So, here's the story. I'm 18, live in VA, and am yet to kill a deer. With that being said, in seasons past, I only have managed to make it out into the field 5 or 6 times per season, due to my weird sleep schedule, and inability to be woken up by anything short of a Class 5 hurricane (alarms included). So, this season, I decided, "I'm making it a point to get out in the field as much as possible this year. THIS will be the year I get my first deer." So, I get up this morning, put some slugs in the 12 ga. and hit the field a little before 6:30. Now, I've never been one to deck myself out in camouflage, spray on all those little scent sprays, use deer calls, etc. Dad used to throw on jeans and a T-Shirt, and would bag 'em all the time. I guess I just follow his example. So, I grab my lawn chair (one of the little fold-up ones that fits in a bag, generally used for sporting events), throw on a jacket, head down towards the bottom field, and wait.
Now, the area I hunt is the path leading down to my bottom field, which has quite a bit of brush running through it. I perched myself up at the top, sat down, and began the waiting game. After about an hour and 15 minutes, a buck pops up out of NOWHERE. I didn't hear him coming, have no clue what direction he came from, but he was just there, like magic, in a little patch of brush. Instantly, I feel the buck fever coming on. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced in life. The biggest roller-coaster in the world couldn't compare to the huge rush of adrenaline that shot through me when I saw him. The thing is, he was in the brush, and all I could make out was his head. I had an idea where his body was, but didn't want to run the risk of getting a gut shot on him, so I decide to wait. Well, he notices me sitting up there, and looks at me. Then, he starts to walk in my direction, exposing his body. However, he was facing me, so none of his vitals were directly exposed. So I make the worst possible decision I could have made in that scenario. I stand up, he's still coming, then I start to strafe to my right, in hopes that I'll set myself up for a better shot. He turns around, and high-tails it into the woods.
So, here I am, back up at the house right almost exactly an hour after this has all went down. I could kick my own a** a thousand times over for not being more patient. I feel as though, had I just sat there and been still, an opportunity would have presented itself sooner, rather than later, and I'd currently be field-dressing the deer, rather than back up at the house writing about "the one that got away."
With all of this being said, for most of my life, Dad has worked the night shift, so he's generally too tired to go hunting by the time he gets home. So, most everything I'm having to learn about hunting is being self-taught. He's trained me well to respect guns and gun safety, but in terms of actual hunting, it's mostly me. So i just had a few questions for the more experienced hunters on here,
1) Which is better to hunt, the path leading to the field, or the field itself? The field has a creek running through it, which I would think would lead to better hunting, but I've only seen them on the path headed down.
2) Due to my run-in with the deer today, do you think I might have scared them from the area, or should they still be utilizing the same path in the days to come?
3) How does one deal with buck fever? Honestly, even had I gotten a shot, I'm not sure I could have hit it, because I instantly started shaking unlike ever before in my life, all the while my heart was pounding itself out of my chest.
4) Does anyone else have any stories they'd like to share about "the one that got away?"
This was kinda discouraging, because I feel as though my luck will allow this to be the only one I see all season, but at the same time, I'm more determined than ever to be out there every single morning until I can make up for this one. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to answer, and I apologize for the long text and numerous questions.
Now, the area I hunt is the path leading down to my bottom field, which has quite a bit of brush running through it. I perched myself up at the top, sat down, and began the waiting game. After about an hour and 15 minutes, a buck pops up out of NOWHERE. I didn't hear him coming, have no clue what direction he came from, but he was just there, like magic, in a little patch of brush. Instantly, I feel the buck fever coming on. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced in life. The biggest roller-coaster in the world couldn't compare to the huge rush of adrenaline that shot through me when I saw him. The thing is, he was in the brush, and all I could make out was his head. I had an idea where his body was, but didn't want to run the risk of getting a gut shot on him, so I decide to wait. Well, he notices me sitting up there, and looks at me. Then, he starts to walk in my direction, exposing his body. However, he was facing me, so none of his vitals were directly exposed. So I make the worst possible decision I could have made in that scenario. I stand up, he's still coming, then I start to strafe to my right, in hopes that I'll set myself up for a better shot. He turns around, and high-tails it into the woods.
So, here I am, back up at the house right almost exactly an hour after this has all went down. I could kick my own a** a thousand times over for not being more patient. I feel as though, had I just sat there and been still, an opportunity would have presented itself sooner, rather than later, and I'd currently be field-dressing the deer, rather than back up at the house writing about "the one that got away."
With all of this being said, for most of my life, Dad has worked the night shift, so he's generally too tired to go hunting by the time he gets home. So, most everything I'm having to learn about hunting is being self-taught. He's trained me well to respect guns and gun safety, but in terms of actual hunting, it's mostly me. So i just had a few questions for the more experienced hunters on here,
1) Which is better to hunt, the path leading to the field, or the field itself? The field has a creek running through it, which I would think would lead to better hunting, but I've only seen them on the path headed down.
2) Due to my run-in with the deer today, do you think I might have scared them from the area, or should they still be utilizing the same path in the days to come?
3) How does one deal with buck fever? Honestly, even had I gotten a shot, I'm not sure I could have hit it, because I instantly started shaking unlike ever before in my life, all the while my heart was pounding itself out of my chest.
4) Does anyone else have any stories they'd like to share about "the one that got away?"
This was kinda discouraging, because I feel as though my luck will allow this to be the only one I see all season, but at the same time, I'm more determined than ever to be out there every single morning until I can make up for this one. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to answer, and I apologize for the long text and numerous questions.
