ProBow.com

The Famous Dryden Buck

• abandoned by poachers after dark - November 2003
• 217 7/8 Gross Score, 192 7/8 Net Score B & C
• taken within the District of Kenora near the City of Dryden and can be seen at the Dryden Museum
• taken within one and one half hours drive from our ProBow stands
• typical characteristics for the Boreal Forest Bucks of Northwestern Ontario..... that's Mass
• this is what we're offering you for potential at ProBow.com
• happy hunting............... where ever you may go

• Bucks and Doe figures represent animals seen walking in to stands, on stand and walking out of stands
• The doe count includes fawns
• Diary maintained and kept by Paul Moorey, Owner/Guide, ProBow.com Inc.

• Roly headed home after breakfast. Takin’ care of business. I headed to the pit stands was hunting by 1:15 PM. Seen a fair number of tracks at this spot a few days earlier so thought I’d give this location a go.
• Didn’t have any deer come in all afternoon. Had a chubby bold whiskey jack land on my arrow while my bow sat in the bow rest on my climber. Cute little guy. Wanted to check and see if I was still alive before he pecked my eye balls out. Those ravens can sure pick up the blaze orange on stand. They almost always circle once for a closer look to see if it’s another gut pile.
• Snow really started coming down again at about 3:30. Going to give this spot another go in the morning. Just used the grunt tube, no rattling.

• Frost on the pumpkin today and deep crunchy snow. Headed out with Roly again today with extremely slippery roads from last nights snow storm. Cold clear morning with a big full moon. Hard walking in the crunchy snow. The trip up the ridge is going to be a killer.
• Got on stand a bit late again due to road conditions. Walked in with Roly to the Junction Trail where we head up the ridge. Roly abandoned ship on the ridge stands. The climb just too where we were was enough so he opted for the east field. I headed up anyway to check for aneurisms. The walk in the snow up that ridge was brutal. Made it on stand at 6:45 AM. Had a doe bedded down in the dark about 20 yards away watch me climb. She moved along before I got settled in.
• Rattled at 8:00 AM then again at 9:00. Nothing……… Heard Roly toot the horn at the truck at about 9:20 AM to advise he was off stand and frozen. I was ok on stand for warmth but was thinking about heading down when I heard deer in the crusty snow. Waited them out until about 9:40 then started down. Found a refreshed scrape about 15 yards from my stand. I was glad to see that. Remnants that the rut may still be on. The deer I had heard was a doe and fawn at about 60 yards. Pretty timid pair. The fawn was a little nervous but the doe stood firm at three yards as I walked past the two of them all masked and bundled up. Nothing like tame doe’s around the stand.
• Roly encountered no deer on the east field.

• Cold, blowing snow at 5:00 AM with treacherous roads. Not going anywhere today as it will no doubt be a waste of time for the risks involved. Waiting out the weather.

• Sure is wet in the bush now and NOISY. Snow is melting off trees and the winds picking up. Not a nice day for being a deer. Sure not seeing much. Hopefully it’s just the weather which I suspect has the doe’s hunkered down under tree’s and the bucks laying low. Do I dare the say the rut looks over? Will have to see after the weather changes.
• Roly had one lone doe go by that appeared to be heading towards my rattling. Roly and I were about 60 yards apart with a creek between us. I didn’t see the doe.
• Sure is a long walk into these stands. A pile of wind falls down as well since I last cleared the trail.
• Came out soaked and cold at 5:30 PM.

• Major snow storm happening with some damn slippery roads. Slow trip heading up which had us a little late for heading up to the ridge stands. Roly’s along for the ride today. He’s off the slippery poplar on the east field and I’m at the junction trail…… again.
• Very still and quiet in the bush today with the snow coming down. Soft powdery snow making it almost impossible to get some kind of advance warning of an approaching deer.
• As it turns out I had nothing come into view. I rattled at 9:00 AM which put a doe high tailing away from me and past Roly’s stand 100 yards down the tote road into the field. Roly also had a spiker and a 4 pointer come out at different times as well as another doe and fawn. Rattled only twice during this sitting at 8:00 AM and again at 9:00.

