I was starting to wonder if the amount of does that had taken up residence on the minerals and had been completely camped out all day long had forced the velvet clad bachelor groups away...
I still had the little guys in groups and solo at all locations but all of the nice ones I saw in June had not even made a night time appearance.
Thats definitely not the end of the world but it sure makes it easier to brave the heat when you have a good reason.
I had made solid plans to take Doug's Son Tyler to one of my best summer locations after a cool looking mature 3x3 that has no brows. He is heavy and cool looking and Tyler was eager to run an arrow through him. That buck seemed to be a sure bet... until my last camera pull before the opener. Tyler and I checked some cams at other locations before hitting the blind for the evening and I was happy to see one of my bucks was back and in daylight at that. He was on the lower end of my list but he was a step in the right direction.
Tyler and I struck out his hunt... I say struck out but we had fun. I know when Doug and I were his age the 4 young bucks he passed would have been in deep doo doo but this is one seasoned vet of a 14 year old so they just kept us entertained...
On to day two... I took My Son Dawson in with me to run cam... We almost didnt go because the wind was not perfect... It was close and looking worse for the upcoming week so I figured it was doable. We got in early. It was flawless and quiet. Once Dawson was all strapped in we only had to wait about a half hour before the flood of does and fawns began their assault on the minerals. Its pretty fun to watch and kept us busy and alert for the entire evening. I really didnt have the highest hopes for seeing the buck as he had only made one daylight appearance and 2 during the previous nights but it was nice just to be out there again with my Buddy for our first hunt of the season.
We were about to throw in the towel. It was getting really dark under the thick summer canopy. I looked over my shoulder one last times and all hell broke loose... I saw one large antler side and assumed it was the buck we were there for but the 3 others behind him made me pull up the binoculars to see who they all were. It was a group I had not see since the 1st week in June and they were coming in like they owned the place. And that big side I saw belonged to one of my top of the list bucks... "The Big 9"!!! Well at least that is what he was last year and I couldnt tell what he would finish up with from the last pic on June 6. It didnt matter because I knew he was a good one and I was getting ready...
Last years trail cam pics of the 9
This year in early June... (Click for vid)
I scanned the others as best I could just in case... I saw a basket 8 and a 120 class 8 and some other big sucker that I couldnt place. I didnt look too long as the big 9 was closing fast. I drew the bow as he went behind a tree and as I came to full draw he was at about 10 yards and facing me... I peeked back and asked Dawson if he had him but man was it dark... Dawson said he thought he did... The bucks were all jockying for position and it made my target jump to the left a little offering me the broadside shot at 8 yards but putting him behind a tree for Dawson. I knew at this point they were soon to hit my wind and I had to act. I said HEY... The buck stopped... I placed what looked like all of my tiny pins on the bottom of his chest... I squeezed and watched that laser disapear behind his shoulder... He ran into the dark woods and I watched his white belly roll in the tall grass... DONE in less than 50 yards!!!
Could not believe what he had grown into when we walked up to him... I thought it looked like he was going to put something on that Right side G2 but I couldnt tell... I didnt know he was going to be a 5x5!!! Good Stuff!!! 152 2/8 is the final gross!!! Vid is not the greatest but the high fives in that tree with my Son cant be beat!!!
Now I can relax...
Hinky came and tried some different angles with us...
