The breaking light found me back in the previous afternoon’s stand. Once again, before the sun fully rose, I caught a flicker of movement approaching. At first glance I didn’t see antlers. Could it be the big boy being lead back by the doe? No such luck. As the deer turned his head, I saw the basket rack of the young buck. After he approached, he checked both mock scraps, working them over himself for good measure.
Just as he began to fade from sight, I looked around to be sure no other deer were in the area. Feeling confident there were none, I hit the grunt tube a couple times. Momentarily freezing, the young buck scanned the area. Returning, he circled my tree before departing again.
It never ceases to amaze me how accurately deer can peg the location of a sound. Two grunts was all it took for the young buck to be drawn within less than a foot of my stand. Though I certainly didn’t need any convincing, his passing over my trail three time also reaffirmed to me the worth going the extra mile to cut odors.
Unfortunately, the big boy didn’t do so. So, with the high temps shutting down movement, I headed back to camp. Tyler wanted to get a couple stands up for his last groups of hunters. Knowing a good spot we had skipped over, we headed out and slapped up a stand.
With that out of the way, along with the daily ritual of flinging arrows and another shower, I headed for the bedding area stand, deep in the woods. Though I thought I might catch a little earlier movement being in so deep, it was once again approaching dark when I saw my first deer.
Two does came busting out of the bedding area, followed by a true brute of a buck. Though it had a cleaner rack than the buck from the afternoon before, it was even more impressive.
There was no doubt that this buck would make Boone & Crockett.
The does busted out a good 100 yards out from me. Still, as the one turned and came scampering toward me, I couldn’t help but get my hopes up. Unfortunately, the one that mattered headed away, leading the incredible buck with her.
Sure, I sent a snort wheeze, a buck grunt and a couple doe calls after him, but I knew he wouldn’t respond.
Leaving my stuff in the tree for the next morning, I snuck out without having educated a deer. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
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The breaking light found me back in the previous afternoon’s stand. Once again, before the sun fully rose, I caught a flicker of movement approaching. At first glance I didn’t see antlers. Could it be the big boy being lead back by the doe? No such luck. As the deer turned his head, I saw the basket rack of the young buck. After he approached, he checked both mock scraps, working them over himself for good measure. 
