adam
29-12-05, 09:31 PM
Back Breaking Bucks
A dedication to bowhunting the antlered kind pays off,
Or is that an addiction.
“Finally back in the mountains” I thought to myself, Dave Whiting my hunting partner for the afternoon and I slowly made our way to a ridge line that would certainly be a good place for bedded fallow bucks. The timbered ridge cuts between two paddocks that the fallow deer forages in at feeding times. The ridge has good wind blocks and protection for the deer. During the lead up to the rut in this area the deer are bedded till last light, feeding in the early morning, late afternoon and night. Saving there energy through the day for a hectic few weeks chasing does, and just plain being elusive as deer are famous for.
Taking our time we tracked our way to the ridge line, it was apparent that the bucks are living along this ridge as there droppings, scraps and rubs became more frequent. We soon came across some real fresh sign. A freshly kicked scrap and a sapling that was wet from having its bark removed, a site to get any deer hunters heart pounding. Dave and I just looked at each other as in to say “there’s a buck close”. He’d be moving along one of the game trails in front of us or bedded very close. I wouldn’t have taken a dozen steps when I froze with my eyes glued to a good set of antlers behind a fallen tree. Around 35 meters a good menial buck laid bedded up awaiting last light. I slowly put my bow down and reached for my camera. The wind had us trapped on this good buck and the only way to get a clear shot was to get up close “real close”, as the fallen tree covered most of his body. I clicked off a few pictures of his antlers as Dave stalked the buck with his longbow in hand. The wind swirled and the ground was like walking on corn flakes as the sun had dried the leaf litter to a crisp. It wasn’t looking promising at all. The buck exploded out of there and disappeared into the thick scrub like a ghost. Well the blood was certainly flowing with the excitement. This is what we came for the experience, getting one on the ground would be a bonus but not an essential for a great trip.
Dave stalks the first buck for the trip.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000267.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000268.jpg
Dave and I pushed on along the ridgeline and decided to position our selves for a fox whistle. Around a dead fallen tree we blended to our surrounds, our camouflage was well suited for this area. Dave signaled that a critter was coming too the whistle. I was surprised to see a feral cat stalking in. The native killer had no idea I was standing 15 meters away at full draw. The cat stood on its back legs trying to see the supposed squealing rabbit (Dave). That was my best opportunity for a clear shot and I took it. The arrow passed through and didn’t look like stopping, unlike the cat which only made little ground. Cats are on the top of my hit list and I was please to take this one out, hopefully there’s not too many more in this area. You’d be a happy camper if you got these opportunities every hunt wouldn’t you.
Native killer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000275.jpg
The fact was I had no idea what lay ahead on this hunt and I could never grasp the out come of the following few days hunt even if I knew. After I arrowed the feral cat, Dave and myself split up covering both sides of the ridge. We planned to meet in the next gully that would cut the ridge. Once again I came across a fresh rub and scrap while walking the eastern side of the ridge. I knelt down to closer inspect the buck scrap. The soil on the bottom of the scrap was damp and grass hadn’t rinsing from prints the buck had left behind. I started to think maybe I already spooked the buck that left these markings as it was so fresh. But the prints showed no sign of a spooked animal as they where light on the ground and placed neatly; telling me this animal was in no hurry. I slipped an arrow onto the string and slowly crept along the side of the ridge. I was taken by surprise as a huge buck raise his head 30 meters away and looked straight at me. What I would call a monstrous buck was lying down in his bed and had caught my movement just as I had spotted him. Obviously I paused and didn’t even blink. The mature buck was unsure of the movement as I had a bit of cover in front of me and a good 3d suit to blend in. The buck stood up and turned his attention for a split second to the ridge line. It was enough for me to draw back and line him up. I aimed for the bottom half of the chest instinctively knowing that he would drop on the shot (jump the string) as he was still very alert. From around 30 odd meters the arrow sailed. The buck dropped; change his angle slightly and the arrow connected. I couldn’t believe how much the buck moved from 32 meters and a light carbon arrow leaving a new Tec series Hoyt isn’t slow. I cautiously walked over to the ridge line to see the buck down in the valley not 40 meters from the shot. Dave heading down the ridge to the valley had seen the buck drop. What a magnificent mountain fallow. I had mixed emotion about something so gracious surely one of gods greatest animals and we are blessed that we have a right to hunt such magnificent animals. Sitting there it was hard to rap my mind around such an accomplishment. This buck meant a lot to me as for the past few years I’ve been going pretty hard trying to get one, the effort has certainly paid off and been well worth it. Animals like these certainly don’t come easy this being the second buck in 8 years, and most years I’ve been targeting fallow deer regularly. But that’s why we love bowhunting so much. I couldn’t have had anyone better to share the moment with neither. Dave has been addicted to these critters for a longtime also and was keen to shake my hand and congratulate me. Dave’s shown me a lot of what I know about hunting today and I only hoped he would have the same luck on this trip as me. The buck had 23 points with 3 basal snags certainly a trophy to treasure.
