November 14, 2015
Location: Western Oklahoma
Time: 3:44 P.M.
Wind: 20 MPH SSE
Temperature: 59 Degrees Fahrenheit
Moon: Waxing Crescent
Pressure: 30.17 Holding
I've always said bowhunting is a roller coaster ride, and this morning's hunt proved this point once again.
We did everything perfect. We had a plan. We executed it. I followed my scent routine to the letter, dressed in the field and got into my stand well before dawn started to peek. Sometimes, sadly, even the best laid plans don't workout the way you hope.
I had two coyotes come in right off the bat. Both dogs were on the brink of my scent stream, but my Ozonics system in combination with my Sitka Elevated II clothing helped me fly under their nasal radar. Then, minutes later, he appeared. I caught movement on the ridge top across from me, and coming down the side was the buck I'd come to Oklahoma for. He was big. He was beautiful. Unfortunately, though, he was working his way downwind of me.
He'd been in my wind for more than a minute (40 yards away and zero shot opportunity), but then his senses kicked in and he ran, blew and ran some more.
Sick? Yep, that pretty much says it all, but at the same time I'm thankful. Too many times as bowhunters we focus on all the things we do wrong. I'm going to choose, at least in this case, to focus on all the things I did right. The plan was perfect -- the wise old brute just picked a path took him right into my wind.
What now? With only a few days to hunt, I'm choosing to stay after this giant 8 point. Yes, he winded me, but I'm hoping with the rut starting to kick he will let his guard down one more time.
This evening I opted to change stand locations -- still on the same property -- just a few hundred yards away in a beautiful wooded bottom. I want to give my other spot a break for an evening and probably a morning. Scott does have a few pictures of the buck back in the area I'm perched in this evening, but he's been much more regular at the other locale.
Staying after it!