• Crunchy snow heading up the ridge this morning. I pair of eyes on me (doe) on the way in. Nice morning, good and cool for that heart pumping walk up to the ridge stands.
• On stand at 6:20 AM. At 7:00 AM, had a doe and fawn walk out along the edge of the timber surrounding the Crescent Meadow Stand. 20 feet behind them was a nice looking 10 pointer. She wasn’t running and he wasn’t pushing, they were both pretty comfortable with each other.
• Damn, every year I see animals along that edge and every year I talk about a stand there. That’s it, after the season in December one’s going in. The three of them quietly moved toward the empty Crescent Meadow Stand.
• Did my first rattle at 8:00 AM. Within about 10 minutes had 2 small 4’s come out behind me. One of them seemed to be aware that 10 was somewhere in front of him as he came out hoof pounding, looking in the direction that the 10 had gone with the doe and fawn. I suspect this little guy may have had is ass kicked once before by this guy and wanted to be extra cautious. The other 4 spotted me in the stand and got a little nervous and quietly moved off.
• As the two 4’s went on their way, a small 8 came out beside me at 20 yards sniffing and looking around. His right antler was broke off about a third of the way up the main beam. The little guy sure must have heart.
• As he was sniffing his way past a doe and 2 fawns came out 50 yards in front of him. As he approached the doe she bolted but he never gave chase. He continued to wander off down the exit trail.
• Rattled again at 9:00 AM and another doe and fawn came up behind me. The fawn spotted me from 10 yards but the doe didn’t appear to notice me. After what felt like an eternity of motionless sitting the fawn mellowed and the two moved on past me and bedded down about 50 yards from me. Enough of that. Climbed down and went out passing the standing fawn and the still lying doe at about 30 yards.
• Forgot my drag rag in there AGAIN!! Going to start buying those by the case and Tink’s 69 by the galloon.

• On stand at the Junction Trail at 1:30 PM. Sky cleared off and temperature falling. Somewhat gusty, which started falling off toward dusk.
• Walked past a doe and fawn right at the start on m y way in. Been thinking about bringing grouse arrows for a couple of days now. Nice grouse at 2 yards on the way in. Maybe I’ll remember grouse tips (Judo Points) tomorrow.
• Had another Palliated Wood Pecker around my stand screeching up a storm and hammering for insects. He was comfortable near my stand and obviously didn’t detect me. He was out about 25 yards from me on the ground hammering the base of a dead jack pine. The slightest noise in the woods had him scanning for danger with a quick jump about 30” up the dead tree before he’d relax and go back to work on the root.
• Picked up a small 6 coming in from the east field with his back to the wind at 3:15 PM. He walked under me at 3 yards then headed north up the ridge trail. Could see the straight tail of a doe moving around up on the ridge behind me at about 4:00 PM. Pretty quiet afternoon all and all. No bucks chasing down doe’s. Everybody seems to be back further from the road up the ridge and back in the swamp. Still early and busy out there.
• Came out under a full moon. For being two days before the peak of the rut, I’m expecting to see a little more than what I have. On the flip side of that though, I haven’t really been doing any rattling. Thought I’d be a little stealthier and not give up my location so quick and see what mostly a drag rag with Tink’s can do for me.  

• Had a buddy over last night for dinner and tipped a few Scotch as we watched the freezing rain and snow come down. Planned to hunt this morning. Up at 4:30 AM to have a look outside and found it extremely windy with a bit of snow and ice on the ground. Didn’t take me much to convince myself not to go out today. I hate hunting in heavy wind as much isn’t usually moving so back to bed I went. Wind is suppose to die off during the day followed by a temperature drop. I’ll get out this afternoon.

• Decided to sneak up onto the ridge during daylight. Got on stand at 12:00 noon. On the way up the ridge carrying my bow and climber, spotted what appeared to be a not bad looking 10 pointer running a fawn and doe about 50 yards ahead of me. Didn’t get spotted, so I tucked in between a couple of pines and quietly put the climber down hoping the doe and fawn might lead the buck past me in a circle. Sat for about 15 minutes but no action. Started off again to my stand. Spotted a doe and smaller buck watching me go by. Nobody panicked so I kept moving along to my stand.
• Got on stand and found it very windy and gusty up on the ridge. Hell of a nice rub up there. Hope to see that buck sometime over the next two weeks. Good visibility from this stand. Didn’t see a thing all day. Just as the shooting light was disappearing and doe headed past about 50 yards from me walking with the wind. Came off stand and came across the doe further up the trail in the dark. They sure don’t move much when you’re watching them with your head lamp. I was able to walk within about 10 yards of her and even then she wouldn’t run she’d simply take a few steps away from me to maintain some distance.
• Encountered another doe on the way down the ridge. Same thing for her, I was able to walk quite close to her in the dark.
  Suppose to get a snow storm and high winds over night.