My best fallow deer to date.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000303.jpg
The last of light
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000298.jpg
Dark was truly on us by the time we finished with the photos. It was a treacherous walk back to the road but we weren’t going to waste any of this animal. Head lamps came out as we field dress the animal for the hike out. With the legs strapped together we packed the animal out of the valley and back to the road running through the property. The pack out was a real work out but well worth it. It was certainly a bowhunters moment, the moon was shinning bright lighting up our hunting grounds, and two bowhunters hiking there quarry out of the hills, one with a compound the other with a traditional bow. No politics just good times. Three other bowhunters made up camp; we hoped they were on radio, Mark Ballard, Wayne Anderson and flat lander Paul Hardy. My back felt 90kgs lighter when I heard marks voice on the 2way. I’d already stuffed Dave’s back for the trip, Should slow him up a bit. “Sick of packing deer out for one trip” we said as a joke. Sitting there waiting for the truck a grunting buck in the distant added to the moment, A sign that the rut wouldn’t be to far away. On arriving to pick us up and seeing the buck Mark congratulated me and said he is a good buck. I hadn’t really though of his size till mark said “200dp plus mate good going” or was that the rum talking. As it turned out the buck went a little over 200dp. I spent the next day capping and butchering my buck with help from the boys. We filled the ice boxes and left no deer to waste.
Adam greentree, Mark ballard, Wayne Anderson, Dave Whiting, and Paul Hardy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/Alivelycampafterreturningwithmy23pt.jpg
the next morning
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000320.jpg
MArk Ballard doing a good caping job.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/APRIL_20.jpg
That afternoon I followed the lads around and photographed them hunting. I also photographed my buck’s domain, his rub trees, and scraps as we passed through his area. We split up after a while to cover both valleys back to the car. I followed Dave as he chased his 99th fox. In some foxy looking country he began to whistle and a big fox bolted in looking for a feed. At 7meters Dave and his longbow worked together to send an arrow on its way, A sight itself. Dave had secured his 99th fox with the bow, hitting him front on in the chest. The arrow passed clean through. Like I young pup I scrambled along the blood trail and retrieved Dave’s fox, yet another successful afternoon.
the boys walking past a bucks domain.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000332.jpg
Dave's 99th bow fox
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000347.jpg
On the way back to the car we saw a few doe’s but the bucks where very elusive. The other lads hadn’t any luck but the enjoyment of and afternoon in the bush. To say the least I felt worn out from the past two days effort and hit the swag early to get a good start in the morning. The “oldies” were heading out in the back country in the morning and I was going to hunt/photograph up behind camp. It took some time to fall a sleep that night. I laid there thinking about fallow deer, shocking hey. I was awoken to a buck grunting in the valley around 1 hour before first light. I wasted no time in getting ready and headed off. The grunting had stopped but a fresh track and scrap lead me to the buck. The buck was a marvelous looking animal, antler and body. I put my bow down and stalked the grazing animal to 30 meters with my camera. Although defiantly highly prized in my books I hadn’t the urge to try harvest this animal, I was just happy to photograph and leave him be. I watched him for sometime and took plenty of photos before backing out. I let the buck be without him knowing I had ever been there.
A perfect morning to start the fallow up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000350.jpg
A nice animal I passed up, but shot to death with my camera.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000354.jpg
The next valley also held a good buck but this one had attitude as he prepared himself for the upcoming rut. Spraying urine over the under belly and face. He sprayed an old rub tree and trashed it to bits attempting to have his antlers also smelling deer sexy. Sounds like a good cologne maybe I should market it. Studying this animal was a site and I found it hard to photograph and not shoot. At 30 meters the thought of putting the camera down crossed my mind. Eventually I pushed my luck when I tried to stand up for a clear photo. The buck pranced off and displayed and awesome set of antlers, a site that always impresses. At that moment I put the lens cap back on and decided to do a bit of a bigger walk that day. I felt that the next buck wouldn’t be getting photographed.
