September 15, 2011

Opening day of the Indiana Urban Zone Archery Season.  My father was able to go along with me on this hunt to run video for me.  We arrived at our location (Hendricks county east of 267) for an evening sit.  The wind was wrong for our other stands so we sat the farthest west stand we could to avoid blowing anymore sent then we had to through the woods.  We had a NNE wind and we were located in an oak cluster on the S edge of a 1/16 acre fall/winter food plot that is tucked back in the woods.  I had to bring an extra stand and hang it for the camera guy.  Once we settled in and got all our gear situated we shot a quick intro to the hunt and kicked back.  Around 5 o'clock we were discussing something I had just read on facebook that was posted by my cousin, first mistake, and as I looked back over my shoulder to the W there stood a 130-140" 4-5 year old 8 point at 20 yards.  Stupefied I froze and whispered for dad to get the camera on him, but I was so quiet that he never heard me.  He only realized something was up when I began to reach for my bow.  At that point he had turned and walked behind a large honeysuckle bush, if he continued he was going to walk out broad side at 15 yards, but he didn't, he nibbled on a leaf, looked around, took two hops and vanished into 8 feet tall wild sunflowers and rag weeds.  He vanished almost as fast as he appeared.  Around 6:50 a lone doe began working her way through the oaks picking at scattered acorns on the ground.  She walked directly to the base of our tree and decided the dark blob above her at full draw, trying not to accidentally release an arrow that surely would have hit her between the eyes, was not there the day before and began to give me the famous head bob for the next 30-45 seconds.  She finally spooked to 10 years and gave me the shot I had been shakily holding at full draw for.  After getting the ok from dad he had her in the camera I released the first arrow of the 2011 season.  She jumped and kicked to indicate a heart shot and bolted away.  We high fived and celebrated shortly and quickly got back in game face mode.  I knocked another arrow and got ready in case the ghost buck came back.  Of course he did not, so after dark we descended to the ground and began the blood tracking.  The new T3's made an easy track job even for a red green color blind redneck like myself.  We loaded her onto the "new" '86 electric club car, transformed into the new hunting buggy and drove back to the truck.  Opening day, one down and fresh meat in the freezer.  Couldn't have asked for anything better, except for the 8 point to return.  Middle of this week looks promising as the rain should stop and the wind will switch.  I will most definitely be perched over looking the secret plot in hopes of catching up with the "Ghost"... stay tuned!
-ASMS