12/02/2025
Yesterday’s Crazy Hunt!
Seeing the forecast, I had a good feeling Monday evening was going to be productive. The wind was supposed to die down, and with a winter storm on the way for late Monday night into early Tuesday, I figured the deer would be on their feet. The sun was bright, so I knew that last hour of daylight would be prime time.
I sat for about two hours with nothing but squirrels and birds moving. Around 4:20, I spotted a doe along the woods edge and ranged her at 230 yards. She looked like a solid doe, and I told myself if she came into my side of the farm, I’d take the shot. As I watched her, I suddenly caught movement behind her in the thickets — a rack. I grabbed the binos and sure enough, a buck was trailing her.
I tried a grunt and a doe bleat, but he wasn’t interested in anything except her. My only shot was if she led him to me. When I looked back to check her position… she was gone. Slipped right back into the thickets. He disappeared shortly after. I figured that was it. Honestly thought the calling might’ve spooked her.
Around 4:45 she stepped out again, this time at 260 yards. Shooting light was fading fast — 5:14 was cut-off. She stood there for a bit, then out of nowhere started crossing the field. This was it. If she came to my side, he’d follow.
She came right to my side of the farm… but he was nowhere to be found. I just watched and waited. Finally, he stepped out. When I checked my phone it was 4:55. He wasn’t in a hurry at first, but eventually he caught up to her. Both were on my side, about 225 yards out.
I pulled my rifle up and instantly caught nothing but glare through my scope. Even with the sun down behind the trees, the glare was brutal. I had to shield the scope with my hand just to see. I lined up on him, but he was facing me — a shot I wasn’t comfortable taking. Buck fever kicked in, so I set the gun down to regroup.
While I was getting myself together, he closed the distance to about 200 yards for reasons I still don’t understand — especially with the doe still behind him. When he finally turned broadside, I sent a 140-grain 6.5 Creedmoor his way. He ran about 50 yards toward me and dropped.
The doe panicked, ran around, and stopped at about 150 yards. I sent another round, and she came running right toward me before starting to wobble. My heart told me to finish it quick, so I put one more in her to end it cleanly. Checked my phone — 5:10.
I sat there in the stand, thanked God, and watched the sky go dark.
One hunt I’ll never forget.
