10/16/09 – Eaton County, MI
Without warning, the buck stepped out of the woods and into the bean field at 6:45 p.m. Wind and traffic noise from the adjacent highway had muffled his approach and already he was only 25 yards away. I hit “record” on my video camera and slowly raised my bow into shooting position. At 17 yards he stopped to rub his pre-orbital gland against some overhanging limbs and paw at the ground, flinging fresh dirt behind him. Finding the ground not suitable for a scrape, he continued north. I drew my bow back and gave a couple mouth bleats in hopes of stopping him. He was stopped broadside at 12 yards when I released my maxima hunter carbon arrow. The arrow disappeared into his chest cavity and the buck kicked his hind legs into the air before running back into the woods. Thinking the hit was good, I waited 15 minutes and slowly climbed down the ladder stand. The arrow had passed through the buck and was buried in the bean field. Bright red blood covered the entire shaft and fletching. A good sign indeed. The blood trail was fairly sparse but the bright red, bubble-filled blood gave me confidence I had a solid lung hit. I found the 8 pt. about 75 yards from where I had shot him. A double-lung pass through, my favorite hit.
I was honored to harvest this buck and can’t wait to get back out in the woods.
Good luck out there.
