Tuesday evening’s new location found greatly improved deer movement. (If you just joined us on our hunt sponsored by Bushnell and Remington, check out our two earlier reports, Travel Day and Day 1.)
Things were slow early on, but if you know the secret—mainly trying to eat a snack—you can get a buck to come by. It started as a tired afternoon, and the challenge was on to stay awake. What better way than one of the noisiest snacks known to man, a bag of Fritos?
I had just popped open the bag and started crunching chips when I saw some movement to my left. A nice young 8-point was standing about 60 yards away staring into the blind, trying to decide what all the racket was. While a nice deer, he was only two-and-a-half years old, so we allowed him to continue on his way.
The evening was more eventful, and resulted in sighting four bucks and five does, but none of the bucks were the trophies that Rut & Strut Guide Service is known for.
Wednesday morning found me in a different blind overlooking another rugged draw about a mile above a wheat field. Deer were expected to work their way up from the wheat field and pass by the stand about mid-morning.
Surprisingly, as soon as it was light enough to see, a very large, mature buck passed by. His rack was well outside his ears, and the main beams were impressive. Apparently, however, he was a fighter, as all but one point was broken off on each side. He was a definite shooter if he hadn’t been so broken up, but I decided to let him pass. If he survives until next year, he might make some hunter a very happy fellow.
Tally for the morning was five bucks—all small ones, after the busted up one—and six does.
While I still haven’t had a chance to pull the trigger yet, others in our hunting party have fared much better. Freelance outdoor writer Brad Fenson killed a nice 8-pointer on Tuesday evening, and Gordie Krahn of Deer & Deer Hunting magazine also took a very fine buck. Then on Wednesday morning, Adam Ballard of Remington and Craig Cushman of Hunters Specialties put a pair of fine bucks on the ground.
Deer movement seems to be picking up, and optimism still abounds for the coming evening hunt. But at this point the score remains: Deer – 2; Mark – 0.
Join us again tomorrow for Day 3 action.