The aggressive buck
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000360.jpg
A doe that couldn't work me out
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000346.jpg
It wasn’t till lunch time that I seen another buck. Grunting there heads off two bucks chased each other through the hills. At one stage they made a bee line straight towards me but passed at 30 meters at blistering speed. I sat back for 20 minutes watching them chasing each other. Finally the young buck that was doing all the chasing lost his rival runner. I seen an opportunity and I acted on it as I grunted leading the buck to believing I was his rival. From 100 meters away the buck bolted towards me. In little time the buck was at 15meters. I let out a soft grunt to pull the buck up, he propped at 10 meters and I released. Well I couldn’t believe it as I seen the buck drop in view. I’ve shot one deer in 8 years now I’ve shot 2 sparingly in one trip. My main objectives for shooting this buck was for his skin and much sort after meat, still an awesome trophy to the beholder Ill mount his antlers on a nice piece of timber. Well no one to help me pack this one out. I once again field dress a deer for the pack out of the mountains back to a pick up point. Most of the trip was down hill thank god. I found a good shady tree and hung the deer up to set till I return with a vehicle. Heading back to camp shivers run down my spine as a grunt echoed up the ridge I was traveling on. I couldn’t help but to have a look into the gully the grunt came from. On all four equipped with my bow I peeked over a little rise to see a huge common colored buck scrapping and grunting in an aggressive manner. Thrashing his head about with those massive antlers and kicking his legs throwing up dirt was a site to behold. He certainly wouldn’t hear the arrow coming with the noise he was creating around himself. I got into his comfort zone at 15meters and drew back; I struggled to calm myself as my legs and arms started to quiver with adrenalin. As his leg lifted to scrap an arrow left the string hitting the beast perfect. He flinched very little as the arrow left his chest and slammed into the tree behind him. Not knowing he was hit he went to keep scraping but collapsed. A shaving sharp broadhead had passed clean through this animal without any pain to make the buck uneasy. It was the type of harvest bowhunters strive for “effective and humane”. Well my god what an animal. Totally overwhelmed by the whole experience and the size of the buck, I sat beside him and said a few words. I wish I could explain the way I felt when I was sitting beside this buck and others. Maybe the way a climber feels when his conquered a huge climb like Everest. Some things just can’t be explained in words and this hunt was one of them. I’m sure there’s lots of like minded bowhunters out there that know what I mean and the way I felt. Upon returning to camp I asked if anyone else had any luck. Wayne had taken a buck and the meat was hanging up already field dressed. His buck had one broken antler but was a great trophy nonetheless. I’m sure the hide will have its place on Wayne’s floor also. It had been well worth the trip from W.A just to see a deer, camp with mates (new and old) and doing what we do best, spending time in the bush. Well you couldn’t comprehend having a better trip and it had only been the first few days of my 3 weeks hunting. I still had the Brisbane valley reds to keep me occupied. But that’s a whole other story let me tell you.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000364.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000383.jpg
The big grunting buck
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000395.jpg
THE BUCK NEVER LEFT HIS SCRAPE, YOU CAN SEE THE ARROW IN THE TREE BEHIND HIM.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000390.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000400.jpg
Gear and Techniques
I was using a Hoyt Havoc Tec at 80 pounds on this trip. I think 60 pounds is plenty for hunting fallow deer. The reason I’m using 80 pounds is that I’ve been practicing for a buffalo hunt at the end of the year and I’m quite content on shooting this poundage. I’m a carbon arrow fan and on this trip I used Easton c2 carbon Obsessions in the 340s. My choice of broadheads on this trip was Outback Hunters and the Supremes. With my broadheads if there not shaving sharp they don’t go in the quiver. I use a Razors edge broadhead sharpener to get them to a hair shaving sharp. The techniques that I found best on these southern mountain bucks was spot and stalk as they are few and far between in most places. More listening and looking with less ground coverage in the thicker country. Aim for lower vitals (lungs) on these animals as they will drop on the release of your bow string. But the best advice I can give you is “Just enjoy the hunt and take in the moment”. Happy hunting all, Bowhunter for life, Adam Greentree
Info
Often referred to as a stag male fallow deer are actually bucks.