• Got on stand at 6:15 AM. Didn’t see any doe’s along the road near the stands this morning. That’s not good as they’re usually around. Seen a large number of doe’s on the fields way down by Fairfield’s on the way in and what appeared to be that not bad 8 pointer that I had been seeing in that area on the drive in.
• It clouded over and about 9:30 AM and the wind started to pick up. Rattled at about 9:30 AM as well, however no response. Came off stand at 10:00 AM and headed for breakfast.

• Got on stand at 3:00 PM today. Nice warm sunny days with broken cloud cover. Hunting alone today from Otto’s Pines, mostly because I wanted my fox cover container back that I had left up in the tree on the 6^th.
• Had a doe with a straight out tail perfuming the air as she and her two fawns walked across the middle of the meadow heading north. Right past the empty leaning tree stand at the north side of the meadow.
• Palliated Wood Pecker was hanging around pounding up a storm in the trees. He flew by me once. He sure is a big bird. About the size of a crow.
• 4:20 PM had a different doe with her two fawns come quickly from the road up onto the meadow. They had a spiker buck kind of running them. It was hard to tell who was running who. The doe dashed a large circle through the meadow with the fawns trying to keep up, leaving a confused little buck standing on the edge of the field trying to asses what the hell was going on. What he was scenting was sure pleasing to his nostrils. Obviously it wasn’t me that he was picking up. With his head down he gave chase for the doe and the four deer paraded around the meadow a few more times before heading back down toward the road.
• Rattled just the one time at 5:00 PM as dusk was approaching to see if I could bring anything down off of the ridge. Not a sound through until dark.
• Started down off stand at 5:25 PM when I discovered that my head lamp batteries were dead. Glad I was only a 150 yards off the country road. Fresh batteries and my pocket flashlight were both back in the glove box in the truck. Rookie in a tree stand or what.

• On stand again with Roly today at 6:15 AM. Roland was at the east field while I hunted the trail junction stand again.
• Slow day today. I had 1 doe come under me at first light, coming from the road ridge and heading up the hill and that was it all morning. I did hear a few grunts off in the woods, but I didn’t see the animals.
• Roland had a relatively quiet morning as well. He had 3 doe’s and a spiker buck all come within shooting range of his stand.
• Came off stand at 10:00 AM. The clouds were breaking up and the sun was starting to shine.
• That will be it for hunts until I start my 2 weeks of vacation on the 11^th. Timing should be just about right for lots of buck action.

• Roly came along for the afternoon hunt. Got on stand in the west field at 2:15 PM. Roly had the leaning balsam to the north and I was in Otto’s pines to the east of the field near the edge of the ravine.
• Watched a small buck that came on to the south end of the field curiously watch Roly climb his tree. He wasn’t too alarmed and casually sprinted off in a westerly direction.
• At 2:45 PM Roland had a small 4 pointer and a basket 6 come out near his stand onto the edge of the field then cross towards my stand.
• At 3:00 PM I had a doe and fawn being chased by a buck run right through Otto’s pines and directly under my stand. I was sitting ready and coupled up to my bow but could no way get off a shot if I had wanted too, as the three of them came through very fast. The buck looked nice. A good wide 8 point but not huge mass but a nice buck just the same. A 4 point buck appeared to be hanging out with him enjoying the chase. The doe doubled back and came through one more time and was successful at loosing the buck. She stood under me at 3 yards away perfectly still and calm was the buck searched the ravine for her. The 8 picked up another doe and crashed and grunted through the brush after her, headed toward the next small field just east of us. The fawn with 1 inch spikes hooked back up with the doe and they moved off toward Roly’s stand where they bedded down for awhile.
• Roland had a couple of small spiker bucks come by as did I for the remainder of the evening. It was nice to see a big buck chasing that doe. The rut is starting to heat up. I did no rattling this evening. Again I just wanted to watch and listen to see how the rut activity was shaping up.

