I’ve had an absolutely awesome season thus far, both on my home turf
here in Central Texas, and on the Missouri trip with the “Drez”, a
friend who lives in Topeka, Kansas. Here at home it’s been six
weeks of solid action, which I believe is due to a very dry summer and
fall this year. We’re running on only half the normal rainfall,
and nary a drop since May.
The land and the animals that depend on its bounty are taking a big
hit, and it’s apparent that the deer are having to spend more time
looking for something to eat. Forbs and browse are scarce.
Besides the lack of rainfall, we had a non-acorn crop this year.
I think I’ve found three acorns on the ground all season. The few
oaks that did produce a smattering of nuts got hammered as their fruit
fell to the ground. Even the squirrels are looking a little
cagey.
Unbelievable, considering last year it rained like there was no
tomorrow, finishing out the year with twice our annual average
rainfall. The bumper acorn drop was like walking through a marble
factory from one end of the ranch to the other. I keep extensive
notes on my hunts each season, and there’s a huge difference between
this year and last, each a year of extremes.
This year I can see further through the woods, meaning there’s less
foliage on the persimmons, our understory brush. The deer are
moving a lot earlier in the evening than normal too, so far I’m seeing
deer move about 4pm, a solid hour earlier than what I’m used to.
Morning activity is lasting well into mid morning, even on sunny, balmy
days, a definite change in behavior for my deer. And that’s OK
with me. When and where the does move, the bucks will eventually
follow.
So, I get to see plenty of deer when ever I go out, but what have I
done about it, you ask. Well, so far I’ve had 39 does, fawns, and
yearlings, and 9 racked bucks within easy bow range. Of these,
44% are repeats, like the split-eared doe and her two fawns, or, 8 Ball
the wanna be buck.
He’s a nice buck, but is only 2.5 yrs. old. He sports about 100”
of head gear and will make a fine trophy in a couple of years. I
hope he’s able to dodge the autos between now and then, his only real
threat should he cross the highway from one pasture to another.
He taunts me every time I hunt the Meadowgrove, his home turf.
Yet, someone else is challenging him, for I found a rub that he just
wasn’t able to make, too big and too broken up for his size. I’m
now looking for Mr. Big. I did kill a plump yearling doe three
weeks ago. Everything was perfect for putting some meat in the
freezer that morning, it was very cool with a pleasant north
breeze. After 3 1/2 hours of buck hunting she came along with her
two friends. They left without her.
This past Sunday, the 20th, was another stellar day. A new front
delivered a brisk north wind that steadily dropped the temperature
throughout the afternoon. Since I have not been able to hunt
Rogers Ravine (wind direction is key), I decided it was time to, and
try and find “Stumpy”, an old friend who wears a crown of horns unlike
any other buck out there.
He and I met two years ago over at the Finger, as he chased a doe by
me. He was impressive then, and confident in his masculinity as
well. Over a period of weeks I watched as he made the rounds
looking for the ladies.
He had plenty of competition though, and his battle scars prove he has
steadfastly vied for some of the does on the north pasture. Last
year, I really wanted Clint, my younger son and bowhunting partner to
meet Stumpy, but with only a week at home from college and work it
didn't pan out.
Much to my surprise three weeks ago, I watched as he followed a doe
along the ridge above my stand at Rogers Ravine, but on the wrong trail
35 yards out. No amount of calling would lure him over to
me. He seemed very cautious that evening.
I was flabbergasted at how much he has grown in just one year, he
really took on a bunch of mass on his left side 4 pt. antler. The
stump on the right hadn’t changed much. Based on how it grows, I
believe he permanently damaged the right pedicle itself, thus not
allowing for normal growth. Even without a rack on his right
side, he’s quite the brute.
After an hour on stand, at 4:15 I got out the Primos doe bleat can and
gave it four flips over a minutes time, then followed that up with a
series of tending buck grunts. Not three minutes later a curious
button buck came sneaking in to see who was making all that
commotion. Twenty minutes later a doe with her fawn ambled
by.
Then, at 5pm, here he came swaggering down the ridge with the golden
rays of the setting sun gleaming off that beautifully odd rack.
My breath quickened and I gripped the bow in anticipation, for if he
continued on his path he would offer a perfect 15 yard shot.
It
turned out to be 13 yards, and he didn’t have a clue as to what
happened or caused the thump behind his shoulder. He broke the
nock off the arrow sticking in the ground as he spun and trotted up the
hill. He stopped short of the next tree line just 25 yards out,
standing majestically in the middle of a bright rocky bench, looking
intently around him. Within 5 seconds he began to waltz his last
dance in life, a dance with Death himself.
I’m pleased and
relieved it was a quick dance, and that it was on his own beautifully
white limestone dance floor. I pray that my eventual dance will
be as accommodating, for we will all have to face it ourselves one day,
unable to bow out. When I approached, I knelt beside him and
thanked God for the day, and the opportunity to enjoy His
Creation. As I laid my hand on Stumpy’s side and thanked Him for
the bounty I had received, I felt truly blessed. What a generous
God we have.
May you all have a great season, and, a blessed Christmas! -Zano Postscript:
For those of you who know me, I’m sure you’re wondering why I as posing
with a compound bow, for I have only hunted with a recurve since I
began bowhunting 24 years ago. Well, Robert (Hoague - of
Bowhunting.Net fame) gave this bow to Clint, so he could hunt during
his Christmas break from college. Unfortunately, he is not
allowed to have any weapon (yes, they believe his recurve bow is a
deadly weapon) on campus, and, he has no place to practice. So,
Robert stepped in and gave Clint this fine bow.
I decided to
update it with all the bells and whistles including sights, vibration
dampening stabilizer and limb silencers, caliper release, etc.
Having done all that and after shooting 100’s of arrows through it to
get it tuned pinpoint accurate, I decided it would be a nice thing to
“break it in” for Clint. Also, because bow hunters and staff
writers like to tell us what equipment they use at the end of their
stories, I’ll not break the tradition.
Bow: Browning Heat, 60#, 65% let off
Arrows: Easton XX75 GameGetter II, 2216’s, fletched, left helical
Broadheads: Phantom 4 blade, 125 grain
