One of the hardest feats in hunting is targeting an individual animal. Whether you're hunting deer, elk, turkey, or bear, the difficulty increases significantly when you focus on a single animal. This precision requires extensive knowledge, skill, and patience.
The Start of the Season: Scouting the Bucks
One year at hunting camp, we observed two impressive three-year-old eight-point bucks frequenting a red clover field adjacent to a state forest in Scio, New York. The area had significant hunting pressure, adding to the challenge. I decided to focus my efforts on scouting and attempting to shoot one of these two bucks. However, the early part of archery season was disappointing, with only a few sightings of the bucks after dark in the clover field.
Reconnaissance Scout
With the rut fast approaching, I conducted a reconnaissance scout by taking my shotgun and going for a walk, combining grouse hunting with scouting. During my walk, I discovered two distinct rub lines at different elevations along the same ridge. Some of the rubs were so impressive that I began fantasizing about having one of those bucks mounted on my wall.
The First Encounter
On November 1st, I set out with my climbing stand and bow to a point where the wind would carry my scent off the ridge. After first light, I grunted twice on my grunt tube and immediately heard crashing from down the ridge. One of the eight-point bucks was running straight at me. Unfortunately, before I could draw my bow, the wind betrayed me, and the buck abruptly turned and retreated. Although I was crushed, I formulated a new plan to get closer to his bedding area for my next attempt.
The Near Miss
The following weekend, I went in extra early and contemplated climbing a small red oak tree but decided against it, thinking I might be too exposed. Shortly after legal shooting light, I heard a deer softly walking in the leaves. As soon as I saw his rack, I drew my bow. He was walking down a trail twenty yards from my stand but turned quartering away at the last second, obstructing a clean shot. My arrow sailed harmlessly under his heart. Had I climbed the small oak, he would have been ten yards broadside.
Persistence Pays Off
I saw the buck two more times before shotgun season opened but never got a clear shot. I was certain the "orange army" of hunters would kill him on opening day, but there was no sign of the big buck. On Thanksgiving Day, I drove two hours to give it another try. Guessing he might be using a bench along a steep ravine, I set up there. It was cold and crunchy as I walked the half-mile back to the ravine. I sat on a log just above where I thought he would travel and had my friend Anthony watch an upper trail. Shortly after daybreak, I heard what sounded like a deer making a scrape. After an hour of silence, I saw movement from where I heard the sounds. It was him.
The Final Shot
I saw his main beam and shouldered my gun, waiting until he was completely broadside fifty yards below me. When I squeezed the trigger, the buck mule kicked and headed straight down into the ravine. I slowly approached and found blood in the snow, leading to a painted tree trail. He had only gone fifty yards and expired on a flat spot that prevented him from sliding to the bottom of the ravine. My persistence finally paid off. The harder you work for something, the more rewarding it is when your efforts bear fruit.
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