Nov
18
Written by:
adam smith
11/18/2010 11:13 PM
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The camera & the burlap I got hung in |
What if the deer would've come out 10 yards further down the plot? What if I would've just had my gun already propped on the shooting rail? What if the deer would've kept walking toward the decoy? What if my gun barrel didn't get caught in the burlap? These were the questions running through my mind moments after blowing a perfect chance to harvest a nice 9 pt. Let's rewind…
This past weekend, I had the privilege to sit in the deer stand a few times. Saturday morning didn't offer any luck even though I felt like I was in the perfect setup. I called Clint to see if he wanted to film me hunting over the Tecomate Seed Food Plot on the power line Saturday afternoon. We decided were going to setup a buck decoy and use a rut smoking stick by Tink's. I placed the decoy and smoke stick about 60 yards down the plot. About halfway between the decoy and the stand, there was a fresh scrape on the edge of the food plot. The wind was blowing in our face at an angle, which was good considering the deer should be coming out in front of us. The deer we have been seeing have been coming out close to the scrape or at the very bottom of the plot. It was around 3:30 pm when we finally got situated in the tower stand. Clint and I were whispering what we hoped would happen and just texting people on our phones, trying to kill time until the “golden hour” arrived.
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| The 9 pointer just 5 yards in front of us |
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Since there hasn’t been much rain, the squirrels were making a ridiculous amount of noise in the leaves to our left and right. Around 4:40 pm, the sporadic scampering from the squirrels had ceased and a rhythmic pattern of steps started resonating from the hardwoods to our right. I instantly looked at Clint and said “That’s a deer!” Adrenaline suddenly rushed through my body and heightened my senses. I could hear every twig snap and every leaf crackle as the deer approached. He was walking right towards our stand! As the deer approached the food plot, he was so close that we couldn’t even see him. At this point, Clint and I were so excited that we literally felt like puking. Finally, Clint saw some antlers moving below us. Since I was in the right corner of the stand, I didn’t see the deer until he was a step away from entering the food plot. First thing I spotted was antlers. So I started taping Clint on the leg for him to let me know if it was a shooter. Clint gave me a thumbs up!!! It was game time! The deer was so close we had to be extremely quiet in our movements. I gently sat my binoculars on the floor and started to get my gun raised. By this time, the deer had spotted the decoy and had taken a few steps toward it. Perfect! I was thinking the deer was going to head straight for the decoy and Clint was going to capture the magic. The deer suddenly got spooked. He paused, turning his ears in every direction trying to pick up the slightest noise. I was frozen! I still hadn’t gotten my gun raised. The deer started walking toward the woods instead of the decoy. It’s was now or never! I quietly, but frantically tried to get my gun positioned on the shooting rail. The deer was just a few steps from disappearing into the woods when my gun barrel got tangled in the burlap on the top railing. As I untangled the barrel and clicked the safety off, the deer darted for the woods. BANG!!! “Did you get him!?!” Clint whispers. My heart sank. I just had the greatest opportunity to take a nice buck and failed. I’m pretty sure in my rushed state of mind; I shot over the deer’s back at 15yds! We sat until dark and then got down to make sure I didn’t hit the deer. We didn’t find any sign of the deer being hit. This was the greatest hunt, with the worst outcome, in my life.
