We’ll call this the “saga” of Bucky. Opening weekend in Georgia, I stone cold missed an 11 point at about 235 yds. I won’t go into the reasons why…I just did. Since then, he has become an obsession with me. The following week, I was in my stand early. Just after daybreak, I looked back toward the house, and there by the back porch stood the deer my grandkids have named “Bucky”. I put the scope on him for a good look. A massively muscled deer, with a heavy 11 point rack. He watched me intently, in between bites of the dog’s food from the back steps. Every fiber of my being said shoot, but my brain envisioned the bullet hitting a gas line under the house and a made for movie explosion.
When Bucky finished his dog food, he turned and walked toward the front, keeping the outbuildings between us.
Next weekend, I was waiting for Bucky. A noise to my left about 7:00 am caused me to look back toward the house. He was on the porch, enjoying his kibbles and bits. Same scenario. He walked. That afternoon I moved the stand. Now I could possibly have a shot. Next morning early, I made sure the dog’s had plenty to eat and climbed into my stand. I noticed the wind was on my face. Hopefully a good thing. About 7:00 am again, (he must set a clock), I heard him blow behind me, and turned just in time to see him run through the center of the big barn and into the thicket below. No shot, not time to even react.
Undaunted, I explored the barn loft. The next morning, I made myself comfortable there. From there, I could cover the back of the house, most of the yard, and the thicket behind the barn. The hours passed, and at 11:00 I climbed down and went to the house for coffee. My daughter said, “did you see Bucky”? He was outside my bedroom window about 7:00 this morning. The dog woke me and I looked out to see him staring at me.
I have let two smaller bucks and a number of does walk, killing three does so far for meat, while trying to get a shot at Bucky. I decided to forget him, as I need one or two more meat deer. This morning it was breezy and wet. No let me rephrase that…..it was blowing about 30 mph. and raining. I made sure my stand was secure, and pulled my poncho on over my gear and climbed up. To my right, I could see over 30 acres well, and in the middle and closer to me was my food plot. I envisioned a doe or two to finish my meat order. About 7:20 am, no doubt not having enough dog food, Bucky walked out at the far end of the property. About 450yd. away. Having missed at slightly more than 200, my confidence was not there for a 400 yd. plus shot, especially with underbrush and such like between us, and the stand moving side to side in the wind. Bucky meandered around a while and watched me, until he no doubt grew bored and turned toward the creek bottom and out of sight. No does today.
I have been laying my gear out this afternoon, ready to head back to the stand. My wife accused me of becoming obsessed with the buck. Not so, I just need some meat does. Who cares if it’s storming and the temp. is dropping and it’s raining cats and dogs. We gotta’ eat right?
