I haven’t written a Saturday, Inside the Frame post in quite awhile, so I figured I might as well do it now.  For one, it is helping to alleviate the feelings of deer despair I have lately, and for two, it is a way to remind me that I can actually kill deer every once in awhile.

The buck in this particular picture was taken a few years back.  You can definitely tell that by taking a look at my nephew in the picture.  He is ten now, so, by taking a look at him, you can get an idea that a little time has passed.  I shot this buck on a property we used to hunt and the story is actually a pretty good one.

I was setup – on this particular evening – in a stand that is still one of my favorites of all time.  It was situated on a strip of woods that acted as a natural funnel for the deer.  And directly next to this strip of woods was a huge cornfield that butted up to some incredibly tall grass that the deer liked to filter through as well.

I had just spoken to Jeff on the radio – told him how incredibly bored I was – and that I didn’t think it was ever going to get dark.  I slipped the radio into my pocket, and it wasn’t 30 seconds and I heard a large twig snap to my left.  Knowing that something was headed my way, I instinctively grabbed my bow and got ready.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a shot happen this fast in my life.  I went from being bored one second to having a deer 10yds in front of me the next.  The buck was walking just inside the first corn row, and although he was only 10yds away, he had no clue I was anywhere around.  I let him pass by the stand until he offered the perfect quartering away shot, and I let the arrow fly.  The buck actually whirled around, and headed back in the direction he came.  He only ran about 50 yards, and then stopped in the tall grass.  Of course the grass was so tall, that I could only see his rack.  I watched intently, waiting to see which way the buck would head, when his rack disappeared.

I started to fear the worst.  I had visions of him belly crawling through the tall grass, and the feelings of doubt were overwhelming me.  I knew if he did make it much farther in the grass that the chances of us finding him where slim to none.  I wanted to get down right away and check my arrow, but my cousin, who managed the property at the time, instructed me that I better not move until dark.  He was still a little miffed about a buck that was lost a few days earlier, and wanted to be extra cautious before we started tracking this deer.

I waited until my brother, and the rest of guys arrived at dark, and then we started tracking.  We worked out a plan that they would start on the blood trail, and I managed to convince them to let me look where I last saw the deer standing in the tall grass.  Imagine my relief, when as I approached the location where I last saw him, I could make out his form tucked up in the tall grass.

It was the perfect ending to a great night of hunting, and it just goes to show, that a deer can show up at anytime.  I’m glad I was ready and that  it all worked out.

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