A dedication to bowhunting the antlered kind pays off,
Or is that an addiction.
“Finally back in the mountains” I thought to myself, Dave Whiting my hunting partner for the afternoon and I slowly made our way to a ridge line that would certainly be a good place for bedded fallow bucks. The timbered ridge cuts between two paddocks that the fallow deer forages in at feeding times. The ridge has good wind blocks and protection for the deer. During the lead up to the rut in this area the deer are bedded till last light, feeding in the early morning, late afternoon and night. Saving there energy through the day for a hectic few weeks chasing does, and just plain being elusive as deer are famous for.
Taking our time we tracked our way to the ridge line, it was apparent that the bucks are living along this ridge as there droppings, scraps and rubs became more frequent. We soon came across some real fresh sign. A freshly kicked scrap and a sapling that was wet from having its bark removed, a site to get any deer hunters heart pounding. Dave and I just looked at each other as in to say “there’s a buck close”. He’d be moving along one of the game trails in front of us or bedded very close. I wouldn’t have taken a dozen steps when I froze with my eyes glued to a good set of antlers behind a fallen tree. Around 35 meters a good menial buck laid bedded up awaiting last light. I slowly put my bow down and reached for my camera. The wind had us trapped on this good buck and the only way to get a clear shot was to get up close “real close”, as the fallen tree covered most of his body. I clicked off a few pictures of his antlers as Dave stalked the buck with his longbow in hand. The wind swirled and the ground was like walking on corn flakes as the sun had dried the leaf litter to a crisp. It wasn’t looking promising at all. The buck exploded out of there and disappeared into the thick scrub like a ghost. Well the blood was certainly flowing with the excitement. This is what we came for the experience, getting one on the ground would be a bonus but not an essential for a great trip.
Dave stalks the first buck for the trip.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000267.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000268.jpg
Dave and I pushed on along the ridgeline and decided to position our selves for a fox whistle. Around a dead fallen tree we blended to our surrounds, our camouflage was well suited for this area. Dave signaled that a critter was coming too the whistle. I was surprised to see a feral cat stalking in. The native killer had no idea I was standing 15 meters away at full draw. The cat stood on its back legs trying to see the supposed squealing rabbit (Dave). That was my best opportunity for a clear shot and I took it. The arrow passed through and didn’t look like stopping, unlike the cat which only made little ground. Cats are on the top of my hit list and I was please to take this one out, hopefully there’s not too many more in this area. You’d be a happy camper if you got these opportunities every hunt wouldn’t you.
Native killer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000275.jpg
The fact was I had no idea what lay ahead on this hunt and I could never grasp the out come of the following few days hunt even if I knew. After I arrowed the feral cat, Dave and myself split up covering both sides of the ridge. We planned to meet in the next gully that would cut the ridge. Once again I came across a fresh rub and scrap while walking the eastern side of the ridge. I knelt down to closer inspect the buck scrap. The soil on the bottom of the scrap was damp and grass hadn’t rinsing from prints the buck had left behind. I started to think maybe I already spooked the buck that left these markings as it was so fresh. But the prints showed no sign of a spooked animal as they where light on the ground and placed neatly; telling me this animal was in no hurry. I slipped an arrow onto the string and slowly crept along the side of the ridge. I was taken by surprise as a huge buck raise his head 30 meters away and looked straight at me. What I would call a monstrous buck was lying down in his bed and had caught my movement just as I had spotted him. Obviously I paused and didn’t even blink. The mature buck was unsure of the movement as I had a bit of cover in front of me and a good 3d suit to blend in. The buck stood up and turned his attention for a split second to the ridge line. It was enough for me to draw back and line him up. I aimed for the bottom half of the chest instinctively knowing that he would drop on the shot (jump the string) as he was still very alert. From around 30 odd meters the arrow sailed. The buck dropped; change his angle slightly and the arrow connected. I couldn’t believe how much the buck moved from 32 meters and a light carbon arrow leaving a new Tec series Hoyt isn’t slow. I cautiously walked over to the ridge line to see the buck down in the valley not 40 meters from the shot. Dave heading down the ridge to the valley had seen the buck drop. What a magnificent mountain fallow. I had mixed emotion about something so gracious surely one of gods greatest animals and we are blessed that we have a right to hunt such magnificent animals. Sitting there it was hard to rap my mind around such an accomplishment. This buck meant a lot to me as for the past few years I’ve been going pretty hard trying to get one, the effort has certainly paid off and been well worth it. Animals like these certainly don’t come easy this being the second buck in 8 years, and most years I’ve been targeting fallow deer regularly. But that’s why we love bowhunting so much. I couldn’t have had anyone better to share the moment with neither. Dave has been addicted to these critters for a longtime also and was keen to shake my hand and congratulate me. Dave’s shown me a lot of what I know about hunting today and I only hoped he would have the same luck on this trip as me. The buck had 23 points with 3 basal snags certainly a trophy to treasure.
