I was getting a late start, as usual, on my annual Halloween morning hunt.  I've found that this is the best time of the year to be in the woods plus I was looking forward to having the next week off to hunt.  I was planning to hunt and scout at the same time this morning so I could find out where the deer were moving. I was taking my climber and planning on hunting the north end of the 80 acres I own in Arenac County.  Having to walk a mile to get to the south east corner then having to walk another half mile to get to the north end, I was cutting it closer than I would like plus I was working up a sweat.

I finally get to where I think I want to hunt, but I find out picking a tree in the early morning light is not an easy task.  I finally get up a tree and ready to hunt and scout at the same time - this way I'll be able to move to the deer if I have to.  It's 8 am and I'm finally looking at possible shooting lanes and deer runs.  I notice a nice run about 20 yards to my left - a good shot for a right handed shooter. As the morning progressed I see a deer coming down the run and I can make out horns above its head. I decide its a shooter.  Now I'm looking for a spot to shoot. The buck goes behind a stump and I draw my bow. He comes out and I release the arrow. 

The shot was a little further than I had estimated but the arrow hit him in the front leg and had enough penetration to go through both lungs.  I watch him run about 80 yards and fall over.  Oh yeah! The whole hunt from set-up to tagging the buck took 45 minutes.  I wasn't in the stand 10 minutes before the buck showed up. It took me longer to walk in and out of the woods than it did to harvest this buck.  He was 3.5 years old and weighted 150 pounds.  He is by far the nicest buck I've taken with my bow.  Here is a picture of  him with my oldest son Noah.
 
Tom Bleck 
 

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