Got out for an evening hunt in Bald Eagle State Forest this evening. Had a very nice 8pt buck about 10 yards from me and couldn’t get a shot. I was sitting on my Waldron Pack seat and where I was hunting was close to Route 80 and a creek. So it is very hard to hear anything. Close to quitting time I stood up and heard a sound like something raking the leaves. I froze and heard it a couple of more times. I looked to my left and standing about 10 yds away was a really nice 8pt buck staring at me. He looked at me for a couple of minutes and wasn’t quite sure what I was. He looked up towards Route 80 then looked back at me then trotted away. When he got to about 40 or 50 yds away he snorted once and continued on his way. Super exciting encounter from the ground! Below are some pictures of where I was hunting.

Nice

That sounds exiting! Nothing like being close to one on the ground,you usually get busted but there is nothing like it. Those woods are beautiful,I can just see a nice buck sneaking up through there,he would be right on top of you before you knew it. I bet that was a pretty sight. Makes me want to get out there. Congrats on your encounter!

Your Lucky and the Buck was lucky, Good times

You have a knack for finding productive areas in those big woods. Keep up the good work.

That was a great afternoon

Real cool looking area.

Thanks for sharing your exciting encounter! It's really special to be at eye level with a buck!

Bernie

Thanks for the comments I appreciate it! Hope everyone is having a good season!

Good for you Mike! That's a tough area to hunt.

Exciting yes, but precisely why I don't bow hunt from the ground. Most of the deer I have taken were looking for me, that is, alert by either their sixth sense, or, having crossed my trail to the tree.

They are amazing creatures in terms of how quietly they can make their way along, and surprise us at close range. A lot of; that's the fun of it all. my best memories are of the ones that got away

I agree with crookedstix. To me that's what makes it so exciting. In my book you just had a successful hunt. Maybe others would disagree, but it's just really cool having the close encounters. Especially the ones on the ground.

Bjrogg

Awesome, nice hunt! Seeing a nice buck that close is what bow traditional hunting is about. I had a similar experience in a corn lot a couple days ago with a large lone doe. She was coming in and I had an opening, but should have waited for her to pass through he bigger one quartering away. I started to ready for a shot and she was at about 10 yards, but she didn't hang around long enough for a shot. (Basically I got excited and blew it). Corn is not the same nice setting you were in, but I still had it happen. Fun stuff that gets your adrenalin flowing! Its a drug...The best is yet to come.

Sounds like you had a great evening. With the leaves being wet, it's easy for them to sneak up up on you.

Re Wild Bill - "Most of the deer I have taken were looking for me, that is, alert by either their sixth sense, or, having crossed my trail to the tree. "

One thing I'm a firm believer in is using a bit of non-estrus doe urine on my boots while approaching my stand. Years ago I hunted a stand where I crossed a deer trail 50 yards away. (yeah the stand was in the wrong place, but that's another story...) I had used the doe urine and, while the deer on the path would stop and smell where I crossed, they were not alarmed.

I'd guess they were 'thinking' Well, a human came through, but another deer did too, so, okay.

A few years ago two skippers came in right under me. Sniffed my boot trail but didn't spook.

Deer are always 'alert', the key is not to send them from 'alert' to 'alarmed.'

Maybe next time Mike. Keep at it...it'll happen.

Thanks for the comments and feedback, greatly appreciated!

Sound like good stuff there Mike. Fun experiences like that are much easier to drag back. LOL! Most of all, those exciting times keeps us going back! I wish you great luck this season.

Thanks Tom! Best of luck to you this season!

Nice.

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