
First light
When most hunters have already left their stands, I am just getting excited about the morning hunt. I abandoned the “get to the stand an hour before sunrise to settle in and get quiet” mode of hunting deer several years ago. Seeing in dim light has always been a challenge for me, so there is no advantage for me to hunt at first light. I have a tough time aging a deer or counting points in dim light, so why should I risk bumping a deer getting in to my stand in the dark. Deer have good vision, so if they can see me, they will surely leave and probably won’t come back. I prefer walking in at first light so I don’t need a flashlight. From my experience, deer start to bed down after feeding around dawn and then come back out between 9 AM and 11 AM to graze, top off, then bed down for the better part of the afternoon,

2018- My largest buck to date- 201 lbs- 19-inch spread – 8 point
Last year, I scored two big bucks between 10 and 11 am. I took my largest deer ever, weighing 201 pounds, 19-inch spread, with eight points right at 11 am last October.

2018 – 8 point 165 pounds
This season I have not had as many opportunities to hunt, and I was excited about finally getting in my stand. After an uneventful morning sit in my stand, I decided to walk to my husband’s stand, which was about a half-mile away around 10 am. His stand had not been hunted at all this season. Unfortunately, he had a ladder fall about seven weeks ago, and would not be able to climb into his stand until his arm healed.

Nice mature buck with a drop tine- 178 lbs 7pts 17 1/2 inch spread
I wished he could have joined me this season, as hunting was something we love to do together. He had seen a huge buck last season at this stand and texted me to try the grunt call to see if I could lure him out. After about 30 minutes of staying quiet and still I used my doe bleat call and a few minutes later did a short series of grunt calls. To my surprise, I saw movement in the distance! An impressive buck appeared out from the deep end of the trail, walking in as if he was on a mission to find out who was in his territory. I took no time to think about what to do. I couldn’t count points, but this buck’s body size and antler spread gave me the confidence that it was a shooter buck. I was reasonably sure he would not turn broadside, and the best I could hope for was a neck shot. As soon as he presented a clean neck shot, at about 160 yards, I squeezed the trigger, and he went down. I climbed out of the stand, cautiously made my way to the deer to make sure he was not alive and was pleased with my decision to take him.

A good mature buck with a drop tine
He was a gnarly mature deer with a distinctive drop tine. He was estimated to be a four and a half to five-year-old deer and would not likely grow any bigger. The rut is just getting serious, and I am eager to get back in the woods and probably will be hunting my favorite time of the day! I am so excited that my hubby will finally be joining in on a hunt in a ground blind! No ladder needed!
Great article, thanks for sharing. And what a great buck, congrats!
Thank you, Stacey! Going back again this weekend!
Great story Maggie and full of good information! Congratulations AGAIN!
Frank O.
Thank you so much, Frank!
Nice bucks Bootsie!
Thanks!!!! Now everyone knows my nickname! lol!