutes of this I started to toss pebbles at her in an effort to get her to walk off. I finally hit her in the head before she jumped up and trotted off up the canyon. Ten more yards and I stepped on the fawn that was with her. Finally I was at the big oak tree where the plan was to drop my pack and sneak in the final 100 yards. 15 minutes later I was in sight of my target spot with good wind and plenty of time to get the final 40 yards done. I knew once I got to that bush there was no going forward as the cover was no more, that spot was it and I had to make the shot count. As I reached the bush I could not see the buck, was he gone, did I spook him, or did he just move? The shall buck was still standing under the tree I found him under. I raised my binos up to look , was he still there? As I looked he raised his head, YES he was still there, now the waiting game started. As I waited I nervously ranged the bush in front and the tree behind him several times, he was at 55 yards. 12 minutes later I drew my bow as he stood up, he was slightly quartering towards my as I let the arrow flyit was 1:42 PM. The report and reaction of Big Boy told me the arrow found its mark. I heard him crash seconds later. It was the most painful 20 minutes of waiting before I could start the tracking. I found my arrow right under the tree he was under, it had blood on only four inches of it with no indication there was a lung hit or any other vital organ. With no blood trail to fallow, I tried to fallow his tracks. I was able to track him about 100 yards with absolutely NO BLOOD. I spent the rest of the day and the next looking for Big Boy with no success. I tried to get another shot at one of the other bucks without any luck. Every time I put a stalk on the smallest buck in the group would pick me off and the stalk was over. On the last day I could hunt I was in the same position as day one. I was in the back of the canyon and the bucks were in the front. After dropping my pack under the same Oak tree I started the final stalk, 20 yards into the final 100 yards it started to rain. I used it to my advantage to get about 30 yards from the small bush the two bucks were under. My eye glasses started to fog up when they bolted out from under it, in a flash they were gone and I was soaked. I hope August treated yo as well as it did me. I had several stalks with two very close calls and the one disappointing, heart breaking, and totally gut wrenching afternoon. I can't waite till December to do it all over again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jim Report post Posted November 12, 2012 Great writeup on your story sorry about the buck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigorange Report post Posted November 12, 2012 Better than being at work...good luck in December. Maybe we can get out there together at least once before New Years... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elkhunter1 Report post Posted November 12, 2012 Better than being at work...good luck in December. Maybe we can get out there together at least once before New Years... Brad will be taken at least the first weekend off maybe we can get together then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjhunt2 Report post Posted November 12, 2012 Great writeup Stephen and I hope you continue to get in to them in dec. Hopefully this time it will all come together. TJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elkhunter1 Report post Posted November 13, 2012 Great writeup Stephen and I hope you continue to get in to them in dec. Hopefully this time it will all come together. TJ That would be great but that unit is closed in Dec. Have to head to another unit. They will waite until Jan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLW Report post Posted November 13, 2012 sounds like you had a blast! sorry your buck got away.. that sucks! I bet you can't stop playin that over and over in your head! I have to hand it to ya for the hot n stalk! It is just too dang hot! don't get me wrong I stop to spot on the way home from sitting the blind and have made plenty of stalks but it sure takes a lot out of you when it is hot! I guess I'm gettin old! LOL! good luck coming up! more bucks come out of the woods and the stalks are awesome with the cool weather! one of these days it will come together for me. sounds like you got it down! James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elkhunter1 Report post Posted November 14, 2012 thanks for the kind words everybody always do have a blast out there. you know the old saying the worst day hunting is better than the best day at work. you can't get bucks like that if your boots aren't on the ground. I hope you all have much fun hunting as I do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
'Ike' Report post Posted November 14, 2012 Wow, those are great.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