My best fallow deer to date.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000303.jpg
The last of light
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000298.jpg
Dark was truly on us by the time we finished with the photos. It was a treacherous walk back to the road but we weren’t going to waste any of this animal. Head lamps came out as we field dress the animal for the hike out. With the legs strapped together we packed the animal out of the valley and back to the road running through the property. The pack out was a real work out but well worth it. It was certainly a bowhunters moment, the moon was shinning bright lighting up our hunting grounds, and two bowhunters hiking there quarry out of the hills, one with a compound the other with a traditional bow. No politics just good times. Three other bowhunters made up camp; we hoped they were on radio, Mark Ballard, Wayne Anderson and flat lander Paul Hardy. My back felt 90kgs lighter when I heard marks voice on the 2way. I’d already stuffed Dave’s back for the trip, Should slow him up a bit. “Sick of packing deer out for one trip” we said as a joke. Sitting there waiting for the truck a grunting buck in the distant added to the moment, A sign that the rut wouldn’t be to far away. On arriving to pick us up and seeing the buck Mark congratulated me and said he is a good buck. I hadn’t really though of his size till mark said “200dp plus mate good going” or was that the rum talking. As it turned out the buck went a little over 200dp. I spent the next day capping and butchering my buck with help from the boys. We filled the ice boxes and left no deer to waste.
Adam greentree, Mark ballard, Wayne Anderson, Dave Whiting, and Paul Hardy.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/Alivelycampafterreturningwithmy23pt.jpg
the next morning
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000320.jpg
MArk Ballard doing a good caping job.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/APRIL_20.jpg
That afternoon I followed the lads around and photographed them hunting. I also photographed my buck’s domain, his rub trees, and scraps as we passed through his area. We split up after a while to cover both valleys back to the car. I followed Dave as he chased his 99th fox. In some foxy looking country he began to whistle and a big fox bolted in looking for a feed. At 7meters Dave and his longbow worked together to send an arrow on its way, A sight itself. Dave had secured his 99th fox with the bow, hitting him front on in the chest. The arrow passed clean through. Like I young pup I scrambled along the blood trail and retrieved Dave’s fox, yet another successful afternoon.
the boys walking past a bucks domain.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000332.jpg
Dave's 99th bow fox
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000347.jpg
On the way back to the car we saw a few doe’s but the bucks where very elusive. The other lads hadn’t any luck but the enjoyment of and afternoon in the bush. To say the least I felt worn out from the past two days effort and hit the swag early to get a good start in the morning. The “oldies” were heading out in the back country in the morning and I was going to hunt/photograph up behind camp. It took some time to fall a sleep that night. I laid there thinking about fallow deer, shocking hey. I was awoken to a buck grunting in the valley around 1 hour before first light. I wasted no time in getting ready and headed off. The grunting had stopped but a fresh track and scrap lead me to the buck. The buck was a marvelous looking animal, antler and body. I put my bow down and stalked the grazing animal to 30 meters with my camera. Although defiantly highly prized in my books I hadn’t the urge to try harvest this animal, I was just happy to photograph and leave him be. I watched him for sometime and took plenty of photos before backing out. I let the buck be without him knowing I had ever been there.
A perfect morning to start the fallow up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000350.jpg
A nice animal I passed up, but shot to death with my camera.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000354.jpg
The next valley also held a good buck but this one had attitude as he prepared himself for the upcoming rut. Spraying urine over the under belly and face. He sprayed an old rub tree and trashed it to bits attempting to have his antlers also smelling deer sexy. Sounds like a good cologne maybe I should market it. Studying this animal was a site and I found it hard to photograph and not shoot. At 30 meters the thought of putting the camera down crossed my mind. Eventually I pushed my luck when I tried to stand up for a clear photo. The buck pranced off and displayed and awesome set of antlers, a site that always impresses. At that moment I put the lens cap back on and decided to do a bit of a bigger walk that day. I felt that the next buck wouldn’t be getting photographed.