• Left home at 5:15 AM and was on stand by 6:15 AM. Not much happening this morning either. Rattled at 8:45 AM just the once. Had a doe and fawn come through shortly there after.

• Well it’s nice to be back on stand for the first time this season. I like getting in a hunt or two prior to my vacation to see what I’m missing or may have forgotten for gear. Today I’m hunting alone.
• Sure enough, forgot my grunt tube and fleece hood. Good thing it’s not freezing cold!
• Got on stand at 3:00 PM at the trail junction stand. Bush was extremely noisy as we had about ¼ inch of snow the night before which was melting and falling from the tree’s making it practically impossible to hear deer walking in the timber.
• There weren’t any doe’s and fawns moving around today. The constant noise in the bush from the dripping snow must have them laying low today.
• Decided to stay off the rattling for the first few days just to get a true picture of what’s happening in the woods with respect to the rut without disclosing my presence.
• Things were quite quiet except for 2 bucks that came through grunting looking for doe’s. Right at 5:15 PM as legal shooting time was coming to a close, a buck came down off the roadside ridge heading east down toward the old milk truck. With the light now gone I began getting my gear to the ground and had just turned on my head lamp when a second buck with a much deeper throated series of grunts began working the tag alders from off the road side ridge around me to the west and in behind my stand toward the trail heading up to the stands up on the ridge. Once he had passed through I began my descent and headed for the truck. Nice to see the bucks are starting to search for the doe’s.

• Last hunt of the season to project commitments at work. Damn......... the rut is really steamin’. Now the big bucks are really on the move. By myself today at the Junction Trail stand. Sure like this stand location. Might need a few more up along the top of the ridge heading east.
• Was on stand by 6:10 AM. The rain soon turned to wet snow. That was alright as the snow was much quieter than the rain.
• Rattled in a basket 10 off the road ridge at 7:30 AM. Another buck was chasing a doe not far from the stand through the timber. Lots of grunting going on up on the road ridge but nobody would come down to pay me a visit.
• 11:30 AM, heard a fawn coming through the woods from the pond below, and then heard the doe up behind me at the top edge of the trail ridge. There was a damn fine buck grunting right with her as she feed along the tree line. Damn was he nice. Couldn’t count tines because of the brush, but I’d like to guess he was better than 10 and very large. That doe was not on the run, she was being tended too by the buck. The fawn was only 15 yards off from the two of them.
• Came off stand at noon. The rut is still definitely on.
• Seen about 10 deer on the drive out at Fairfield’s Farm. It looked busy.

• On stand at 6:30 AM. I went up the Junction Trail to the new stand I cut on the northeast corner up the ravine up high off the ridge.
• Roland was at the Junction Trail stand.
• I had a medium size 8 come out behind me grunting up a storm. I grunted back a few times and he began to come over to me. I didn’t realize how close he was for when I stood up he spooked and moved off 20 yards. He began feeding behind me and moved off.
• 9:00 AM rattled in a big 8 to within 50 yards. He just wouldn’t leave the tree line. When I first rattled I saw him jump a juniper out in the open to get across the open rock to the timber stand in front of me. He was about 150 yards from me when I saw him cross. I could see his legs as he came down inside the timber towards me. Just too far a shot for this cat. He was a nice buck and hung around for about 3 minutes cautiously looking for a bigger buck.
• Roland had a doe and fawn come down off the ridge with a buck following that wouldn’t come out all the way.

• On stand at 6:30 AM. Roland in the swamp funnel. Roland across the creek with myself in the little meadow.
• 8:00 AM, Roland seen the biggest buck he’d ever seen in 25 years on hunting. An 8 pointer with lots of mass. The deer had walked through the pines out of range, heading directly to my rattling not more than 60 yards away. I had thought that I might have heard something north of me however the creek was a bit noisy. Most seasons it a quiet creek.
• 9:00 AM had a doe and fawn come out into the meadow from directly underneath me.
• 9:15 AM a small 8 came out the same way grunting and had the doe a bit nervous. All went across the creek past Roland within range. Rut is still very active.

