For the first time in quite a while we have had a real rut in our area. I have gotten to observe a lot of deer behavior during archery season but could not close the deal. Still I saw deer almost every time I went out. Yesterday was the last day of the first Illinois gun season. I had not gone out on Saturday because it was in the 60"s and winds were hitting 40 mph. No time to be in a tree. Yesterday I went out after lunch and sat on an ash log (**** emerald ash borers) at the edge of what we call the strip. The strip is a small field 50 yards wide by about 150 yards long and was in corn this year. On the west is a fence row and our neighbors wood on the east is a thicket of honeysuckle and green briar about 30 yards wide the leads to a larger field. All the fields were in corn this year.
Around 3:00 I saw antlers moving in the thicket. I can called and grunted but couldn't get the antlers to come my way. I went back to my log and took a still life picture.A little while later a doe walked by on the neighbors side of the fence. I grunted to her got a tail flick but she was doing quite well thank you very much. I had must turned around with my back to the wind (out of the west) when I heard a small sound. The ash log I was sitting on had a small sugar maple growing up through it and the leave broke up my outline. I glanced around and there stood what would have been an 8 point had he not lost a fight. He was missing one antler that was freshly broken. He was coming with the wind to his back and was licking his nose and looking at me. I eased the Bisley up as he stepped forward a few more feet. The hammer cocking sounded like a car door slamming. I took aim and made a heart shot in him. The boolit took off a piece of heart and left a hole through both lings and the heart. He flopped over 20 yards away. Load was a NOE Ranchdog 265 RNFP wdww over 22 of 296. I regularly shoot this load out to 100 yards and on occasion shoot it at detergent containers at 200 yards. I guess the practice and load development paid off this time. Oh yes the range of the shot was 10..... FEET. I have never had a live deer that close to me on the ground. So here is a pic of the unfortunate little guy.
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I found a new one from a member here