The aggressive buck
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000360.jpg
A doe that couldn't work me out
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000346.jpg
It wasn’t till lunch time that I seen another buck. Grunting there heads off two bucks chased each other through the hills. At one stage they made a bee line straight towards me but passed at 30 meters at blistering speed. I sat back for 20 minutes watching them chasing each other. Finally the young buck that was doing all the chasing lost his rival runner. I seen an opportunity and I acted on it as I grunted leading the buck to believing I was his rival. From 100 meters away the buck bolted towards me. In little time the buck was at 15meters. I let out a soft grunt to pull the buck up, he propped at 10 meters and I released. Well I couldn’t believe it as I seen the buck drop in view. I’ve shot one deer in 8 years now I’ve shot 2 sparingly in one trip. My main objectives for shooting this buck was for his skin and much sort after meat, still an awesome trophy to the beholder Ill mount his antlers on a nice piece of timber. Well no one to help me pack this one out. I once again field dress a deer for the pack out of the mountains back to a pick up point. Most of the trip was down hill thank god. I found a good shady tree and hung the deer up to set till I return with a vehicle. Heading back to camp shivers run down my spine as a grunt echoed up the ridge I was traveling on. I couldn’t help but to have a look into the gully the grunt came from. On all four equipped with my bow I peeked over a little rise to see a huge common colored buck scrapping and grunting in an aggressive manner. Thrashing his head about with those massive antlers and kicking his legs throwing up dirt was a site to behold. He certainly wouldn’t hear the arrow coming with the noise he was creating around himself. I got into his comfort zone at 15meters and drew back; I struggled to calm myself as my legs and arms started to quiver with adrenalin. As his leg lifted to scrap an arrow left the string hitting the beast perfect. He flinched very little as the arrow left his chest and slammed into the tree behind him. Not knowing he was hit he went to keep scraping but collapsed. A shaving sharp broadhead had passed clean through this animal without any pain to make the buck uneasy. It was the type of harvest bowhunters strive for “effective and humane”. Well my god what an animal. Totally overwhelmed by the whole experience and the size of the buck, I sat beside him and said a few words. I wish I could explain the way I felt when I was sitting beside this buck and others. Maybe the way a climber feels when his conquered a huge climb like Everest. Some things just can’t be explained in words and this hunt was one of them. I’m sure there’s lots of like minded bowhunters out there that know what I mean and the way I felt. Upon returning to camp I asked if anyone else had any luck. Wayne had taken a buck and the meat was hanging up already field dressed. His buck had one broken antler but was a great trophy nonetheless. I’m sure the hide will have its place on Wayne’s floor also. It had been well worth the trip from W.A just to see a deer, camp with mates (new and old) and doing what we do best, spending time in the bush. Well you couldn’t comprehend having a better trip and it had only been the first few days of my 3 weeks hunting. I still had the Brisbane valley reds to keep me occupied. But that’s a whole other story let me tell you.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000364.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000383.jpg
The big grunting buck
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000395.jpg
THE BUCK NEVER LEFT HIS SCRAPE, YOU CAN SEE THE ARROW IN THE TREE BEHIND HIM.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000390.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/bowhunting/P1000400.jpg
Gear and Techniques
I was using a Hoyt Havoc Tec at 80 pounds on this trip. I think 60 pounds is plenty for hunting fallow deer. The reason I’m using 80 pounds is that I’ve been practicing for a buffalo hunt at the end of the year and I’m quite content on shooting this poundage. I’m a carbon arrow fan and on this trip I used Easton c2 carbon Obsessions in the 340s. My choice of broadheads on this trip was Outback Hunters and the Supremes. With my broadheads if there not shaving sharp they don’t go in the quiver. I use a Razors edge broadhead sharpener to get them to a hair shaving sharp. The techniques that I found best on these southern mountain bucks was spot and stalk as they are few and far between in most places. More listening and looking with less ground coverage in the thicker country. Aim for lower vitals (lungs) on these animals as they will drop on the release of your bow string. But the best advice I can give you is “Just enjoy the hunt and take in the moment”. Happy hunting all, Bowhunter for life, Adam Greentree
Info
Often referred to as a stag male fallow deer are actually bucks.