• Been saving the Big Ridge until Roland had a chance to cut his teeth with that climbing tree stand and got comfortable hanging out in close proximity to deer. Today is the day for the Big Ridge, as we’ve yet to disturb this season.
• Roland and I were on stand at 6:30 AM. I was in the middle stand and Roland was closer to the east deer exit off the ridge.
• Put up a deer in the dark on the way in. We’ll count that one as a doe. Had animals moving around us all morning. There were a couple of buck grunting and running doe’s in the mist and drizzle. That was cool.
• At 8:30 AM I heard a buck grunting steady so I started back at him with the grunt tube. The doe and fawn came to my grunt with the buck following. It appeared to be a respectable looking animal though I couldn’t count tines. As the buck got closer to the doe she bolted away from the stand with the buck chasing right after her. Nice to see, to bad she went in the wrong direction. Been having thoughts about that nice big 9 I didn’t take the first day. His rack seems to be getting bigger in my mind with every passing day.
• Roland only seen 1 spiker buck. He and I were hunting about 150 yards from each other.
• Roland took the afternoon off. I decided to fill my extra doe tag during my walk up to the Junction Trail Stand at 2:30 PM, mostly because she was only about 100 yards from the truck.

• What a warm afternoon. Very hard to keep my eyes open with that warm sun beating down on me. As soon as the sun was down past the tree line the doe’s and fawns were on the field right away. We had a doe with 2 fawns out by Roland on the north side of the field and a doe with a single fawn down in front of me on the east side of the field.
• My doe and fawn were headed northeast up the ridge. They hadn’t gone by me 5 yards when a buck started thrashing in the woods just ahead of them. The buck emerged out of the ravine and started west through a deer trail that runs through the middle of Otto’s Pines.
• When we came off stand at dark something big out on Andy’s lawn took off like a shot as we came out on the ridge above the road.
• Dark at 5:10 PM this evening.

• Been away on a computer project in Peterborough this past week and had to hang up the bow for a week. Knowing what I know now, I should have kept hunting...........
• Nice morning, very mild.  Funny how the wind can take your body heat away and make – 2 C feel like the arctic. Got on stand at 6:40 AM at the Trail Junction. Roland kept on going to the East Field.
• Had a grunting buck wondering around up on the roadside ridge at 7:00 AM (first light) but he didn’t come down into the meadow.
• Had a medium sized 8 walk under me and head up the ridge at 7:30 AM.
• About 8:00 AM another buck crossed the tote road east of me and headed for the roadside ridge. Tried to grunt him over.... no way. 20 minutes later he reappeared walking back the way he had previously come from with his nose to the ground. Could have been just another medium 8, who knows. Should “paint ball” them in the summer. J I’ll count him as the same one.
• Roland had a deer in at his stand at first light as well. He spotted a 6 pointer across the small field.
• He also had 3 doe’s and a medium 8 in range at 5 yards at about 8:00 AM.
• While walking out at 10:30 we had 6 more doe’s within shooting range. Good morning. Wind is picking up though.
• Isn’t this the way it always works. It’s 11:00 AM and Roland and I are still at the truck after walking out from the morning hunt. Low and behold, here comes a great big 10 down the lawn from the house up on the east hill. Right to the creek, behind the trailered boats and through the tag alders. Just more inspiration going by. Nice, nice, very nice deer. Just the animal we're looking for to post on the front page of this damn web site. Patience my boy patience I say to myself. Tried to intercept him on his way towards Andy’s home but he moved along to quickly. Sure was nice to see.

• Nice afternoon. Got on stand at 2:40 PM. At 2:50 PM either a very large 8 or that damn 9 that I didn’t shoot the first day out this year, came off the roadside ridge out about 35 to 40 yards in the brush line from my stand and stayed inside the brush line along edges of the meadow.
• At 4:50 PM an entire burlesque line of does and fawns totaling eight in number came up the tote road from the milk truck and went directly under my stand and up the ridge heading north. 10 minutes later a lone doe came following, bleating all the way along looking for the girls. She too went directly under my stand, following their trail.
• Can’t quite figure out why the doe’s would be heading off the field and back up the ridge just before dark.

