I should add that earlier, I had a spike come through, and didn’t see antlers until it was too late. It had just broke daylight. He came in to my left, RIGHT INTO MY WIND, and got to 7 or 8 yards from me. He had his head down until the last minute, and slowly looked up and saw me. He about broke his back spinning around to get a safe distance away…about 30 yards out, and went on his merry way. He never winded me! I can’t help but wonder if his olfactory system was on the fritz. I’ve NEVER had that happen before.

Thanks guys! And yes, I used the Hammock Seat. I’m really glad you guys recommended it. It’s worth every penny.

Steve Graf wrote: Nice! But it looks to me like the deer is happier than the hunter 😉

Looks can be deceiving. 😀

donthomas wrote: Well done. In the photo, the shot placement looks spot on to me! Bet the buck thought so too, at least for a few seconds. Don

Thank you! Hit right where I intended. 8) 😀

Cameron wrote: Nice shot – love to see a plan come together. I have been looking at the hammock seat and I just might pick one up. What was your blind set up like?

Thanks! Hmmm…not sure how to describe it. I was up against a tree. That probably goes without saying. Nothing extravagant, some little sucklings around me. I cut three shooting lanes in it.

paleoman wrote: Nice job fellow Michigan Man! Cool hat too.

Thank you fellow Michigander! Ausjim should approve, since it’s an Akubra, from hatsdirect.com (both Australian companies). They make a great hat at a great price.

ausjim wrote: Congrats on the deer Pat. Akubras are nice hats, you can do much worse. How does that short brim go? Short enough for your string?

Thanks!

The brim on this hat (an Akubra Federation IV Deluxe) is perfect. It’s never an issue, even with my 66″ Whisper. I have an older Federation with a bit of a wider brim, and the string would hit that one occasionally, depending on how I had my hat cocked.

dfudala wrote: Way to Patrick!!! How about that ground game!?!? Very excited for you, Congrats!

Thanks much! It was a long time comin’. I’ve got to where I prefer to hunt from the ground. Oh how things have changed over the years! 8)

Thanks! I’m trying to get my son to understand that hunting while it’s raining can definitely be productive.

Update on that spike: My dad was leaving for work the other morning and someone clobbered him with their vehicle. 🙁

This last weekend was another great one. I had four bucks between 2 and 15 yards of me. No, that’s not a typo…that’s 2 as in two! That particular one was a four point (a typical year and a half old around here), and as he came walking in, he freshened up his scrape, and then proceeded to walk towards me, sniffing the ground. He was so close I could hear him sniffing! Eventually he looked up and saw me sitting in the corn, and bounded into the corn to my right, about 30 yards away. The corn is really stunted there, so I could still see him. He started walking to where he’d end up in my wind, so I snort-wheezed, hoping it would keep him from doing so, and it worked. He bounded deeper into the corn, and that was that. That was definitely one of my all time favorite hunting moments!

I couldn’t shoot any of them because here in Michigan, the first tag can be used on any buck or doe. The second must be a minimum of 4 points on one side.

Ptaylor wrote: Dude 2 yards is awesome! Sounds like you’re having fun.

I sure am! I hadn’t been able to hunt much over the last few years, as I had a lot of drama going on. Finally got my sea legs back, and it’s great to be able to get out there and get at it.

Ptaylor wrote: This is my first year white-tail hunting and its a blast. I’ve seen two 8 pointers, and almost had a shot at a doe, but she just wouldn’t feed any closer to me and remained a few yards outside my shooting zone.

That is great to hear! Great start to what will hopefully be many years of whitetail hunting.