To say that I was having a poor year I think would be an understatement. I have hunted every weekend since the 2nd week of September and have seen a grand total of 3 deer. This Friday I arrived at my cabin and since daylight savings time is off I thought I would hunt behind my cabin to save time driving somewhere. I got my gear ready and the treestand on my back and off I went. When I arrived at my usual tree I couldn't tell exacty where it was. Several trees had fallen down and the landscape looked very different. After wondering around and looking at what appeared to be some movement on a trail I started searching for a tree. Then from behind me I heard a noise and here comes an 8 pointer headed directly at me. When I turned he stopped in his tracks. So I crouched behind a stump and fallen tree. I had to get my release out of my pocket. When I was ready I slowly stood up and the buck just kept looking to his right, I knew then he was waiting for a lady friend. I picked out several openings in the direction he was looking and sure enough he started going there. When he would get close to an opening I would grunt but he always stopped in brush. Then his girlfriend showed up. Now she wasn't happy with me and wanted to leave. Of course the buck follows. So I did too. I went parallel to them. They then started heading directly away from me and I followed. Then the moment of truth, the buck turns broadside with me having a small shooting window. I put the 30 yard pin on him and let it fly, YES I DID IT! I shot the tree next to him. The arrow must have hit one of those branches I was shooting thru, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
So now after that I am finally up in the tree that I chose. I heard bluejays making a racket and in these woods that can only mean one thing, deer are on the move. So I grab the old trusty grunt call and give it a few toots. I hardly have time to hang up the call and here comes a fork horn headed right for my tree. I hook up my release and stand all in one motion. The buck is 2 steps from where I want him in the open. I grunt and he stops broadside 10 yards. I put the pin on him and let it fly, YES I DID IT! No not another tree, I smoked him right in the chest. He went about 50 yards and layed down and never got up again. This by far isn't my biggest deer but with the season that I have had I was extremely happy. Just being out there and FINALLY having some deer around me was a great experience. I hope to do it again soon.