It’s always good when a plan comes together especially when it involves getting a shot at the big buck you’re after. All of the pieces fell in place and things happened quickly on the morning of November 16. I was closing in on a buck I’ve been hunting for a couple weeks and decided to take a day off work on Monday. It proved to be a wise choice.
It all started back on the Friday before Halloween when the high rack 11 point made his first appearance in the field bottom. He was definitely one of the bigger and dominant bucks in the area. I watched him on 6 different occasions cruising around the field checking does and making scrapes. The other bucks would keep their distance from him and head the other direction when they saw him. That was his field and the others knew it.
I vowed then that he was the buck I was going to target and hunt this year. The second time I saw him I took a closer look at his rack with the spotting scope and immediately noticed something out of place. He took a couple of steps and when he did his left ear would flop. Upon closer observation it looked just like someone had taken his left ear and flipped it inside out. It was a distinct mark and an easy way to identify him along with his nice set of antlers.
Ole floppy ear or flop for short, taunted me several times staying just out of bow range when he walked by. He was coming by below me 50 to 60 yards. I passed on several other bucks waiting for flop to give me an opportunity. The one day he stopped 52 yards perfectly broadside and was looking downhill away from me. It was a perfect shot but too far for my range with a bow. “I wish I had a crossbow” were the first thoughts that popped in my head when I watched him walk away. With a change in the law, crossbows are now legal to hunt with in West Virginia. I remembered my buddy Sammy offering to let me use his before the season came in as I was unsure if I wanted to purchase one. On my way home that night I called Sammy to tell him my dilemma and it just so happened he was going to be out of town working for a few days. “Come on over and get it” were his exact words without hesitating.
I drove over and he showed me everything I needed to know about the crossbow. I shot it a few times and on my third shot I dead centered the 10 ring at 50 yards. I was amazed at how accurate they are. I thanked Sammy several times before heading to the stand for an evening hunt.
In the meantime, I kept wondering how in the world ole floppy’s ear got turned inside out. I keep in touch with my neighbor especially during hunting season. He had actually text me a picture from his trail camera of floppy before his injury. When I told him about seeing him and his messed up ear he informed me that it was result from his son. He evidently had a bad case of buck fever and that’s where his shot hit, dead center in his left ear during the first week of archery season. I kept hunting the same field bottom that I had been seeing flop, ready for him to come by 50 yards again. I sat all weekend and never saw him. I watched several other bucks roam the field chasing after does which I thought was odd. Not that they were chasing does, but that flop would allow them to do so. Up until then he would charge in and take control. I had the feeling that he changed his route and was roaming another area with a hot doe.
On Monday morning November 16 I decided to switch it up and hunt the ridgetop. There’s an old sheep barn with a small field and pond that I had set up a ground blind back in October. I had only hunted out of it one time before the first flop sighting.
I eased in before daylight and as I was nearing the blind there was a deer standing silhouetted above me. I just kept on walking and the deer disappeared, thankfully without snorting. I made it into the blind and got settled in. I had the widows open and practiced my shot opportunities out of them but had to make an adjustment. I was too close to the right window and had to move my chair a foot to the left. After doing so I checked again and it was much better. Once I had all of that taken care of I reached into my backpack to get my binoculars and range finder. There was a water bottle on top of them and I was thirsty so I grabbed it first. As I took a drink and went to put the lid back on I looked to my hard right and there was a deer standing. It was looking in my direction and when it turned its head I noticed antlers. He started walking towards me and once he took a couple of steps I saw the ear flopping. I quickly put the water bottle down as he continued to close the distance. I swung the crossbow and got into position. Just as I was doing so he stepped out behind a hickory tree and stopped. He was glaring right at me at 30 yards so it was now or never. I settled the crosshairs and slowly squeezed the trigger.
The bolt zipped through the buck with a loud whack then thump. He slowly walked away over a rise. Afterwards, I tried to calm down and take in what had just happened. I looked at my phone and it was 6:55 am. I hadn’t even been in the blind for 30 minutes.
I gave him a half an hour before slipping out to go look for him. I slowly made my way to where he was standing and then crawled up to the rise. Once I got there I scanned the wood line and saw antlers. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I walked up to the buck I was after.
As always a wave of emotions started with being excited about finally getting an opportunity for a shot, but sad the hunt is over. Next, I took a moment to thank the good lord above for the chance of being able to take such a beautiful animal and for the healthy venison he’ll provide. Then, I sent a picture and text to Sammy thanking him once again for being such a good buddy.
My persistence and patience paid off although I had to adjust my tactics. That was the first deer I’ve ever harvested with a crossbow. I really like the accuracy and feeling confident in making a quick clean kill. Afterall, it’s better than shooting them in the ear with a not so confident bow.