[VaRedneck]

Dec 27th

What a freakin year....

Was in the stand early today....35*...calm...no moon. After psyching myself out on the route I'd been taking to my stand...I changed things up a bit this mornin. A coupla years back I had gotten busted as soon as I cleared the Ashe out back. They had gone north so I'd headed the long way around...once I got to my old tree I headed straight out into the pasture and bee-lined to my stand. Later that day I took a buck pushing some does outa the pines to the north.

Well...I'd been looking to take a doe today...figured if I replayed that route I could maybe get by any deer bedded close to that North fence line...let them be confident that down creek was a safe corridor. That was the plan anyway.

About 9a.m. the neighbor to the west fired up a skid-steer and hauled a low-boy trailer down his pasture. Evidently he had a couple trees crossing his fence. He was finished beepin and sawin and gone an hr later. About 30min later I spied movement to the North. Caught sight of a tail and rump as it passed an old blow down oak. Being as high on that spur as he was I didn't sweat turning to face him...he was headed to my fence line...only a matter of time....or so I thought. Just about the time I had given him up for heading north not south...I saw another...this one a 4pt...nibblin some brouse on the fence line...then another deer to match the first showed...2 8ptr's and a 4. They promptly bedded down...2;30, 3:00 and the 4 at 4:00. right on the fence line...for two hrs. I was dyin. The muscle that runs up the right side of my neck to my shoulder blade was on fire. On top of that...the temp had climbed easily to 65*.

Movin slowly as possible...I started opening up the coat, bibs, hoodie....as I took my stocking cap off and replace my cap...and re-size it...twice...the wind shifted. All of a sudden one 8pt was up. I'd lost him when he'd bedded down..but since he hadn't walked away I couldn't move for fear he'd see me..the other two had had their heads behind trees. Anyway....20min later he bedded back on down. Just as I was starting to relax cramped side ways like I was...wind picked up...this time all three got up and started higher up the spur away from me. Just as the last 8 was walkin outa sight I let out a soft fawn bleet...then a couple more. He stopped...then I sprayed some doe estrous on my knee. A coupla min later when that hit...all hell broke loose...there wern't 3 bucks bedded down within 75yds of me, there were 6. 4 8's, a 6 and a 4. I haven't seen that much horn in one place in my entire career. Still couldn't move to face them. They milled around a bit then turned away and started back into the pines...I let out with a few more grunts and bleats...more scent...nuthin. They headed on to the east and gone.

I took that opportunity to stand and do an about face...hoping they'd pull the same compass boxing maneuver that last buck tried....nada.

Didn't see another deer the rest of the day.

It dawned on my though on my way outa the woods...me opening up all my clothes to let some cool air in prolly let some of my scent out too.

With all these bucks around...it's no wonder the does are scarce. Had been feelin bad for taking a small buck...now....not so much. I've never encountered this many bucks...I'm at a loss..dunno how to hunt them. They're acting like a pre-rut bachelor group. No interest in doin nuthin but feedin and sleepin.