And there he stood in all his glory

[deadeye]

If you look through the opening and across the small swamp you can see the edge where yesterday morning I saw mister big.  A few minutes prior to that a doe was standing there.  I thought she returned but when I looked through the binos, I almost dropped them.  Tall tines and lots of them.  Being the shot was about 200 yards, need to have a good steady lean.  I rested the gun on a bow hanger but the bucks chest was obscured by a small oak about 30 yards in front of me.  When the buck moved, he turned away and stepped into the brush and I had no shot.  I still get a little shaky when I think about it. 

This view, and what was in the picture moments before is often difficult to explain to a non hunter but those of us that have been there know the feeling is like none other.   

[dakids]

I bet the tree gets trimmed real short. Say 6 inches from the ground.

[deadeye]

Funny you mention that.  I already had plans to cut the small one (running diagonal through the opening) and was debating whether to cut the oak on the right side of the opening.  It was quit a sight.