• On stand alone at 2:50 PM at my newly cut stand on the access road in the gravel pit. Did a rattling sequence at 3:30 PM and had a doe appear from the west at 3:50 PM followed by a grunting wide but needle tined 8. The doe spotted me when she was at 3 yards from my stand but was not alarmed and continued to walk past.
• The 8 pointer circled the north side of the pit and came down alongside of me on the access road. It was obvious when he spotted my pick up truck. He began grunting out long low Brrrrrrrrrrrrpps and after a few moments got back on the doe’s trail. The buck walked out right in front of me and also spotted me at about the 3 yard mark. Like the doe he was not alarmed because of my lack of movement and calmly walked off after the doe headed toward the power line.

• Had breakfast with Roland and he headed home. I sat in the truck at the Gravel Pit having a few suds. This was alright too on this cold blowing day.
• 2:30 PM had a doe come out into the pit right behind the truck. She was walking, but as she cleared the truck she broke into a trot and headed for the power line. She had a nice looking 8 on her tail. The rut is certainly gaining momentum.
• At 3:00 PM I was looking at the top end of the pit where the access road heads for the power line, remembering how many deer I’ve seen cross at that spot but have never cut a stand because it was so close to the truck. That’s when a Big 8 stepped out into the meadow turned and went back north east toward the power line. He came back out at 3:20 and made his way west across the access road and into the timber. Wow!! Nice 8.
• Had a new stand trimmed and ready to go right near the truck on the edge of the bit by 4:20 PM. Enough’s enough. There should have been a stand there years earlier. Besides, that would be a good stand for me near the tent camp when the guests are out far and wide.
• Was back at the truck looking back toward my newly trimmed stand when a doe and fawn came across and immediately began to feed off the angel hair moss that was weaved among the pine branches I had removed only hours earlier. What scent I had left behind certainly didn’t alarm this doe and its fawn.

• I climbed into Otto’s Pines and Roland into the North Field Stand at 6:15 AM. Cool morning, especially with the wind. There was a small skiff of snow on the ground, which had come down over night.
• Had a spiker wind me a number of yards out in the field and he walked off at first light.
• Roland had a spiker buck and two does in range at first light coming along the north edge of the field.
• Rattled out two 4 point bucks from the west edge of the field and managed to get one of them over to me with the grunt tube.
• Also had a buck behind me in the ravine that wouldn’t come up and show himself a little better. My wind was headed down the ravine directly his way.
• The bucks seemed to start coming to rattle a bit better today.

• On stand at 2:00 PM with Roland at the east field and myself at the junction trail stand (I love this spot).
• Had a 4 pointer wind me at 3:00 PM. He was coming west from the bottom of the ridge. He didn’t spook, but eased his way around me heading toward the ridge along the service road and toward the meadow in front of me.
• Shortly after a basket 8 came west up the tote road but didn’t wind me. As he came up the hill approaching me, two 4 pointers came down off the ridge near the road and into the meadow in front of my stand.
• The basket 8 stood and watched from the edge then moved out into the meadow as well. The small bucks were cautious but the 8 was not at all aggressive. The 8 rubbed noses with one of the small bucks, touched antlers together once just enough to make a noise and called it a day.
• The 8 pointer began to move around the meadow and freshened up a scrape 2 yards from my stand and was looking directly up at me when on his hinds, rubbing his facial glands on the branch over the scrape. I remained undetected.
• All three bucks headed back down the tote road somewhat together. One of the 4 pointers winded me on the way out, but nobody panicked.
• 3:50 PM had a 6 pointer traveling west up the tote road wind me. Damn, stand is just a bit to close to the tote road. He walked around me on the north ridge side of the stand and was headed toward the east field.
• Roland had a 6 pointer and two 4 pointers come out on the field within range of his stand.
• Got really windy with gusts to 50 km (31 mph) at the end of the day. Maybe snow tomorrow.

• On stand at 6:30 AM with Roland in the north stand and myself in the east stand in Otto’s Pines. Only had 1 doe come under my stand all morning.
• The rut seems to be just getting under way.

• The clouds cleared off at noon and wind died right off. We were in the gut and on stand by 1:30 PM. I was close to the edge of the power line, Roland took the high stand deeper in and did the rattling tonight. Had a wide, but needle tined 8 walk under me at 3:00 PM and seen a doe with 2 fawns walking out on the power line just before dark. Roland spotted nothing.
• Gene, who had been scouting the power line on a quad further down the power line, spotted a small and a medium sized buck lying together on a ridge.
• Wolves could be heard from our stands at 3:30 PM not too far away. What I’d give for a pack of wolves to come within arrow range of the stand.