The image of the buck spotting the decoy & getting all stiff-legged
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Does in the plot on my dad's hunt |
Even though I missed the deer, I had to show my family this awesome hunt. So when I got home, I played the footage for my dad, mom, sisters, and brother-in-law. As soon as the buck came into the screen, my sister was like I can’t believe you missed that nice buck. Great! Here we go, time for the clowning to commence. Then my dad chimes in, “That deer about licked your barrel!” Now I’m trying to defend myself by describing what is happening behind the camera. My dad said he was going to get in that same stand in the morning. I said that was cool because I could just film him. He said that I wouldn’t have to worry about that deer again if he came out on him because he would “put him to sleep”. So Sunday morning we headed back out to the tower stand. After getting in the stand, my dad couldn’t be still. His back was bothering him and he was on a bucket seat that didn’t have any back support. He kept squirming around and occasionally stood up. By this point I thought there was no way we are going to see a deer. So I just started playing on my phone and started texting people. Suddenly dad whispered “Don’t move! A doe just stepped out.” By the time I get the camera turned on and zoomed down the plot, two more does stepped out. None of these does where on high alert like a buck was with them, so I immediately tell dad to pick one out and shoot. Before he can put the binoculars down and grab his gun, there were six does in the food plot. Three of these does are at least 120 lbs. Dad got his gun on the shooting rail and we pick out which doe he is going to shoot. “Ready?” he whispered. BANG!!! “Haha” I chuckled. The deer bounded off. Dad asks “Did I hit her?” Then you hear me kind of laugh and say “I don’t know”. I started picking on him because that is the first deer I’ve ever seen or heard of my dad missing. For some reason, he placed the cross hairs on top of the does back and shot over the top of her. I was like why would you do that, she was only 140 yards out. Then I realized that was the first deer my dad had ever attempted to shoot with a rifle. We decided to get down and check for blood just to make sure. As I waited for my turn to climb down the stand, I glanced back down the food plot and another deer had just walked out after all the commotion. I started whispering to dad to hand me the gun, but obviously he didn’t hear me. By the time he finally handed me the gun, the deer had run off. Now it was time for dad to get clowned by the family. Luckily for him, it was only mom there. So all he got was, “I can’t believe ya’ll missed those deer.”
Even though pops and I were 0 for 2, those were two of the best hunts I’ve experienced in my life. I have to give special thanks to Mckenzie Scent Fan Duffle Bag, Atsko Scent Elimination Products, True Timber Camo and Tecomate Seed. Without the Mckenzie Scent Fan Duffle Bag and Atsko’s Scent elimination products, I don’t think Clint and I would’ve ever been able to get that close to the 9 pt. To be in a stand that is about 12 feet high and get within 5 yards of a buck like that speaks volumes for these two products. True Timber has great camo patterns for our area and the material is quiet. I will be purchasing more from them soon! Tecomate Seed just keeps bringing these deer in. We haven’t hunted that stand much, but now we have seen 3 or 4 bucks on it and a lot of does. So I highly recommend you guys try these products.
Below is the video of my first hunt
Below is the video of my dad’s hunt
These are 2 hunts I'll never forget!
Adam
14 comment(s) so far...
Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
I guess you weren't lying when you said you had a great blog coming up! I actually got up out of bed to read this blog after I received your text that it was finally posted. What an awesome expirence! A wall hanger walking out in broad day light like that, right under yalls noses! I'm still wondering why he was spooked by the decoy. The buck was a lot bigger then the decoy it seemed. But big bucks get big for a reason being slow and cautious every move they make. Im sure Adam had a great time hunting with his father, as most of us enjoy doing. My father is a quite guy, he doesn't say much about anything. But hunting is a way for us to spend quality time together and get away from the rush at home such as work, sports ect... But once again awesome blog! I like the commentary in the video clips as well. Maybe something for my future videos lol
By Derek5656 on
11/18/2010 11:52 PM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
Oh yeah... it was a fun hunt and I don't think I've ever been that close to a deer in my life, much less that size of a buck! So a big thanks to Atsko & McKenzie's Scent Fan Bag! I couldn't believe the buck got spooked by the decoy. I thought we were about to witness something very unique...I figured he would charge the decoy for being in his area. I don't guess he is the dominate buck in the area or either he's a coward buck! lol! Anyway, I hate the way it ended, but it was still a neat thing to have happen...especially in broad daylight like that. My heart was in my throat the whole time. I was about to jump off the top turnbuckle and body slam the deer. In retrospect maybe I should have...now that would have been a "viral video".
Still trying to learn about all this video editing...some bare with me as some of the transitions are weak, but hey... I'm a web guy. (At least I've got that excuse). We would have posted this earlier in the week if I knew how to edit.
Maybe he'll come back next year and have a better rack.
By Clint on
11/19/2010 12:41 AM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
Look here man, if ya'll upstate boys need some help killin them deer, you just let me know. You coulda jooged that one in the shoulder with my skinnin knife man! Clint, I hope you cut his shirt tail for that one! Alright, enough ridicule of the slack shootin, lol. Adam, that ain't the last deer you're ever gonna miss in you life. Missing is part of hunting. I've had my share and anyone who says they haven't missed either hasn't hunted or is lyin.
