I first started getting pictures of this deer in August. I could tell he was an older deer even though he had a puny rack. El Padrino went on the hit list.
Come early November, with zero sightings of either one of my other target bucks, in person or on camera, I decided to go after Padrino who was becoming pretty regular at one particular spot.
He turned out to be quite a challenge to get with a bow. He was a very spooky deer that would snort and run at the slightest disturbance.
The first hunt, he showed up early and slipped off before day break. The second hunt, he circled downwind and busted me.
The third hunt, something spooked a doe that was at the feeder as I was about to draw my bow and she ran Padrino and everything else off with her.
I put some shoot-thru mesh on the shooting window, waited until the wind was perfect again, and slipped in on a weekday morning 30 minutes before first light. Right after the feeder went off a small buck, 2 does and Padrino showed up.
After a minute or two, Padrino became visibly unsettled. I guess he just had a feeling. He threw his head up, looked around nervously, and turned like he was going to leave but I was ready for him that morning. I quickly drew, placed my 30 yard pin on his heart as he was leaving and sent a Viper trick on its way. It hit him hard and he piled up about 80 yards away.
He weighed 157 lbs, which is a big deer for the area.
This is a special buck for me because it's the first deer we've killed on our new ranch. Hunting and harvesting a deer on your own land is one of the most rewarding things I've ever experienced.
Come early November, with zero sightings of either one of my other target bucks, in person or on camera, I decided to go after Padrino who was becoming pretty regular at one particular spot.
He turned out to be quite a challenge to get with a bow. He was a very spooky deer that would snort and run at the slightest disturbance.
The first hunt, he showed up early and slipped off before day break. The second hunt, he circled downwind and busted me.
The third hunt, something spooked a doe that was at the feeder as I was about to draw my bow and she ran Padrino and everything else off with her.
I put some shoot-thru mesh on the shooting window, waited until the wind was perfect again, and slipped in on a weekday morning 30 minutes before first light. Right after the feeder went off a small buck, 2 does and Padrino showed up.
After a minute or two, Padrino became visibly unsettled. I guess he just had a feeling. He threw his head up, looked around nervously, and turned like he was going to leave but I was ready for him that morning. I quickly drew, placed my 30 yard pin on his heart as he was leaving and sent a Viper trick on its way. It hit him hard and he piled up about 80 yards away.
He weighed 157 lbs, which is a big deer for the area.
This is a special buck for me because it's the first deer we've killed on our new ranch. Hunting and harvesting a deer on your own land is one of the most rewarding things I've ever experienced.
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