• Rolland and I on stand at 6:30 AM in the swamp funnel. Nice morning, light wind.
• Rolland had a spiker spot him early from his westerly stand.

• On stand at the Junction Trail at 2:15 PM. My partner Roland continued on to the stand on the east side of the east field. Sky cleared and the wind died down just before dark.
• Roland had a lone doe cross the field and another doe with 2 fawns cross just before dark. No bucks. Large flock of geese overhead this evening.

• Got on stand at 2:00 PM. Had just finished pulling up my bow and was rolling up my throw line when a spiker buck came up out of the ravine. Took him 30 minutes to pass by me and get out into the field.
• Another spiker buck showed up on the west side of the field and started doing the stiff legged battle walk toward the other small buck. They cordially rubbed noses, squared off and did a little sparring for me. Both soon went off past the stand on the north side of the field.
• At 3:00 PM, had a doe and 2 fawns come up from the service road area and cross the field heading toward the stand on the north side of the field. I’ve yet to see a doe this season that didn’t have twin fawns.  For my own entertainment I grunted at the doe, however she didn’t even acknowledge my efforts. Shortly after grunting a basket rack 10 came up out of the ravine heading west but stayed just inside the tree line on the north side of the field.
• Just at dusk another basket rack buck came from the service road area and crossed the field. When he was about ½ ways across and while looking forward across the field he suddenly bolted into high gear and headed directly into the timber.

• Left work early today to get on stand for my first hunt of the season at 3:00 PM today, alone. Nice afternoon, warm and calm. Figured it would be a good day for the first hunt to see what I may have forgotten for deer gear.
• Walked past a spiker buck at 20 yards on my way in. He was really paying attention to a couple of doe’s out on the furthest east field.
• A bigger animal just inside the bush line at the bottom of the ridge bolted just as I came over the hill on the trail.
• Had a doe come right up my tracks on the tote road not long after sitting down. It was 3:15 PM. She stopped to feed in the small meadow out in front of me.
• As she feed, I heard another animal coming through the woods toward the tote road I had come in on. It sounded heavy as it broke twigs on the ground so I reached for my bow just as the buck came out of the woods. And what a buck he was. It looked to be a very large 10 pointer. As he cautiously made his way up the trail toward my stand I started counting tines. 5 on the left side and only 4 on the right. Hmmmmm, first 15 minutes of my 2004 deer hunt, which is intended to last at least 2 weeks, so I can drop a big buck and now I’m faced with deciding to shot a big nine. He stopped 10 yards from me broadside, to sample the air while I played “should I or shouldn’t I”. The buck continued to cautiously move right to within 3 yards of my stand while I stood there debating what to do. Finally he passed through and out of range. I couldn’t shot a 9 this soon in the season. I have 2 weeks for something bigger and would wait.
• Didn’t do any rattling today. Decided to just sit, wait and watch.
• Just before dark had a lone doe come down off the ridge and walk directly under my stand. Came off stand at dark, it was 5:30 PM.

• Was scheduled to hunt with by bud Gene today to cull one more doe off the property and fill his tag.
• Scrapes and rubs are no longer active. The rut appears to be finished. Filled Gene’s doe tag at 10:00 AM. The doe he shot was walking on the power line with her tail straight out and wagging, giving me the impression that she hadn’t been bred yet. Her tarsal glands were still very dark and she hadn’t licked them white yet.
• On the drive out there were 2 medium bucks together on the south side of the service road when 4 doe’s crossed about 100 yards south of them. One buck was interested and went after the doe’s at a trotting pace and the other one followed

• Well, with Serge heading home soon and my disappointment with that nice buck, it’s time to cull the doe’s. Went out at 9:00 AM and had 2 doe’s back at the truck by 10:15 AM. While skidding out the deer with the quad, we had a large buck come out from the timber and cross the power line in front of us.  Nice animal.

• Serge on stand at 6:15 AM in the east field. I’m out looking for that nice buck again. Put up a fast running large buck on pour drive in this morning, just was we were getting to the parking area.
• Tracked my blood trail about another 150 yards. Blood spots were down to the size of a dime every 10 to 20 yards. No ravens or eagles to be seen or heard on a carcass. Very disappointing. Coming to terms with loosing him. Not impressed with myself at all.