Backstory: I am in the Air Force, and have been stationed at Tinker AFB (OKC) for 19 years. I have hunted private land a few times, but never found a spot I really liked. I have primarily hunted deer back home in East Texas.
This past year, we bought a small lake property on Lake Eufala, which has several WMAs close by. Before the season, I did a little scouting, and found an area I liked. I hunted the area earlier in the season, jumping a couple of does at times when I was leaving my spot, but hadn't seen any bucks other than driving through the WMA.
This last weekend I hunted again. As I was leaving my spot, I noticed a large trail crossing the oil road on the way back to my jeep. I investigated, finding a spot where several trails came together and decided to hunt that location in the morning.
The next morning, I'm sitting against a tree. I can see good fields of fire in front of me, and 30 yards of distance. All of a sudden, I hear something behind me. It's a decent buck, making his way to my left. For those of you that like sitting against trees like me, this is about the worst thing that can happen. In order to get the shot, you have to twist your body hoping you aren't seen while doing so. Luckily, behind me was brush, which is probably the reason I wasn't spotted. Panic is already starting to set in, because I'm having to move around to get the shot. I lift my crossbow, and the glass is fogging up. Now I have to move and wipe that off still hoping he won't see me. I clean it, aim, and shoot. He runs off.
Now panic starts really setting in. Did I make a good shot? There's brush that I didn't see through the scope. I heard a thwack, was that the bolt hitting a tree? I get up, looking to find a starting point so that after waiting, I can attempt to find the buck. I look at the ground finding where he kicked up leaves when he took off. I start trying to find the bolt. I look at every tree in the surrounding area. I finally find it sticking out of the ground and pull it up. Blood. Ok. That's good. I go back to where he took off, and find a splatter a few feet further. I stick the bolt in the ground at the blood, and set a 45 minute timer and wait. In the meantime I text family and friends that I shot a nice buck, and am waiting him out.
After the timer goes off, I go to my starting point and start following the blood trail. I follow it pretty easily for about 20 yards, then I lose it. I start fanning back and forth in the direction I think he was heading. Still nothing. I make it 15 yards from the point of the last splatter, and there he is, 15 yards further. He's done.
I walk up to him, and he's MUCH bigger than I originally thought. I thought he was a good 8, but no.
This is EASILY the biggest buck I have ever seen or killed!
ETA, if someone can help with the formatting, I'm having problems with the pic
This past year, we bought a small lake property on Lake Eufala, which has several WMAs close by. Before the season, I did a little scouting, and found an area I liked. I hunted the area earlier in the season, jumping a couple of does at times when I was leaving my spot, but hadn't seen any bucks other than driving through the WMA.
This last weekend I hunted again. As I was leaving my spot, I noticed a large trail crossing the oil road on the way back to my jeep. I investigated, finding a spot where several trails came together and decided to hunt that location in the morning.
The next morning, I'm sitting against a tree. I can see good fields of fire in front of me, and 30 yards of distance. All of a sudden, I hear something behind me. It's a decent buck, making his way to my left. For those of you that like sitting against trees like me, this is about the worst thing that can happen. In order to get the shot, you have to twist your body hoping you aren't seen while doing so. Luckily, behind me was brush, which is probably the reason I wasn't spotted. Panic is already starting to set in, because I'm having to move around to get the shot. I lift my crossbow, and the glass is fogging up. Now I have to move and wipe that off still hoping he won't see me. I clean it, aim, and shoot. He runs off.
Now panic starts really setting in. Did I make a good shot? There's brush that I didn't see through the scope. I heard a thwack, was that the bolt hitting a tree? I get up, looking to find a starting point so that after waiting, I can attempt to find the buck. I look at the ground finding where he kicked up leaves when he took off. I start trying to find the bolt. I look at every tree in the surrounding area. I finally find it sticking out of the ground and pull it up. Blood. Ok. That's good. I go back to where he took off, and find a splatter a few feet further. I stick the bolt in the ground at the blood, and set a 45 minute timer and wait. In the meantime I text family and friends that I shot a nice buck, and am waiting him out.
After the timer goes off, I go to my starting point and start following the blood trail. I follow it pretty easily for about 20 yards, then I lose it. I start fanning back and forth in the direction I think he was heading. Still nothing. I make it 15 yards from the point of the last splatter, and there he is, 15 yards further. He's done.
I walk up to him, and he's MUCH bigger than I originally thought. I thought he was a good 8, but no.
This is EASILY the biggest buck I have ever seen or killed!
ETA, if someone can help with the formatting, I'm having problems with the pic
