The one that got away

[Cody Gruchow]

This even felt like it was gonna be the day I'd fill my buck tag with my bow. I got to the stand early and switched my camera card out. It is only 30 yards away positioned on the corner of a swamp and the bottom of a hill that they bed ontop of. I collected the card and crawled up the tree 20 feet up and started Looking through the imagines and got immediately discouraged. All the buck activity was in the morning with no pictures in the evening. It was a nice calm cool evening so I shrugged my shoulders an pulled my latest edition of MDHA magazine out and started reading. Nothing moved all evening. So at 7 I pulled out the bleat can an tipped it a couple timesz It was getting close to quitting time an I could hear something coming down the hill,I pulled out my phone an it said 7:05. Only 6 minutes left to shoot. Just as I put the phone back in my pocket a buck walked out of the brush into the corner of the swamp, instantly knew it was a shooter. I have my bar set at 140 inches or bigger this year. He came right down the trail to me an stopped at 15 yards behind 3 trees. I could see his head and body. He just stood there looking around. As light faded he just stood there an I knew shooting time was up so I sat down. I sat there waiting for the buck to move off so I wouldn't scare him out of the area. it took forever he just moved around slowly. He moved over by the camera. I am hoping I got some good pictures of him. When he finally moved off far enough away I got down. I sat there until 7:45 waiting for him to move off. I've never been so close to a mature buck for so long an been completely helpless. It was a sweet encounter and the buck was impressive. He was built like a tank. Even though I just put the card in I need to know how big he truely was and can't wait for next pull so I'm switching the card tomorrow morning after the morning duck hunt.

[deadeye]

A heart thumper for sure.

[Cody Gruchow]

It was. Needed couple steps to the right or left an would of been in the open.

[Boar]

no matter if ya could have got off a shot, thos encounters are frick awsome and you;ll never for get. that is sweeet, cant wait to see the pics.

[Cody Gruchow]

Checked the cam today and I had a pic of him when I was sitting in the stand watching him. If someone can help me post the pics Sense it won't let me post the current format.

[Boar]

if yu got a text pic to send i can 219 3687753 or jlvigstol@gvtel.com i can try

[glenn57]

if yu got a text pic to send i can 219 3687753 or jlvigstol@gvtel.com i can try

they'll be sideways....but what the hay!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cody Gruchow]

Well had another encounter with him today. I could hear the chasing an grunting before I could make him out. He was 35 yards out And in the brush with the doe right in front of him, she worked my way right to the trail opening with him slowly coming behind her. Just as she got to the trail edge he came up behind her and she ran back up the way they came. That's 2 strikes on him now. I hope I get a crack at him before I leave town for the weekend to go north deer hunting with the family. If not I guess I'll see him hanging after one of the other hunters get him when I'm out of town.

[DDSBYDAY]

Deadeye hit it on the head.  Heart thumper for sure.  I thought it was only me.   Times like that I can hear my heart and it's so loud I think the deer can hear it.      Good Luck Cody. 

[Cody Gruchow]

It sure does get the heart pumping. To have that deer at 15 yards the first time ready to draw I was afraid he would hear my heart beating right out of my chest. Same thing happened today only he stayed in the brush. As he was walking down the hill I could feel the blood rushing