This past week, I had the opportunity to hunt with an old friend in
Forsyth, GA for their pre-rut. The game cameras were showing some
really nice bucks. I was hopeful to be able to try to rattle one in.
We started hunting Saturday evening, saw nothing...just squirrels. Same
result on Sunday morning and Sunday evening. Monday morning the
temperature dropped and the woods came alive. I saw three does moving
through heavy timber and could not get a shot. Monday night I had a 60
yard shot at a single doe and put some meat in the freezer. Tuesday
morning we woke to heavy rain. We decided to skip the hunt, slept in
and went to Waffle House for a big breakfast. The rain continued to
pour and bring in colder temps until earlier afternoon. The rain broke
at 2pm. I decided to convince my bud to head into the woods early. We
left to go to our various spots.
I was hunting a tripod overlooking a couple thick wooded areas, with
very small shooting lanes cut in-between. I was told to have my gun on
the ready at all times, as the deer slipped through this area headed to
three different food plots in the area. I sat down at 2:45pm and set
out my gear. I grabbed a drink of water and decided to lightly hit the
grunt tube, to help mask any noise I made. A few minutes later I lightly
tried to use my rattle bag. Less than 5 minutes later I see antlers
coming through the wooded area. I get my gun up and have my grunt tube
ready. I grunt and I try to stop him, but he won't stop. I hear noise
as he is walking through the woods, so I know he is still in the area. I
figure he will come down wind and step out behind me. Sure enough he
shows up directly behind a pine 30 yards behind me. He is peering
around the tree and trying to see where the rattling is coming from, he
finally stepped out from behind the tree enough to see his vitals and I
let the .300WSM bark. He kicked and ran off into the thick stuff.
I waited for what seemed like an eternity, it was actually only 5
minutes. I climbed down and went to look for sign. Within a few
seconds, I found a half dollar size clump of bright red blood with
bubbles (lung shot). Decided to give it another 5 minutes. Couldn't
initially find the trail, finally found a few spots of blood. Starting
tracking them through a deer trail until I came to a four wheeler trail.
Then I got worried as the trail disappeared. I decided to cross the
road and continue on the trail, right decision, as I quickly picked up
the blood trail again. This time thicker and heavier. I came around
the corner and I found a spot where you could tell he laid down. Kept
tracking another few turns and there he was.
The biggest Whitetail I have ever taken! Taxidermist estimates him to
be in the low 130's. Typical 8, with a 1.5 inch kicker to make him a 9
pointer.
Here are the photos...enjoy!
Logan
130 Class 9 Ptr, Forsyth, GA 11/6/12, taken with a .300WSM
