I started the morning off leaving Laredo, TX for work and headed back to Louisiana. During my brief time in South Texas I saw countless numbers of deer along the roads. Mostly does and one good buck, but it really made me wish I was back home and hunting. Made it back to the house around 3:30 and loaded the boat to make a short evening hunt. While walking in the woods I was close to where I had planned to hunt when I bumped a deer. This was very disappointing since so far this hunting season I have not seen a deer or even a pig. I sat down on the ground where I wanted to hunt regretting not loading the boat faster or making better time from Texas because I likely would've had a shot at that deer.
Around 6:20 directly down wind of me at my 6 o'clock a deer starts blowing and I can hear it running away. As disappointing as it was I couldn't be frustrated because I played the wind correctly for the set up but the deer didn't follow the script. A couple minutes passed then at my 2 o'clock I hear another deer running and blowing. It ran slightly in my direction and I saw a deer run through the trees then run diagonal towards my 3 o'clock. There was a clearing at my 3 o'clock so I got my gun up in case something stepped out. The buck stepped out but all I could see was horns, and immediately knew it was a good deer. There was a small opening the direction he was walking and that would be my only spot to see more than his horns and head as he walked across. Luck would have it I gave him a "MAAA" and he stopped where I wanted him. I had a clear view of his head and neck but the rest was covered with grass. I lowered the cross hairs a bit in the grass and shot.
Following the shot I didn't see the buck, which was expected, but thought I heard it run off followed by a bellow. I knew he was hit. I texted one of my buddies and tried to wait longer than a couple minutes but by myself I lacked the will power of patience. When I got closer to where I had shot him I saw a leg kick up. He was down. I'm all for emptying the gun until any animal is dead but with the grass and how he was laying I had a hard time seeing him. Instead of risking jumping I decided to stand there and keep an eye on him. He made one attempt to get up but fell before I could get a shot off in time. Shortly after he made a second attempt and I put a second shot in him. I wasn't far from the deer and still had my scope turn up, so when I was looking at him all I saw was deer and neck and the shoulder. Immediately after the shot I expected to see a dead deer, but instead the second shot gave the buck a surge of adrenaline. He somehow ran from the shot straight into the woods so fast I didn't even see him do it. I was baffled. It was starting to get dark and I shined my light into the trees hoping to see him on the edge. No deer but lots of blood. He ran in the woods about 60yds and had made a final crash.
I have no idea what was going on in those woods when I hear the second blowing and saw the deer. Best guess he was chasing a doe and she was blowing at him, and i didn't noticed the doe cross??? Just a guess, but I'll probably never know. This buck is by far the biggest I have ever killed in Louisiana. SW Louisiana typically does not have the genetics to produce good bucks (they are actually a separate subspecies which is smaller than most whitetails) , and this one is an awesome one when considering the area. I'd be lying if I said I would pass on him in other areas in Louisiana that are known for bigger deer or even out of state. But I am proud of this deer and of his size for the area he was in. Only regret is that I didn't have my camera in my bag and had to use my phone, but still came out ok.
Rather than dragging him out I opted to quarter and cape him in the woods. I have no problem with quartering a deer on the ground, but it was the caping that made me nervous. Only ever caped one other deer before and it was hanging. I had watched one of the videos Randy put together and thought I understood it well, and would get to practice on a doe or small buck. Never expected to kill one like this. Well I'll have to watch it a few more times and do some more practice. Didn't make the cut all the way up the neck because I was nervous about messing up, but I think it'll be good enough. If not I'll try to get another cape. I've packed out a pig but this was my first deer pack out. Felt good to do it all on my own for the first time with a good set of horns in hand.
Around 6:20 directly down wind of me at my 6 o'clock a deer starts blowing and I can hear it running away. As disappointing as it was I couldn't be frustrated because I played the wind correctly for the set up but the deer didn't follow the script. A couple minutes passed then at my 2 o'clock I hear another deer running and blowing. It ran slightly in my direction and I saw a deer run through the trees then run diagonal towards my 3 o'clock. There was a clearing at my 3 o'clock so I got my gun up in case something stepped out. The buck stepped out but all I could see was horns, and immediately knew it was a good deer. There was a small opening the direction he was walking and that would be my only spot to see more than his horns and head as he walked across. Luck would have it I gave him a "MAAA" and he stopped where I wanted him. I had a clear view of his head and neck but the rest was covered with grass. I lowered the cross hairs a bit in the grass and shot.
Following the shot I didn't see the buck, which was expected, but thought I heard it run off followed by a bellow. I knew he was hit. I texted one of my buddies and tried to wait longer than a couple minutes but by myself I lacked the will power of patience. When I got closer to where I had shot him I saw a leg kick up. He was down. I'm all for emptying the gun until any animal is dead but with the grass and how he was laying I had a hard time seeing him. Instead of risking jumping I decided to stand there and keep an eye on him. He made one attempt to get up but fell before I could get a shot off in time. Shortly after he made a second attempt and I put a second shot in him. I wasn't far from the deer and still had my scope turn up, so when I was looking at him all I saw was deer and neck and the shoulder. Immediately after the shot I expected to see a dead deer, but instead the second shot gave the buck a surge of adrenaline. He somehow ran from the shot straight into the woods so fast I didn't even see him do it. I was baffled. It was starting to get dark and I shined my light into the trees hoping to see him on the edge. No deer but lots of blood. He ran in the woods about 60yds and had made a final crash.
I have no idea what was going on in those woods when I hear the second blowing and saw the deer. Best guess he was chasing a doe and she was blowing at him, and i didn't noticed the doe cross??? Just a guess, but I'll probably never know. This buck is by far the biggest I have ever killed in Louisiana. SW Louisiana typically does not have the genetics to produce good bucks (they are actually a separate subspecies which is smaller than most whitetails) , and this one is an awesome one when considering the area. I'd be lying if I said I would pass on him in other areas in Louisiana that are known for bigger deer or even out of state. But I am proud of this deer and of his size for the area he was in. Only regret is that I didn't have my camera in my bag and had to use my phone, but still came out ok.
Rather than dragging him out I opted to quarter and cape him in the woods. I have no problem with quartering a deer on the ground, but it was the caping that made me nervous. Only ever caped one other deer before and it was hanging. I had watched one of the videos Randy put together and thought I understood it well, and would get to practice on a doe or small buck. Never expected to kill one like this. Well I'll have to watch it a few more times and do some more practice. Didn't make the cut all the way up the neck because I was nervous about messing up, but I think it'll be good enough. If not I'll try to get another cape. I've packed out a pig but this was my first deer pack out. Felt good to do it all on my own for the first time with a good set of horns in hand.
Attachments
Last edited:
