It Can't Rain All The Time! |
The title is a saying that I use to remind me that things will get better after you go through some rough times. I have been after a "Muy Grande" whitetail buck for many years without any luck. Actually, I have had some luck, but it has mostly been bad luck. However, I keep my broadheads sharp and my shooting abilities honed because I knew that one day, the moment of truth would arrive. After three close opportunities in the past three years to harvest a mature trophy buck and a Gold Medal Axis, I new my luck had to change. I also know that I couldn't fulfill my dreams without my continual efforts.
I have learned many things from my quest to harvest a P&Y quality whitetail. From the numerous articles that I have read and tips from successful hunters, I have learned some important issues for continual opportunities. All successful hunters, that take P&Y quality animals every year, always mention these important factors:
*Watch your scent control
*Never hunt a stand with bad wind, don't educate the animal you are hunting
*Be able to make the shot when it counts
and last but not least
*You have to hunt where they live
Which brings me to the story that I am going to share with you today. I was given the opportunity to hunt on two good leases this year. One is in Webb County, which is located in the Golden Triangle in South Texas, and the other is in Shackleford County north of Abilene. I had a tough decision to make, but I had some very pressing family issues that helped make my decision for me. I would be hunting with close friends on the Dawson Conway Ranch north of Abilene.
Pre-season scouting with my good friends on this lease revealed some monster bucks that I have only seen in deer magazines and on television shows. In an area that no one was hunting, we saw several "big boys" ranging from the 120's to the mid 150's. Needless to say, I set up shop in that area of the north pasture in July and started feeding. It wasn't long before the trails were starting to appear and even wearing the ground out with tracks and droppings. Boy, I couldn't wait until opening weekend! However, back in June, my wife and I were blessed with a son. Along with him, came some major complications before, during and after his delivery. Hunting season was, without a doubt, the farthest thing from my mind as we spent the next few months with doctors getting him healthy. As September rolled around, we were given a clean bill of health for him and we couldn't have been happier. He was growing fast and his camo onesies were not fitting him anymore. In my eyes, no lottery ticket, deer or elk could ever compare to having a healthy family, especially my children.
Anger Management
On September the 28th, opening morning found me going to my stand on the south pasture because it looked more promising. It had four major trials and a nice rub. As I arrived early in the pre-dawn moments, I noticed that the cows had destroyed my new feeder and it was on the ground. The feeder was so badly damaged, that I began wondering if these cows needed some anger management classes. The morning passed with only a doe and a fawn coming to investigate, but there was no feed for them to munch on. My heart was broken because I was really looking forward to opening morning. You wouldn't have known it because I only got three hours of sleep the night before. Back at camp there were three does and one large boar at the skinning rack. We told our morning stories during our breakfast feast. We then proceeded to stand a borrowed feeder in my south pasture location to get it going again. We went back to camp where we shot our bows and prepared ourselves for the evening hunt.
I went to my other stand on the north pasture where we had seen some good bucks. Again my mind was filled with anticipation. It was so hot that the deer were looking for Gatorade to quench their thirst. Movement didn't begin until just before dark. With about twenty minutes of daylight left, I turned and looked behind me and saw a really nice buck just thirty yards away. He was about to descend into the draw that I was next and gave me enough time to score and age him. He was definitely a shooter buck that would score close to P&Y requirements. He disappeared into the draw as two smaller bucks came in to feed. I backed out of my stand after dark with renewed hope and excitement after seeing such a beautiful animal and watching him disappear into the setting sun. The following morning couldn't come fast enough. I went to the same stand hoping and praying that the biggest buck that I have had within bow range would return. As I waited for first light, the vision of that buck was replaying in my head over and over again. The image was of a mature buck with a stout body and chocolate colored horns.
Another look at my trophy from the field. This buck scored 131" P&Y
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On The Board...Finally!
This morning was the longest 45 minutes that I have ever waited in the darkness anticipating dawn to come around. The feeder sprayed its mixture of corn and soybeans at 7:03 am and a higher level of anticipation was being felt. Suddenly, in an instant, I see a big-bodied deer materialize just five yards in front of me, but to the left of my lane. It is him! It is the big boy from the night before and he is crossing in front of me. As I raised my bow, I prepared to stop him with a bleat when he hit my shooting lane. As a God given gift, he stopped in my lane at a distance of 17 yards. He looked towards the feeder for a short moment and then stared in the direction of the draw. By then, I was already burning a hole with my pin on his vitals. In what seemed like slow motion, I processed my shot and the 100 grain muzzy lazered its way through both lungs. The hit sounded like thunder and the buck took off like the roadrunner being chased by the Wyl E Coyote. Seconds later I hear the buck crash and knew that my "Muy Grande" was just moments away. After waiting the proper waiting time, two minutes I think, I decided to go look for my arrow. I ran to it like a ten-year-old child running to the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.
The arrow was completely covered in blood, but I found no bubbles and little blood on the ground. Negative thoughts went through my mind, but after replaying everything in my mind, I was confident that I had done everything correctly and the shot was good. I waited another ten minutes before looking for him. I didn't find much blood, so I walked in the direction that I heard the crash. I only traveled twenty yards and saw a brown spot in the tall grass with horns sticking above the grass. There lay my "Muy Grande" buck! I feared the typical ground shrinkage, but he was even bigger than what I thought he was. With the morning sun now peeking over the hill and the rays of sunlight glistening off his antlers, I sat next to him completely in awe as I admired such a magnificent creature. At that moment, I realize how blessed I really am. All the rough times that my family and I have gone through these past few months have turned around with the health of my new baby boy and my first monster whitetail buck. Sometimes life just comes together and everything works out in your favor. I feel it is these tough times that make us better human beings if we learn from their experiences.
From me to you, just remember that no matter what hardships may come your way,
"IT CAN'T RAIN ALL THE TIME!" |