On a good note, the rut is on well enough right now that you may not have spooked him much. He may have forgotten about that miss already. One tip I learned long ago too is to always have a hand on your rifle. I keep my hands on my rifle at all times and I keep it ready. I learned in the military that you should be able to raise your weapon and make a well-aimed shot within 3 - 5 seconds if needed. I try to stick to that rule, especially when I'm huntin places with skinny shooting lanes that only present very quick shots. Just my 2 cents...
Another factor to consider is getting a better lookin camera man. That Clint fella ain't the pertiest one in the bunch! Ugly people scare off deer quicker than the Po Po can empty a crack house!! lol
By jdheatmag on
11/19/2010 12:06 PM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
Adam you and Clint did am awesome job with this blog ,man I wish you could had gotten a good shot off but thats huntin.I would go back and continue to hunt that stand,there is one thing for sure he is not the only one in the woods.And the way he reacted to that decoy I would think that he is not the BULL OF THE WOODS! It looks like he hopped off about the time you pulled the triggerthat probably didnt help with your aim,Keep on going you will get another chance sooner or later
By hoot on
11/19/2010 7:53 PM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
Great blog. I feel your pain. I decided to take my new bow hunting yesteray afternoon. I wasnt in the stand 10 mins and heard limbs cracking behind me. Turned around and i was a nice 8 point walking 20 yards to my right. I grabbed my bow off the hanger and stood up. I watched him walk closer and closer and he was about 30 yards directly to my right which is a normal chip shot with my bow. I drew back and let the arrow fly. I used the wrong damn pin!!! been shooting the same distance on my pins for 5 years and my new bow is so fast i only have a 20,50 and 60 yard pin. Shot way over his back and he just stood there. The only problem was my quiver with my arrows was at the back side of the tree with my backpack!! i watched him eat acorn 15 yards from the stand for 25 mins before i could finally be stealth enough to grab another arrow. Once i got my new arrow ready he was walkin away. Once all that happend all i could think was WHAT IF this would of happend. IF only this would of happend. Sucks you missed the 9 pointer. I feel your pain, Missin is never fun.
By Cherawoutdoorsman843 on
11/19/2010 8:30 PM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
I have to say WOW.. I have to say that that is a great weekend. Even though the WeHuntSC team didn't put the meat in the fridge you have to admit great weekend. I know that Adam and Clint put tons of time into these video's and blogs. I have to say that without these things this site would not be as good as it is. I know that Adam missed the buck but this blog is what hunting is all about. I mean when can you spend time with a friend miss a deer, spend time with your dad miss a deer, and still have fun all the same weekend. I think that this blog should be named "For the love of Hunting'. If I had just missed a 9 point I don't know if I could climb back in the stand that next morning. That love is why Adam and Clint put so much time and effort into this web site. I want to say Thanks You for all you have done for the site, and letting me be part of the WeHuntSC team.
By Will (WeHuntSC) on
11/19/2010 10:11 PM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
AMEN!! Will
By hoot on
11/20/2010 10:58 AM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
JD,
The thing I've got going for me is that there isn't a great surplus of people wanting to video other people's hunts so that kind of balances out the ugly-factor that I have working against me. Also, when I go to video we specifically target blind deer. We've got some deer up here that don't see well and can't pick up on my ugliness. I actually think that 9 point had a bad left eye. He winked at me one time when he looked up at me...that's what the ones with bad vision do so I feel pretty sure he was one of them!
By Clint Patterson on
11/21/2010 10:21 PM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
Appreciate the positive feedback on the blog. The tecomate food plot is starting to live up to its hype. I've see about 20 deer on the last few hunts. With a little elbow grease supplied, the food plots are thriving.
By adam smith on
11/21/2010 11:04 PM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
AWESOME BLOG GUYS! GREAT JOB AND ADAM I HOPE THAT NEW NIKON MONARCH HELPS YOU OUT A LITTLE BETTER!
By Gavin Jackson on
11/23/2010 3:38 PM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
Great job on the video guys. My son and I were glued to the computer and he was actually listening to the story. Keep up the good work, I felt like I was watching the Pursuit Channel!
By Brian Hicks on
11/27/2010 11:32 AM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
Appreciate that Hicks. Tell your son I apologize for showing him "how not" to kill a deer....lol.
By adam smith on
11/27/2010 2:19 PM
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
Nice first entry and again, we're glad to have you on board! Can't wait to see what you bring to the site in the upcoming hunting seasons.
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Re: The Hunt of a 1,000 What If's
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