A Deerhunt In Progress - 2005

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Double Kicker Buck Hunt - Day 5 - Banging Heads

The morning hunt was buckless.

This afternoon I brought my tripod to the Dougble Bull blind so I wouldn't have to set the camera down to shoot. The first visitor was a small spike buck and it went straight to my water tube and drank and ate some of the plants growing near the tube.  

Two sets of antlers in the tall grass caught my eye. Two sixers looked things over and came into the area.

A larger buck walked up from my right and the most aggressive six point approached it the sixes and looked right in its face. The new buck set his ears back and the sixer dropped his head.

It was the buddy buck that travels with the Double Kicker buck. It walked on by the six point and went to face down the other sixer.

Another buck's antlers stuck up over the tall weeds and grass. I didn't need my Nikon binoculars to see it was not the Double Kicker buck.

The aggressive sixer stiff legged his way toward the new buck and the other buck kept his eye on the sixer.

The new buck, an 8 point, moved up and caught the sixers antlers.

The sound of the antlers rubbing and hitting was loud as the two bucks shoved at each other.  

The 8 point got the upper hand and then left the sixer standing alone.

Things were happening quick. The Double Kicker buck's head appeared at the edge of the woods and looked the area over for a few minutes. Then he started toward the other bucks.

Once again the aggressive six point went to meet the new buck. The Double Kicker buck set his ears back and looked down at the sixer.

Sensibly, the six point backed out of the way.

The Double Kicker walked in my direction and I checked him with the Nikon rangefinder, 24.5 yards. I stayed behind the tripod but carefully picked up my BowTech. I wanted him a few yards closer and if he did I was ready.

More antler popping and clicking! The six and eight were at it again.

They shoved, twisted and worked their antlers together. But I was not the only one their scuffle got the attention of.

Taking a few steps, the Double Kicker walked closer to them. I noticed his ears go back. Apparently he didn't like this. He was still close to me and put the Nikon rangefinder's cross hairs on him and clicked it, 25 yards.
(This is a cool picture and I sized it for your computer screen so you can see it larger. Sizes: 1024x768 or 800x600 or 640x480) 

As the two bucks postured at each other the Double Kicker took the steps I needed ... but the wrong way. Ears back and head down he went for the sparring bucks. 

The sixer saw him coming and bolted away. The 8-pt was surprised by the charge.

But not so surprised that he couldn't get his feet in gear. He fled into the tall grass with the Double Kicker at his heals. They stopped for a minute and then Double Kicker charged again and they both disappeared into the woods.  

The gray buddy buck walked by my blind. The NIkon read 14 yards as I took this picture. His rack must have had some damage on the left side. That leaning brow tine sure makes him recognizable.

The deer left me -- sitting alone until dark -- with my heart beating and what I'd just seen playing over and over in my thoughts. Normally the buddy groups have broken up by now, it's half a month overdue. I need to get some shooting done.